Philadelphia walking tours
Best walking tours in Philadelphia with local guides:
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About Philadelphia
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell on a free Philadelphia walk
The American Revolution is what many free walking tours in Philadelphia are about, from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall to Benjamin Franklin's grave, and the price is up to you. Booking on GuruWalk is free and needs no credit card; the guide gets a tip at the end, whatever you think the walk was worth.
Those three landmarks are in Old City, while a Center City walk runs from City Hall to Rittenhouse Square instead. The walks take two hours on average, and 4 local guides lead them. The more than 1,364 reviews left so far give Philadelphia 5.0 out of 5.
Old City or Center City: Philadelphia's essential walks
The Philadelphia essentials: the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Carpenters' Hall
The essential Philadelphia tours, rated 5.0 out of 5 across 1,374 reviews, mostly tell the Revolution through the buildings of Old City. The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Carpenters' Hall come up on several of them, and some add Christ Church, Elfreth's Alley, the Betsy Ross House and Franklin's grave. Fans of the musical Hamilton get their own stop at the First Bank of the United States.
A Center City walk in the same group turns to Philadelphia's civic and commercial landmarks instead, passing City Hall, Love Park, the Masonic Temple, Reading Terminal Market and Rittenhouse Square.
From the Liberty Bell to Franklin's grave: the Old City route, stop by stop
A typical Philadelphia route runs just over three kilometres. Independence Hall, Carpenters' Hall, Welcome Park and the Betsy Ross House are the Old City stops that recur most across the documented routes. One of those routes, which meets near Independence Mall, includes these stops in this order:
- President's House Site, former home of two presidents and one traitor.
- Liberty Bell: a symbol of freedom, courage and justice for hundreds of millions of Americans.
- Independence Hall, where three of the most important documents in American history were signed.
- Washington Square.
- Second Bank of the United States, today a portrait gallery.
- Carpenters' Hall, where the seeds of the American Revolution took root.
- First Bank of the United States, the stop for fans of the musical Hamilton.
- Benjamin Rush Garden, the garden of the Revolution's doctor.
- Merchant Exchange Building, a good photo stop.
- Welcome Park, a corner of hidden colonial history.
- Christ Church, where 15 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence worshipped.
- Elfreth's Alley.
- Betsy Ross House, where the first flag was made, with the facts and the myths about its seamstress.
- Christ Church Burial Ground, with the grave of Benjamin Franklin.
Another Old City route begins at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell and finishes at the President's House Site and the National Constitution Center, and the United States Mint is on one of the routes too. A Center City route follows a different line, with City Hall, the Wanamaker Building, the Union League and Rittenhouse Square.
Tipping, timing and meeting points for Philadelphia's Old City walks
How much do you tip after a walk past Independence Hall?
Free tours in Philadelphia don't have a fixed price. At the end, each person contributes to the guide the amount they consider fair based on their satisfaction. As a guideline, GuruWalk recommends between €15 and €50 per participant.
What length of walk should you expect in Philadelphia?
About two hours on average. Philadelphia's quickest free walking tour is over in ninety minutes, and its longest runs to two and a half hours.
What time do Philadelphia's walks begin?
In November, the first Philadelphia walk departs at 9:30 AM and the last at 2:30 PM. Times vary from tour to tour, and the tours are led in English.
Do Philadelphia walks start in Old City?
Some Philadelphia walks meet in Old City, near Independence Mall or at the fountain in Washington Square Park, while a Center City walk meets elsewhere. Each tour gives its exact meeting point when you book.
What does a guide add to Philadelphia's Old City?
A guide adds the stories behind Philadelphia's Old City stops, like why the President's House Site is remembered as the home of two presidents and one traitor. You can follow the route on your own; the guide costs nothing to book, and places on each walk are capped.
Our tour guides in Philadelphia
