# Philadelphia slow stay · Old City historic sites

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/north-america/single-base/philadelphia-slow-stay-z0347/>)

Spend time on a secondary interest and protect a low-pressure day

- Region: North America
- Trip format: Single base
- Nights: 8
- Interests: Politics, History, Science, Arts & Theatre, Food & Drink

## Route and nights

- Philadelphia · 8 night(s)

Tradeoff: An extra night adds flexibility and time in the city. It also adds a full night of lodging.

Compare: Walking and local transit to compare

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Philadelphia

- 14:30 to 15:15 · Check in or drop your bags · Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG
- 15:30 to 16:20 · Walk around Independence Square · Independence Square, Philadelphia. Treat interiors as optional and confirm opening hours if you arrive early.
- 16:30 to 17:25 · Walk down to the waterfront · Penn's Landing, Philadelphia. Follow current pedestrian access to the Delaware River and turn back if construction detours add too much time.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner in Old City · Old City, Philadelphia
Overnight: [Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409075/kimpton-hotel-monaco-philadelphia-an-ihg-hotel-philadelphia-united-states-of-america/>) · Philadelphia

### Day 2 · Philadelphia

- 08:30 to 09:10 · Breakfast near Independence Mall · Independence Mall, Philadelphia
- 09:15 to 09:50 · Check in for Independence Hall and allow for security · Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Use National Park Service instructions and adjust the schedule around your tour reservation.
- 10:00 to 10:45 · Take the Independence Hall tour · Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Check current timed ticket requirements and arrive early enough for security.
- 11:00 to 11:50 · See the Liberty Bell Center · Liberty Bell Center, Philadelphia. Allow for a separate entrance line and keep time for the exhibits before the bell.
- 12:05 to 13:10 · Lunch in Old City · Old City, Philadelphia
- 13:25 to 15:30 · Visit the National Constitution Center · National Constitution Center, Philadelphia. Check opening days and the timing of the presentations you want to see.
- 15:45 to 16:45 · Walk past Congress Hall and the Second Bank · Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia. Use the exteriors as the default and enter only if hours and access fit.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near Washington Square · Washington Square West, Philadelphia
Overnight: [Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409075/kimpton-hotel-monaco-philadelphia-an-ihg-hotel-philadelphia-united-states-of-america/>) · Philadelphia

### Day 3 · Philadelphia

- 08:45 to 09:35 · Breakfast in Old City · Old City, Philadelphia
- 09:45 to 10:40 · Walk Elfreth's Alley and nearby blocks · Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia. Treat the alley as a residential street. Check separate access for any museum interior.
- 10:55 to 12:10 · See Christ Church and the Benjamin Franklin Museum area · Christ Church, Philadelphia. Verify access if you want an interior stop. Keep the walk outdoors when services or hours limit entry.
- 12:25 to 13:25 · Lunch around Market Street · Old City, Philadelphia
- 13:40 to 16:00 · Visit the Museum of the American Revolution · Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia. Choose the galleries that best complement your Independence Hall visit.
- 16:15 to 17:10 · Walk the Delaware River waterfront · Penn's Landing, Philadelphia
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner in Old City · Old City, Philadelphia
Overnight: [Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409075/kimpton-hotel-monaco-philadelphia-an-ihg-hotel-philadelphia-united-states-of-america/>) · Philadelphia

### Day 4 · Philadelphia

- 08:30 to 09:20 · Breakfast near Logan Square · Logan Square, Philadelphia
- 09:35 to 10:00 · Walk around Swann Memorial Fountain · Logan Square, Philadelphia
- 10:00 to 12:45 · Explore the Franklin Institute · The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. Select a few science exhibits. Check separate admission and times for any special exhibition or planetarium show.
- 13:00 to 14:00 · Lunch near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway · Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
- 14:15 to 15:40 · Visit the Academy of Natural Sciences if open · Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia. Make this optional and check museum hours. Extend the Franklin Institute visit if you prefer one main stop.
- 15:50 to 16:40 · Walk part of the Schuylkill Banks trail · Schuylkill Banks, Philadelphia. Choose a short loop and keep the route flexible in bad weather.
- 17:45 to 19:15 · Dinner in Center City · Center City, Philadelphia
Overnight: [Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409075/kimpton-hotel-monaco-philadelphia-an-ihg-hotel-philadelphia-united-states-of-america/>) · Philadelphia

### Day 5 · Philadelphia

- 09:00 to 09:50 · Breakfast around South Street · South Street, Philadelphia
- 10:00 to 11:30 · Explore the Italian Market along Ninth Street · Italian Market, Philadelphia. Check individual shop hours and keep time for the blocks you most want to revisit.
- 11:45 to 12:50 · Lunch near the Italian Market · Italian Market, Philadelphia
- 13:15 to 14:30 · Walk around South Street and the surrounding blocks · South Street, Philadelphia. Choose this walk or an indoor stop moved from a previous day.
- 15:00 to 16:45 · Keep time for errands or a missed visit · Old City, Philadelphia. Avoid a timed ticket so the day can absorb delays from earlier plans.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner in Society Hill · Society Hill, Philadelphia
Overnight: [Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409075/kimpton-hotel-monaco-philadelphia-an-ihg-hotel-philadelphia-united-states-of-america/>) · Philadelphia

### Day 6 · Philadelphia

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near the hotel · Old City, Philadelphia
- 09:20 to 10:00 · Travel to the Philadelphia Museum of Art · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. Check museum opening days and choose a walk, bus, or ride from Old City.
- 10:00 to 12:45 · Choose two collections at the Philadelphia Museum of Art · Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. Start with your preferred galleries. Keep enough time to find a staffed entrance if you need an accessible route.
- 13:00 to 14:00 · Lunch in Fairmount · Fairmount, Philadelphia
- 14:20 to 16:20 · Follow a Center City public-mural route · Center City, Philadelphia. Use the current Mural Arts Philadelphia map and pick two or three nearby murals. Confirm that the works are still visible from public sidewalks.
- 16:25 to 17:10 · Walk through Dilworth Park and around City Hall · Dilworth Park, Philadelphia
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near Rittenhouse Square · Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
Overnight: [Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409075/kimpton-hotel-monaco-philadelphia-an-ihg-hotel-philadelphia-united-states-of-america/>) · Philadelphia

### Day 7 · Philadelphia

- 08:45 to 09:35 · Coffee and breakfast in Old City · Old City, Philadelphia
- 10:00 to 11:15 · Walk from the Chinatown Friendship Gate toward the market · Philadelphia Chinatown Friendship Gate, Philadelphia
- 11:25 to 13:00 · Lunch at Reading Terminal Market · Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia. Check vendor hours and give yourself time to walk the aisles before choosing lunch.
- 13:20 to 14:20 · Walk the Rail Park's open section · The Rail Park, Philadelphia. Confirm which section is open and use the marked public entrances.
- 14:45 to 16:00 · Walk through Washington Square · Washington Square, Philadelphia. Take side streets back toward the hotel or use the open block to rest.
- 17:45 to 19:15 · Dinner in Chinatown · Chinatown, Philadelphia
Overnight: [Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409075/kimpton-hotel-monaco-philadelphia-an-ihg-hotel-philadelphia-united-states-of-america/>) · Philadelphia

### Day 8 · Philadelphia

- 09:30 to 10:20 · Breakfast near Rittenhouse Square · Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
- 10:25 to 11:30 · Walk Rittenhouse Square and nearby residential blocks · Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
- 11:45 to 13:00 · Lunch near Walnut Street · Walnut Street, Philadelphia
- 13:15 to 14:40 · Browse shops and bookstores around Rittenhouse · Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
- 15:00 to 17:00 · Leave a buffer for laundry, rest, or a second neighborhood walk · Old City, Philadelphia. If you want another stop, keep it close to the hotel so departure preparation stays easy.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near your hotel · Old City, Philadelphia
Overnight: [Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409075/kimpton-hotel-monaco-philadelphia-an-ihg-hotel-philadelphia-united-states-of-america/>) · Philadelphia

### Day 9 · Philadelphia

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near Independence Mall · Old City, Philadelphia
- 09:10 to 10:15 · Walk Washington Square and nearby blocks · Washington Square, Philadelphia. Make this optional if departure is early.
- 10:25 to 10:50 · Check out and collect bags · Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG. Confirm checkout and leave time to reach your departure point.