Cheap Things to Do in Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA's cheapest activities include Bartram's Garden (Free), Betsy Ross House ($12), Betsy Ross House ($12), Cherry Street Pier (Free), and Craft Hall (Free entry).
Giant wooden slide since 1899 — always free
3500 Reservoir Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19121 · Apr-Sep: Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm; Oct-Mar: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Mon · Ages 0–10
Skating in winter, roller rink in summer
101 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Winterfest: Mon-Thu 1-9:30pm, Fri-Sun 11am-12:30am; Summerfest: seasonal
Half a block of handmade mosaic labyrinth
1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 · Wed-Mon 11am-6pm, closed Tuesdays · Ages 5+
Free hammocks on the river
301 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm
Small zoo, no meltdowns, giraffe feeding
1661 Harding Blvd, Norristown, PA 19401 · Daily 10am-5pm
Covered waterfront pier — rain or shine
121 N Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Mon-Thu 12-9pm, Fri 12-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm
Ground-level fountain jets toddlers love
1 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102 · Daily 6am-12am; fountain May-Oct, rink Nov-Feb
1,800 wooded acres inside the city
300 Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118 · Daily dawn to dusk
Free 50-acre garden — locals know, tourists don't
5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19143 · Daily dawn to dusk; house tours by appointment
Lion-head fountain + Tuesday farmers market
210 W Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Daily 6am-12am
Flat riverside trail past Boathouse Row
Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19130 · Daily, dawn to dusk
Mini golf through Philly landmarks
200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 10am-8pm (seasonal variations) · Ages 0+
Mummies + real conservation lab behind glass
3260 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, First Wed until 8pm, closed Mon · Ages 0+
Free Junior Ranger booklets + Liberty Bell
143 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Visitor Center: daily 8:30am-5pm; sites vary · Ages 0+
Craft beer for parents, pirate playground for kids
901 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123 · Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 10am-9pm · Ages 0+
Free nature center 20 minutes from downtown
300 Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118 · Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm, closed Mon · Ages 0+
Meet costumed Betsy Ross, 30 minutes
239 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 10am-5pm · Ages 0+
38-foot slides in a wooden castle
1001 McKennans Church Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808 · Daily dawn to dusk · Ages 2–12
DiNic's roast pork + Bassetts ice cream since 1893
51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 · Daily 8am-6pm
Half a block of handmade mosaic labyrinth
1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 · Wed-Mon 11am-6pm, closed Tuesdays
Free hammocks on the river at sunset
301 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm (seasonal, May-Sep)
Always free, always different
118 S 36th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Wed-Sun 11am-6pm, closed Mon-Tue
Einstein's brain + swallowed objects collection
19 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Wed-Mon 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays
More murals than any city in the world
Citywide (tour hub: 1727 Mt Vernon St, Philadelphia, PA 19130) · Always accessible (outdoor); guided tours by schedule
Continuously lived in since 1702
126 Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Always accessible (street); museum Thu-Sun 12-5pm
3,200-year-old sphinx for $18
3260 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, First Wed until 8pm, closed Mon
Free, no ticket, 20 minutes
526 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 9am-5pm
Washington's chair is still in the room
520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 9am-5pm, tours every 15-20 min
Tiny 1740 row house, costumed Betsy Ross
239 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 10am-5pm
Free Saturdays, under 12 always free
101 S Independence Mall E, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Thu-Tue 10am-5pm, closed Wed
Free — 100,000+ specimens in a Victorian museum that hasn't changed since the 1890s.
1700 W Montgomery Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121 · Tue-Fri 9am-4pm, closed Sat-Mon
A 17th-century-style Japanese house in Fairmount Park — koi pond, tea garden, and sliding screens.
114 Horticultural Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131 · Wed-Fri 11am-4pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm (Apr-Oct); limited winter hours
Same family lived here from the 1690s to the 1970s — oldest rose garden in North America.
6026 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144 · Thu-Sat 12-4pm (Apr-Dec)
Best banh mi in Philadelphia for $4 — from a corner store in West Philly.
810 S 47th St, Philadelphia, PA 19143 · Daily 6:30am-8pm