Free Things to Do in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, PA's best free activities include Bartram's Garden, Cherry Street Pier, Craft Hall, Dilworth Park at City Hall, and Elfreth's Alley.

21 places21 freeOct 2026
Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse

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

Free
Spruce Street Harbor Park

Free hammocks on the river

301 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm

Free
Cherry Street Pier

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

Free
Dilworth Park at City Hall

Ground-level fountain jets toddlers love

1 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102 · Daily 6am-12am; fountain May-Oct, rink Nov-Feb

Free
Wissahickon Valley Park

1,800 wooded acres inside the city

300 Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118 · Daily dawn to dusk

Free
Bartram's Garden

Free 50-acre garden — locals know, tourists don't

5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19143 · Daily dawn to dusk; house tours by appointment

Free
Rittenhouse Square

Lion-head fountain + Tuesday farmers market

210 W Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103 · Daily 6am-12am

Free
Schuylkill River Trail

Flat riverside trail past Boathouse Row

Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19130 · Daily, dawn to dusk

Free
Franklin Square

Mini golf through Philly landmarks

200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 10am-8pm (seasonal variations) · Ages 0+

Free entry; activities $4-15
Independence National Historical Park

Free Junior Ranger booklets + Liberty Bell

143 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Visitor Center: daily 8:30am-5pm; sites vary · Ages 0+

Free
Craft Hall

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 entry
Wissahickon Environmental Center

Free nature center 20 minutes from downtown

300 Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118 · Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm, closed Mon · Ages 0+

Free
Kids Castle

38-foot slides in a wooden castle

1001 McKennans Church Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808 · Daily dawn to dusk · Ages 2–12

Free
Reading Terminal Market

DiNic's roast pork + Bassetts ice cream since 1893

51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 · Daily 8am-6pm

Free entry
Spruce Street Harbor Park

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)

Free entry
Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania

Always free, always different

118 S 36th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 · Wed-Sun 11am-6pm, closed Mon-Tue

Free
Mural Arts Philadelphia

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

Free (self-guided); $25 (guided tours)
Elfreth's Alley

Continuously lived in since 1702

126 Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Always accessible (street); museum Thu-Sun 12-5pm

Free
Liberty Bell Center

Free, no ticket, 20 minutes

526 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 9am-5pm

Free
Independence Hall

Washington's chair is still in the room

520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 · Daily 9am-5pm, tours every 15-20 min

Free
Wagner Free Institute of Science

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

Free