Best Family Hotels in Philadelphia

The symbolic heart of American history, this walkable two-attraction complex includes the Liberty Bell Center (free) with the famous cracked bell and its rich history, and Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were debated and signed.

💡 Tip: Reserve Independence Hall timed entry tickets online through Recreation.gov — they go quickly in summer. The Liberty Bell Center is first-come, first-served with no wait most mornings. Pair with a walk through Elfreth's Alley (America's oldest continuously inhabited residential street) nearby.

One of America's greatest science museums, featuring a giant walk-through heart, planetarium, Train Factory, Space Command, the Sports Challenge exhibit, IMAX theater, and the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial with a 20-foot marble statue in the building's rotunda.

💡 Tip: Purchase combo tickets for IMAX + general admission online for the best value. The walk-through heart exhibit is a beloved classic that has been the museum's signature attraction for nearly 90 years. Planetarium shows are excellent for ages 5+.

America's first zoo (founded 1874) offers a charming Victorian-era landscaped setting with over 1,300 animals. The PECO Primate Reserve, Big Cat Falls, and KidZooU children's zoo are family favorites, and the Zoo360 animal trails let animals walk overhead on mesh trails connecting habitats.

💡 Tip: The Zoo360 trail network is unique in the country — watch animals walk on overhead mesh paths connecting exhibits across the zoo grounds. KidZooU has a farm with goats, pigs, and cows that young children adore. The zoo is compact enough to cover fully in a half day.

One of America's finest children's museums for ages 7 and under, housed in the stunning Memorial Hall building in Fairmount Park. Features a vintage carousel, Roadways transportation exhibit, Alice in Wonderland exhibit, and a river adventure zone.

💡 Tip: The 1876 Dentzel carousel inside the museum is a beloved Philadelphia treasure. The museum's setting inside the 1876 Centennial Exhibition building adds historic grandeur. Combine with a visit to the nearby Philadelphia Zoo for a full Fairmount Park family day.

America's oldest and most celebrated public market, operating continuously since 1892 in a stunning historic train shed. Over 80 vendors sell Pennsylvania Dutch goods, fresh produce, international street food, DiNic's roast pork sandwiches, and Bassett's ice cream — Philadelphia's oldest ice cream brand.

💡 Tip: Visit on a weekday morning for the authentic farmer market experience — Amish vendors from Lancaster County sell produce, baked goods, and crafts Thursday through Saturday. DiNic's roast pork sandwich was named the best sandwich in America by the Travel Channel.

A genuinely fascinating and slightly spooky National Historic Landmark — once the most famous prison in the world, now a preserved ruin offering self-guided audio tours narrated by Steve Buscemi through the cellblocks where Al Capone was once held.

💡 Tip: The Halloween Haunted Prison Terror Behind the Walls event (September–November) is an unforgettable but very intense experience for brave teens and adults. The regular daytime tour is ideal for history-loving families with kids 10+.