Dear travelers,
Let me confess something before we begin. I’m pretty sure I added Philadelphia to our USA itinerary for one main reason: the Philly cheesesteak.
That’s it. That was the motivation. Not American history. Not the Liberty Bell. Not even Rocky running up the stairs.
But as it turns out, Philadelphia had more going on than I expected. We stayed for two days, arrived by Amtrak from Washington DC, and left for New York before flying home. And in those 48 hours, Philly surprised me in ways I didn’t see coming.
So the real question is:
Is Philadelphia worth visiting?
How We Got to Philadelphia (And Why It’s the Perfect East Coast Stop)
If you’re planning an East Coast USA itinerary, here’s something I learned: Philadelphia fits perfectly between Washington DC and New York City.
We took the Amtrak train from Washington DC to Philadelphia, and honestly? It was one of the easiest travel days of the whole trip.
Why Amtrak to Philadelphia is a great idea:
Direct and comfortable
Around 1.5–2 hours from DC
Arrives right in the city center
After two days in Philly, we took another train to New York to catch our flight home. If you’re visiting the USA and want to see multiple cities without internal flights, this route is honestly perfect.
Best Things to Do in Philadelphia (Our 2-Day Experience)
We had 2 days in Philadelphia, which is enough to see the highlights without feeling overwhelmed… unless you try to visit too many museums. (More on that later.)
Here’s what we actually did.
1. The Liberty Bell (Yes, You Have to Go)
You can’t visit Philadelphia and skip the Liberty Bell. It’s like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower.
Is it smaller than you expect? Yes.
Is it crowded? Also yes.
Is it still worth seeing? Definitely.
It’s free, it’s iconic, and it only takes about 20–30 minutes.
There’s something surreal about standing in front of something you’ve seen in history books and movies your entire life. It’s one of those “oh wow, I’m actually here” moments.
Tip: Go early in the morning to avoid longer lines.
2. Independence Hall (Closed… Of Course)
Independence Hall was closed.
Classic.
If you want to visit where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and signed, you’ll need to:
Check opening hours in advance
Reserve timed tickets if required
Even though we didn’t get inside, the whole area around it is beautiful and historic. You feel like you’re walking through a movie set about early America.
3. The US Mint — The Unexpected Highlight
Okay. This is the one that surprised me the most. The US Mint in Philadelphia was genuinely fascinating.
You walk through elevated viewing areas and can see the entire coin production process from blank metal discs to finished coins being counted and sorted.
And here’s the fun twist:
No photos allowed.
Which somehow made it feel more exclusive and mysterious. I didn’t expect to care about coins. But watching the machines move with precision and speed? Weirdly mesmerizing.
Why it’s worth visiting:
It’s free.
It’s different.
It’s educational without being boring.
You’ll leave knowing exactly how US coins are made.
If you’re looking for unique things to do in Philadelphia, this is one.
The Rocky Steps & Philadelphia Museum of Art
Now let’s talk about the most cinematic moment of the trip.
Running Up the Rocky Steps
In front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you’ll find the famous stairs from the movie Rocky.
And yes… we ran up them.
Not gracefully. Not athletically. But we did it.
At the top, you get:
A beautiful city view
A full Rocky moment
The iconic photo opportunity
At the bottom, you’ll also find the Rocky Balboa statue, which feels like a mandatory stop for movie lovers.
Even if you’ve never watched Rocky, you’ll recognize the scene. It’s one of those pop culture landmarks that makes travel fun.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art — Honest Review
Now for the unfiltered part. The museum itself is… huge. Like, overwhelmingly huge.
And maybe this is on us because by that point in the trip, we had already visited several museums.
But here’s how it felt:
Rooms connected to other rooms.
No super clear flow.
A bit confusing to navigate.
Easy to feel lost.
It wasn’t that the art wasn’t good; it’s an impressive collection. But the layout felt chaotic, and we didn’t enjoy it as much as we expected.
If you love art and have time, you’ll probably appreciate it more than we did. But if you’re short on time?
- Go for the Rocky Steps and city views.
- Only enter the museum if you’re really in the mood for it.
Elfreth’s Alley: The Oldest Residential Street in America
This might have been my favorite “slow moment” in Philadelphia.
Elfreth’s Alley is officially the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States, dating back to 1702.
Yes. 1702.
It’s tiny. Just a short cobblestone street lined with 32 historic houses. But it feels like stepping into another century.
Fun facts about Elfreth’s Alley:
The houses were originally built for artisans and tradespeople.
Most of them are still privately owned.
It looks like a movie set (but it’s very real).
And just nearby, you can walk toward the riverside for a slower, scenic vibe.
My First Hibachi Experience (Expectation vs Reality)
Near the riverside, we went to Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar for dinner.
I had never done hibachi before.
In my mind, I was expecting:
Big flames
Dramatic knife tricks
Onion volcanoes
A full performance
What I got was…
Pretty normal Asian food cooked in front of me.
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad. But I think either:
Our chef wasn’t in a performance mood.
Or my expectations were influenced by too many movies.
It was fine. Just not life-changing.
Would I recommend it? If you’ve never done hibachi, sure, try it once. But I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do.
Where to Eat in Philadelphia (Besides Cheesesteaks)
Okay. Let’s address the real reason I came.
The Philly Cheesesteak — Was It Worth It?
Short answer? Yes.
Long answer? It’s simple. It’s messy. It’s cheesy. It’s everything you imagine.
And yes, it was worth the trip.
Reading Terminal Market — Go Hungry
If you do one food-related thing in Philadelphia besides the cheesesteak, let it be Reading Terminal Market.
This place is incredible. It’s a historic indoor food market. The smell alone makes you hungry.
Everything feels fresh. Everything looks good. It’s chaotic in the best possible way.
If you’re wondering where to eat in Philadelphia, this is the answer.
Go hungry. Trust me.
Watching an NBA Game in Philadelphia (Even If You’re Not a Fan)
Now here’s something I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did.
We watched an NBA game: Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers.
And here’s the twist: I’m not a basketball fan. But going to a live NBA game in the USA? That’s an experience. The atmosphere. The music. The crowd. The energy.
Even if you don’t understand every rule, it’s still fun.
So here’s my tip:
When visiting the USA, check if there’s a sports game happening in the city you’re in.
It’s such a uniquely American experience, seeing something live that you normally only watch on TV.
It turned a regular evening into a core memory.
So… Is Philadelphia Worth Visiting? (The Real Answer)
If I’m being completely honest with you, Philadelphia wasn’t a city I dreamed about my whole life.
It wasn’t on my “top 5 bucket list” board.
It wasn’t somewhere I romanticized like New York or imagined as dramatically as Washington DC.
It was, quite literally, a cheesesteak decision. And yet… that’s exactly why I liked it.
If you’re doing the classic Washington DC → Philadelphia → New York route, Philly is the perfect middle chapter. Not too long. Not too short. Just enough time to explore, eat, and say, “Okay… this was actually really cool.”
Truly yours,
The Creation of Us
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