Free Things to Do in Philadelphia (Actually Free)

At a glance

• Where: Nine picks across Old City, Fairmount, Callowhill, University City and Northwest Philadelphia
• Hours: Typically daytime; every pick lists its own hours below, so check the official site before you go
• Cost: Free to enter. Independence Hall adds a $1.00 reservation fee per ticket when tickets are required
• Not free: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Eastern State Penitentiary and Philadelphia's Magic Gardens charge admission

Our nine picks for free things to do in Philadelphia are the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, Cherry Street Pier, Elfreth's Alley, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Fireman's Hall Museum, the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, The Rail Park and Wissahickon Valley Park. Each one is inside the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and each was checked against its own official site.

Of the four big names people often hope are free, only Independence Hall is, apart from a $1.00 ticket fee. Eastern State Penitentiary and Philadelphia's Magic Gardens both charge admission, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art is ticketed too. We say which is which below, so you do not find out at the door.

How we chose

We only included places whose official site says entry is free, or says a public street or park is open to everyone. If an official page did not say it was free, it is not a pick. That ruled out some well-known names: the official pages we read for Reading Terminal Market, Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Wagner Free Institute of Science did not state a free-entry rule in the pages we could read, so we left them out rather than guess.

Every pick is inside Philadelphia city limits. Hours and rules change, so treat everything here as typical and confirm on the linked official site.

What are the best free things to do in Philadelphia?

The nine picks below are listed roughly in the order you would walk them, starting in Old City.

1. Liberty Bell Center, Old City

The Liberty Bell Center, at 526 Market Street in Old City, Philadelphia, is free, with no tickets and first-come, first-served entry. The National Park Service (NPS) says admission is free and lists daily hours of 9 am to 5 pm, with security screening closing shortly before then.

Our tip: go early or late in the day. There is no ticket to buy; the only wait is the security screening line. Details are on the NPS Liberty Bell Center page.

2. Independence Hall, Old City

Independence Hall, on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th streets in Old City, Philadelphia, is free, but you may need a ticket that carries a small fee. The NPS says tickets to Independence Hall are free while the reservation fee is $1.00 per ticket, booked through recreation.gov, and that the Interagency passes do not cover that fee.

The insider move is the morning open house. The NPS hours page lists a 9 am to 10:30 am open house with no tickets required, followed by timed tours every 20 minutes from 10:40 am to 4:40 pm that do need tickets. Schedules shift by season, so read the NPS Independence Hall ticket page first. Tickets can be reserved up to 30 days ahead, and there are no refunds.

3. Fireman's Hall Museum, Old City

Fireman's Hall Museum, at 147 N. 2nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia, has free admission. Its official site says admission is free, donations are always appreciated, and it is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, closed Monday.

The museum is housed in a renovated 1898 firehouse, and it is a good rainy-day stop between the two big Old City sights. See the official Fireman's Hall Museum site.

4. Elfreth's Alley, Old City

Elfreth's Alley, in Old City, Philadelphia, is a public street you can walk free at any hour. The Elfreth's Alley Association says it is a public street available for a stroll anytime of day. The museum inside the alley, at numbers 124 and 126, is separate and charges admission: the site lists $3 for adults and $2 for kids 7 to 12, with museum hours Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 pm.

So the free version is the street itself: the narrow brick lane and its row houses. Visit the Elfreth's Alley official site if you want the museum too.

5. Cherry Street Pier, Old City waterfront

Cherry Street Pier, at 121 N. Columbus Boulevard on the Delaware waterfront in Philadelphia, is free to enter. Its own site says the pier is free to enter and open to the public, with hours typically 12 pm to 8 pm daily.

It is the easiest free place in Old City to end an afternoon: you get river views and an open public space without buying anything. Check Cherry Street Pier for current hours.

6. The Rail Park, Callowhill

The Rail Park, in the Callowhill neighborhood of Philadelphia, is free and open daily. The park's site says Phase One is free and open daily, typically 7 am to 10 pm.

The Noble Street entrance at 1300 Noble Street is wheelchair accessible. The Callowhill Street entrance between 11th and 12th streets is a staircase, so choose your entrance accordingly. See The Rail Park for details. The nearby Callowhill area page has more to do around it.

7. Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, Fairmount

The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, at 640 Waterworks Drive in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, has free general admission. Its visit page says general admission is free and donations are welcome. Hours are typically Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

Groups of 10 or more must schedule in advance. It sits close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row, so it pairs well with a walk along the river. More on the Fairmount area page and the Fairmount Water Works site.

8. Institute of Contemporary Art, University City

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at the University of Pennsylvania, 118 S. 36th Street in University City, Philadelphia, is always free. Its visit page states that the ICA is always free for all. Hours are typically Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm, with Thursday open until 8 pm.

Thursday evening is the sweet spot if you are in the neighborhood after work. See the ICA visit page and our University City guide.

9. Wissahickon Valley Park, Northwest Philadelphia

Wissahickon Valley Park, in Northwest Philadelphia, is free and open to pedestrians, hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. Visit Philadelphia lists it as open daily from sunrise to sunset. One entrance, the Blue Bell lot, is at 842 W. Walnut Lane.

The Friends of the Wissahickon list a park curfew of 1 am to 6 am, starting earlier at 8 pm from December 1 to March 31, so plan winter hikes around early dark. See the Friends of the Wissahickon rules page. This is the pick that makes you forget you are in a big city, and the Chestnut Hill and Manayunk pages cover the neighborhoods at its edges.

Which famous Philadelphia attractions are not free?

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, Eastern State Penitentiary and the Philadelphia Museum of Art all charge admission. Here is what each official site says.

• Philadelphia's Magic Gardens (1020 South Street, Bella Vista): adults $15, students and seniors 65 and up $12, children 6 to 12 $8, and children 5 and under free. The site lists no general free days. Free groups include members, library pass holders and personal care attendants, with small discounts for ACCESS cardholders, veterans and PHL City ID holders. See the official hours and admission page.
• Eastern State Penitentiary (2027 Fairmount Avenue, Fairmount): daytime admission is $21 for adults online and $23 at the door, with lower prices for seniors, college students and youth. It lists no free days for general visitors. Members and Philadelphia high school students with ID through STAMP are free in the daytime. See Eastern State's visit page.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art (2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Fairmount): it is ticketed. The museum offers Pay What You Wish tickets, but the official pages we read did not spell out the current days, times or full prices, so check the museum's admission page before you go rather than counting on a free visit. Its Main Building is typically closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Penn Museum (3260 South Street, University City): paid, with adult admission listed at $23 and free entry for members and, walk-up only, active U.S. military personnel. Details are on the Penn Museum visit page.

Save this: a free-day route in Philadelphia

The easiest free day is Old City on a Wednesday through Sunday, because every stop below is open then. Confirm hours on each official site first.

1. 9 am: Independence Hall open house, if it is running on your date (no ticket), or your reserved tour.
2. 10:30 am: Liberty Bell Center, 526 Market Street.
3. Noon: Fireman's Hall Museum, 147 N. 2nd Street (open until 4 pm).
4. 1:30 pm: walk Elfreth's Alley, a few minutes away.
5. 3 pm: Cherry Street Pier for river views (open until 8 pm).
6. Evening: The Rail Park in Callowhill, open until 10 pm.

On a second day, pair the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (Wednesday through Saturday) with a riverside walk, then cross to University City for the Institute of Contemporary Art, open late on Thursdays. The Old City area page and Center City area page help with food stops that will not blow the budget.

Is it free to see Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell?

The Liberty Bell is free. Independence Hall tickets are free but carry a $1.00 per-ticket reservation fee when tickets are required.

Tips for a free Philadelphia day

• Wear good shoes: all of the Old City picks are within walking distance of each other.
• Bring a refillable bottle and eat at one of the spots on our food and dining listings.
• Check the events calendar for free festivals and the weather page before heading to the park or the waterfront.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is Independence Hall free?

Yes, but you may need a ticket with a small fee. The National Park Service says Independence Hall tickets are free, with a $1.00 per-ticket reservation fee through recreation.gov when tickets are required. Check the NPS site for the current schedule.

Is the Liberty Bell free to see?

Yes. The Liberty Bell Center at 526 Market Street in Philadelphia has free admission, with no tickets required and first-come, first-served entry. It is typically open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

Is Eastern State Penitentiary free?

No. Eastern State Penitentiary charges daytime admission, listed at $21 for adults online and $23 at the door. Members and Philadelphia high school students with ID through the STAMP program get in free during the day.

Is Philadelphia's Magic Gardens free?

No. Philadelphia's Magic Gardens charges $15 for adults, with lower prices for students, seniors and children 6 to 12, and free entry for children 5 and under. The official site lists no general free days.

Is the Philadelphia Museum of Art free?

No, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a ticketed museum. It offers Pay What You Wish tickets, but its official pages did not state the current times, so check its admission page before you visit.

What is a free thing to do in Philadelphia on a rainy day?

Fireman's Hall Museum in Old City and the Institute of Contemporary Art in University City are both free and indoors. The Liberty Bell Center is also free and mostly indoors.