Philadelphia on a budget: where to eat, visit, & stay
Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities in the US, with lots of history, beautiful sights, and delicious food! No matter if you are heading to the city for a weekend or a month, Philly is sure to keep you entertained.
After living in and exploring the city for 2 years, here is my selection of what to do in Philadelphia on a budget, featuring the best food, tours, and accommodations in town!
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🏩 Accommodation: budget, mid-range, luxury
🚶♀️➡️Best tour: Old city walking tour
🍽️ Best restaurants: Parc, Kalaya, Frankford Hall, JG Skyhigh
4 fun and authentic food options in town!
1. Stop by the Reading Terminal Market for a snack
A classic tourist destination in Philly is Reading Terminal Market, a giant indoor space filled with diverse food vendors! I do not find the food there amazing, especially considering the other fantastic restaurants in town. However, the vibe and cultural relevance make Reading Terminal Market worth a visit, even if it is just for a quick snack!
2. Dine at Parc, Philly’s most classic restaurant
Parc is my absolute favorite restaurant in Philadelphia! Their French-American menu is extensive and affordable, the restaurant vibe is like France in the 1920s, and the location by Rittenhouse Square is just perfect for travelers exploring Philly’s center city.
Local’s tip: Have Sunday brunch at Parc! To be guaranteed a table, one must book way in advance, but I also had tons of success just showing up and putting my name on the waiting list. I never had to wait over 1 hour! My Philly Sunday tradition was grabbing brunch at Parc and then crossing the street to go to the fair at Rittenhouse Square. The fair themes always change, and sometimes Rittenhouse Square is full of art vendors, sometimes it becomes an Amish farmer market, and I’ve even seen it filled with flower shops!
3. Enjoy the best city view and have fancy drinks at JG Skyhigh
The Comcast Technology Center is the tallest building in Philadelphia, and its upper floors host the Four Seasons Hotel, with its fantastic spa and upscale restaurant. If your budget allows, this is the best dining spot for a special evening. Even if you are on a tight budget, I recommend heading to JG Skyhigh even if you only plan to buy a drink or an ice cream!
The architecture of the restaurant is incredible with mirrors on the ceiling that reflect a stunning view of the city. Look at my mirror ceiling selfie below to get an idea of what you can see up there!
4. Try tasty and trendy food at Fishtown
Fishtown is Philly’s trendiest spot and should not be missed in your itinerary! What used to be a fishing industry hub is now filled with unique and modern businesses! The dining options at Fishtown are the most fun, and my favorite ones include:
- Kalaya for upscale and authentic Thai food
- R&D for beautifully crafted cocktails
- Frankford Hall for a laid-back German Biergarten
- Jeni’s for ice cream!
- Fun fact: I thought Jeni’s was a Philly thing because there is such a local cult following to this creative ice cream brand! Although not exclusive to Philly, stopping at Jeni’s to grab a scoop of their mind-blowing ice cream flavors is an authentic Philly thing to do!
Important to note: Although Fishtown is safe, its surrounding area is not. Be careful to not walk outside the limits of Fishtown, and opt for taking an Uber home as opposed to grabbing public transportation.
7 amazing things to do around Philadelphia
1. Explore the stunning city hall and iconic Love Park
Philly’s City Hall is beautiful and very accessible at the heart of downtown. Over winter, it hosts a beautiful and affordable ice skating rink, and over the summer you can rollerblade there!
Across the street from City Hall, there is Love Park, featuring Philly’s iconic Love statue. During the holiday season, both Love Park and City Hall host a beautiful Christmas market featuring lots of food and seasonal decoration vendors.
2. Learn about American History at Old Town and visit cool local businesses
Philly has a rich history and features incredible landmarks, such as the Liberty Bell, that can be seen on a walking tour through the old city. The walking tour gives a nice (and often funny) overview of the city’s history while taking you to some of the many outdoor historical sights in the city, such as:
- The Liberty Bell
- The President’s House
- Independence National Historical Park
- Elfreth’s Alley
You book and check the availability of Philly walking tours online! If the tour options do not work for you, there are also many free self-guided tour options available!
Geek out on American History Museums
For those who are into American History, especially American Independence, there are tons of museums to explore on your own! Some of the most famous museums include:
- National Constitution Center
- Museum of the American Revolution
- The African American Museum in Philadelphia
- Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Shop an infinity of used books at The Book Trader
The Book Trader has a huge selection of books and a nice nerdy vibe. This is my favorite spot to buy and sell books in town, and it is worth a visit! They sell books about topics I didn’t know existed, and every time I head there I get out with an interesting and kind of random $6 book.
3. Run up the Rocky steps and explore the Art Museum
For an iconic view and epic movie scene reproduction, go up the steps in front of Philly’s art museum! To feel like a true hero, listen to Rocky’s theme song, “gonna fly now” by Bill Conti, as you go up!
The top of the stairs of the Art Museum are not only famous because of Rocky, but they also offer an incredible skyline view of town! The amazing architecture of the museum is also worth seeing up close.
The art museum itself is stunning, both from the inside and outside. To enjoy a view of the museum for free, I recommend picnicking at the lawn by the entrance! Also, on the first Sunday of the month, entrance to the museum is on a pay-what-you-wish basis as opposed to the usual price tag of $30 per adult.
4. Go for a walk, run, or bike ride on the Schuylkill River Trail
Moving along the Schuylkill River Trail is my favorite cool-off activity in Philly. Whether going on a calm walk, running, or biking, the view and the vibe from this modern trail are worth enjoying!
5. Access world-class culture on a budget
Philadelphia offers a lot of affordable cultural activities, from orchestra concerts to Broadway shows! Below are my 3 favorite budget cultural activities in Philly!
A. Attend affordable Broadway shows at the Kimmel Center
I stopped paying for Broadway in NYC when I noticed those shows often come to Philly’s Kimmel Center with much lower price tags! Also, the Kimmel Center Broadway Series offers incredible rush-ticket prices on the week of the performance. These deals allowed me to watch classic Broadway shows, like Lion King, for $30!
The Kimmel Center is also the home of the Grammy Award-winning Philadelphia Orchestra. Regular ticket prices for the orchestra are around $70, but some performances are often discounted or even free!
B. Watch $25 performances by the Philadelphia Ballet
The Philadelphia Ballet has some of the best dancers in the nation, and you can watch them killing it without breaking the bank! same-day rush tickets for the ballet go dor $25. Students have it even better, with student same-day rush tickets costing $10! Additionally, students are granted FREE same-day rush tickets on opening nights.
Check out the Philadelphia Ballet’s website for their performance dates!
C. Enjoy the pay-what-you-wish day at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is home to invaluable art! In addition to its historical art pieces and contemporary exhibitions, the museum’s interior design is a stunning sight that’s well worth a visit. On the first Sunday of each month, you can explore this incredible museum without breaking the bank, as the entrance fee is on a pay-what-you-wish basis.
6. Explore the campus of one of the best universities on Earth
The University of Pennsylvania has an incredible campus (and alumni list!) Whether you are looking to take a picture in front of Wharton’s building, buy university swag, or visit the Penn Museum, the campus is worth a stop!
Pro tip: The Penn Museum is a gem in the city, try to carve out time to explore their rich collection of archeological pieces. Their collection is very diverse, including items ranging from Native American artifacts to Egyptian mummies.
7. See (and hear!) the world’s biggest organ at a Macy’s
How about shopping while listening to the world’s biggest organ? Macy’s bought the building where the Wanamaker Organ, which happens to be the world’s biggest organ, is located. Now, anyone entering the store gets to appreciate the size and beauty of this instrument!
The best part is that the organ is played from Monday to Saturday, both at noon and 5:30 PM. To hear the concerts, all you need to do is enter the Macy’s store for free!
Where to stay in Philadelphia
My rule of thumb for Philly accommodation is sticking to Center City for a safe and well-connected stay! Here are my favorite hotels in town:
Budget option: La Reserve Bed and Breakfast
In Philly, La Reserve B&B is the most budget I’d go. I’ve stayed at the
Apple Hostels of Philadelphia before and found the experience quite creepy! At La Reserve, you can have the privacy and safety of your own room on a budget. Also, I really like their grandma-home-style decor!
Mid-range option: Hyatt Centric Center City
A comfortable and modern stay at a fantastic location! Just by Rittenhouse Square and my favorite Pizza in Philly (Pizzeria Vetri), the Hyatt Centric is an amazing accommodation option in Philly.
Philadelphia on a budget: where to eat, visit, & stay
Featuring the best view in town, incredible service, and brand-new facilities, the Four Seasons Hotel is hands-down the best place to stay in Philadelphia. If you are traveling on a budget, still stop by this hotel for a snack at their stunning restaurant!
Safety tips for visiting Philadelphia
Philly’s top tourist spots are very safe to visit, but the city does have its rougher patches that should be avoided. To stay safe during your trip to Philly:
- Stay away from the Kensington neighborhood at all times! Seriously. I’ve seen people injecting heroin at the Kensington subway station at 2 PM on a Tuesday. To be safe, avoid walking at night in all areas outside of downtown
- Do not take the Broad Street subway line at night or late afternoon.
- Avoid the MFL subway past 40th Street to the West and past Girard on the East at night or late afternoon.
I wish you an amazing time visiting the city of brotherly love! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive travel deals and inspirations directly to your inbox.
Traveling around the US? Make sure to check out my guide to San Francisco, my favorite city in the whole country!
