Once you’ve seen Independence Hall and taken a photo with Rocky, what else is there to do? Fortunately, Philadelphia is teeming with under-the-radar gardens, unique spaces, and other hidden attractions that even long-time residents may not know about. We’ve dedicated a lot of time over the years to visiting some of the city’s lesser known spots to determine what should make this list of hidden gems worth seeing. If you’re a visitor with time on your hands or a local looking to explore something different, these are some of our favorites to help you get started in uncovering the city’s best kept secrets.
Click the red markers on the map for specific locations.
Bartram’s Garden
At nearly 300 years old, Bartram’s Garden is the oldest botanical garden in North America. What’s really interesting here isn’t just that it’s a gorgeous, free attraction but that visiting is a bit of a history lesson. Descriptions around the grounds explain which plants were used as medicine or for other important purposes in the colonies. We love wandering the River Trail to see wildflowers, plants, and trees whose history stretches back centuries.
Take advantage of the chance to get up close with nature here by borrowing binoculars, fishing rods, and tackle from the Visitor’s Center on Fridays and Saturdays. From mid-May to mid-October, there are Saturday kayaking and boating lessons, which make for a fun opportunity to get out on the Schuykill River. Pro tip: Parking on weekends or during events can be challenging on-site, but street parking is often available on 51st and 56th Streets.
Masonic Temple of Philadelphia
The Masonic Temple of Philadelphia is a sumptuously decorative building with a 150-year history of hosting meetings of the secretive Freemasons. We hoped to get some clarity on some of the conspiracy theories that surround the enigmatic Masons during our tour of the temple, but it was not to be. Unfortunately, the guide offered little information about the fraternity, and almost all the content was about the building.
Still, the hour-long guided tour was interesting and allowed us to see several of the temple’s ornate meeting halls. There are replicas of statues from Greece’s Parthenon and columns with Egyptian designs, among other thought-provoking things. We particularly enjoyed the Arabic calligraphy in Oriental Hall. Did we mention the 13-foot-tall Ben Franklin statue? Yes, the Philadelphia resident who was famously a Mason is memorialized here, too.
Zagar Mosaics
The Magic Gardens—a whimsical, artistic experience surrounded by mosaics and reclaimed objects—is one of the top attractions in the city. Its creator artist Isaiah Zagar is a prolific artist beyond his greatest known work, however.
One of our favorite things about driving around the city (especially in South Philly) is finding the unexpected Zagar mosaics. On a random street corner, gracing a storefront, on a wall beside a school—you never quite know where one of his distinctive pieces will turn up. They’re easily identifiable and never fail to make us smile because they’re always a surprise. This map shows where many are located so you can find them for yourself.
Pennsylvania Hospital Garden
Pennsylvania Hospital is one of the many things we can thank Ben Franklin for. He founded this institution as the first hospital in the United States, built decades before the country even existed. Its Pine Building— located on Pine between 8th and 9th Street—is still in use today.
The back of the building features a gorgeous garden with azaleas, wisteria, and towering trees that date back to the hospital’s founding. In the center a statue of William Penn overlooks it all. The garden is free to visit, and many people don’t know that it’s open to the public.
Shofuso Japanese Garden
The Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park has a heavenly garden and koi pond alongside the magnificent traditional-style Japanese house. Walk through to see the rooms (make sure to take off your shoes!) as well as a collection of murals that were inspired by the waterfall on the grounds. The most impressive part is the garden and the pond, which we enjoy seeing any time to site is open. March is a particularly good time to visit when the cherry blossoms on the property and right outside the walls are blooming–it’s one of our favorite places to see them.
James G. Kaskey Memorial Park
The James G. Kaskey Memorial Park is an ecological oasis on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. If you didn’t know to look for it, it would be very easy to pass by this nearly hidden spot. The cascading waterfall and singing birds almost make us forget about the busy city barely a block away.
The quiet space is surrounded by research labs and buildings of the Biology Department. Hence, the name of the lovely pond at the park’s center—the BioPond. Life sciences and art students use the area as part of their studies, and plenty of other people come to enjoy the turtles, koi, and variety of wildflowers.
Rodin Museum
Although it’s very close to two of the city’s main art attractions–the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Collection–the Rodin Museum is often overlooked. We’ll confess that we, too, took a shamefully long time to put this museum that houses the largest collection of Auguste Rodin’s work outside of France on our must-visit list. What we found when we finally went was a spectacular assembly of drawings, studies, and sculptures both inside and outside.
A bronze cast of The Thinker greeted us before we even stepped inside, as did a cast of The Gates of Hell, the work to which Rodin dedicated much of his life. If you’re interested in the intricacies of making heads and hands out of giant slabs of marble, a visit here will be deeply satisfying. Admission is pay what you wish ($15 suggested for adults), so there is no reason not to stop in. Even better: on every Friday in the summer, there is a garden bar with drinks, bites, and music among the sculptures.
Bok Bar
There are few better places to appreciate the skyline than from Bok Bar in South Philly. This seasonal bar (April to October) occupies a space in the former Bok Vocational High School. Though the school closed years ago, many of its architectural details have been preserved, making it one of the most unique places in the city for a drink with a view and a perfect date night experience.
Food vendors change monthly and include some of the city’s best chefs (we’ve had food from Fiore, Kalaya, and Sweet Amalia here) plus a selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. There are frequent special events, including drag brunches, rooftop yoga, salsa dancing nights, and more.
Headhouse Farmers Market
The Headhouse Farmers Market is a go-to for produce, flowers, and artisanal food and is one of the best farmers markets in the city. Every Sunday, the market shed fills with vendors from around the region in the building whose history dates to 1745. Come hungry and ready to shop.
Our favorite vendors include Birchrun Hills for cheese, empanadas from Jezabel’s cafe, and produce from Beechwood Orchards. Some of the vendors accept preorders, so check ahead of time if there’s something you’re particularly interested in.
The Rosenbach
The Rosenbach Museum & Library is a book lover’s dream. From Lewis Carroll’s own copy of Alice in Wonderland to a handwritten manuscript for Ulysses by James Joyce, the museum is filled with rare books and manuscripts.
Beyond the books, there are other special items to see. Several rooms are set up as they might have been when the Rosenbach brothers lived here. They showcase ancient statues, artwork, and artifacts collected from around the world. We saw everything from a jewelry chest that belonged to King Charles II to an unusual clock made by Marie Antoinette’s clock maker. Don’t miss the charming garden outside. It’s a lovely place to linger in good weather.
Cliveden
In 1777, the Cliveden estate cemented its place in history when it became the site of the Battle of Germantown, the only Revolutionary War battle to happen in Philadelphia.
A guided tour of Cliveden gives an interesting look at the history of the house and the seven generations of the Chew family that lived here. Themes and highlights of the tour change with exhibits like “The Women of Cliveden” and “The Turmoil of Transition.” Our tour was a small group, so it was easy to ask questions and elaborate on different parts of the story. Throughout the year, there are special presentations about a variety of topics like citizenship, Blacks during the Revolution, and stories uncovered in the Chew family papers. You can also walk around the park-like grounds for free or attend one of the regular yoga classes.
On the first Saturday of October every year, Cliveden hosts the Revolutionary Germantown Festival, which features a battle reenactment on the lawn and other events. Many of the sites of Historic Germantown are also open and free to visit on that day, and we love checking out a new-to-us spot every year.
Southeast Asian Market
On weekends from April through October, FDR Park buzzes with the sights and smells of the Southeast Asian Market. Its 70 vendors sell a huge variety of Laotian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Thai food. Market staples include beef skewers (our favorites), stuffed chicken wings, and Thai noodle dishes. There is even a lemongrass chicken cheesesteak at the Sahbyy Food’s stand, which is not to be missed.
Come early to miss some of the lines and bring a picnic blanket or folding chair to make yourself comfortable for one of the most delicious lunches around. The market runs every Saturday and Sunday in season unless there is inclement weather or a home Eagles game.
Cedar Park Houses
Some of the prettiest houses in the city are in the Spruce Hill and Cedar Park neighborhoods at the edge of University City. Filled with brightly painted Queen Anne Victorian twins and homes with other unique features, the neighborhoods are a delight for architecture lovers. Grab a drink or snack from Green Line Cafe to enjoy while you wander.
Shane Confectionery
A confectionery has occupied the space at Letitia and Market for over 150 years, making it America’s oldest candy shop. Shane Confectionery pays homage to that history in its offerings of old-fashioned candy and chocolate alongside modern products.
Shane is known for its creations like the Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas gift called Clear Toy Candy, its buttercreams based on a 100-year-old recipe, and the products they make with honey from the beehives they keep on their store roof. The hand-crafted treats are worth the trip. If you stop in, don’t miss the variety of drinking chocolates available in the café in the back. It’s hard to go wrong with any choice here, but we particularly like their caramel truffles.
View of Independence Mall
Independence Visitor Center offers lots of information about things to do in the city. You can get pamphlets about tours, tickets to visit Independence Hall, and there’s a café to take a break at. Our favorite thing about this spot, though, is the view.
From the deck, you can see Independence Mall, which includes many of the most famous places in Old City—Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the President’s House. Occasional pop-up events turn the terrace into a beer garden with one of the best atmospheres in the city.
Rail Park
A section of overgrown, unused rail lines has been revitalized into Rail Park. The pet-friendly elevated space has native plants and trees, walking paths, and even swings above Center City. We love enjoying the space as it is, but it’s even more fun when there are special events like tours or the lion dances that happen annually at Lunar New Year. The park is free and open every day. Entrances are at 1300 Noble Street and Callowhill Street between 11th and 12th Streets.
Fountain Street Steps
If you’ve ever walked near the river in Manayunk, you’ve probably seen the Fountain Street Steps. If you haven’t, you’re missing out.
Properly known as “Water Under the Bridge,” this stunning work by mosaic artist Beth Clevenstine and muralist Paul Santoleri has 70 steps adorned in colored glass that combine to look like a waterfall. In a city full of great public art, the steps are truly a standout.
Germantown White House
Visiting the Germantown White House (aka the Deshler-Morris House) is a step back in time to the years when Philadelphia was the US capital. During the 1793 yellow fever pandemic, George Washington and his family fled the city to the Germantown countryside where they took up residence. The president liked it so much that he returned the following year for vacation and even held Cabinet meetings here.
The home is decorated as it would have been for Washington, and guided tours show you the president’s workspace and the family’s accommodation. We appreciate that they also provide background about the roughly 20 enslaved people the Washingtons brought with them and don’t gloss over the subject. Unfortunately, the property is truly a “hidden gem” for the moment because it is closed for renovations. Hopefully reopening will be on the horizon this summer.
I lived in Philly all these years and never heard of these places. I love it 🥰. More places to explore this summer.
I’m glad we could add to your list! It’s always fun to discover something new 🙂