Sight-seeing in Philadelphia might seem a daunting ordeal for the novice visitor. The city, after all, is the sixth largest in the United States and home to 5.8 million Philadelphia residents—its sheer size alone contains a metropolitan area that encompasses a total twelve counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. A trip to Philadelphia, however, is worth every step. The city features walkable plazas, centers and national parks that are both historically and culturally significant and every form of public transportation is accessible at key locations in and around the city. The most notable Philadelphia attractions lie in the city’s historical old quarter, Old City, and the cultural, economic, education and political centers that embellish Center City.

The city of Philadelphia is world-renowned for laying the foundations of American freedom and liberty and its decisive role in American history. Dubbed as ‘America’s Most Historical Square Mile,’ the Independence National Historical Park includes the Independence Mall which features Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the National Constitution Center. These are the main Philadelphia attractions that are a must-see for all tourists making the journey to the city of many firsts.

Independence Hall—a UNESCO world heritage site—is the centerpiece of the broad plaza and it served as the venue for the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Independence hall was the original Pennsylvania State House erected in 1732 and completed in 1756. The Georgian architecture and brick building has a tall wooden steeple was where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. It was also the site where the American Flag was first unraveled in 1777. In addition, the Articles of Confederation uniting all thirteen British colonies were ratified in 1781 here. Last but not the least, the United States Constitution was debated and adopted in this very location in 1787.

The new Liberty Bell Center, on the other hand, houses the iconic Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell is an American national treasure and has had a dynamic significance for all Americans over the generations. As the solid apotheosis of American Independence, the bell was declared as a symbol by abolitionist societies, who gave it the name “Liberty Bell”. It was also adopted as a symbol of freedom during the Cold War and was a popular enclave for protesters in the 1960s. Originally located in Independence Hall, it was moved to a nearby pavilion on Independence Mall in 1976, and in 2003 it was relocated to the Liberty Bell Center next to the pavilion. The Liberty Bell has been depicted on coins and postage stamps, and its image and name have been widely trademarked by American corporations.

North of Independence Mall lies the National Constitution Center—a museum that aims to promote and educate the public on the significance of the sovereign charter. It has more than one hundred artifacts and interactive, multimedia exhibits about the United State’s most treasured set of documents, the US Constitution.

Visitors hankering for a tour of multiple attractions can opt for and take advantage of a Philadelphia CityPASS. Within nine days of single-ticket use, holders of a Philadelphia CityPASS can visit up to six Philadelphia attractions at a very reasonable price, even allowing pass holders to skip queuing or access courtesy lanes. The choice of attractions with a CityPASS are: 24 hours on-off privileges with Phila Trolley & The Big Bus Company; Philadelphia Zoo; Adventure Aquarium; The Franklin Institute; First Option Ticket with a choice between the Constitution Center or the Academy of Natural Sciences while Eastern State Penitentiary or Please Touch Museum are the choices for Second Option Ticket.