Philadelphia City Hall has become a must-visit for me whenever I am in the city for running events like the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run or the Philadelphia Distance Run. My trips just don't feel complete without stopping by to take in its architecture. I remember the 2022 Broad Street Run vividly, falling in love with the building's design around mile five of the course. Being near it, I must say, it has an astonishing presence. I learned that it was designed by Scottish-born architect John McArthur Jr. and Thomas Ustick Walter in the French Second Empire style, with construction spanning from 1871 to 1901. The exterior tower was completed by 1894, although the interior was not finished until 1901. At the very top stands a 37-foot bronze statue of William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia. At 548 feet, this made it the tallest habitable building in the world from 1894 to 1908. City Hall sits on one of the five original urban park squares laid out by William Penn. Geometrically, it is the center of the other four squares within Center City--an area fittingly renamed Penn Square. If you are planning a trip to Philadelphia, I highly recommend including a walk around this iconic landmark on your itinerary, though it is bound to catch your eye unexpectedly while you are downtown. One of my favorite sculptures on the outer perimeter is of Octavius Catto, a trailblazing civil rights leader, educator, and athlete whose contributions to racial equality in 19th-century America remain profound. ~ Be obsessively grateful ~ Thomas G read more

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Philadelphia City Hall is a truly impressive building that caught my attention even from a distance. The architecture is detailed and grand, with every part offering something interesting. The surroundings are lively and well maintained, which enhances the overall experience. During my walk, I stopped here to admire the details. It is definitely one of the main landmarks of the city. There are also many interesting sculptures nearby. read more

The heart and center of Philly is City Hall, can't miss it. Stayed close by as always walking pass it it and last two trips realizing the short cut. If you walk under and through look at the architecture. This is where the court house is etc... All the metro lines stop here and nothing usually of interest however... Came back in June 2025 and saw in the Courtyard: The Portal which is really cool. Ah this is where the NYC Portal went!!! The Philadelphia City Hall portal connects to 3 cities: 1) Lublin, Poland , 2) Dublin, Ireland, 3) Vilnius, Lithuania. It was really cool - but you just have to wait for it to cycle through - the country flag is on the top center of the portal. This was the highlight of City Hall. Otherwise outside there is a roller rink and sometimes other attractions going on. Happened to be in town during the Club World Cup Weekend. read more

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Easily one of, if not the most spectacular government buildings I've ever seen. It looks more like a French chateau than a city hall lol. read more

City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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If you haven't been to room 116 in City Hall, it's time to stop by! Creative Philadelphia is located here they have changing art exhibits all year long. The space was recently redone. It looks amazing with nice bright white walls a beautiful floor the room really highlights the art currently the art of dumpster divers is on exhibit. The art is made with found objects that was really interesting. When a new exhibit opens they host a reception usually during the day so it's convenient if you work in Center City. It is another hidden gem in Philadelphia. read more

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The city hall tour was informative and is ran by volunteers. The building is beautifully up kept and is still working and functional. The prices range starts around $20. The reason I have this a three is because the actual workers at the ticketing office that are not the volunteers were a bit rude. To be honest no one was rude with them. They rolled their eyes if you asked a question for clarification that may sound silly but help was needed. They also made a snarky comment under their breath. The older gentleman working there was kind but the 2 females and other male were not. I'm not sure if it was nearing the end of the day or missed lunch but they were rude. It made me uncomfortable because I was polite when purchasing my ticket and asking for clarification. So I recommend going to check it out yes but be prepared for the ticketing people. read more

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I've had to come into City Hall a couple times over the last year and I must say the process is very easy even though you have to go through security and take off your belt... It runs smoothly and the staff is very friendly and helpful. To ease the process I suggest you don't wear a belt or bring mase or weapons. Oh have your ID ready. If you don't have your ID like I didn't, they have a different entrance for you to go to. Thank Goodness! I was about to be annoyed. read more

City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Stunning! I passed by the city hall a few times a day walking my way around Philly. There are many angles and sides of this glorious building to admire. The architecture work on this building is a godly work of art. This beauty is made up of limestone, white marble and brick. In 2006 it was named a national historic civil engineering landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. I was restricted on personal time during my visit, but WHEN I have the opportunity to come back to Philadelphia, I heard you are able to tour the building and they have an open air observation deck. Too bad I didn't know until after I left. Until next time you sexy thang! read more

City Hall - city hall - gorgeous - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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City Hall is a beautifully designed architectural marvel. Had a chance to explore the inside and out. A bronze statue of William Penn is affixed at the top of the building. Registered on the US historic landmarks, it has has appeared in many films and also serves as a courthouse, read more

City Hall - Philadelphia City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Loved the architecture and the style of the Philadelphia City Hall, in all its Second Empire glory - it houses the Philadelphia City Council and the mayor offices, as well as the courthouse. We actually cut through to get to the other side, and there were public restrooms available - definitely could have needed more attention to, as it was wet floors, TP all over, and no hand soap - eeks! There's security posted by the entrances. Note that the cut-through walkway closes in the evenings, so you'll have to walk around the premise. +unclean public restrooms read more

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Located in the heart of the Center City, Philadelphia City Hall was built to house the entirety of government--City Council, Mayor and Supreme Court remains today the tallest masonry-bearing building in the world. Designed in the ornate Second Empire style, the domed tower rises over 547 feet/22 stories topping off with a statue of William Penn. While my partner and I were here last Saturday, the holiday market at the nearby Dilworth Park was coming to life as some of the vendors were setting up their stands with decorations while ice skaters enjoying the makeshift rink. It's definitely worth a visit for its craftsmanship and breathtaking architecture. read more

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There's an observation deck at the top of City hall that has a 360 degree of the city. It's only $10 and open M-F during the day. Very cool experience! read more

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The outside areas of Dilworth Plaza have certainly improved since I was a kid! The area was clean filled with tulips read more

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This weekend I played tourist in my own city and visited City Hall for the tower tour. I had always wanted to go and see the tour but since the tour is only available during the week, it has been hard to make an appointment. The tour cost $15/pp which I think it just about right. When we arrived, they were a little overwhelmed but everyone was still very friendly. We had to wait a little before actually going up in the tower but I didn't mind the wait. I bought some postcards to send to my family it was a little over $2 after tax for the postcards. Once we got going, we went through security and we went up! Beautiful panoramic views. It was cool to see the art museum, comcast towers, and the Ben Franklin bridge. It is a little awkward angle of Billy Penn but still cool nonetheless. I feel like every Philadelphian should try and make a trip up there, just don't take off work for it! read more

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Philadelphia City Hall is massive and impressive. Completed in 1901, it's the largest city hall in America, covering 14.5 acres of total floor space and rising high at 548 feet (it was the tallest building in Philadelphia until 1986). The building is topped with an enormous statue of William Penn, founder of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. This statue is its most notable and defining feature. It's situated so high, you can see it from many different places within the city. City Hall has made appearances in numerous films including, most recently, the DC superhero movie Shazam! (2019). Something funny happens to William Penn in the movie. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448115/ There was also a curse associated with the William Penn statue known as the Curse of Billy Penn. I first learned about it while watching the Rocky location tour documentary Rocky Jumped a Park Bench: https://youtu.be/ryGnmGKbRFo?t=757. In the documentary, host James Rolfe (more famously known as the Angry Video Game Nerd) explains that Philadelphia sports teams were cursed because there was another building in the city that was built higher than William Penn. That curse was broken when the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. Less than 10 years later, the Eagles would go on to win Super Bowl LII (2018). In college sports, Villanova won the 2016 and 2018 NCAA men's basketball championships. Two tours are available for City Hall, the Interior Tour and the Tower Tour. The Interior Tour lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours and includes the Tower Tour. The Tower Tour, where you go to the top of the tower for amazing city views, is also available separately. Currently, an adult ticket costs $15 for the Interior Tour and $8 for the Tower Tour (less for military, seniors, and students). Visit the City Hall Visitor Center at 1 S Penn Square, Room 121 and the Independence Visitor Center's website for more info: https://www.phlvisitorcenter.com/CityHall. No trip to City Hall is complete without visiting the two relatively new/renovated parks nearby, Dilworth Park (https://www.yelp.com/biz/dilworth-park-philadelphia-9) and Love Park (https://www.yelp.com/biz/love-park-philadelphia). If you're sightseeing in Philly, these and walking up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (https://www.yelp.com/biz/ben-franklin-parkway-philadelphia) to the Rocky Steps (https://www.yelp.com/biz/rocky-steps-philadelphia) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (https://www.yelp.com/biz/philadelphia-museum-of-art-philadelphia) are highly recommended. read more

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City Hall in Philadelphia is a beautiful structure where a lot of famous things happen and it still standing today. They have a lot of neat statues and a lot of cool designs on the building it's just a awesome site to see when you were in the heart of Philadelphia city and see all the structures that surround it with City Hall is definitely a very large Eye appealing structure read more

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Public art - open to the public Visited City Hall while on Spring break in March 2022. COVID lock downs are starting to lift and PHL is opening back up. City Hall was open to the public for the Harriett Tubman quilt exhibit. I love the love that PHL has for Harriett Tubman, they totally claim her as a daughter of PHL. We also purchased a guided tour of City Hall in addition to walking thru on our own. The guided tour is purchased a few blocks away at the visitor center which is confusing and unnecessary. The city should move the Visitor Center back to the City Hall complex. Pamela Thornton was our tour guide and she is a lot of fun! Highly recommended. The architecture or the public art alone is worth the visit. The guided tour provides additional context and education and is absolutely worth it! Enjoy! read more

City Hall - City hall "floating" staircase. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Dreary, dark, miserable, dirty, crumbling, cold, ruthless, indifferent. Lots of corruption behind those closed doors. But the history trumps the many negatives. Every Philadelphian or history lover absolutely must visit this dungeon of political evil. read more

Absolutely beautiful building. The architecture is just amazing and definitely worth some pictures. It seems there is always something going on outside and the place is always hopping. read more

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I recently visited Philadelphia for the first time and I was blown away by city hall. It's the largest free-standing masonry building in the world and it has (what must be millions of) intricate carvings in the white marble and limestone. This truly breathtaking building is a National Historic Landmark for a reason and it is absolutely worth the visit. read more

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The city hall is located in the heart of the Center City. If you are on the hop-on hop-off tour bus, you will definitely pass by this historic landmark several times. The architecture is beautiful. The visitor center inside the building is very helpful. I really enjoy the observation deck tour. $8 for 15 minutes. 360 degree view. From here, I can view all the high-rise buildings. And is more than enjoy taking lots of nice photos. They also have interior tour as well. read more

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I got off a SEPTA train at Suburban station. I saw the city hall. The building was big. I walked around the building. I saw many statues. People were gathering. It looked like a hangout place for people. Just walk around here! read more

City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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In some cities, it's more of a Sh**ty Hall than a City Hall but not in the wonderful metropolis of Fill-a-till-for-ya (which is what the teller always does for me during bank robberies). This is one of the most beautiful city halls I have ever seen. It is one of the grandest old buildings in Philly, and is one of the many reasons why I love walking or driving around downtown Philly. You can walk right up to it, and alongside it, and through it, and play in the fountains like the kids are doing in my picture. It's a wonderful meeting point and will take your breath away. It reminds me of the Executive Office building in DC. It looks French or something. Five stars, easily. Very easily. If it were a CD Hall it might be even better because it'd sell used music. It's not, though, so let's admire it for what it is. read more

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This review is for the actual amazing building itself and for the view from the tower but it is NOT for the tour. Some facts gathered from the internet: In his original 1682 design for the city, William Penn set aside the Center Square for public buildings, but it took 200 years before the square was used for that purpose. Construction begun in 1871 and took over 30 years to complete. John McArthur Jr. was the architect and supervised construction with the assistance of Thomas U. Walter. The first floor is built of solid granite -- 22 feet thick in some places -- supporting a brick structure faced with marble. The 548-foot tower is the tallest masonry structure in the world without a steel frame. ----- Needless to say I was completely smitten with the beauty and timelessness of this building. We walked around it, drove around it, went inside of it and went up in the tower of it. One tour guide mentioned there were discussions about tearing it down, thankfully that didn't happen. It would have cost too much money to tear it down. Ask someone, especially a Philly sports fan, about the curse of Billy Penn which involves a gentleman's agreement that no other building on the Philadelphia skyline would be taller than this one. Touring the tower was a bit of a strange experience for us. The tours are offered every 15 minutes on Monday thru Friday. We showed up about 10:45 on a Friday. You go to the visitors center to get your tickets. There's a store and I had picked up a few small items to purchase and at the counter we informed the ladies we wanted to take the tour. They gave us the 11:00 slot. They said, you will have to hurry to make it on time. The building was under renovation which meant getting to the right place up on the 7th floor took longer than usual. They wouldn't even let us finish our purchase. It was all very rushed. We finally get up to the 7th floor in the 90+ degree weather and it's totally empty. Nobody is around. Very strange. At 11:00 a lady appears and snips at my husband about locking up his back pack. She got us in the elevator and recited a speech in which she sounded like.a.robot.with.no.personality. There was absolutely no interaction once we were out on the observation deck. Maybe she was having an off day, the whole thing was very strange. But I would do it again for an up close look at this beautiful building and those amazing views! read more

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One of the best City halls in America. Amazing that an endeavor like this was taken. If you are in Philadelphia take the time to go on the tour. They offer two tours, one straight to the tower and the other is of most of city hall and the tower. The tour takes about 90 minutes but it is packed with so much history. Definitely worth the time and fee. Prepare to walk a lot so you should have comfortable shoes. Amazing that at one time they actually thought to knock it down-thank God they did not. I loved the visit and gentleman giving the tour was very knowledgeable. The amount of money and craftsmanship it took to do this marvelous building is crazy. You can purchase the tickets at The City hall visitor center. To think that at one time they actually thought about razing this building. They just don't make them like this anymore. The best City Hall in America. read more

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Looking for something affordable to do in Philly? Are you one to visit observation decks and take tons of pics of cityscapes? This is your place! TICKETS: Purchases are made in the library-like visitor's center office on the ground level. They were dirt cheap, about $5 when we were here a few years ago. There are numerous time slots available being that they're booked in 15 minute increments. OBSERVATION DECK: A short elevator ride brings you to the 500 foot elevation. The 360-degree view deck is enclosed with glass, and ventilation grates here and there which made it very nippy since it was November. The ceiling of the deck is also glass, so you get an under view of the William Penn Statue that is the spire of the building. While you can't really get a good photo of him, it's a cool angle and perspective to see. A highlight for me was the limited amount of people allowed up at once which is 4, and there were 3 in our group, so we had the escort/guide all to ourselves. The lesser the crowd, the better for me. Allow about a half hour out of your day for this. OVERALL: Cheap, fast, great photo ops, and not bustling like Rockefeller Center or the Empire State Building. read more

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I'm a life long Philadelphian that has always been enamored of City Hall. To show my age, I remember the times when the gentlemen's agreement existed that no building could be taller than Billy Penn's hat. I was 15 when they finally broke that agreement. As a kid, I was fascinated by the look of the place. But in all my life, I always admired City Hall from the outside. Today, after a trip with my one year old son to see the Macys light show, I decided today would be the day. If we could, I'd take the family up on the tower. This was a risk with my son. After all I didn't know how he'd take to this. But there was only one way to find out. Personally, I'm a veteran of many observation towers. From the World Trade Center in NYC in my youth, to the Prudential Building in Boston, the CN Tower in Toronto, and the granddaddy of them all the Empire State Building, I love these things. But to see this one is special to me. I must start by saying visiting this observation deck is full of inconvenience. You have to reserve time because they can only take 4 up at once. The size of the deck and elevator won't really allow for more with a guide. If you're big like me, then you'll eat the space in the elevator for sure. You have to walk around the building to get to the waiting area. The elevator ride is cramped and slow. My son was not a fan of the elevator as he clutched on to me and cried during it a bit. It had to overwhelm him. Once you get off the elevator, the hallway to get to the deck is narrow. You have to be careful again if you're big like me and holding a one year old. But once that's all done, once you're on the deck, the inconvenience becomes worth it. You pretty much have the deck to yourself for 15 minutes. And it truly is the perfect vantage point. It's quite safe with the glass enclosure. Once up there, my son calmed down and enjoyed it. I loved every minute up there. Riding back down wasn't fun as my son is a bit traumatized by that elevator. The experience of being cramped with strangers along with seeing yourself go up through the glass has to be overwhelming. But a kid friendly YouTube video on the ride down calmed him. I may not do it again. But I'm really glad I got to do it once. read more

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Oh my god! This is the most beautiful carved stone building I have ever seen! I am not joking! If I would have known how beautiful this building was, I would have made a special trip to Philadelphia just to see it. It was once the tallest building in the world (besides like, Pyramids). You have to see it. Get your Garmin and head to Philadelphia. Why wasn't there a History Channel special on this building? People need to know that this building exists. It is a modern masterpiece. read more

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This place really is a remarkable piece of architecture...I can't believe you can find something like this in the US! It honestly looks like something from Paris - it's enormous, detailed, elaborate, ornate and just plain amazing. It's too bad the area around it can be a bit shady, but it doesn't take away from how fantastic this building really is. Considering that most modern building are fairly dull or even eye-sores, it's nice to have a piece of history in downtown Philly. Philadelphians should be proud that they have such an amazing building! read more

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I always look for this building every time we are in Philly It's especially beautiful in the snow read more

City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

City hall is one of my favorite places in Philadelphia it's so nice looking and filled with history. The architecture is amazing, gotta visit it if you're in Philly read more

Okay, not sure why the address is so wrong? Anyone can update that? It used to be that this was the tallest building in the city and that no other building would be as tall as William Penn up top until Liberty Place was built. The tallest building made of purely masonry, I believe, in the world - some of the walls are more than 20' thick of stone! Often photographed from South Broad Street in the center of the street. Interestingly enough, I've always known this structure with at least one side in scaffolding (internal or external), as they're always washing off one side of the structure or another. Internally, halls of clerks and justices are not always available to the public, but the center courtyard had entry to the Broad Street line (not sure if those are still open). The other edges double as an informal skate park (though police try to prevent that). read more

Philly's City Hall was easily the most beautiful building I saw while exploring the city. The stone work, arches, marble details were all just stunning. And I loved my walk through the building to the courtyard. Apparently they offer up a tour to the top- best believe I'm looking into that for our next adventure into Philly. Love me some architectural jewels and this building is definitely one. read more

City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This city hall is so pretty! I LOVE IT! Didn't get a chance to try to go inside and there is construction going on. =/ read more

City Hall - city hall at night. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia's City Hall Interior Hall Tour (that includes Observation Deck Access) was well worth the 2 hours and $15. It's available at 12:30 (weather permitting) on weekdays to explore the architecture, art, and history of the largest municipal building in the United States. Our guide was quirky, but thorough. The tour started with a walk around the exterior pointing out stories and statues along way. Inside, we stopped in the Mayor's Reception Room, Conversation Hall, and City Council Caucus Room before heading to the Observation Deck just under the huge iconic statue of William Penn on the Clock Tower 548 feet above the city. The glass-enclosed area is limited to 4 guests at a time which makes it a peaceful experience to get 360-degree panoramic views of Philadelphia. There is also an $8 Observation Deck-only tour that leaves every 15 minutes if you have less time and don't need/want all the history. Note that both tours require timed tickets which you can purchase in the gift shop or online. Fast Facts about City Hall: * Took 30 years to build: 1871 - 1901 * It was designed to be the tallest building in the world * But never held the title as steel structures sprung past it * From 1894-1908, it was the world's tallest habitable building * 1st floor is solid granite up to 22 feet thick * Brick faced with marble was used for higher floors * The Clock tower rises to 548 feet * It is the tallest masonry structure in the world without a steel frame * Until 1987, City Hall was the tallest building in Philadelphia * It contains almost 700 rooms & 14.5 acres of floor space * Alexander Milne Calder designed the bronze William Penn statue * The 27-ton, 37-feet-tall statue took 2 years to build * The statue was installed in 1894 * 26-ft-diameter clocks are on each side of the tower * Calder also sculpted 250 figures, heads, masks and statues on the exterior of City Hall. * The building cost $24 million to construct * Named a National Historic Landmark in 1976 read more

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The center of it all. City hall is just beautiful in its antique and unique architecture. From any part of the city, during anytime of the day, it is literally BEAUTIFUL. I've never been inside, but the outside will suffice. You can often into activities being taken at the center of city hall, and some of them are interesting. If not, you can just take a breather during your day in the area and enjoy the scenery and history in the heart of the read more

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My boyfriend and I just visited Philly for the first time and this is a can't miss! What a cool building, you can't even count all the statues. One star off because the area is a little dirty read more

Philadelphia, or the City of Brotherly, is such a kick-ass place to love and live. I don't just lay claim to: The Independence Hall or the Italian Stallion. Which I'll skip for now (Yo adrian, sorry!) - Location: Literally in the heart of Center City on a four block area. - Construction period: January 3, 1871-June 26, 1901. - It was the tallest building in the world, for 14 years. - It was the tallest building in Philadelphia, for 100 years. - It IS the largest municipal building in the United States. Seriously, with 700 rooms, offices and chambers. - Architecture: French 2nd Empire. The interior of the City Hall building is AMAZING. Even though at some point was called "the biggest and ugliest building in America." Ironic, right! - William Penn, or as we like to call him Willy, is really GIGANTIC ( 37-foot, 27-ton statue). Phun Phact: That thing you see from distant, is not Willy's penis, I'm sorry but the rumor has it. So, after I took city hall tour, I'm assuring you it's his hand extended to offer a blessing, not his penis. Pro tip: Please, please please do the City Hall interior and tower tour. You'll not regret it, trust me. - Cost: $8.25/adult for the tower and $15.25/adult for the interior & tower tour. Dirt cheap. - Hours: Monday- Friday. Tower tour: 9:30am-4:15pm (available every 15 minutes), and interior & tower tour available only at 12:30pm. Keep in mind that tower tour depends on the weather and capacity permit conditions. - Why observation deck tour? 1) To see William Penn up close. and 2) To see the city from his point of view, literally (panoramic view above ground). - Why interior tour? Really??? You need a reason? Aren't you just curious to see some of the 700 rooms inside City Hall?!! Five Yelps... read more

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We had an excellent time going up in the tower. Amazing 360° view of the city. We rode up in the elevator & they let us hang out & take pictures for about 10 minutes. Definitely worth it! read more

City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

NOTE: this review is specifically for City Hall's Observation Deck Access to city hall's observation deck is weekdays only (9:30AM - 4:15PM) - making it the most touristy-for-a-non-tourist activity in Philadelphia (read: only convenient for center city 9-5ers looking for a way to spice up their lunch break) For just $5, you get to enter the (somewhat sketchy) interior of the "tallest masonry structure (without a steel frame) in the world" and venture up the cramped tower elevator with your very own security guard. Well, that's what happened to me...I think the groups are generally 3-4 people - it's just that um, no one else showed up for my time slot. Choose your day wisely, my friends - a perfectly blue, clear sky with the sun shining makes for stellar city views and exceptionally captivating photos. read more

City Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania