We went on the holly jolly founding footsteps tour. This was by far the best tour I have ever been…read moreon. It was an absolute blast if you like to party. We did this as a girls night now and can't wait until next year. We stopped at amazing places and tour guide and musician were great! Shoutout to Warren and John.

Where to begin? It's Holiday 2024, and a bunch of videos on social media are showing how fun this…read moretrolley tour is. Super excited and filled with festive joy, we walk into Craft Hall around 8:20 pm for our 9 pm tour. We brought our BYOB, and the young lady at the door takes our liquor while we wait for our tour time. We check in with an older gentleman who stated we had to wait around to get the included pizza in the reserved session because it was for the 8:30 pm tour. He'll let the 9:00 pm tour know when they're up. Still excited for the experience, we waited for our tour time to be called for the pizza, thinking they would bring out fresh, hot pizza--but no, no, no, that was wishful thinking. The same pizza was kept for our tour time, and it did not look appetizing at all. Not sure if it was just cheese pizza, but we decided not to even find out. It looks like the trolley tour had a partnership with Craft Hall, and they had a small menu where you could order food, but we were already disappointed by the looks and presentation of the pizza. Unfortunately, when it was time for us to get on the trolley, it was cold and started to rain. We were the first ones by the trolley, ready to get on, but were stopped by the host/organizer and told to wait outside so they could get the bigger groups on first. The groups of twos, like us, had to run on after. We ended up being almost last, even though we were first in line. That was not okay. Finally, we're on the trolley. Yayyy! The first part of the experience wasn't pleasant, but the guy singing and his personality were nice. We snagged a seat at the front and tried to get back in the holiday spirit. The trolley drove and drove, and the first stop was to briefly see City Hall's Christmas Tree. Some people got off the trolley to check it out. Then, the trolley drove and drove again until we got off on a corner to walk around and see the Smedley Street Christmas Lights, which were nice. We got back on and rode through The Miracle on South 13th Street. Unfortunately, the trolley's windows were very foggy, so we weren't really able to enjoy the decorations at that point. The execution of this tour wasn't the best experience from start to finish. The only thing that was truly enjoyable was singing along with the singer. The tour could've been more organized and unique to the different Christmas festivities around Philly.

After having it on my list for a while, I finally took a tour of the Masonic Temple with my husband…read moreand some friends yesterday. It was worth waiting for. Right across from the Philadelphia City Hall, the Masonic Temple serves as the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. It's a huge building and - wow - is it maximalist! Our tour was a little over an hour, and I recommend booking ahead (a group walked in just in front of us and hoped to buy tickets for the tour about to start, only to learn that it was sold out). Our tour guide was knowledgable (but told us when she didn't know the answer to a question because the Masons are secretive and keep a lot of facts about what occurs in the Lodge to themselves). The architecture is really stunning and there's so much to see: incredible plasterwork, grand staircases, murals, and more! Photography without flash is allowed throughout the tour, and I took about a million photographs. The Temple has a fascinating history, and the architecture and decor made my jaw drop a few times. Definitely worth visiting if you live in or are visiting Philadelphia.

Been two times and loved it both times. It's wild. Great tour guides. Took my early 20s kids and my…read more85 year old mom and we all had a blast.

It was an absolutely freezing December day but we were enjoying every minute. Our guide was…read moreinteresting, engaging and charming. Our family group was ages 19-85 and we all loved it. Totally recommend!

Amazing tour through Philly sharing the history, struggle and eventual Pride of Philly…read more With our private tour through our employer we moved up from a walking tour to a trolley tour going through Philly and Central City jamming out to songs and artists that are Allies of the Queer Community. I would highly encourage everyone to check out this great company that continues to shed light on the sometimes forgotten history but actually should SHINE and RING out loud about what makes the city and the community great.

We took the Grim Philly daytime tour, called Revolution and Founding Fathers. Our tour guide was…read moreJOSH. It was a two hour walking and learning history tour in downtown historic Philadelphia near Independence Hall. It was like going to a theater show. The guide presented history with energy, enthusiasm and excitement. It felt like he was describing his close friends when he was talking. The tour was very informative and a lot of fun. Experiencing the tour in historic Philadelphia with Josh brought the experience into 4D, like watching an exciting, enthralling movie. Josh asked us questions and engaged the audience throughout the tour. A+++.

Tour was great!! Part history, part ghost story, funny and thoroughly entertaining all the way…read morethrough. I think a lot of it had to do with our tour guide, Ted. He was fantastic, always made sure everyone was having a great time, and was very knowledgeable about all things Philly historical. Highly recommended!

Was expecting a tour of the historical city... got a lecture on Adams and Jefferson. It was slow -…read moreand disappointing. We had to ask questions to get the guide back on track. Finally gave the tour guide a tip just to stop the pain and went and explored on our own. Such a waste of time and money. As a travel agent I will not recommend this company.

Had such a wonderful time getting a tour with David! The weather played no factor what so ever,…read moredespite the frosty air, David took us on a great walking tour! We started out at the Independence visiting center, and walked throughout the old city! David gave us a great insight and look into way things were of our founding fathers! One of the best things of the tour was going into Christ Church and sitting in the the very bench the Gen. George Washington (1st president) sat in! This tour was fantastic, and David is very knowledgeable of his history! He answers your questions and is very patient! Would recommend this tour over and over again

Excellent walking tour of Philadelphia. We chose the Colonial Philadelphia tour. The tour guide,…read moreReid Addis, is an architect. Lots of architectural trivia, but lots of history as well, and fun facts. Very entertaining. Very knowledgeable. Comprehensive. Will definitely book another one of these tours soon.

From the owner: If you only have two to three hours in Philadelphia, spend it getting to know this historic city…read morethrough an architectural walking tour by phillyPHAT. We take your family and friends through a memorable Philadelphia sightseeing trip and a fun historic and architectural outing. We offer organized and thought-provoking Philadelphia walking tours, both public and private. Experience our historic, World Heritage city through the eyes of an architect. "Great buildings and monuments give a city the illusion of being static and timeless. But cities are best seen in movement, in the everyday life of their people, and in the sinews and connective tissue that hold the organism together. Walking is what makes a city livable and, above all, pleasurable. That is the way to survive a city, whether you are a resident or a visitor." Ben Wilson in his book Metropolis Every building in Philadelphia has a story to tell, from the materials, technology, and styles favored when it was constructed, to the people who designed, built, lived and worked there. Events of historic proportion take place in and around buildings as well. Come with me on this journey to discover all the secrets each building on our tour is waiting to tell us.

This incredibly boring tour was a waste of money and time. The tour guide spent the whole time…read moretrying to be funny. She was not. Usually a ghost tour will attempt spookiness and at the very least give some good history or stories about people of the area. We got very little history and the stories about ghosts were told as punchlines. Not spooky or entertaining at all.

This Tour was both a nice after dinner walk, and a great way to delve into stories in Philadelphias…read morehistoric district. It wasn't scary even for the kids in the group. But the guide Ellis kept them engaged by letting them look for EVP activity while on the tour. Ellis was a very engaging speaker, who clearly loves history. Great tour 100% recommended by my family.

Hands down, THE BEST Halloween attraction I've been to! Anyone can run around w/ a chainsaw, which…read morebtw is annoying, not scary. The devil (literally) is in the details. The level of artistry was impressive & went way beyond cheap jump scares. The staff NEVER broke character, from roller skating zombies, to fortune tellers, to mafiosos, no one was phoning it in. The walk thru of attractions was guided, but not rushed, & allowed just enough recovery time in between haunts. Each theme was different, from oceanic scares to a haunted ice cream truck. I found myself paying attention to the elaborate displays instead of just being shoved thru a dark corridor like cattle as people grab at you. The prison backdrop lends it's own level of creepiness, peering into dark cells & exam rooms w/ only moonlight to illuminate the stone walls. It inspired us to take the prison tour, which we were glad was available since we were unable to return during day hours. The Speakeasy/Al Capone's Cell was the highlight. Having a drink (even tho it was barely a drink) inside the cells being entertained by singers & performers was a unique experience. We initially thought, 2 hours max & grumbled at the cost. Turns out, we spent the entire night & had so much fun we bought extras. VIP really only gets you past the long a** line out front, but entry into the speakeasy allows an interaction w/ the players well worth the additional cost. We stayed until the very last performance, literally the last 2 people to exit the attraction. At no point did staff make us feel we overstayed. Clearly the organizers gained control over mishaps from last year, as our experience was nothing like the reviews that almost discouraged us from attending. If what you enjoy is a bunch of screaming teens who just want to push past you in an overly orchestrated frenzy, this is NOT the event for you! It is not overly scary or gory. It is a very professional, artistic, horror carnival that has a little something for everyone- history, some scares, & performance art.

Every year it is getting better and better. I went in with the thought that if it is not better, I…read moream not going to return. This year they really did well. I enjoyed going from one haunted attraction to another. In the past few years I felt like they were going in the direction of a hangout and drinking and less haunted attractions. But, this year they evened it out. It was a great. There was two sections to hang out and have a drink. A great way to spend your time while waiting for lines or a way to calm your nerves. I enjoyed having one haunted house after another. The special effects and the decor for the houses really were kicked up a notch this year, 2025. Ordering tickets online is very easy, and I always buy the parking pass for the zoo because it is convenient. The pricing is and can be pricy, but it is a fundraiser. So I do not really complain about it. The bus drivers were great and engaging both to there and back. I enjoyed the stories and the music. Overall this has always been my favorite haunted attraction in Philly. It really never fails. I highly recommend taking a tour outside of the Halloween time frame. I have done one of them before and loved it.

12/10 would recommend…read more This was a pleasant surprise on a random day in Philly. I've always been a history nerd (even tho I don't remember half the things I'm learning). Our host provided so much history in not only the background of the musical/artistry world but Philly as well. Facts, details and PEOPLE you never knew existed or was from the place of brotherly love! While he speaks you get to view a video of artist you grew up with and learned to love! So much information ANDDD he stops at places we wanted to visit while there too. The liberty bell, Rocky stairs and what should be historical areas around downtown! The Bus is equipped with top quality A/C, a bathroom, very clean and souvenirs are available for purchase. Bonus: there is a big surprise at the end. I won't give it away but trust me you don't want to miss out!

My wife and daughter wanted to do this. I was ambivalent, but once we started moving, I was so…read moreglad we did this. The air-conditioned bus with bathroom facilities, and an extremely knowledgeable and entertaining driver made this an amazing experience. "The Funky Man" as he told us to call him, gave us a history of Philadelphia's Blues, Soul, Jazz, Gospel, Pop, Rock, and Rap influences throughout the years. We had a couple of stops where we left the bus and were able to view Philly's walk of fame, the Rocky statue and the famous steps (which I opted out of racing up to the top). Along the way we saw many other non-musical sights as well (Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, etc.) Fun facts, an engaging driver, and video clips on the bus along the way made this the highlight of our trip to this wonderful city. (Of course, a visit to Pat's cheesesteak stand was great also, but that's another review.)

I did the 10:30 AM Independence Mall Tour Philly Tour with them on a Monday in late June 2022. I…read morewalked to the Betsy Ross House, the meeting place, from the place I was staying. If you need to use the restroom before the Tour, use the one in the Betsy Ross House because the one in the Starbucks across the street didn't have any toilet paper. We had a very big group but Toni kept us all together. She is such a gem - a much better storyteller than the Tour guide from the Independence Hall. This tour with Toni made up for the anticlimactic one from the Independence Hall. She was very thoughtful and made sure we always stopped in the shade since it was a very hot day. Her stories were entertaining and engaging. I loved all the historical snippets she'd give us about the timeperiod of the founding fathers. We got so lucky because Benjamin Franklin's printing press was finally opened after a 10-year closure. Such a great addition to The Tour. You donate whatever you want at the end and I would highly recommend it if you're in Philly.

Was running late as our train into Philly was delayed about 10 minutes. We met Glenn and were lucky…read moreenough to have a private tour as nobody else showed up. We started at the Betsy Ross house where we stayed outside for about 15 minutes. We went to elfreth's alley where we spent close to 30 minutes learning about the Trinity style architecture and lots more. We walked to the courtyard of the Ben Franklin museum. He also gave us the lowdown on where to go for the best cheesesteaks. It's pay what you wish and overall gives a great introduction to the city.