I took my children to the Franklin Institute and overall felt the price of the ticket was worth it…read more However, as a teacher, I was dismayed that the newer exhibits (Wonderous Space and Body Odessey) were very screen-heavy with an emphasis on watching videos and clicking. The few hands-on experiences were very popular (the Giant Heart, the Asteroid) and for good reason. I'm sure the exhibits were expensive, but I would love to see a return to more tactile learning for a child-centered museum. The older exhibits like Sir Isaac's Loft, Sports Zone, and Amazing Machines were great for young kids. There were so many engaging opportunities for hands-on exploration. The Science Live Shows were wonderful (we saw Liquid Air and Combustion) and both presenters were very funny and engaging. We spent about 2.5 hours there and could have stayed longer!

When trying to find something to do with my niece who was visiting me last weekend, this came to…read moremy. Because she just finished up a STEM camp for kids back home and her just liking to see/do new things, decided to take her here. Glad I did because she had a blast! We didn't get a chance to see the new Universal Theme park/studios exhibit, but she loved everything else - walking through the heart, the space exhibit where she looked up at the stars and tried to figure out how she would jump in another planet's atmosphere, etc. Great time and look forward to coming back in the future!

I love dinosaurs. I love all creatures and there is so many to look at here. I would totally…read morerecommend.

It's admittedly been a while since I was here last. Enjoyed the Botany of Nations exhibit (although…read moreSacajawea was hardly mentioned at all!). The taxidermy displays looked a little tired and dusty but the kids seemed to like them. One parent described them as a "dead zoo". The air conditioning was really struggling when we were there. Gift shop was nothing to write home about, mostly plastic crap and not a lot of books.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has one of my favorite balances in the city: it feels grand,…read morecosmopolitan, and genuinely important, yet somehow never intimidating. My art knowledge is limited, but the museum has a way of making curiosity feel like enough, whether I'm wandering through the galleries, people watching, browsing the excellent store, grabbing something at the café, or bringing our daughter to the terrific kids' areas. The building and its setting at the end of the Parkway are spectacular, and the staff consistently bring a warmth and approachability that feels distinctly Philadelphian. I also enjoy simply passing it on a run or walk and seeing it presiding over this beautiful part of the city. Friday evenings may be my favorite way to experience it. The happy hours are a fantastic deal, parking is deeply discounted, and there is something wonderfully civilized about having a glass of rosé or two in a world-class museum while a cool, diverse crowd settles in for the evening. We brought our daughter with us, and she felt completely welcome, which says a lot about what the museum gets right: sophistication without stiffness, culture without exclusion. One of Philadelphia's great institutions, and one I feel lucky to have nearby. Très bien!

Nice museum to see a bunch of paintings and history. The prices are $30 for an adult, $28 for a…read moresenior (65+ years old), $14 for a student with valid ID, and $0 for those 18 years old and younger. The fountain out front was turned off. Inside is a ton of American history. Also, Japanese art, European art, and well pretty much art all around the world. Oh, and I love all of the Japanese samurai stuff. It's so cool seeing the armor warriors wore way back in the day when going into battle. Claude Monet, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, amongst plenty of other famous artists have paintings here. We probably spent 90 minutes to 2 hours in here. That was enough for us. A fun way to start your morning.

Small, easy, short touristy trip. Another great free thing to do in the city when you have friends…read moreor family from out of town. I live in Nolibs, so this is an easy walk from my house. Parking is plentiful nearby, too!

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site - Philadelphia, PA…read more Boomsauce Score: BS +++ (Amazing location! now that's boomsauce!) Even mid-renovation, this place hits different. Stepping into Poe's former home is like walking through the pages of Gothic literature. The art installations and that surreal raven sculpture outside? Straight out of a dream--or a fevered poem. It's eerie, poetic, and deeply moving. Though the house is currently closed for a utilities improvement project, you can still feel the weight of history pressing through the walls. Poe lived here during one of his most prolific periods, penning classics like The Black Cat and The Tell-Tale Heart. The cellar even resembles the one described in The Black Cat, adding a deliciously creepy layer to the visit. If you're in Philly, this is a must-visit. It's not just a museum--it's a tribute to the tortured brilliance of one of America's greatest literary minds. And when renovations wrap, it'll be even more hauntingly beautiful. --- Boomsauce Scale | Rating | Meaning |---------|----------------------------------| | B | basura (trash) | | BS | basic (come on! Try harder) | | BS + | better (Yo! That's better) | | BS ++ | best (alright! Alright! Alrightttt!) | | BS +++ | Amazing location! now that's boomsauce! |

With our North American Reciprocal Museum (ROAM) membership, entry to The Mütter was free. I…read morerecommend the museum for those interested in medical science. Preserved specimens dating back nearly two centuries ago are there for viewing and learning. There are a couple rooms that seem to rotate exhibits from today on the first floor. The upper level seems to be reserved as a meeting / reception area, within what may formerly was a medical library. Interesting.

I came here once in high school and again recently for its community day where it was free…read moreadmission (normally $20 for a ticket). The mutter museum used to be a collection for private medical education at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Their main exhibit is the area with red carpet where you can go downstairs and look at all of the displays of human remains, replicas, and health information. They definitely break it down for non health professions to understand. There's a lot of fascinating things that they have preserved and displayed. They also have the Franklin garden, art therapy room, and legionnaires "Philly killer" exhibit. They do have a mini gift store at the front if you want to pop in. Because it is a small museum, I think you could go through the entire museum in about 1.5 hours if you read everything and looked at every exhibit.

What a fabulous tour and place. The only reason why I knew about this temple was because of the…read moremovie national treasure. when I was looking up things to do in Philadelphia, this populated. From the outside, it looks like a church a small church but on the inside, it is immaculate, ginormous and just all in all beautiful. You do have to do a tour that's the only way to see the facility which we did. We got there around 10:30 and then we just booked a tour for the 11 o'clock. They gave the history, they talked about the architectural, their charity work, and the facilities also used for weddings, photo shoots, etc... but so fun we really enjoyed it. This is probably one of our favorite highlights of our Philadelphia trip.

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.

An ad for this museum came up in my Instagram feed and I'm glad it did. I put it on my list when I…read morewas visiting Philly recently. This is more like a house than a museum and the walls are filled with art from top names in the art world. I had a very nice but rushed visit cause I was trying to visit the Philly art museum before it closed as well. Next time I'll take more time. Cezanne, Manet and Picasso. The staff was nice to deal with too.

Beautiful museum- the tickets are pricey but it's a great experience. We loved their collection of…read moreMatisse and Renoir paintings. There's also a great temporary exhibit running through August of 2026 called Freedom Dreams on the main level that's very moving.

A wholly original and beautiful little spot with an incredible story behind it. Really cool to see…read morehow one man's vision endured against long odds and now has left a great space for other artists to share their work too. The gift shop also has great, unique stuff. Worth making a little trip here and strolling the neighborhood to see the vendors and Isaiah's other work nearby. Pro tip: Get your ticket in the gift shop and don't worry about timed entry!

We love quirky places like this. There are a number of these "weird" art installations in our home…read morestate of Wisconsin so we knew we had to visit this when in Philadelphia. We bought timed ticks online a couple of weeks in advance - with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. The history of this place and the artist who created it is fascinating. There is so much to see in each area and around each corner. It's easy to miss stuff. Don't forget to walk around the block to see the exteriors of nearby buildings. They have all been given the "mosaic" treatment! We were here a bit under one hour. Definitely worth a stop!

I visit museums without pre-conceived notions, reading reviews generally after the fact. PAFA --…read moreas it's known -- is a good one. Founded in 1805 the academy is the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States. The historic landmark building is closed for renovations with three stories of exhibits now housed in their Hamilton Building (which is NOT named for Alexander!) Several things impacted me: the galleries are wide open, light and airy. A pleasure to walk through. A number of items from the Atwater Kent collection -- formerly the Philadelphia History Museum -- are on display. The diverse collection ranges from baseball, department stores (Wanamakers, anyone?), civil rights ... the list goes on. There is student and alumni art for sale and casts of Greek and Roman antiquity located in an active student workspace. As with most museums, exhibits change. The gift store with its friendly proprietor, is as good as any I've been to. A beautifully curated collection, and after Thanksgiving, I believe everything is discounted 30% for the holidays.

The PAFA collection in the renovated 1800s building is amazing!! We really enjoyed the extensive…read moregalleries

Honestly, I had no idea this place existed until I saw it advertised and decided to check it out…read more I'm glad I did because it ended up being one of the more unique museums I've visited in Philadelphia. It's a relatively small and intimate space. The first floor has a gift shop and an area for workshops and activities, while the galleries are spread throughout the building. When I visited, the first-floor exhibition featured quilts, while the upstairs gallery focused more on themes of American culture. Both were fantastic. The quilt exhibition was probably a traveling show, and I absolutely loved it. I know several quilting enthusiasts, so I have at least some appreciation for how much time, patience, and technical skill goes into creating these pieces. Some of them felt less like blankets and more like full-scale tapestries. The level of detail, color work, and craftsmanship was incredible. The upstairs exhibition had a much stronger political and social commentary element, which I personally enjoyed. Art doesn't have to exist solely to be beautiful or entertaining. It can challenge ideas, express opinions, document experiences, and start conversations. I appreciated that the museum embraced that side of art rather than shying away from it. One of the coolest parts was the workshop area downstairs. There was a small market set up and plenty of people actively crafting and creating things. For a moment I wanted to join in, but the space was packed. Then I watched what everyone was making and quickly realized these people were good. Very good. At that point I remembered I was in a fabric museum and workshop and that my own sewing abilities are... let's politely call them limited. The only thing that felt a little awkward was how often the museum reminded visitors about the recommended donation. I completely understand why. Free museums need support, and I have no issue contributing. It just came up enough times that I started feeling a little self-conscious about it. I was already planning to donate on my way out, but repeated reminders always make me feel slightly uncomfortable even when I understand the reason behind them. Overall, this was a wonderful surprise. Thought-provoking exhibitions, beautiful craftsmanship, active creative spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're interested in textiles, contemporary art, or just want to discover a museum that's a little different from the usual Philadelphia lineup, it's definitely worth a visit.

Popped in to thaw my dawgs and was greeted by a lovely giftshop. Lots of gorgeous prints and…read morejewlerly made by local artists and my favorite-- free postcards!! I was hoping to see the workshop, but the day I went only the 1st floor exhibits and the 8th floors were open to the public. I recently got back into sewing, so this was a great opportunity to explore new ways fabric has been used for expression.