I can't believe I've never written a review of Rittenhouse Square Park, because I like to stop by almost every time I'm in Philadelphia. Rittenhouse Square is the heart of the Rittenhouse neighborhood, and it's one of the original open-space parks planned by William Penn in the late 17th century. It's not large, but it has a few fountains and sculptures, great landscaping, and plenty of benches for sitting. It's a lovely place for sitting, reading a book, chatting with a friend, people watching... It's also home to a small farmers market year-round on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Stop by and relax a bit. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I enjoyed this park. Such an adorable fountain and oodles and oodles of seating and beat of all ... shade . Very well, taking care of Park and I felt safe. read more

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I love to walk through the park on my lunch! I go in any season and any weather lol It's relaxing and an excellent place for people watching. It's also convenient to lots of restaurants. So grab a take out lunch to eat I. The park or enjoy your morning tea (or coffee) here! read more

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My favorite place in Philly to people watch. There is always something fun going on here and there is never a dull moment. I love spending hot afternoons and cool evenings here sitting on the benches and disconnecting for a while. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Traveling with dogs is always a little challenging but it is made easier when we find little gems like this park that is dog friendly. This park is clean and well maintained. It is so cute seeing locals sun bathing or enjoying the shade. There are doggies poop bags available and no smoking in the park. read more

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Beautiful park to sit and read when the weather is nice. There are lots of people out and about. Lots of coffee shops, shopping and restaurants nearby. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Beautiful park to sit. In a very nice neighborhood in Philly. Some homeless people hanging around and some protestors. But otherwise, a nice place to spend some time. read more

One thing I really enjoyed at this park was the live music. Wish we had more parks like these guys back home. Good place to workout and walk your children here. They lots of spots to play sports, enjoy nature and just have fun. Barbecue areas around to for picnics and big gatherings. I really had fun here. read more

Centrally located walking distance from Center City, Midtown, South St. and Museum districts, Rittenhouse Sq Park is a great spot to enjoy the weather and people watch. Close to a ton of great sit-down restaurants like Parc, Dandelion, Tria, Marathon, etc. as well as a Starbucks and the Barnes & Noble, Rittenhouse Park is a great place to spend the afternoon, or just stop to take in the city in the middle of your day. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I took an architectural history course in college and learned how Philadelphia was designed around parks. We have the four squares and Center City and this is one of them. We also have a huge Fairmount Park. This is a great urban park. Lots of seating lots of green space you'll see some performers as well as musicians in this area as well and lots of dogs. read more

This is our go to park! You're sure to see lots of people walking their dogs or reading and eating on the park benches. I like that on most Saturday's and some Tuesday's there is a farmers market all around the boarder. It's a large park and festive with lights and fun! Good vibes typically. Every area of the park has a different vibe read more

Rittenhouse Park is located in a city square space in downtown Philadelphia. Great place to picnic or sit on a bench with a snack and people watch. It is big enough to block out the usual city noise. Even has some pretty plants and flowers to enhance your visit. The park has lots of shopping, restaurants, and cafes on the exterior and in the neighborhood. It is worth a walk across town to enjoy. Enjoy your visit! read more

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Love this park. Lots of benches and grass space to sit and hang out. Surrounded by shops to grab a drink or snack to bring to the park. Street performers scattered around the center most days, especially good weather days. Occasional events, a while back there was an art fair, a farmer market on Tuesday and Saturday year round (?). SOOO MANY DOGS! If you want to see cute dogs then come here. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Rittenhouse on a rainy day. - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The spouse was on a business call in the hotel room so I Googled "what to do" and Rittenhouse Square Park popped up. Get me outta there! THE PARK: It's about the size of a city block, paved with brick paths and features mature trees, gardens, grassy areas, a dry fountain and lots of benches both shaded and not. The grounds are clean and up-kept with hardly a homeless in sight. The streets surrounding the park aren't super busy so it's fairly peaceful sans for the occasional loud mouth homo sapien and horn honking in the distance. It's very safe (during the day), filled with people walking dogs, workers on break, friends conversing and I guess curious travelers such as myself looking for something to explore. OVERALL: A nice green space in the City of Brotherly Love. I'd definitely like to see this place in the fall. read more

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I am pretty passionate about urban green spaces and Rittenhouse Square is, to me, a pinnacle of what they can be at their best. Being from Rochester, the Olmstead-designed park system is one of the things I miss most about my hometown day to day. A stroll down to this square quickly dissipates any homesickness thanks to the bustling environment, incredible people / puppy watching, ambling pathways, and city views. While really special in any season, I am excited to spend my first summer in Philly enjoying the park and see many days reading in the green spaces in my future. The Friends of Rittenhouse group has a great Instagram account that keeps neighbors and residents up to date on happenings throughout the park, and what goes into making it a true public square. There's a great and manageable Farmer's Market on Saturdays where I had an absolutely amazing apple donut back in January, but you can also get produce, fresh florals, and more. I enjoy reading all of the plaques throughout the park and finding a new favorite vantage point every time I go. Something magical in the air here, and no trip to Philly is complete without a walk through the square. read more

The park is one of the five original parks planned by William Penn, founder of Philadelphia. The main walkways are diagonal and meet at a central oval where there is a reflecting pool. There are also sculptures scattered about and plenty of benches. read more

Our favorite part of the city. My dog and I come here every weekend. I love all the significant buildings surrounding the park. I made new friends each time we came read more

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A verdant city park that offers plenty of benches (but no other facilities that I could see). It was much cleaner than most of the city that I went around, and was very much embedded in the heart of the city and a useful place to trade the urban jungle for a more appealing environment. Between the various fountains and sculptures, it definitely classes up the area. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Gorgeous park with flowers, flowering trees, kids at play and a few buskers. The Square is surrounded by restaurants, hotels, cafes And shops...the latter is high end retail. Amazing park. read more

Such a nice park with cross-crossing sidewalk paths throughout. It's nice to walk through and rest or have a snack at one of the many benches. This place always has people and pets hanging out within. There's also some nice buildings and hotels that surround it along with the 5 star Parc restaurant. read more

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A nice little park in downtown, remind us of NYC Washington square park. We came here on Saturday afternoon and it is too crowded for its size. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Not working water fountain - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What a cool park. I caught Rittenhouse Square Park at the peak of the leaves changing and it was beautiful. I loved the abundant trees, ample seating and all the dogs walking with their owners. The park is very clean, felt safe during the day and had plenty of security checking in on the visitors. I admittedly didn't dig into any historical context of this park as I was just passing through while visiting a nearby business. But this is easily one of my favorite urban parks in the United States. Entering this park, you are immediately transformed into a green oasis. There's always street performers milling about it, couples taking photos and field trips. You'll see various garden areas, a small gazebo, historical statues, and a fountain that is probably active and maintained in warmer months. The whole park gives off great vibes and you should go out of your way to either pass through, schedule a walk or visit when they have a pop-up market. You won't regret it! read more

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Winter, summer, fall or spring Rittenhouse square is the place to be. Just sitting and watching people walk by or checking out the amazing buildings surrounding this square. It's a great place to spend the afternoon. read more

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This is an excellent park that my family and I visited while we were in Philadelphia. It had a lot of great walking trails of them have since had a lot of good statues and landmarks in memorials and things to see. We are an excellent time exploring the park and it was a great experience that I recommend for everyone to check out read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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"For the greater beauty of the instrument, the balls representing the planets are to be of considerable bigness; but so contrived, that they may be taken off at pleasure, and others, much smaller, and fitter for some purposes, put in their places."―David Rittenhouse Nice urban park located in the heart of downtown Philly. This isn't the kind of park you bring the kiddies to but a nice green space for the local residents that need a break from the hustle-and-bustle of big city life. The area is well-kept and has some interesting statues and lovely architecture surrounding it. We passed through as we ambled about (not-so) smartley thru DT Philly. I didn't know much about this place as we just saw it on a map and my girl and I have a tendency to head towards the green spaces on the map. So I did some research and found a few quick fun facts: -Formerly known as "The Square," it was named after David Rittenhouse in 1825. Rittenhouse was a American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, scientific instrument craftsman, and public official. He also played a key role in the Revolutionary War. #Merica -It used to serve as grazing ground for livestock and a dumping ground for *ahem* "night soil." - There's a weekly farmers market that occurs here, as well. The dates and times change depending on the season, tho. -A building boom in the late 19th century filled this area with Victorian mansion; man of which still survive today. Overall a nice place to stop and rest, and makes for really interesting people watching. Please note there are no public restrooms in the park, which is probably good with all the Local Outdoor Enthusiasts just chillin'. Otherwise definitely worth a quick visit in the area to take in the surrounding architecture and culture. read more

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This neat little park in the Rittenhouse/Center City area of Philadelphia. It's a neat square with foliage and pathways to navigate around. There are benches where you can chill for a while with coffee or ice cream. On the day we were there, there were street performers (magician, bad juggler, horn player) that can entertain you for a bit. It's good for photo opportunities and just hanging out. It's not that great for outdoor sports unless you count Hackey Sack or juggling. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - I call this one "The Lonely Bicycle" - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pretty park right in Center City, the "nice" part of Philadelphia. It feels like the Gramercy of Philadelphia. Great place to go people watch and relax. I have been here in both the holiday season and in the offseason and it is still fun to watch how the locals and tourists act while you are just sitting there on one of the many benches. They also have a weekend farmer's market that always seems busy. Lastly, it is near a Barnes and Noble so there is also the option to go get a book and take in a few hours at the park afterwards if you so choose. read more

Philly has several little pockets of green space, and Rittenhouse Square is my favorite. Smack in the middle of center city, surrounded by some of the most beautiful apartments, row homes, cafes, and restaurants, is the best place to enjoy a few minutes of peace on a sunny Philly day. There are few moments that bring me sanity in this chaotic world, but I never feel more refreshed than I do after time spent people watching, dog petting, and sipping my coffee on the benches of Rittenhouse Square Park. Not to mention, on a beautiful sunny day, there are some awesome photo ops of the Liberty Towers and various garden sculptures. read more

Rittenhouse square is one of my favorite parks in Philly. Although I have never spent a long time in it, I pass by it very frequently. The park is quite spacious and is beautiful, full of trees and decorations. Often, there are street performers and markets. Walking through the park is very relaxing. You get to see what people are doing in the city :) I also enjoy eating at Parc, which is right next to the park, and just sitting there looking at rittenhouse square park. read more

I couldn't have had a more perfect day for visiting Rittenhouse Park - the sunshine, the temperature, and the energy of Philadelphians coming out from their winter hibernation was such a fun moment to experience. While there I strolled the plant marked, explored every corner of the park, popped into Barnes & Noble and grabbed a patio spot at Joe to soak in the views and get some work done. The parked was filled with people of all ages sprawled out on blankets, reading books, chowing on picnics and painting the scenery. The atmosphere was what urban planners dreams are made of. The magnolia trees were just starting to blossom along with other early spring flowers like daffodils. Overall, it was a special and memorable free experience that I highly recommend soaking in for a few hours. read more

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This is my favorite park in Philadelphia. There are many parks in Philly such as Love Park, Franklin Square, etc. I like Rittenhouse because it doesn't have one monument in the middle that everyone's crammed around to take pictures. It has the nice Central Park NYC feel - people sitting on benches and conversing. Small groups of skateboarders, artists, jugglers in the corner exchanging skills, and many locals cutting through with their dogs. It feels least touristy and I think it gives you the BEST view of the Liberty Tower. At night, they hung Christmas lights and balls of lights and it's super romantic to stroll through at night. My second favorite part about this park is that it is right by many cafes and bakeries! The Bakeshop on 20th is a good example of a good cookie shop and coffee place that one can venture to before sitting in the middle of the park to enjoy it with some friends. The park is also a perfect solace after a busy walk through Center City's City hall, shopping street, and other monuments around. Another fun part about this park is that cool events that take place once a month. For example, sometimes arts festivals and farmers markets take place on the square and you can see local artists' fare and produce. I love seeing fall produce, flowers, and art for the fall festivals. If you're a dog lover, you can probably sit here all afternoon and see the widest variety of dog breeds you've ever seen and they are all dog show quality. read more

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Rittenhouse Square is right by the downtown area of Philadelphia. It is a nice little park with some street performers and pretty statues. The plants appear to be well taken care of and are green and vibrant.  It was a little busy during the afternoon while everyone was taking a lunch break. If I am being honest, it was a little smaller than I was expecting, especially for such a big tourist destination. However, it was clean despite being busy in the afternoon. read more

This is my favorite urban park in Philadelphia. It's uppity, yet people from all walks of life crowd in its every nook and cranny. If you're lucky enough to be there off-hours (it happens), sit by a fountain and enjoy a little bit of serenity in downtown Center City. Read, take photos, yoga, picnic, people watch, but please don't be creepy[1]. [1] A friend of mine was sunbathing, minding her own business, when she realized not one, but TWO guys were photographing her. Yes, she's hot, but that's still not the way to hit on someone. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love this convenient, charming, quaint park! It's lovely to walk through and to spend time reading, knitting, with a pet or friend. I've had many lovely outings in this sweet Center City spot!! The park does feature a Farmer's Market, Arts Festival and other vendors. While I enjoy the cultural enrichment, I could do without all of the vendors. I've often wanted to spend more time at other parks and gardens throughout the city which are less busy and commercialized. I have questioned the safety of this park because there is often a pungent smell of weed, a constant police presence and I have heard multiple people strongly advise me against walking into this park past 9pm for safety reasons. Although Rittenhouse Square is one of the loveliest areas of the city, in my humble opinion, there are a lot of homeless in this park. There are beautiful residences surrounding the park, local businesses, coffee shops and fine dining. The park is an epi-center of multiple fun things to do and enjoy! If you enjoy Rittenhouse Square, check out the outdoor seating at Parc, Devon and Rouge overlooking this park, in addition to Joe Coffee Company across the street, and some of the real estate in Rittenhouse Square is some of the most expensive in the area because of this location! At Christmas, there is caroling, beautiful Christmas lighting and it's beautiful, like a winter wonderland! This is definitely a park not to be missed!!! read more

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What a beautiful little urban oasis. I love running through here on my way to the river trail. It's so lush and leafy, with charming paths and beautiful plantings. Great place to relax, sit and read a book, catch up with a friend or just sit and do nothing. I'm knocking it down a star because when I was there last weekend, the fountain wasn't working. That really adds to the charm. Once that's back up and running, five stars all the way, baby. read more

Surrounded by the busy-ness of the city life, Rittenhouse Square Park is a nice place to sit and relax. The grass is green, and there are tons of shade from the trees. Definitely a great place to chill at after grabbing a coffee from a coffee shop nearby or getting lunch with a friend. read more

Rittenhouse Square Park - Rittenhouse Square Park - Parks Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Oh how I love this park ---during daylight time. It's so nice to lay around in the sun to do whatever you want. The ideas of things are endless: Grab ice cream to go and then take a scroll Go for a jog Bring a blanket and pic nic People watch on a bench Play a music instrument Walk a dog Take a nap Play ball/catch Have a smoke Read a book Do homework or work Draw artwork Do yoga Gossip with friends .....and so on.... It's right near the Patco 16/Locust stop for Jersey folks read more

A very peaceful and quiet park in the morning mid week. A few babies being pushed in strollers. People walking dogs and getting some fresh air. Plenty of small birds flying around looking for people to throw them some bread or muffins from the nearby cafes. A really nice park to have a picnic or just enjoy people watching. read more

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What's not to like? Rittenhouse Square is an awesome outdoor area to enjoy in the heart of Philadelphia. It's surrounded by good eats and easy to get to from a few of Philly's various mass transit options. Yes, parking around the area can be difficult - as is most of Philly. While there might not be seats for everyone in the park, I rarely have trouble finding a bench to rest my feet. Finally, for (sober) people watching it cannot be beat and will always entertain. read more

My most recent visit to Philadelphia is the one that helped me fall in love with the city. Staying in a charming 1750's townhouse nearby, the Rittenhouse Square Park was a beautiful green space I had to walk past or through multiple times a day. I didn't know then that it was one of the original Squares designed by William Penn in the late 17th century for locals to enjoy! Talk about history. The tree-filled park is a lovely oasis of nature set amongst high-rises and bustling urban life, it's incredibly well maintained with manicured lawns and beautiful garden beds, a reflecting pool, sculptures, and benches to relax and people watch from. It's no wonder this is such a great spot for picnics or relaxing with a good book, but also for bigger events like farmers' markets, art exhibitions, small concerts, seasonal festivals, etc. I can only imagine how lovely it is to sit outside at one of the nearby restaurants overlooking the park while drinking a cocktail! It's a thoughtfully designed park; for those of us who feel overwhelmed sensorially by big cities, it's nice to have somewhere natural to catch our breath in! read more