Philadelphia, United States

Photo spots in Philadelphia

• Liberty BellHistoric
  Iconic cracked bell, symbol of American independence, Independence Hall grounds
• Independence HallHistoric
  Colonial brick building where Declaration of Independence signed in 1776
• Philadelphia Museum of ArtMuseums
  Famous Rocky steps, Art Deco museum building, parkland views from steps
• City HallHistoric
  Massive Victorian Gothic building, William Penn statue on tower, architectural icon
• Betsy Ross HouseHistoric
  Colonial home where Betsy Ross sewed first American flag, historic house museum
• Ben Franklin BridgeBridges
  Iconic 1926 suspension bridge, pedestrian walkway with river and city views
• Reading Terminal MarketMarkets
  Historic 1893 train shed market, vendors, Amish goods, food, vibrant scene
• Magic GardensMarkets
  Iconic mosaicked South Street alleyway, colorful artistic street art installation
• LOVE ParkLandmarks
  Famous red LOVE sculpture, popular photo spot near City Hall
• Elfreth's AlleyHistoric
  Oldest continuously occupied street in USA, colonial row homes, cobblestone street
• Rittenhouse SquareParks
  Tree-lined historic square, 19th-century mansions, popular community gathering space
• Pennsylvania Academy of Fine ArtsMuseums
  1876 Victorian Gothic building, oldest art school, important museum and landmark. Museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; carries an official heritage designation
• Fairmount ParkNature
  3,700-acre urban park, tree-lined riverside paths, museums, sculptures, green space
• Christ ChurchHistoric
  1744 colonial church, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin attended services
• Penn MuseumMuseums
  University museum with world cultures and archaeology collections
• Schuylkill River TrailNature
  Scenic 30-mile trail along river, urban green space with boathouse row views
• Eastern State PenitentiaryHistoric
  Abandoned radial penitentiary with Al Capone's restored cell; midday skylight shafts rake the ruined cellblocks. Handheld only without an advance photo pass, so brace on doorframes and shoot the vaulted corridors head-on.
• The Franklin InstituteMuseums
  Science museum whose Pantheon-scale rotunda holds the 20-foot marble Franklin memorial; shoot it from the doorway in late-morning oculus light. The walk-through giant heart is the kitsch classic.
• Barnes FoundationMuseums
  181 Renoirs and 69 Cézannes hung floor-to-ceiling exactly as Albert Barnes arranged them, on the Ben Franklin Parkway. No-flash photography is allowed; the long reflecting pool at the entrance shoots well at dusk.
• Philadelphia ZooZoos & aquariums
  America's first zoo (1874), where Zoo360 mesh trails send tigers and orangutans directly overhead. Mid-morning is peak overhead traffic; shoot up against the sky at a wide aperture.
• National Constitution CenterMuseums
  The interactive Constitution museum closing the north end of Independence Mall; Signers' Hall's 42 life-size bronzes beg a low, wide shot among the delegates. The glass lobby frames Independence Hall straight down the Mall.
• Museum of the American RevolutionMuseums
  Washington's original headquarters tent is the centerpiece, unveiled in a timed theater show where photos are barred, though the surrounding galleries are fair game. Book the first slot, two blocks from Independence Hall.
• Mütter MuseumMuseums
  The famous cabinet of medical oddities: the Soap Lady, slides of Einstein's brain. Photography is banned inside, so plan an eyes-only visit and shoot the medicinal-herb garden out front instead.
• Independence Seaport Museum & Cruiser OlympiaMuseums
  Board cruiser Olympia (1892, Dewey's Manila Bay flagship) and WWII submarine Becuna at Penn's Landing. Morning sun off the Delaware side-lights the ships; frame Olympia's masts against the Ben Franklin Bridge from the south walkway.
• Adventure AquariumZoos & aquariums
  Ten minutes across the river in Camden, with underwater hippo viewing and a 40-foot shark tunnel. Take the RiverLink ferry over and stay for blue hour: Camden's waterfront owns the best full-skyline view of Philadelphia.
• Citizens Bank ParkSports
  Citizens Bank Park — exterior and marquee shots are free any day; coordinates curated from general knowledge, confirm exact position before publishing.
• Lincoln Financial FieldSports
  Lincoln Financial Field — exterior and marquee shots are free any day; coordinates curated from general knowledge, confirm exact position before publishing.
• Philadelphia Amtrak StationTransit
  Amtrak stop PHL — platform, trains and station architecture; historic depots often photograph best from the track side at golden hour.
• Xfinity Mobile ArenaSports
  Sixers and Flyers in the South Philly sports complex.
• USS New JerseyMuseums
  1942 Iowa-class battleship; carries an official heritage designation
• USS OlympiaMuseums
  1892 protected cruiser\"; carries an official heritage designation
• USS BecunaMuseums
  1944 Balao-class submarine; carries an official heritage designation
• Rodin MuseumMuseums
  Museum located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and AnthropologyMuseums
  Archaeological museum
• Benjamin Franklin BridgeBridges
  Suspension bridge between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden, New Jersey
• Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel UniversityMuseums
  Natural history science institution and museum, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
• Bartram's GardenParks
  Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States; carries an official heritage designation
• Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War SoldierMonuments
  War memorial in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
• American Swedish Historical MuseumMuseums
  Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• SkatiumIce rinks
  Indoor ice rink, open year round.

Where to stay

Hotels near these spots are shown on the map as bed pins, grouped into three price bands, with a booking link for each one. Open the map and tick “Hotels” in the legend.