Add dates

Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute: Our most recommended tours and activities

Philadelphia: Double-Decker Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

1. Philadelphia: Double-Decker Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

Explore the origins of America on a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Philadelphia. Discover the city where America’s Founding Fathers first declared independence, and ratified the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Along the way, enjoy stunning views of historic landmarks including the Christ Church Burial Grounds, Elfreth’s Alley, the Betsy Ross House, and Independence Hall.   Begin your tour at the Bourse Building, across from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Listen to the multilingual audio commentary as you enjoy the views from the open-top deck. See the Friendship Gate in Chinatown and be amazed by the architecture of Philadelphia’s City Hall.   Hop off to explore the various museums along Benjamin Franklin Parkway, including the world's largest collection of post-impressionist art at the Barnes Foundation. Marvel at Philadelphia’s skyline and stop to enjoy a bird’s-eye view from the One Liberty Observation Deck. Pass through the charming neighborhood of Society Hill and end your tour with a drive along the banks of the Delaware River. Stops:  • The Bourse Building  • Betsy Ross House  • National Constitution Center  • Chinatown  • Reading Terminal Market  • Love Park  • Cathedral Basilica  • Logan Circle  • Rodin Museum  • Eastern State Penitentiary  • Special Events - The Perelman Building  • The Rocky Steps and Statue  • West Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boat House Row  • Civil War Memorial  • Please Touch Museum  • Philadelphia Zoo  • Franklin Institute  • Mutter Museum  • One Liberty Observation Deck  • Avenue of the Arts  • Society Hill, Antique Row  • Mother Bethel A.M.E Church  • Headhouse Square  • Vietnam & Korean War Memorials  • Penns Landing  • Museum of the American Revolution  • Christ Church  • The Liberty Bell

Philadelphia: Go City All-Inclusive Pass w/ 30+ Attractions

2. Philadelphia: Go City All-Inclusive Pass w/ 30+ Attractions

Enjoy an all-inclusive pass that gets you into 30 Philadelphia attractions and tours. Just select the number of days you want to sightsee for (1, 2, 3 or 5 days), then enjoy admission to as many included attractions as you want to. With Go City you can save up to 50%* on top Philadelphia attractions, compared to buying individual tickets. Simply show your Philadelphia pass at included attractions or tour for admission and pay nothing at the gate. Activate the pass by visiting your first attraction, then, use it on consecutive calendar days. The Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass includes the following activities: • Hop-on, Hop-off Big Bus Philadelphia Tour • Eastern State Penitentiary • Franklin Institute Science Museum • Philadelphia Museum of Art • National Constitution Center • Betsy Ross House • Adventure Aquarium • Philadelphia Zoo • LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia • Barnes Foundation • Academy of Natural Science • Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial • Ghost Tour of Philadelphia • Independence Seaport Museum • Christ Church Burial Ground Tour • Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History • Dark Philly Adult Night Tour • National Liberty Museum • Longwood Gardens • African American Museum • Rodin Museum • Revolution and Founding Father's Tour • Penn Museum • RiverLink Ferry • Brandywine River Museum of Art • Philadelphia Movie & Television Tour • South Philly Italian Market Tour • Philadelphia Street Art Tour • Murder at The Moulin - A Murder Mystery Show  • Philadelphia Food & Cheesesteak Tour • Philly PHLASH Downtown Loop 1-Day Pass • $20.00 Dining Credit at The Cauldron Attractions and tours are subject to change. Check your included digital guide for an up-to-date attraction line-up including opening times and instructions on how to access each attraction with your pass before you go. *Savings based on itineraries on Go City website.

Philadelphia: Go City Explorer Pass with 3 to 7 Attractions

3. Philadelphia: Go City Explorer Pass with 3 to 7 Attractions

The Explorer Pass by Go City is a multi-attraction pass that includes admission to 3, 4, 5, or 7 Philadelphia attractions of your choice. There are 30 attractions and tours to choose from and you can save up to 50%* off compared to buying separate attraction tickets. Simply purchase a pass for the number of attractions you want to visit. There's no need to decide which attractions you want to visit before your trip. Just choose as you go from the options included. Visiting your first attraction activates your pass. Then, you’ll have 60 days to use it. Show your pass to get entry and pay nothing at the gate. You'll get all the information you need including attraction descriptions and opening hours on the PDF guide or Go City app. Choose from the following attractions: • Hop-on hop-off Big Bus Philadelphia Tour • Eastern State Penitentiary • Franklin Institute Science Museum • Adventure Aquarium • Philadelphia Zoo • Philadelphia Museum of Art • Philadelphia Food & Cheesesteak Tour • National Constitution Center • Betsy Ross House • Barnes Foundation • Academy of Natural Science • Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial • Ghost Tour of Philadelphia • Independence Seaport Museum • Christ Church Burial Ground Tour • Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History • Dark Philly Adult Night Tour • National Liberty Museum • Longwood Gardens • African American Museum • Rodin Museum • LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia • Penn Museum • Brandywine River Museum of Art • Murder at The Moulin - A Murder Mystery Show • RiverLink Ferry • Revolution and Founding Father's Tour • Philadelphia Movie & Television Tour • South Philly Italian Market Tour • Philadelphia Street Art Tour • $20.00 Dining Credit at The Cauldron Please note attractions and tours are subject to change. Check your included digital guide for an up-to-date attraction line-up including opening times and instructions on how to access each attraction with your pass before you go. *Savings based on itineraries on Go City website.

Philadelphia: Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus Tour

4. Philadelphia: Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus Tour

Climb aboard the double-decker hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus and discover the sights of Philadelphia at your own pace. Benefit from the services on an onboard guide and avail of frequent departures every day of the week. Learn the history of the city and its cultural attractions, and hear where the best places to eat and shop are along the way. Follow in the footsteps of "Rocky" and climb the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Enjoy an authentic cheesesteak or retrace the steps of the founding fathers and see where they signed the Declaration of Independence. Sit back and enjoy the 90-minute ride around Philly seeing almost 30 points of interest along the way. Sights you will see: • Independence Visitor Center (northeast corner of 5th and Market Streets) • Betsy Ross House  • U.S. Mint and Ben Franklin’s Grave  • National Constitution Center  • Chinatown (northeast corner of Arch Street at 10th Street) • Reading Terminal Market/Convention Center  • City Hall and Love Park • Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul/Sister Cities  • Barnes Foundation (21st Street and Ben Franklin Parkway)  • Rodin Museum • Eastern State Penitentiary • Perelman Building of the Philadelphia Museum of Art • Philadelphia Zoo  • Please Touch Museum/Memorial Hall/Fairmount Park • Rocky Steps • Philadelphia Museum of Art • Franklin Institute/Logan Circle • The Bellevue/Rittenhouse Square • Academy of Music/Broad Street • Antiques Row (10th and Pine Street) • South Street/Headhouse Square • Vietnam Veterans Memorial • Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing/Columbus Boulevard • Penn's Landing/Waterfront • Old City/Christ Church • Museum of American Jewish History

Philadelphia: Sightseeing Day Pass for 35+ Attractions

5. Philadelphia: Sightseeing Day Pass for 35+ Attractions

Use The Philadelphia Pass directly from your mobile phone to allow you cash-free entry to over 35 destinations, museums, and tours, including some of the most popular attractions in The City of Brotherly love. Delve into the history of the city as you explore landmark museums and monuments, or take a spooky after-hours walking tour to discover haunted Philly. Train like Rocky on the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or eat like a local at either the historic Reading Terminal Market, or the 9th Street Italian Market. With your pass, you'll enjoy discounts at many local restaurants and bars. Attractions included: • Eastern State Penitentiary • Adventure Aquarium • Betsy Ross House • Franklin’s Grave at Christ Church Burial Grounds • City Hall Tower Tour • Fort Mifflin • QVC Studio Tour • Escape Game King of Prussia Museums included: • Philadelphia Museum of Art • National Constitution Center • Museum of the American Revolution • Academy of Natural Sciences • African American Museum • Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial • National Liberty Museum • Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts • Philadelphia History Museum • Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum • The Mutter Museum • The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology • Wharton Esherick Museum • Penn Museum Tours included: • Philadelphia Sightseeing Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour • 76 Carriage Company - Franklin Footsteps Walking Tour • Ghost Tour of Philadelphia Candlelight Walking Tour • Grim Philly Twilight Tours • Independence Tour - Walking Tour • Philly Tour Hub • Spirits of '76 Ghost Tour • Philadelphia Sightseeing Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour • 76 Carriage Company - Franklin Footsteps Walking Tour • Ghost Tour of Philadelphia Candlelight Walking Tour • Grim Philly Twilight Tours • Independence Tour - Walking Tour • Philly Tour Hub • The Constitutional Walking Tour • RiverLink Ferry (operates seasonally) • Big Red Pedal Pub Crawl Tours • Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest

Philadelphia: Small Group Night Tour w/ Philly Cheesesteak

6. Philadelphia: Small Group Night Tour w/ Philly Cheesesteak

Discover Philadelphia at night on this scenic guided driving tour! Your tour will begin with your friendly local guide picking you up directly from your hotel. You will enjoy passing by key historical points of interest such as the Betsy Ross House, the Ben Franklin Burial, the First Bank, and the Ben Franklin House on your way to Independence Hall. Step back in time while at Independence Hall, which is known as the birthplace of America, and is most famous for its role in American independence. While there, you will be able to view the historic Liberty Bell. Easily recognizable because of its crack, the Liberty Bell remains significant today for its message of liberty. Abolitionists, women's suffrage activists, civil rights leaders and others have all used this bell as their symbol in the fight for equality. At Independence Hall you will also see the Second Bank, which houses a collection of over 100 portraits, many of them by 18th Century artist Charles Willson Peale. Marvel at the Greek Revival architecture and the faces of the leaders of the Revolutionary Era. You can’t go to Philadelphia without making a stop at the Rocky Steps. A near-constant flow of people arrive daily at the bottom of the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to snap a picture with the Rocky statue, originally created for a scene in Rocky III and now a real-life monument for the beloved fictional hero. Running up the grand stairway, mimicking the famous two-arms-raised salute, and soaking up the view of the city is a must while in Philadelphia. You’ll also get a chance to see the Washington Monument Fountain and The Oval while you’re there. Don’t forget to take photos! Your guide will take you on a scenic city drive, passing by such points of interest as Love Park, Rodin Museum, Barnes Foundation, Franklin Institute, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul, City Hall, Reading Terminal Market, and Eastern State Penitentiary. What’s a trip to Philadelphia without trying a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich? You will head to South Philly to Check out Philly’s Sports hub before stopping to grab this tasty snack. After a full day of adventure, your guide will return you to your downtown Philadelphia hotel where you can unwind and reflect on your memories from the day.

Philadelphia: Movie and Television Sites Guided Walking Tour

7. Philadelphia: Movie and Television Sites Guided Walking Tour

Philadelphia is the film location of some of your favorite films, and there's better way to get a behind the scenes look than on this fully-guided walking tour! See where famous directors like M. Night Shamalan and Martin Scorses have worked, visit Philly landmarks like City Hall and Love Park, as well as the sites featured in television shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Cold Case. And no Philadelphia movie tour would be complete without seeing several filming locations from the Rocky franchise including the famous steps!

Philadelphia Museums self-guided walking tour scavenger hunt

8. Philadelphia Museums self-guided walking tour scavenger hunt

Are you looking for things to do around the Philadelphia Museum district? Indeed, our 3-hour self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt takes you to see all the sights! Walk from City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art all while taking a few side trips and proposing challenges at every leg. All the while, you will learn some local history and get valuable local tips. Things to do in Philadelphia, the (regular) Museum District Tourist Scavenger Hunt is a 4.7 km / 2.9 mi self-guided walking tour with many varied challenges. It should take you 3 hours to complete and ends near the start location. - A fun learning experience - Learn some local history - Challenge your knowledge: 20 varied challenges - Fun for all ages, kids included - Walk at your own pace: 4.7 km / 2.9 mi - Take as little, or as much time as you wish to complete your hunt

Philadelphia: Sightseeing Flex Pass

9. Philadelphia: Sightseeing Flex Pass

Save over 50% on admission prices to Philadelphia's top attractions with a flexible sightseeing pass directly from your phone allowing convenient entry to your choice · of attraction or tour option. Select from 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 attractions and choose your own itinerary. Take advantage of the pass’ flexible start date and go at your own pace over a 30-day period. This pass is perfect for visitors who have limited time to sightsee, and for those who want to visit the must-see attractions. Experience 4 centuries of Philadelphia history. Explore the birthplace of American independence with visits to Fort Mifflin and the Betsy Ross House. Visit Benjamin Franklin’s grave at the Christ Church Burial Grounds, or see the past come to life on one of the spooky nighttime walking tours. Follow in the footsteps of Rocky, training like "the Pride of Philly" on the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Then take in the cinematic sights of Center City, Midtown Village, and South Street via the hop-on, hop-off bus service.  You will also receive discounts at local restaurants and bars, as well as retailers and entertainment venues. Eat like a local at the historic Reading Terminal Market or the 9th Street Italian Market. Or drink in the sights and the history of Philly over a cold one while you pub crawl your way through the City of Brotherly Love. Attractions: Eastern State Penitentiary Adventure Aquarium Betsy Ross House Franklin’s Grave at Christ Church Burial Grounds City Hall Tower Tour Fort Mifflin QVC Studio Tour Escape Game King of Prussia Scavenger Hunts Museums: Philadelphia Museum of Art National Constitution Center Museum of the American Revolution Academy of Natural Sciences African American Museum Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial National Liberty Museum Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum The Mütter Museum The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology Wharton Esherick Museum Penn Museum Bus Tours: Philadelphia Sightseeing Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour Walking Tours: 76 Carriage Company — Franklin's Footsteps Walking Tour Candlelight Ghost Tour of Philadelphia Grim Philly Twilight Tours Independence Tour Philly Tour Hub Spirits of '76 Ghost Tour The Constitutional Walking Tour Sightseeing Cruise: RiverLink Ferry (operates seasonally) Bike Tours: Big Red Pedal Tours Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest

Other Sightseeing Options in Franklin Institute

Want to discover all there is to do in Franklin Institute? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Franklin Institute

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 28 reviews

Best hop on hop off tour we have ever taken! This was our second time taking it… several years apart. Both times we had a live tour guide and both times the guide was awesome! Philadelphia has so many visually interesting landmarks and iconic areas to visit. The tour gets up close to all areas, buildings and statues. We found most everything to be within a quick few minutes walk of the stops. If you’ll be in town several days it would be worthwhile to get a 2 day pass.

Very nice tour with a local guide. You get a lot of information in the context of then and now. Highly recommended. Our your was only in English, which wasn't a problem for us but maybe good to know if you don't speak the language very well

When you stay for a few days in a big city and you don’t have much time, the hop on-hop off is the best means to visit the place. Very practical since your ticket can be used for a whole day.

The information provided by the tour guides was invaluable. The ability to hop on and off was great. Never had to was very long for a bus.

It does what it says on the side of the bus, a great way to see all the city has to offer very enjoyable