How to Explore Philadelphia in One Day

When a weeks-long vacation isn’t an option, a day trip is a great way to itch the travel bug. Philadelphia offers so many diverse places and activities, it’s easy to pack a day full. For my latest visit, this is the itinerary I came up with to explore Philadelphia in one day.

9:30 am: Breakfast at Reading Terminal Market

We started the day at Reading Terminal Market to get breakfast at Dutch Eating Place in the Amish area. There was a wait, but it was short and the portions are huge so you won’t leave hungry. I ordered a basic omelet with scrapple, while my friend opted for a pancake and we shared an apple dumpling. The apple dumpling had been featured on the Travel Network and it didn’t disappoint.

Market diner counter with people sitting and eating

After a big breakfast, we headed out into the street on foot. A new Amy Sherald mural had been unveiled at 1111 Sansom Street, so we went to see it for ourselves. Amy Sherald is the Baltimore artist who painted Michelle Obama’s official portrait.

Colorful mural showing a woman in black and white coat on the side of a tall Philadelphia building

11:45 am: Magic Gardens

Woman at a bar table holding a mug of beer

While waiting for entry into Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, we stopped into Brauhaus Schmitz, a German pub that was playing the Women’s World Cup. We only had time for a drink, but thanks to the bartender’s recommendation we discovered a new favorite beer.

High on my list of places to see was Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. Entry is every half hour for a $10 admission fee and we got there in time for the 12:30 slot. Magic Gardens is an outdoor mixed media art environment filled with mosaic pathways and stairways by the artist Isaiah Zagar. The mosaics are made of materials like mirrors, tiles, bottles, and bicycle wheels. The space includes a two-level outdoor sculpture garden plus two indoor galleries—it’s all very Instagrammable.

1:30 pm: Shofuso Japanese Gardens

Afterwards, we headed to Shofuso Japanese Gardens. It’s a bit out of the way so we called a Lyft. Shofuso is a 17th-century style Japanese house surrounded by Japanese gardens, including a large koi pond. Built in Japan using traditional materials and techniques, the house was reassembled in Philly in the 1950’s. Shofuso was a relaxing break to our fast-paced day. After paying the $12 admission fee, guests take off their shoes to enter the house and put them back on to walk the gardens. We sat for a while taking in the peaceful atmosphere before heading out.

Japanese man in traditional clothing walking along a Japanese house and garden.

Bridge over a koi pond in a Japanese garden

3 pm: Afternoon tea at The Dandelion

We chose to make a reservation for the British-style restaurant, The Dandelion, for afternoon tea. Afternoon tea takes place every day from 3-5 pm and there are four tea tiers to choose from, including tea sandwiches, pastries, or a mix of everything. Each tier can be split between two people. We chose “A Royal Occasion” which included a mix of everything, plus a pot of tea.

The food was good, especially the scones, but the decor in The Dandelion is reason enough to go. Dark wood, fireplaces, embroidered upholstery, and cute pub details make the restaurant very photo-worthy.

Three-tiered display holding small sandwiches on a dining table with teapots and plates with scones and jams

Interior of a restaurant with dark wood and old English style

5:30 pm: Drinks on the water and Elfreth’s Alley

Next, we headed to the waterfront for a drink with a view. Morgan’s Pier is a partially-covered beer garden that looks out on the Delaware River and Camden, New Jersey across the river. We decided to go because we thought it was more of a boardwalk-style pier with multiple bars and shops, but this worked out well too. We had a drink, people-watched, listened to the DJ, and then left to walk to the next stop.

On our walk, we passed Elfreth’s Alley. Elfreth’s Alley is the country’s oldest residential street and a National Historic Landmark. All of the houses on the street were built between 1728 and 1836. People still live in them to this day.

Colonial-style brick rowhomes with red shutters and greenery outside

8:30 pm: Dinner at Talula’s Garden

We had a dinner reservation at Talula’s Garden, known for its fairy-lighted outdoor patio. Even sitting indoors, it was a wonderful dining experience. We started with a cheese plate, I ordered the braised lamb pappardelle, and we finished with a shared order of sugar donuts. This was the end of the day trip, but we headed home full, content, and tired in the best way.

Outdoor dining patio at night with fairy lights overhead

More ways to explore Philadelphia in one day

Of course, even though you can explore Philadelphia in one day, you’ll have to be selective. If this itinerary isn’t quite right for you, here are some more ideas.