Philadelphia by foot: How to navigate the most walkable city in America

Philadelphia was recently named the most walkable city in the country for tourists by USA Today for the second consecutive year. With so much to see and do, it can be daunting to take advantage of this title without a map to follow.

Metro Philadelphia has designed a walking tour that will weave you through the city’s most scenic and historic landmarks. Totaling an ambitious 8.3 miles, this map will mark itself as an all-day endeavor, so toss on your most comfortable shoes and head over to the starting point:

Start at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps

As Philadelphia’s most coveted viewpoint, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is the perfect starting point on your walking tour. Stand atop the steps that overlook Benjamin Franklin Parkway and its surrounding buildings, or wait in line for your turn to take a picture with the Rocky statue. Head inside the museum if you wish, though that would depend on how much time you have budgeted for the stop.

Head down the Ben Franklin Parkway towards your next stop: City Hall. As America’s largest municipal building, Philadelphia’s City Hall is a landmark rich with beauty and history. Book a tour to the top of the City Hall Tower for panoramic views of the building’s surroundings, or walk through its arches to see the courtyard. Catch a breather in Dilworth Park, and then head over to your next stop.

Rittenhouse Square

Take S. 15th Street to Walnut, and make a right onto Walnut to head towards Rittenhouse Square. Do some shopping on your way, or continue straight into the park for some greenery along your route. Pick a bench along the park’s interior, or perhaps pack a picnic blanket and set up on a lawn, and spend some time taking in everything the park has to offer. Its unique sculptures and fountains make this park one of the most beautiful destinations in the city, with plenty of options for a lunch break in its surrounding streets.

Parc is a long-standing Philly favorite right on Rittenhouse Square that will guarantee a good meal, or detour down S. 19th Street to K’Far Cafe for a casual take-out option serving Israeli-fare and creative drinks. If you aren’t quite hungry for a full meal, 1-900-ICE-CREAM may be the perfect sweet treat to carry with you as you make your way through the city.

With any detour you may take to find food, be sure to make your way back onto Walnut Street to move along the route. Continue down Walnut Street to your next location.

Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk

For a walk on the water, the next stop along the route is the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. Start on the entrance on Walnut Street, and take the boardwalk trail down to South Street. This path connects the Schuylkill River Trail to the South Street Bridge, providing a 2,000-foot-long walkway for pedestrians, bikers, runners and more.

Here is where we reach the longest stretch of the route. At 2.3 miles, the walk from the Schuylkill River to the Delaware River is undeniably daunting. However, the walk down the entirety of South Street is worth it. It’s a street with character and personality – entirely independent from the rest of the city. With hundreds of shops and eateries, make your way down South Street and pop in and out of different stores as you move along to your next destination: the South Street Pedestrian Bridge and Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Spruce Street Harbor Park

The end of South Street is marked by the South Street Pedestrian Bridge. Though it is a popular spot to walk along in Philly, it also happens to serve as the perfect pathway to the next stop on the route. Take the bridge down to Spruce Street Harbor Park, a greenspace right along the Delaware River lined with hammocks and food stands.

The park is free and open to the public, so take advantage of its abundant lounge areas to get off your feet for a while. After all, you’ve walked over five miles – you deserve a break.

Independence Mall

Walk along the water towards Penn’s Landing. Using Penn’s Landing Road, find your way onto Market Street and head towards Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall. With sites such as Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell, this area of the city has American culture rooted in its foundations. Take some time to grab a picture in front of the Liberty Bell – with free admission to the Liberty Bell Center – and get in on what the most historic square mile in the country has to offer.

Reading Terminal Market

From Independence Mall, continue down Market Street and then make a right turn onto N. 11th Street, and where N. 11th Street meets Arch Street you’ll find yourself at Reading Terminal Market. As the quintessential food spot in Philadelphia, this walking tour wouldn’t be complete without the intersecting halls of hustle and bustle that Reading Terminal Market has to offer. With its dozens of food options from spots around the city, anyone can satisfy a craving within the walls of the market. From pickles to gyros to cannolis and everything else, a wander down these halls will make your mouth water. Beware of the unavoidable indecisiveness that results from the plentiful options.

JFK Plaza

The end is in sight. When you are full from Reading Terminal Market, continue on Arch Street until you arrive at JFK Plaza. Here, you’ll see the famous LOVE sculpture, the final photo-op before the walking route comes to a close. Though you saw it on your original trek down the Ben Franklin Parkway, it’s a sight worth the double look. Walk back down the Parkway towards the Philadelphia Museum of Art, just the same as the route started.

From historic sites to world-renowned food, there are plenty of reasons to stroll the streets of Philadelphia.

Congratulations — you have reached your destination.