Philadelphia: Hop-On Hop-Off & Philly by Night Bus Tour

See Philadelphia's 27 Top Sights from a Double-Decker Bus, Then Watch Them Light Up at Night

You board a double-decker bus and spend the day hopping on and off at 27 Philadelphia attractions (Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, the museums, neighborhoods, markets) with a live guide explaining what you're seeing. In the evening, you take a separate 90-minute guided tour of the same city, now lit up against the night sky. You control the pace during the day. The guide controls the narrative at night.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hop-on hop-off and night tour

• Board hop-on hop-off bus
• Visit 27 city attractions
• Hear live guided commentary
• Stop at Betsy Ross House
• Stop at National Constitution Center
• Stop at Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
• Stop at Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Return to 5th and Market streets
• Take dinner break
• Board Philly by Night bus at 7:30pm
• See city illuminated at night
• Visit Rocky Steps for photos
• Tour Penn's Landing and South Street
• View Liberty Bell and Independence Hall at night
• See Chinatown and Avenue of the Arts
• Tour Ben Franklin Parkway
• Return to Philadelphia Marriott Downtown at 9:30pm

The experience

The bus pulls up and you climb the spiral stairs to the top deck. Philadelphia spreads out in front of you: City Hall's tower, the brick facades of Old City, the river glinting somewhere beyond. A local guide's voice comes through the speakers, pointing out where things happened, why they matter, what you're actually looking at instead of just seeing it pass. The hop-on hop-off tour hits 27 stops across the city: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House, the National Constitution Center, Logan Square, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Reading Terminal Market. You get off where something catches you. You stay on when you want the story first.

The day part is yours to control. That's the whole point of hop-on hop-off. Spend an hour at the Franklin Institute or the Rodin Museum, grab lunch at Reading Terminal, walk through Chinatown or Old City on your own time. The bus comes around again. No schedule to chase, no guide waiting. Then, when the sun starts dropping, you board again for the 90-minute Philly by Night tour. The same landmarks you saw in daylight now have different light on them. Independence Hall glows. The cathedral basilica on Logan Square turns gold. The guide points out details you missed in the afternoon: architectural touches, historical layers, the way the city changes when you're not squinting into sun.

This works because you're not locked into a rigid itinerary. You see what matters to you during the day, then the evening tour ties it together and shows you the city from a different angle. The live commentary means you're not just riding past. You're learning as you go. And because it's a double-decker bus, you get the view: the actual sightlines that make Philadelphia's layout make sense.

What’s included

• Hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour covering 27 Philadelphia attractions with live guide commentary.
• 90-minute Philly by Night guided evening tour.
• access to stops including Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Reading Terminal Market, Logan Square, and Chinatown.

Options for this experience

2 options

Big Bus / Philly By Night, 1-DayGuide in English · No fixed timeSpend a day sightseeing Philadelphia with a one-day Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off pass, then after dinner board the Philly By Night tour to see the city lit up.

Big Bus / Philly By Night, 2-DayGuide in English · No fixed timeTwo full days riding the Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off tour, plus one evening on the Philly By Night ride.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Live guideEnglish

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Philadelphia TrolleyWorks

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Philadelphia's main sights without planning a route yourself, and you want the flexibility to linger at places that interest you. The hop-on hop-off format lets you control the pace during the day, while the evening tour gives you a second look at the city from a different angle.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

Can I get off the bus and explore on my own, or do I have to stay with the group?

You can hop off at any of the 27 stops and explore at your own pace. The bus runs continuously, so you can rejoin whenever you're ready. The evening Philly by Night tour is guided, so you stay on the bus for that portion.

How long is the hop-on hop-off part of the tour?

The hop-on hop-off portion is self-paced. You control how long you spend. The evening Philly by Night tour is 90 minutes.

What's included in the ticket?

The hop-on hop-off bus tour with live guide commentary and the 90-minute Philly by Night evening tour. Entry fees to individual attractions are separate.

Do I need to book the Philly by Night tour separately, or is it included?

It's included in the combo ticket. You don't need to book separately.

What are the main stops on the route?

Popular stops include Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Reading Terminal Market, Logan Square, the Franklin Institute, and Chinatown, among 27 total attractions.