Philadelphia: Old City 90-Minute Walking Tour & Independence Hall

Walk the Streets Where America Began

You walk through Old City Philadelphia's founding landmarks (Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin's grave, Betsy Ross's home, and the Arch Street Meeting House) guided by someone who knows the stories behind the buildings. The pace is steady across cobblestones and 18th-century streets, ending with local tips for the rest of your Philly visit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Benjamin Franklin’s Gravepass by
2. United States Mintpass by
3. Betsy Ross Housepass by
4. Arch Street Meeting Housepass by
5. Elfreth's Alley15m

Explore historic Old City Philadelphia

• Start at Signer’s Garden
• Visit Independence Hall
• Pass by Liberty Bell Center
• See Benjamin Franklin’s grave
• Pass by United States Mint
• View Betsy Ross House exterior
• Visit Arch Street Meeting House courtyard
• Stroll Elfreth’s Alley street
• End with local recommendations

The experience

You're standing at Signer's Garden when your guide mentions that the cobblestones under your feet have been walked by the same people who signed the Declaration of Independence. That's when it hits. You're not just seeing history, you're standing in the exact place it happened. The 90-minute walking tour through Old City Philadelphia moves at a steady pace, and the guide doesn't rush the big moments. Independence Hall comes first, the building itself smaller than you'd expect but somehow more real because of it. You pass by the Liberty Bell across the street, and the guide walks you through how a crack in a bell became the symbol of freedom itself: the kind of detail that changes how you see the thing.

After Independence Hall, the tour shifts. You stop at Benjamin Franklin's grave in a quiet courtyard, then head to Betsy Ross's home, the small 18th-century house where the first American flag was supposedly stitched. The guide points out the details (the windows, the brick), and you start to see the person instead of just the name. The Arch Street Meeting House comes next, and the courtyard there has a different feel, quieter, the kind of place where you understand why the Quakers mattered to early Philadelphia. Then there's Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continuously residential street in the former colonies, and walking it is like stepping into a photograph from 1700-something. The houses are small, the street is narrow, and you're genuinely seeing what Philadelphia looked like before America was even a country.

The tour wraps at the U.S. Mint, and your guide gives you the kind of local recommendations that actually work: places to eat, neighborhoods worth wandering, things you wouldn't find in a guidebook. The whole thing takes 90 minutes, which sounds short until you realize you've covered seven major sites and heard the real story behind each one. Your legs feel it, but your head is full, and that's exactly the point.

What’s included

• Your 90-minute tour includes an expert English-speaking guide who leads you through Old City's seven major sites, engaging stories about each landmark, a donation to a local historic non-profit organization, and local recommendations for the rest of your Philadelphia visit.
• The tour covers Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin's grave, Betsy Ross's home, the Arch Street Meeting House courtyard, Elfreth's Alley, and the U.S.
• Mint, all on foot across historic cobblestone streets.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30, 14:00 and 17:30Last departure this season: 1 Jan 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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 levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by WeVenture

Is this one for you?Right for travelers with limited time in Philadelphia who want the founding story told straight, without arranging separate tickets or figuring out which sites matter most. Ninety minutes is tight, which is what makes hitting seven landmarks in one walk possible.

Traveler reviews

4.78★★★★★★★★★★

156 verified traveler reviews

5 ★140

4 ★4

3 ★8

2 ★2

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long is the walking tour?

Ninety minutes, starting at Signer's Garden and moving through seven major sites in Old City.

What's included in the tour?

An expert English-speaking guide, stories about each landmark, a donation to a local historic non-profit, and local recommendations at the end.

Do we go inside the buildings?

You pass by Independence Hall and view the Liberty Bell from outside. You visit the courtyards of the Arch Street Meeting House and see Betsy Ross's home from the exterior. The tour is primarily walking past and around the sites.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are also allowed.

What's the physical fitness level required?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's 90 minutes of walking on city streets and cobblestones at a steady pace.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Signer's Garden and ends at the U.S. Mint, with stops at Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin's grave, Betsy Ross's home, the Arch Street Meeting House, and Elfreth's Alley along the way.