Philadelphia Old City Historic Walking Tour with 10+ Top Sites
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Philadelphia, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get more from a visit to Philly and walk in the footsteps of America's Founding Fathers on this walking tour of Philadelphia's old city. Visit important landmarks such as Christ Church, the Ben Franklin Post Office, Carpenters' Hall, and Independence Hall as your guide narrates local history. This walking tour is ideal for history buffs or first-time visitors trying to get their bearings in a new city.
- Photo Stops at 10+ Sites including Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley, and Liberty Bell
- Multiple departure times make it convenient for your schedule
- Learn about the Revolutionary War and how it shaped the United States today
- Pass by 15+ Philadelphia sites including Christ Church, and Ben Franklin Court
What's Included
- 90-Minute Guided Walking Tour of Philadelphia
- Photo Stops at 10+ Sites including Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley, and Liberty Bell
- Trace the footsteps of the Founding Fathers through the streets of historic Old City
- Learn about the Revolutionary War and how it has shaped the United States today
- Local Guide; tours are led by a former stand up comedian and history teacher
- Pass by 15+ Philadelphia sites including Christ Church, and Ben Franklin Court
- Visit Carpenter's Hall (Note: Site currently closed, will visit when available to public)
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 302 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Departure Point: Anima (We meet outside of this pet store across the street from the Starbucks on the corner of 3rd and Arch) Address: 302 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
End point
- Independence Hall520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
The tour concludes outside of Independence Hall around 5th and Chestnut, about four blocks away from the starting location. Our guides will happily provide directions back to the start if needed.
Itinerary
Your 90-minute walking tour begins when you meet your guide and group at a central location in Philadelphia at your chosen start time.
Led by an ex-stand-up comedian and history teacher, trace the footsteps of the Founding Fathers through cobblestone streets, immersing yourself in the city's rich history with a unique blend of humor and knowledge.
This journey covers all the must-see landmarks, including the Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley, and the iconic Liberty Bell, with insightful commentary on the Revolutionary War and its enduring impact on the United States. As you explore Philadelphia sites, such as Christ Church, Carpenter's Hall, and the Second Bank of the United States, gain a profound understanding of the nation's roots.
The tour concludes at Independence Hall, where you'll learn about its significance and the courageous founding fathers who shaped America.
Led by an ex-stand-up comedian and history teacher, trace the footsteps of the Founding Fathers through cobblestone streets, immersing yourself in the city's rich history with a unique blend of humor and knowledge.
This journey covers all the must-see landmarks, including the Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley, and the iconic Liberty Bell, with insightful commentary on the Revolutionary War and its enduring impact on the United States. As you explore Philadelphia sites, such as Christ Church, Carpenter's Hall, and the Second Bank of the United States, gain a profound understanding of the nation's roots.
The tour concludes at Independence Hall, where you'll learn about its significance and the courageous founding fathers who shaped America.
1
Betsy Ross House
7 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Elfreth's Alley
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Benjamin Franklin Bridge (Pass By)
3
Christ Church
7 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
B. Free Franklin Post Office
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
5
Carpenters' Hall
7 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Second Bank of the United States
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Liberty Bell
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
8
Independence Hall
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 2,223 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Dane_Y, Jul 2026
This was an excellent tour with the best guide ee have had on our journey. He was very knowledgeable and had great insights.
Meredith_B, Jul 2026
Tour guide was funny and warm and personable and have great knowledge about Philadelphia. We loved it.
Taylar_D, Jul 2026
John was personable , informative, and quite knowledgeable. He went out of his way to make sure group members were comfortable, able to cool down (it was 85+ today), and answered all questions. John has a background in various tours in town (food tours, etc), and was super helpful with recommendations!
Maureen_M, Jul 2026
John was a wonderful tour guide. I appreciated his knowledge and he provided fascinating stories blended with historical facts bringing history to life.
Kenneth_D, Jul 2026
Nice quiet small group after hours to avoid crowds. Afforded a good overview to determine what we wanted to see when opened during rest of our visit
Karyn_G, Jul 2026
Very fun and informative. Learned a lot about all the important historical events surrounding the City and the founding of the United States! Our tour guide, John, did a great job. Wear comfortable shoes.
Mark_S, Jul 2026
Great overview of the historic Philadelphia area - our tour guide was very knowledgeable and was able to co tongue the tour through an absolute deluge of rain / much appreciated
Charles_C, Jul 2026
It was a fairly easy walk with historic and cultural insight regarding the city of brotherly love. The narrator was awsome.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the walk and picked up some great historic and cultural insights about the City of Brotherly Love. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to your narrator—they'll be so happy to hear they made your experience awesome. Come back and walk with us again anytime!
Mary_C, Jul 2026
This was an awesome tour that covered a lot of historic information about Philadelphia. I've done other walking tours and came away disappointed, wanting more history. I thought I'd give it one more chance and this tour exceeded my expectations
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Wow, thank you so much for this incredible review! Winning over someone who has been disappointed by other walking tours is the ultimate compliment for us. We take great pride in making sure our tours are packed with deep, authentic Philadelphia history, so we are thrilled we could exceed your expectations. Thank you for giving walking tours—and us—one more chance! We'd love to welcome you back anytime.
Geoffrey_L, Jul 2026
Great tour. Use this tour as an overview of “what to visit”. Visited top spots and got a great history lesson. Casey our guide was excellent. You do not go into any of the buildings. So best to do this tour early in your visit so you know what to go back to.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review and for giving Casey a shoutout! We're glad you enjoyed the overview of the city's top spots and the deep dive into its history. Your advice to do this tour early on is spot-on, and it's the perfect way for visitors to plan the rest of their itinerary. We hope to welcome you back again someday!
George_A, Jul 2026
Great quick overview of the old town. Joseph was a great guide. Very friendly, personable and knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We're thrilled that you enjoyed the historic highlights and that Joseph was such a fantastic guide. It's great to hear that we've convinced you to visit us again—consider us ready for your next adventure! Safe travels until we see you next.
Laura_R, Jul 2026
We had a wonderful guide who gave us so much interesting information. He was delightful and funny. Highly recommend
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We are delighted that our 90-minute tour provided the perfect balance of deep historical storytelling and easy accessibility for your family. Nick is an outstanding guide, and his patience and knowledge are a huge asset to our team. Your high recommendation for families visiting Philadelphia is incredibly appreciated, and we hope to see you all again next time you're in town!
Cindy_S, Jul 2026
Great way to experience Philadelphia history! It was special having a history major, John, leading our tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Philly is full of history and John was the right person to deliver that to you. Glad you enjoyed yourself!
Naana_F, Jun 2026
Thank you for such a wonderful tour! Our guide was incredibly friendly, engaging, and clearly had a deep knowledge of Philadelphia’s history and culture. The information was presented in such an accessible, informative, and easygoing way that even the kids stayed interested and had a great time. Every stop came to life through fascinating stories and thoughtful explanations. It was an enjoyable experience for the whole family, and we left with a much deeper appreciation of Philadelphia. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your whole family had a great time exploring with us. Keeping kids engaged on a history tour can sometimes be a challenge, so hearing that our guide's easygoing storytelling and fascinating facts kept them hooked is the ultimate compliment! Our goal is always to bring Philadelphia’s rich history and culture to life in a way that resonates with every generation. Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps, and we hope to welcome your family back on board next time you're in town!
Conan_S, Jun 2026
Learned a lot about the history and get oriented to the city. Helps to know what you might want to follow up on
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the excellent feedback! Getting oriented and finding out what you want to follow up on is the ultimate pro-tip for making the most of your trip. We're so glad our tour provided that perfect roadmap for you. Thank you for supporting Founding Footsteps, and safe travels!
waleska_w, Jun 2026
Relaxed, slow paced, informative tour of beautiful Philadelphia. See the important historic sites and then decide which ones you want to go visit on your own. Great way to learn about a city.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the awesome feedback! We love hearing that our tour provided the perfect, relaxed introduction to the city's historic highlights. Mapping out your deeper explorations based on the tour is a great way to travel. Thank you for supporting Founding Footsteps, and safe travels!
Heather_G, Jun 2026
It was just the right amount of time and packed with lots of history and some humor sprinkled in. The locations are very close together to although you are standing most of the time you are not walking ling distance between.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
What a great review, thank you! Squeezing in lots of history and a sprinkle of humor without making you hike miles between sites is exactly what we aim for. We’re so glad you appreciated the layout of the tour. Thanks for rolling with Founding Footsteps!
Stephanie_T, Jun 2026
Our guide Joseph was very well informed and had some delightful anecdotes to share that we hadn’t heard before. The pace was fine and seeing multiple sites helped us to decide which to go back to afterwards. Dress for hot weather and wear good walking shoes for the different surfaces
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the wonderful feedback! Joseph is a wealth of information, and we're so glad you loved his delightful anecdotes. You also gave the absolute best advice for future guests—dressing for the heat and wearing good walking shoes makes all the difference on our historic surfaces. Thank you for supporting Founding Footsteps, and safe travels!
Kimberly_H, Jun 2026
Fun and educational for both young and old. Joseph, our guide, did an excellent telling little known stories about Philadelphia and beyond. My favorite is the story about Samuel Whittemore.
My granddaughter said she learned more today than she did in school! She just finished 8th grade and graduated 3rd in her class.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the incredible feedback! We are absolutely thrilled that our tour resonated so deeply with both you and your brilliant granddaughter—huge congratulations to her on graduating 3rd in her class! Joseph loves sharing those overlooked historical gems like Samuel Whittemore's story to make the past truly come alive. Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps for a memorable family day out!
Andrea_H, Jun 2026
Fabulous, informed guide who was attentively leading a diverse group. The information was outstanding and he lead us to shady spots while we listened on a hot day. You should definitely do his tour!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the incredible feedback! Finding the shade on a hot day is a true art form, and we're so glad your guide took such great care of the group. Providing an inclusive, highly informative experience is exactly what we aim for at Founding Footsteps. Thank you for the recommendation, and safe travels!
Joseph_B, Jun 2026
Extremely informative, chock full of historical anecdotes and facts.
Our tour guide, Shane, was extremely interesting, leaving us, with a heightened appreciation for the city of Philadelphia, our Founding Fathers and the impact of Betsy Ross, Willam Penn, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you left the tour with a heightened appreciation for Philadelphia and its incredible history. Shane is a phenomenal guide, and we love that his wealth of facts and historical anecdotes really brought the legacies of William Penn, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Betsy Ross to life for you. We will be sure to pass your wonderful compliments along to him. Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps!
Patrice_B, Jun 2026
Even in a drizzling of rain, it was just right. Not too long, very pleasant guide, saw everything we hoped to see of the Old City. It’s all outdoors so don’t expect to go inside of buildings.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that even with a little drizzle, the tour was just right and you got to see everything you hoped to see in Old City.
We also really appreciate you mentioning that the tour is entirely outdoors—that is such helpful advice for future travelers so they know exactly how to dress and what to expect! We try to make sure every walk is pleasant and informative, rain or shine. Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps, and we hope to see you again on a sunnier day!
Gale_K, Jun 2026
Our tour guide Nick gave a very informative explanation of the many important and interesting sites located in Old City Philadelphia. The way in which he imparted the information was interesting and fun to listen to. I would highly recommend this particular tour and I would highly recommend Nick as a guide.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the incredible feedback! Nick is a fantastic guide, and we love hearing that his fun, engaging storytelling style made your tour of Old City so memorable. Thank you so very much for the high recommendations for both the tour and Nick himself. We appreciate you supporting Founding Footsteps, and wish you safe travels!
Lisa_F, Jun 2026
Fun, informative, and a good length of time. It’s an easy walk w stops along the way to learn w some humor thrown in.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We are thrilled to hear that the tour length, pace, and blend of history and humor were just right for you. We purposely design our routes to be an easy, comfortable walk so that everyone can focus on enjoying the stories and the sights without feeling rushed or tired. Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps, and we hope to walk with you again on your next Philly adventure!
Kevin_F, Jun 2026
It wa an awesome tour!! Tim was entertaining and knowledgeable about the city’s history! We were able to meet some of the residences and they shared their stories of living in the historical homes.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the incredible feedback! Tim is a phenomenal guide, and we’re so glad you loved his entertaining storytelling. Getting to meet the local residents and hear their personal stories about living in historic homes is such a unique, magical bonus to our routes. Thank you for supporting Founding Footsteps, and safe travels!
Maria, Jun 2026
Factual historical walking tour with well informed guide. My husband rides a scooter because of mobility issues and was able to get around on this tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the factual and well-informed history on your walk.
Most importantly, thank you for sharing that your husband was able to easily navigate the route on his scooter. We want our tours of Philadelphia to be welcoming and accessible to everyone, so hearing that it accommodated his mobility needs perfectly is incredibly meaningful to us. Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps, and we hope to welcome you both back on board again soon!
William_G, Jun 2026
Chase was great. He is knowledgeable and articulate. I thought he showed a concern for safety. One person commented that the group was too large, but I don’t think it was too big.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the wonderful feedback! Providing an inclusive experience is a huge priority for us, so we are absolutely thrilled to hear that your husband felt comfortable navigating the tour on his mobility scooter. We're also glad our guide hit the mark with the historical facts! Thank you for supporting Founding Footsteps, and safe travels to you both!
Charlie_L, Jun 2026
Fantastic tour! Casey was a wonderful, friendly guide who really knew his stuff. The itinerary hit all the top spots, and the commentary was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of information.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful time with Casey. He takes great pride in knowing his history inside and out, so hearing that his commentary hit that perfect sweet spot of information and friendliness means a lot to us. We design our itineraries to seamlessly cover the city's top highlights without feeling overwhelming, and we're so glad it hit the mark for you. Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps!
Roza_D, Jun 2026
Casey was an awesome guide! I really enjoyed this tour, and I’m not even a history buff! Lots of interesting stories, great photo ops, and exploration of parts of town I never would’ve found or heard of on my own. I definitely recommend! Thanks Casey for the fantastic experience!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! Winning over someone who isn't even a history buff is the ultimate compliment for us! Casey is incredible at sharing those gripping, unexpected stories that keep everyone entertained, and we’re so glad he helped you capture some great photo ops along the way. We love guiding our guests off the beaten path to explore those hidden corners of the city you might miss on your own. We will definitely pass your big thank-you along to Casey. Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps!
Sheetal_D, Jun 2026
We just finished a 90 minute walking tour of some of the main historic sites in philadelphia including Betsy Ross House, Quaker House, Ben Franklins house and independence hall. Casey our guide was phenomenol. Gave us just enough information in an entertaining way. Lots of tiny bits of facts in a friendly way. Thanks Casey
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the phenomenal review! We are thrilled to hear that your 90-minute walking tour with Casey was such a hit. He is an absolute master at packing a wealth of fascinating, lesser-known facts into an entertaining and friendly conversation. We're so glad you enjoyed exploring those iconic landmarks like the Betsy Ross House, Franklin Court, and Independence Hall with him. We will definitely pass your big thank-you along to Casey! Thank you for choosing Founding Footsteps!
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