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Free Things to do with Kids in Philadelphia

Whether you live in or near Philadelphia, PA or you find yourself vacationing in the area, hang on to this post! There are many free things to do with kids in Philadelphia!

Free Places in Philadelphia for Kids

1. Talk a stroll through Chinatown.

2. Visit the U.S. Mint and take a free self-guided tour.

3. Stop by Franklin Square to see the fountain and play on the free playground. Some of the other attractions there (like the carousel and mini golf) require a small fee. The annual Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is a very popular attraction held in Franklin Square.

4. Have a picnic or take a walk through Rittenhouse Square, one of five original squares planned by city founder William Penn. Bring some sketch pads and pencils and give the kids some time to sketch the sights!

5. Pretend you’re Rocky and run up and down the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. (If you want to visit the museum on the cheap, every Wednesday evening is “Pay What You Wish” between 5 – 8:45 PM.)

6. Visit Sister Cities Park (and check their event schedule because they offer free family-friendly weekend events!).

7. Look for ships sailing up and down the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing. (Plus check out their event schedule as they hold frequent events including festivals, fireworks and even summer movies.)

8. See the iconic LOVE statue at Love Park. (Note: the statue is currently being renovated and is expected to return some time this summer)

9. Check out the Liberty Bell – a historic Philadelphian symbol! Admission is free, however tickets are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

10. Get (free) tickets for a tour of Independence Hall, the building where the US Constitution AND Declaration of Independence were both signed. Like the Liberty Bell, tickets are free but limited and are given out first come, first served. For a small charge, you can make advance reservations.

11. Reading Terminal Market is an incredible indoor marketplace with fresh baked goods, flowers, ice cream, meat, produce, cheeses and more.

12. Walk by the Betsy Ross House and see where the designer of America’s first flag lived. Tours are available for a small admission fee.

13. Visit Spruce Street Harbor Park (open seasonally between mid-May and late summer) and relax in a big hammock, check out the floating gardens, or play Bean bag toss, life sized chess and Connect Four, giant Jenga, and tetherball.

14. Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse is a GIANT free play space for kids to play! Kids 5 and under can enjoy this 16,000 square foot area to play and use their imaginations.

15. Older kids might enjoy one of the Free at Noon concerts at World Cafe Live.

16. Take a walk along Kelly Drive (there’s a paved footpath that runs alongside the Schuylkill River). You can see the 19th century boathouses (affectionately called “Boathouse Row“) and if you’re lucky, you might even see some rowers out on the river.