Things to Do with Kids in Philadelphia, PA

57 qualified activities: museums, parks, zoos, restaurants, and more.

4.6 avgacross 57 rated

14 free

29 stroller-friendly

By Kit, KidPaths editor

Reviews family planning details across KidPaths city guides.

Philadelphia is one of the easiest East Coast cities to do with kids because the big pieces sit close together and the free pieces are not filler.

The Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall are free with same-day timed tickets from the Visitor Center, but I think the real family value is what sits around them. Franklin Square is the thing I'd layer into any Old City day. 5 hours is usually the right amount. Local Philadelphia parents consistently flag the same advantage: kids can do the history stop, then actually move their bodies.

Sister Cities Park is the under-7 save that many city guides undersell. Entry is free, most families stay 1 to 2 hours, strollers work fine, and the park has restrooms plus a nursing lounge, which matters more than travel writers admit. The summer spray ground and sandpit are best for ages 2 to 6, and the indoor waterfall room works year-round.

I think this is the rainy-day rotation piece most Philadelphia itineraries miss. A free park with shade and a working bathroom beats a paid attraction with a long line, almost always. If you can only do one big paid animal stop, I think Big Cat Falls beats Adventure Aquarium for most visiting families.

Top kid-friendly places in Philadelphia

Independence National Historical Park4.6 Philadelphia Museum of Art4.8 Philadelphia Zoo4.5 Adventure Aquarium4.6 The Franklin Institute4.6 The Mutter Museum at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia4.6 Philadelphia's Magic Gardens4.6 East Fairmount Park4.6 Franklin Square4.6 FDR Park4.5 Elfreth's Alley Museum4.6 The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University4.6

Parent planning notes

How to use this Philadelphia guide without overplanning

Start with one anchor activity, then keep one nearby backup in mind. That keeps the day flexible if naps, weather, parking, or meal timing change the plan.

The current public guide has 57 KidPaths-vetted activities, including 41 indoor or mixed-weather options. The strongest shelf right now is tours & experiences, with 21 picks.

Each visible listing has cleared the public listing gate for original description depth, venue-specific photo quality, and basic family-planning usefulness.

Rainy-day backup

36 weather-safe picks

Philadelphia has options that still work when weather changes.

Budget scan

14 free picks

Free does not always mean easy, so check parking, shade, and visit length.

Parent logistics

29 stroller-friendly stops

Listings call out stroller access, age fit, and practical notes that affect the day.

Freshness

Checked during editorial review

Average public rating across rated picks is 4.6. Send corrections when hours, prices, access, or photos change.

City planning playbook

Treat Philadelphia like a walkable hub day

Philadelphia is easiest when families choose one neighborhood zone, then add a food stop and a short free attraction nearby. The best days do not require crossing the city twice.

Best timing

Old City and museum-area days work best in the morning before lunch crowds build. Reading Terminal is easier before 11:30 a.m. or after 2 p.m.

Weather plan

Keep Franklin Institute, children's museums, indoor play, and market stops ready for rain or hot afternoons.

Budget move

Free history anchors can carry the day, but reserve paid tickets for the science museum, zoo, or one special indoor stop.

Age fit

Little kids need playground pauses between history stops. Older kids can handle Independence Hall, museum exhibits, and longer walks.

Do not overbuild the day

Do not make the day only about historic sites unless your kids are old enough to care. Mix in play and food.

Plan Philadelphia by age, weather, and budget

Jump straight to the pages parents search for most, with only indexable KidPaths listings linked here.

One day itinerary →

No admission feeFree Activities14 picks Weather backupRainy Day Activities36 picks Climate controlledIndoor Activities41 picks Fresh airOutdoor Activities29 picks Easy accessStroller-Friendly29 picks

Toddler44 Infant15 Little Kids54 Big Kids55 Tweens38 Teen32

Paid attraction planning

Check pass savings before booking Philadelphia tickets

If your plan includes several major museums, aquariums, observation decks, or tours, a city pass may beat buying every ticket separately. Always compare against direct prices for your exact dates.

Compare Go City passesGood for packed attraction days Check CityPASS savingsUseful for major museums and attractions

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Philadelphia with kids: common questions

What's the best museum or attraction in Philadelphia for kids?

For most visiting families, I would start with Big Cat Falls as part of a full Philadelphia Zoo day. It covers toddlers through tweens better than most museum stops, and the full visit usually fills 3 to 4 hours for about $90 to $120 for a family of four before parking. If your kids are all under 7, The Bucks County Children's Museum - Advance Ticketing Recommended is the better pure play pick. If your kids are teens and science-minded, The Mütter Museum is the specialist option, not the default.

What's free to do in Philadelphia with kids?

Sister Cities Park and the free side of Franklin Square are the two best central answers. Sister Cities Park is free, stroller-friendly, has restrooms and a nursing lounge, and the indoor waterfall room makes it useful even when weather shifts. Franklin Square's playground is free even if you skip mini golf and the carousel. The Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall are also free with same-day timed tickets. I would add the Schuylkill River Trail if you want a stroller walk that does not feel like filler.

What's the best rainy-day plan in Philadelphia with kids?

Build the rainy-day rotation around one big indoor anchor and one low-cost backup. Star Park Indoor Playground – Franklin Mall is the easiest pure play answer, about $40 to $60 for four and good for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Adventure Aquarium is the bigger splurge, about $100 to $140 and strong for 2.5 to 4 hours, especially if your kids like touch tanks. For toddlers, Sister Cities Park's indoor waterfall room is the free indoor backup many families miss. I would only add Funzilla Delran if you want the whole afternoon taken care of.

What is the best Philadelphia pick for toddlers and preschoolers?

Sister Cities Park is the cleanest under-7 answer in the city center. The spray ground, sandpit, stepping stones, and indoor waterfall room are built for younger kids, not added as an afterthought, and the park has the boring but crucial stuff, restrooms, stroller access, and a nursing lounge. If you want a paid indoor option, The Bucks County Children's Museum - Advance Ticketing Recommended is excellent for ages roughly 1 to 8, with 1.5 to 2.5 hours of role-play and hands-on exhibits. Book ahead on weekends.

Which Philadelphia attraction should families skip or save for later?

The Mütter Museum is the clearest save-for-later call. It is fascinating, but it is not appropriate for most kids under 12, and local parents consistently say the same thing for good reason. I would also be careful about turning Reading Terminal Market into a Saturday noon plan. Families love it, but shoulder-to-shoulder crowds make lunch harder than it needs to be. Philadelphia works best when you keep one strong anchor, like Big Cat Falls or Franklin Square, and let the rest of the day stay loose.