Philadelphia Historic Sites Self-Guided Walking Tour





Description
Walk in the footsteps of Revolutionary War heroes, discover the iconic Liberty Bell, and relive the fight for American Independence with a self-guided audio tour! Journey back in time to historic Philadelphia in the days of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and their revolutionary collaborators. After booking, check your email/text for a special password and setup instructions. Download the Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and once it's complete, you can enjoy it offline. Just open the app, hit the road, and follow the audio instructions! New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Next up: the Liberty Bell! We'll learn about what makes this bell iconic -- and what makes it so susceptible to cracks! As we explore its history and majesty, we'll also explore it's significance in later years as Americans fought for their freedom from slavery, for equal voting rights, and for true liberty. Note: The tour is over 1.5 miles long, with more than 30 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. Your password can be used on the same number of devices as the travelers you have booked. Please enter the same password on each device.
Our trip jumps us back in time a bit -- to the birth of the American flag! The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution often overshadow this historic home but it's legacy is far more visible today! We'll learn all about Betsy Ross and her fateful meeting with George Washington one morning during Sunday service at Christ Church.
Embark on this journey into America's past at Philadelphia's City Hall! As we make our way into the heart of Historic Philly, we'll dive into 1700s to explore the foundations of the Revolutionary War. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and other Founding Fathers had deep roots in Philadelphia, as we'll quickly discover. Then we'll We'll explore the events that led up to the revolt, including the catalyst: the Tea Tax.
We're finally at Independence Hall, the birthplace of America. This is where the First Continental Congress unified the colonial states into one entity, working together. This is where military revolts and battles against the British were planned. This is also where the Second Continental Congress took place, when votes were gathered from across all the colonies. Ultimately, this is where the Declaration of Independence, and America, was brought to life. As we walk around this historic hall, we'll learn about additional American figures like John Hancock, Patrick Henry, and John Adams, and their contributions to the new nation. We'll also understand what this Independence Hall represented to colonial Americans -- and what it represents to modern Americans today. We'll also check out George Washington's statue out front, and dive into his backstory.
At the corner of historic Washington Square, we'll catch a glimpse of where it all began: the site of the First Continental Congress. We'll explore the consequences of this historic conference before approaching the iconic Independence Hall.
Then we'll head over to Ben Franklin's museum. This historic statesman figures heavily in America's past -- and we'll learn why. As we walk through the museum we'll also peel back the layers of his personality, learning about his vast store of knowledge and huge diversity of interests. Then, we'll jump to the anti-hero to Franklin's hero: the traitor Benedict Arnold. As we continue to walk, we'll learn all about what Arnold planned to do -- and how.
Next up, the very first White House! We'll explore the original presidental home of George Washington and then of John Adams. Here, we'll be able to dive into the history of the presidents' lives and better understand life during the colonia era.
Then we'll head over to another unique historic home: the Graff House. This is where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and where Ben Franklin helped him edit it. Walk in the footsteps of these earliest inklings of American freedom as you pass by this site! Plus, we'll take this opportunity to learn about Thomas Jefferson, and understand his life and contributions towards American independence.
Philadelphia's history may be all about independence and freedom, but that didn't apply to African-Americans! As we pass this wonderful museum, we'll continue to explore slavery and it's impact of early America. We'll also learn about the historic contributions of African-Americans like Crispus Attucks and others.
Our journey into America's past then brings us to Franklin Square, where we can rest up and catch up on everything else that Ben Franklin did -- other than driving independence of course! We'll learn about his many book, ideas, and of course... experiments!
That brings us to this gigantic memorial to Franklin's most beloved discovery -- electricity! Here we'll explore what exactly Ben Franklin was discovering, why he wanted to try, and how exactly he planned to do it!
Next up, we'll pass by the National Constituion Center. Just like with the Declaration of Independence, we'll learn about how the colonists gathered here in Philadelphia to formalize their union into a concrete nation: the United States of America. We'll explore how American citizens' most fundamental rights were guaranteed, laying the basis for the American society today.
Our walk then brings us to the Mint! We'll learn about the gold and silver coins that formed the basis of the early American economy... and about the copper, nickel, and paper that makes our money today!
We'll walk by Benjamin Franklin's grave and learn about an important part his legacy: the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania. We'll dicover how UPenn represented Franklin's ideals for the young nation's next generation and about how his legacy continues to shine through Philadelphia today.
This brings us to Elfreth's Alley, the modern Instagram hot-spot of Philly and the historic origins of this great city. As the very first downtown, Elfreth's seen generations of changes... but has remained as quaint and colonial as ever!
We'll then walk over to historic Christ Church, where George Washington, Betsy Ross, and plenty of other American revolutionaries worshipped. We'll pass by the Church, diving into it's historical significance and admiring it's soaring architecture.
That brings us to the Museum of the American Revolution! Our journey ends near here, allowing you the opportunity to step inside if you didn't get quite enough revolutionary history already!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
- New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
- For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour.
- The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
- Your password can be used on the same number of devices as travelers booked. Enter the same password on each device.
Reviews(26)
The Fife and Drum of 1776,welcomes you as you enter Philadelphia-the city where Our Founding Fathers declared Independence from Britain and King George. My wife and I were here in the beginning of June-on the cusp of July 4th-the 250th Anniversary of Our Country. As you walk down the streets of this amazing city, especially the historic sections, you can feel the past intertwining with the present. If you close your eyes, for a brief moment, you can see Paul Revere riding through the streets, crying out, "The British are coming." You can hear Our Liberty Bell ringing, loudly, in its highest church. You can sit with Betsy Ross and watch as she diligently sews the 13 stars on Our Country's first flag. You can join the representatives of our 13 states sitting at there desks or standing tall, in Independence Hall, as they verbally share with one another why we need Our Freedom from Britain's tyrannical rule. For that brief moment in time, Our Country's history will come alive for you, in all its wonderful glory. If you are truly lucky to be in Philadelphia on July 4th,be ready to witness all the Reenactments of "1776" that will take place; all the Patriotism that will grab hold of you-making you feel proud to be An American and all the fireworks you'll see-as they light up the evening sky, in a multitude of magnificent colors with an emphasis on The Reds, The Whites and The Blues. Enjoy every moment! Noel M.
Noel, thank you for sharing such a thoughtful reflection on Philadelphia’s history and patriotic spirit. I’m unable to find a booking connected to my Philadelphia Historic Sites GPS Walking Tour, so this may have been posted on the wrong listing. If you did purchase and use my audio tour, I’d love to hear more about your experience with the tour itself. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re always welcome to explore it on a future visit — the self-guided audio tour is designed to make Philadelphia’s historic sites feel even more informative, engaging, and lively as you walk through the city.
I absolutely loved this tour!!! The map was easy to follow. Each stop automatically started when it reached the location. It was easy to stop and restart if we needed to. I could not have asked for a better tour guide. HIGHLY Recommend this tour!
Mirasol, glad to hear you LOVED seeing Philly this way with my walking audio tour guide! It’s fantastic that the map was easy to follow, the GPS-based audio started automatically at each stop, and you could pause and jump back in whenever you wanted. For more historical adventures, check out my Ultimate Gettysburg Battlefield Self-Guided Audio Bundle Tour, featuring the Ghosts of the Battlefield, Seminary Ridge, and Devil's Den tours. Happy exploring!
Could do the tour in own time and have good directions . Interesting information given would recommend
Marjory, thank you for sharing your thoughts on my Philadelphia Historic Sites Self-Guided Walking audio tour. I’m glad you found the directions clear and the information interesting, but I saw you rated it lower—was there anything that didn’t meet your expectations or something you think could be improved? Your feedback helps me and my team improve the experience. I’d really appreciate it if you could share more about what went wrong or what you’d like to see added. I’m available daily from 9 to 6 EST if you want to connect directly.
Because it was raining, and because it looked like it traversed 3-4 miles of walking, we tried to do it by car. Philadelphia's one way streets often had us going around in circles. But it still worked reasonably well. We enjoyed the history and insights.
Marlan, thank you for sharing your experience with the Philadelphia Historic Sites Self-Guided Walking audio Tour. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the history and insights, despite the challenges posed by the rain and one-way streets. Just a note, this is primarily a walking tour, so driving it can sometimes be tricky. However, I’m glad it still worked reasonably well for you. If you’re up for more self-guided adventures, check out my 100+ Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tours. They offer the same flexibility and convenience for exploring at your own pace. Enjoy your next journey!
We couldnt get into the app so we didn't use it and had to pay all over for another tour. The Hop on and Off was great and easy to use.
Claudia, I’m sorry to hear that you experienced issues with my app. I see that you've redeemed the password, which means the tour has been downloaded. Can you let me know what happened that prevented you from using it and led you to purchase another tour? I’d like to understand better so I can assist you more effectively. Please feel free to reach out—I can offer a different tour as a replacement or process a refund. I’m here to help daily from 9 to 6 EST!
This was the perfect walking tour for someone looking to explore the city at a high level. We stopped a few times and it took us about 2.5 hours which is exactly what we were looking for. The audio was interesting and I liked that we could listen to more if something was particularly interesting. The only con is that some audio would start playing before it was done with the prior clip because we had continued to walk. Otherwise, this was well worth the price!
Abby, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed my Historic Philadelphia Walking Audio Tour and found it a great way to explore the city! The audio plays automatically as you approach the next attraction, so I recommend pausing to finish each story, including the extra ones, before moving on. Since my tours are valid for a whole year, you’ll have plenty of time to use them again or even listen to the stories on your way back or at home.
The tour gave such precise directions that it was so easy to follow. I enjoyed the narration and the explanation of all that was involved in the Battle of Gettysburg. Such a pivotal moment in American History.
Hi there, so glad you found the tour easy to follow and enjoyed the narration. Just a quick note—it sounds like you may have meant to review the Gettysburg Battlefield tour instead of the Historic Philadelphia one. If so, I’m thrilled it made such a powerful impression. Either way, thanks for exploring history with me. For more historical adventures, check out my Ultimate Gettysburg Battlefield Self-Guided Audio Bundle Tour, featuring the Ghosts of the Battlefield, Seminary Ridge, and Devil's Den tours. Happy exploring!
We gave up after 1/2 hr. Had we been advised prior to going that using ear buds or headphones was imperative, we would have brought some. Instead the street noise - traffic, sirens, people talking, etc, made hearing the guide impossible. I spent more than an hour trying to find out how to get a refund. I finally went on PayPal, where I paid, and found a customer service email. We’ll see if someone responds. Feel like it’s a scam.
Susan, I’m sorry you couldn’t fully enjoy my Historic Philadelphia Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour. For walking tours, I’ve mentioned in the listing that headphones are recommended to avoid challenges like street noise interfering with the audio. The tour is valid for a year after booking, so please give it another try with earphones for the best experience. If you’d like a refund or need assistance, you can find my support team’s contact info in the booking email, or feel free to email us directly—I’ll make sure you get the help you need!
History is not my cup of tea, but this tour helped me to cover some of the most important landmarks in Philadelphia. Honestly, the history behind the tour was very boring, but it was much needed as a first-time visitor. I wish they would create a "must-see" walking tour of Philadelphia and not just the colonial era. For example, Chinatown, Reading Terminal Market, Museum of Art, etc... I had a blast exploring Chinatown but it was never mentioned in the walking tour.
Tom, I’m glad my Historic Philadelphia Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour helped you cover the city’s key colonial landmarks as a first-time visitor. While I know history isn’t your cup of tea, I appreciate you sticking with it to explore some of Philadelphia’s most important sites. A broader "must-see" tour with spots like Chinatown, Reading Terminal Market, and the Museum of Art is a great idea—I’ll keep that in mind. If you're looking to explore more, consider my 100+ Self Guided Driving & Walking Tours by Action. They offer the same ease and insightful exploration, perfect for your next adventure.
The audio tour really enhanced our walk around the historic sites. Great way to get some color commentary as you move along.
Louise, I’m thrilled you enjoyed my Historic Philadelphia Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour! The audio enhances your walk around the historical sites with engaging commentary. If you're looking to explore more, consider my 100+ Self Guided Driving & Walking Tours by Action. They offer the same ease and insightful exploration, perfect for your next adventure.



