What to do in Philadelphia while house and pet sitting

If you’re planning to house or pet sit in this historic Pennsylvanian city, you’ll be wondering what to do in Philadelphia. If you love old buildings, green spaces, the arts and fantastic street food, you’re in the right place. Philly has all this and much, much more.

From contemporary galleries to the statue of movie legend Rocky, there’s culture to explore at every turn. If you’re wondering what to see and do in Philadelphia on a rainy day, check out the city’s many museums or explore the old markets.

Founder William Penn wanted a “greene countrie towne” and created five public parks, which are today’s historic “Squares”. These pleasant spaces are great news if you’re dog sitting in Philadelphia and looking out for top exercise spots.

Let’s take a closer look at the city of brotherly love and world-famous Philly cheesesteak.

Philadelphia attractions

What is there to do in Philadelphia? Well, the city has more than its share of museums and galleries, and with its long history, many of these are housed in buildings as significant as their collections. If you want to know what is there to do in old city Philadelphia, read on to find out...

1. Philadelphia Museum of Art: this iconic building dominates Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the inside is even more impressive. The museum’s collection of Impressionist art is simply breathtaking. And yes, you can run up the steps and pretend you’re in Rocky. Many people do.

2. Rodin Museum: there are almost 150 pieces in this beautiful Beaux Arts building and some of them are housed outside in the formal French gardens. The museum was gifted to the city in 1929 by movie-theatre magnate Jules Mastbaum.

3. Mural Arts Philadelphia: and now for a really different type of art… The city is home to over 4,000 murals. You can take a guided tour of the city’s wall art, led by Mural Arts Philadelphia. Find out which fabulous tours are running during your stay.

4. Eastern State Penitentiary: discover 150 years’ of criminal history in this former state prison. You can walk through the echoing building, peering into cells, while listening to an audio guide. Highlights include the story of Slick Willie Sutton, who tunneled out of the jail, and its most famous inmate, Al Capone.

Other fantastic museums and galleries include the National Museum of American Jewish History, the medical history Mütter Museum, the Barnes Foundation, October Gallery, the kid-focused Please Touch Museum, and the Penn Museum. That should keep you busy…

Free things to do in Philadelphia

What is there to do in Philadelphia for free? If you like simply exploring a city, you could easily spend your entire stay here enjoying Philly without spending a dollar on attractions. Walk along the Delaware River waterfront and relax with your four-footed friend in those lovely Squares. Make the most of the free exhibitions, such as the Liberty Bell...

1. Liberty Bell Center: you can get astonishingly close to the famous symbol of freedom in this free-entry center. There’s also an exhibition about the Bell and a program of temporary exhibitions. It can get very busy during peak periods, so time your visit well.

2. Independence Hall: take a guided tour of the place where history was made. You’ll even see the Assembly Room where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed, and the original inkstand is still there. The old building itself is also awe-inspiring.

3. Rittenhouse Square: one of Penn’s original “greene” spaces, Rittenhouse Square is both the park and the surrounding neighborhood. It’s a cool place to come for food and drink, or grab a take out or picnic and chill out by the fountain.

4. The University of Pennsylvania: take a stroll around Penn, which was founded in 1740 and still has much of its old Gothic architecture. There are calm courtyards and passageways to explore. Look out for statues and installations in the sprawling grounds, including the Robert Indiana LOVE sculpture, and check out Franklin Field, the oldest football stadium in the country. Lunch? The White Dog Cafe, of course.

Fun things to do in Philadelphia

If you’re wondering what fun things to do in Philadelphia, take a look at a few of our favorite Philly activities.

1. Reading State Market: if you love food, you simply have to come here. This incredible market has been feeding Philly since 1893. Pick up your meat, fish and vegetables here, or grab some lunch at one of the market’s many eating spots.

2. Italian Market: still hungry? The Italian Market has been the heart of Philadelphia’s Italian neighborhood since the 1880s. There are stalls, stores and street food, and of course, the area is home to the best Italian restaurants in Philadelphia.

3. Schuylkill River Trail: this 30-mile urban trail runs between the City Center and Phoenixville, along the Schuylkill River. It’s a lively path with plenty to see, and there always seem to be yoga classes, kayak tours and skateboarding going on next to the trail. Hire a bike and enjoy the best of Philly’s fresh air, or take your new dog friend out for a riverside walk.

4. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens: walk through amazing spaces filled with the mesmerizing creations of Isaiah Zagar. Philadelphia’s much-loved mosaic artist has curated this collection of incredible works, which covers three city lots. 

Best restaurants in Philadelphia: Food and drink

This was a harder list to compile. Philadelphia has fabulous food from all over the world, ranging from ultra-modern cuisine in chic settings to the best American Italian, Asian and Mexican street food you’ll ever find. And of course, it’s home to Philly Cheesesteak. What more could you possibly want?

We’ve managed to narrow it down to just a few of the best restaurants in Philadelphia.

Best restaurants in Philadelphia for lunch 

1. John’s Roast Pork: ignore the name: this is the place to come for that local specialty, the world-famous Philly Cheesesteak. One of those rare places that managed to be both award-winning and great value.

2. El Ray: this Chestnut Avenue eatery does great tacos and we’d recommend coming a bit earlier for a classic Mexican brunch. A great way to start your day before hitting the museums.

3. White Dog Cafe: this is another one of Philly’s most-loved places for lunch. It serves sophisticated versions of farm-to-table favorites, in a choice of several eating spaces, each one differently designed.

4. Bud & Marilyn’s: home-cooked favorites like fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits. The food has a lovely homespun vibe – but then you check out the cocktail menu. Definitely not what your Grandma used to rustle up...

5. La Rosa Pizza: Philly has a strong Italian cuisine scene. It’s hard to choose the best place for a lunchtime pizza; but La Rosa’s is much loved, and at under three dollars for a slice, well, there's no contest.

Best restaurants in Philadelphia for dinner

If you ever ask, “What to do in Philadelphia tonight?”, the best answer is usually, “Find a good restaurant”. Here are a few of the best restaurants in center city Philadelphia.

1. Eeva: it’s hard to choose a pizzeria in Philadelphia, but we went for Eeva because their food is so fresh, local and seasonal that the dinner menu changes weekly. Examples of seasonal food include rainbow chard pizza.

2. Rangoon: this Burmese restaurant in Philadelphia Chinatown serves the most delectable thousand layer bread. Don’t miss their salads and noodles as well (may be worth a repeat visit to work your way through their amazing menu).

3. Amma’s South Indian Cuisine: located on Chestnut Street, this fabulous Indian restaurant serves authentic food, presented on traditional banana leaves. It’s also worth trying at lunchtime for their awesome thalis.

4. Suraya: this Lebanese place in Fishtown has a market as well as a bar and restaurant. Try and get a table in their lovely garden space. It also serves brunch and lunch.

5. Urban Farmer: this is one of a small family of sophisticated steak restaurants. The Logan Square branch has indoor and outdoor seating, and uses the best local produce in its American dishes.

What’s to do in downtown Philadelphia? If you like culture, food and urban walks, you can easily fill your days in this laid-back city. It’s a friendly place: take a look at our guide to connecting with the locals for socialising tips.

At the end of the day, cozy up with the cat while you rest your tired feet, all ready for tomorrow’s adventure.

What to do in Philadelphia with your pet

Philly’s a great place to be a dog! If you’re pet sitting in Philadelphia, here are a few things you can do together.

1. The Delaware Riverfront: if you have a sociable pooch, the riverside walk is a great place for a stroll together. The Schuylkill river trail we mentioned earlier is also a popular dog walking route.

2. Doggie Style Stores and Grooming: there are a few of these pooch pamper palaces around Philly. Treat your four-pawed friend to a treat like a new collar or maybe even a shampoo (pet-parent permitting).

3. Dog parks: Philadelphia has a choice of special dog parks for off-the-leash fun. The Schuylkill park is good, and Seger Dog Park is another favorite. You need membership for this one, but it may be that you already have access to this (worth a check).

4. Go out to eat: there are plenty of dog-friendly bars and restaurants in town (The White Dog Cafe is on the list, naturally). Also try Cantina dos Segundos, Red Owl Tavern, and Uptown Beer Garden, which even has a “yappy hour”.

Like the idea of house and pet sitting in Philadelphia?

Imagine waking up in the morning and saying, what to do in Philadelphia today? As you’ve read, there’s a lot going on in this beautiful city, and it’s a popular place among our house and pet sitters.

Take a look at our Find a House Sit page and see what’s available in Philadelphia, then make sure you get your pet sitting application correct. The City of brotherly love is a great place for animal lovers.