Pennsylvania stretches from the Delaware River to the Ohio border, encompassing historic Philadelphia, dynamic Pittsburgh, the scenic Pocono Mountains, the rolling Amish farmlands of Lancaster County, and some of the most important Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields in the United States. It is one of the original 13 colonies, home to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Gettysburg National Military Park.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Pennsylvania.
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1
Independence Hall
This Georgian brick building on Chestnut Street is where the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and where delegates later debated and signed the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Rangers lead visitors through the Assembly Room, pointing out the "Rising Sun" chair George Washington sat in during the Constitutional Convention. Entry is by timed tour only, and the room itself is smaller than photographs suggest, so groups move through in batches of around 40.
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2
Liberty Bell Center
Housed in a glass-walled pavilion facing Independence Hall, this exhibit holds the cracked bronze bell that became a symbol of the abolitionist and civil rights movements long after its original 1751 casting. The building's design lets visitors photograph the bell with Independence Hall visible through the window behind it. Panels along the walk-through trace the bell's casting flaws, its recasting by local founders, and how it acquired its current name in the 19th century.
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3
Gettysburg National Military Park
This is the site of the July 1863 battle that turned back Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North and produced the largest casualty count of the Civil War. The park covers roughly 6,000 acres of preserved farmland, ridgelines, and monuments, including the field where Pickett's Charge failed on the third day. Most visitors start at the Museum and Visitor Center, which holds the Gettysburg Cyclorama, a massive 1884 circular painting of the battle, before driving or biking the marked auto tour route across the battlefield itself.
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4
Philadelphia Museum of Art
This Greek Revival building on Fairmount Hill holds one of the country's major encyclopedic art collections, spanning European paintings, arms and armor, and a full reconstructed Japanese teahouse and Hindu temple hall. It's also the museum whose front steps Sylvester Stallone ran up in Rocky, and many visitors still jog them before going inside. Inside, the collection is large enough that most people pick a wing, such as the Impressionist galleries or the arms and armor court, rather than trying to see everything in one visit.
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5
Fallingwater
Frank Lloyd Wright designed this house over a waterfall on Bear Run for the Kaufmann family in 1935, cantilevering its concrete terraces directly out over the falling water rather than beside it. The interior is kept largely as the Kaufmanns left it, with built-in Wright-designed furniture and a stairway that descends straight down into the stream below the living room. You can only see the inside on a guided tour, since the house is a preserved museum property, not a walk-through.
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6
Barnes Foundation
This collection was assembled by Albert Barnes, a Philadelphia chemist who made his fortune from an antiseptic drug, and includes an enormous concentration of Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse works. The defining feature is the installation itself: paintings are hung in dense, symmetrical wall arrangements mixed with ironwork and furniture, exactly following Barnes's own idiosyncratic ensembles, which the foundation is legally bound to preserve. It moved from its original suburban Merion location to this Benjamin Franklin Parkway building in 2012, replicating the original room layouts inside a new structure.
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7
Longwood Gardens
This estate was developed by Pierre du Pont starting in 1906 on former Quaker farmland, and its centerpiece is the domed Conservatory, a nearly four-acre glasshouse of display rooms that stays open year-round. Outdoors, the grounds include the illuminated Main Fountain Garden, which runs choreographed water and light shows on select evenings. The scale means a single visit usually covers either the Conservatory or the outdoor gardens thoroughly, not both in depth, unless you plan for several hours.
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8
Eastern State Penitentiary
Opened in 1829, this prison introduced the Pennsylvania System of solitary confinement meant to inspire penitence through isolation, and its radial cellblock design was copied by prisons worldwide. It held Al Capone for a stint in the 1920s, and his restored cell is part of the self-guided audio tour through the now-crumbling cellblocks. The site was abandoned in 1971 and left to decay before opening as a museum, so much of what you walk through is intentionally unrestored ruin rather than a polished exhibit.
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9
Hersheypark
Hersheypark grew out of a trolley park built for Milton Hershey's chocolate factory workers and now spans more than a dozen roller coasters alongside a water park, ZooAmerica, and Chocolate World next door. It's one of the larger regional theme parks in the eastern US, with coasters ranging from vintage wooden rides to modern steel launch coasters. A full day covers rides, the zoo, and the free Chocolate World tour, though the water park section requires a separate summer visit window.
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10
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle is a curved sand peninsula reaching into Lake Erie, giving Pennsylvania its only Great Lakes shoreline and a string of protected swimming beaches. The park combines Great Lakes beach scenery with pine and oak woodland trails, a lagoon system popular for kayaking, and a lighthouse. It's a day-use nature park rather than a manicured attraction, so the appeal is walking or biking the multi-use trail around the peninsula and stopping at whichever beach looks least crowded.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Liberty Bell worth visiting?
Yes — the center is free, informative, and connected to Independence Hall. Plan 30–60 minutes and combine with the National Constitution Center next door.
How long does a Gettysburg visit take?
Budget at least half a day. The auto tour route is 24 miles with 16 stops; add museum time for a full day.
Do I need a car in Pennsylvania?
A car is essential for Lancaster County, the Pocono Mountains, the Laurel Highlands, and most state parks. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are navigable by public transit.