Home Activities USA Philadelphia Philadelphia Historic Sites Self-Guided Walking Tour

Activity Philadelphia, USA

Philadelphia Historic Sites Self-Guided Walking Tour

4.0 (29 reviews) 1–2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

29 reviews

4.0

Philadelphia Historic Sites Self-Guided Walking Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Philadelphia Historic Sites Self-Guided Walking Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Historical Tours Walking Tours Low Supplier Cancellation Rate Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 1–2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: Action Day Trips

Ages: Adults (5–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
Included: Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
Included: Just bring your phone and headphones; the app guides your walk.
Included: Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
Included: Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
Included: Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
Included: Private walking tour experience for your family or group.
Included: Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
Included: Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.

Not included

Not included: No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

Itinerary

Liberty Bell Center

10 min

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.
Betsy Ross House

10 min Admission not included

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.
Stop 3

10 min Admission not included

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.
Stop 4

5 min

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.
Stop 5

5 min

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.
Stop 6

10 min Admission not included

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.
The President's House

5 min

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.
Stop 8

5 min Admission not included

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.
The African American Museum in Philadelphia

5 min Admission not included

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.
Stop 10

5 min

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!
Stop 11

5 min

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!
National Constitution Center

5 min Admission not included

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.
United States Mint

5 min Admission not included

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!
Benjamin Franklin's Grave

5 min Admission not included

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.
Elfreth's Alley

10 min Admission not included

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!
Christ Church

5 min

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.
Stop 17

5 min Admission not included

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!

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Begin from 1400 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOREVER, so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

End point

Using your ticket

IGNORE THE QR CODE ABOVE

The QR code CANNOT be presented for a ticket onsite.

The QR simply contains your tour access instructions. Please follow these instructions BEFORE you’re onsite because they require WiFi/signal.

1. Download my Action Tour Guide app:

actiontourguide.com/app

2. Sign in/ register with your email (this is will automatically generate a one-time verification sent to your email. That code is NOT your tour password).

3. Go to “My Tours” and select “Enter Password”. Find your password in the instructions email sent by “Action Tour Guide” to you by email and text.

4. Download your tour NOW. Do not wait until you are onsite.

BEFORE YOU START

This is a self-guided audio tour. No guide will meet you.

Entrance tickets, attraction tickets, parking, and transportation are not included.

Your tour has lifetime access with no expiry. Use it on any date—no need to change your booking date.

For walking tours, we recommend headphones.

See how it works: actiontourguide.com/tutorial

NEED HELP?

Setup: actiontourguide.com/redeem

FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq

Call: 1-508-506-1844

Email: [email protected]

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
Private tour: Follow the route on your phone without an in-person guide or crowded group.
At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking.
More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share a tour by using separate earbuds. We recommend using headphones or earbuds for clearer audio and to avoid disturbing nearby guests.