Best Museums in Philadelphia, PA
Looking for museums in Philadelphia? Below you'll find 10 local options with their address, phone number, website and opening hours, plus practical advice on choosing the right one.
What they do: Art, history, science and children's museums. Many offer free days and discounts for students and families.
This guide lists 10 museums in and around Philadelphia, spread across 6 ZIP codes. 10 have a phone number you can call directly from this page, 10 link to their own website, 10 are open on weekends. Listings are organized so you can compare them at a glance and contact them directly.
Top 10 Museums in Philadelphia
Listings are shown in no paid order: no business can pay to appear or to rank higher on this page.
1 Paul Robeson House & Museum
- Address 4951 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139
- Phone (215) 747-4675
- Website paulrobesonhouse.org
Opening hours
| Thu | 10 AM-4 PM |
|---|---|
| Fri | 10 AM-4 PM |
| Sat | 10 AM-4 PM |
2 Institute of Contemporary Art
- Address 118 South 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Phone (215) 898-5911
- Website icaphila.org
Opening hours
| Wed | 12 PM-6 PM |
|---|---|
| Thu | 12 PM-6 PM |
| Fri | 12 PM-6 PM |
| Sat | 12 PM-6 PM |
| Sun | 12 PM-6 PM |
3 Museum of Illusions Philadelphia
- Address 401 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (267) 703-2270
- Website moiphilly.com
Opening hours
| Mon | 10 AM-8 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 10 AM-8 PM |
| Wed | 10 AM-8 PM |
| Thu | 10 AM-8 PM |
| Fri | 10 AM-9 PM |
| Sat | 10 AM-9 PM |
| Sun | 10 AM-8 PM |
4 Museum for Art in Wood
- Address 141 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (215) 923-8000
- Website museumforartinwood.org
Opening hours
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | Closed |
| Wed | 12 PM-5 PM |
| Thu | 12 PM-5 PM |
| Fri | 12 PM-5 PM |
| Sat | 12 PM-5 PM |
| Sun | 12 PM-5 PM |
5 New Africa Center
- Address 4243 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Phone (267) 957-5971
- Website newafricacenter.com
Opening hours
| Wed | 1 PM-6 PM |
|---|---|
| Thu | 1 PM-6 PM |
| Fri | 1 PM-6 PM |
| Sat | 1 PM-6 PM |
6 Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
- Address 1020 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
- Phone (215) 733-0390
- Website phillymagicgardens.org
Opening hours
| Mon | 11 AM-6 PM |
|---|---|
| Wed | 11 AM-6 PM |
| Thu | 11 AM-6 PM |
| Fri | 11 AM-6 PM |
| Sat | 11 AM-6 PM |
| Sun | 11 AM-6 PM |
7 Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Address 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Phone (215) 763-8100
- Website visitpham.org
Opening hours
| Mon | 10 AM-5 PM |
|---|---|
| Thu | 10 AM-5 PM |
| Fri | 10 AM-8:45 PM |
| Sat | 10 AM-5 PM |
| Sun | 10 AM-5 PM |
8 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
- Address 118 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Phone (215) 972-7600
- Website pafa.org
Opening hours
| Tue | 10 AM-5 PM |
|---|---|
| Wed | 10 AM-5 PM |
| Thu | 10 AM-5 PM |
| Fri | 10 AM-5 PM |
| Sat | 11 AM-5 PM |
| Sun | 11 AM-5 PM |
9 National Constitution Center
- Address 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (215) 409-6600
- Website constitutioncenter.org
Opening hours
| Mon | 9:30 AM-5 PM, Su 12:00-5 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 9:30 AM-5 PM, Su 12:00-5 PM |
| Wed | 9:30 AM-5 PM, Su 12:00-5 PM |
| Thu | 9:30 AM-5 PM, Su 12:00-5 PM |
| Fri | 9:30 AM-5 PM, Su 12:00-5 PM |
| Sat | 9:30 AM-5 PM, Su 12:00-5 PM |
10 Independence Visitor Center
- Address 599 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Phone (800) 537-7676
- Website nps.gov
Opening hours
| Mon | 9 AM-6 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue | 9 AM-6 PM |
| Wed | 9 AM-6 PM |
| Thu | 9 AM-6 PM |
| Fri | 9 AM-6 PM |
| Sat | 9 AM-6 PM |
| Sun | 9 AM-6 PM |
How to choose museums in Philadelphia
- Check seasonal hours, since many attractions change their schedule in winter.
- Look for discount days, family passes and membership options.
- Check parking and accessibility before you go.
- Pack for the weather. Pennsylvania weather changes quickly, especially in spring and fall.
- For state parks, check the DCNR website for alerts, closures and reservations.
Local tips for Philadelphia
Philadelphia has its own licensing rules that go beyond state law: the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L+I) issues contractor licenses, permits and trade licenses, so plumbers, electricians and contractors working in the city need an L+I license on top of any state registration.
SEPTA's subway, trolley and bus network covers most of the city, so check whether a business is near a Market-Frankford or Broad Street Line station if you don't drive. Street parking in Center City is limited and enforced by the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Philadelphia is in Philadelphia County, and local phone numbers use the 215, 267 and 445 area codes. Popular areas include Center City, Old City, Fishtown, Northern Liberties, South Philly, University City, Manayunk, Chestnut Hill.
Frequently asked questions
Which museums in Philadelphia are open on weekends?
According to their listed hours, these are open on Saturday or Sunday: Paul Robeson House & Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of Illusions Philadelphia, Museum for Art in Wood, New Africa Center, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. Hours can change on holidays, so call before you go.
Which areas of Philadelphia do these museums cover?
The museums on this list are located in ZIP codes 19102, 19104, 19106, 19130, 19139, 19147. Many businesses also serve nearby neighborhoods and suburbs, so ask when you call.
Are Pennsylvania state parks free?
Yes. Pennsylvania state parks don't charge an entrance fee, although camping, cabins, some pools and special activities have fees.
What are the best times to visit attractions in Philadelphia?
Weekday mornings are usually the quietest. Summer weekends and school holidays are the busiest.
Where can I find trails near Philadelphia?
Use the DCNR's ExplorePAtrails.com and local park websites to find trails by length, difficulty and activity.
Museums in other Pennsylvania cities
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Business data for this page comes from © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), reviewed and formatted by Pennsylvania Connection.
Information is collected from public sources and may change. Please confirm hours, prices and availability directly with each business. Business owner? Ask us to update your listing.