The Philadelphia area is home to numerous family-friendly museums and historical sites to explore. And the best part is many are free or offer discounted admission on select days and seasons. Read on for art museums, science museums, historical sites and more!
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
Dinos After Dark: Pay as you wish one Friday evening per month, 5pm – 8pm. See website for more info. Enjoy a festive, family-friendly atmosphere and the Dino Drafts Beer Garden in Dinosaur Hall on select nights. Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the oldest natural history museum in the Americas. The Academy has more than 19 million specimens, all carefully documented and well-preserved for future generations.
Barnes Foundation
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
Free admission on the first Sunday of every month, 10am-4pm. The Barnes Foundation Free First Sunday Family Day features hands-on art activities, family programs, and special guest artists. Each month brings a new theme, giving kids and families a fun and engaging way to explore art together. Advance registration is required and opens the Thursday before each event.
Bartram’s Gardens
5400 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia
Admission is free, open daily, sunrise to sunset. Discover Bartram’s Garden, the oldest surviving botanical garden in North America and one of Philadelphia’s most unique family-friendly destinations. Spanning nearly 50 acres along the scenic Schuylkill River, this historic public park offers beautiful gardens, walking trails, open green spaces, and opportunities to connect with nature. Perfect for kids and families, Bartram’s Garden is a peaceful place to explore, learn about plants and local history, and enjoy the outdoors together.
Institute of Contemporary Art, at the University of Pennsylvania
118 S. 36th St., Philadelphia
Free Admission always. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday 12pm-6pm.
Free admission year-round and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is a great destination for families with older children and teens interested in art, creativity, and new ideas. Visitors can explore innovative contemporary art exhibitions that spark imagination, encourage curiosity, and inspire meaningful discussions.
An important part of Philadelphia’s cultural history, the ICA hosted Andy Warhol’s first solo museum exhibition in 1965. Today, the museum continues to showcase groundbreaking artists and thought-provoking exhibitions that invite visitors of all ages to discover, learn, and engage with contemporary art.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
Free for children 18 and under. Adults – Pay what you wish admission on the first Sunday of every month and every Friday evening. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the city’s top family-friendly attractions, offering something for art lovers of all ages. Explore world-renowned collections and special exhibitions through daily guided tours included with admission, or discover the museum at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour.
Families can enjoy kid-focused experiences such as the Art Kids Tour, Art Kids Studio, and seasonal Family Festivals, designed to make art fun and engaging for children. Before you leave, take time to explore the outdoor sculpture garden, where kids can enjoy art and open spaces in a beautiful setting. It’s a perfect Philadelphia destination for family outings, cultural experiences, and educational fun.
Carpenters’ Hall of Philadelphia
320 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
Admission is free, open daily 10am-4pm; Closed Mondays year-round; Closed Tuesdays in January and February. Step back in time at Carpenters’ Hall, one of Philadelphia’s most important historic landmarks and a family-friendly attraction in Historic Philadelphia. This beautifully preserved 18th-century building features period architecture, furnishings, artwork, and exhibits that bring early American history to life. Best known as the meeting place of the First Continental Congress, it also housed Library Company of Philadelphia. Families and school-age children can explore the people and events that helped shape the nation while enjoying an engaging and educational Philadelphia experience.
Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site
532 N 7th St., Philadelphia
Admission is free: Open Friday through Sunday 9am-5pm. Discover the fascinating world of Edgar Allan Poe at the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, a unique family-friendly attraction in Philadelphia’s historic district. Tour the home where Poe lived in the 1840s and learn about the life, writings, and legacy of one of America’s most famous authors. With engaging exhibits and a glimpse into 19th-century Philadelphia, it’s an educational stop for families, students, and history lovers exploring the city.
Fireman’s Hall Museum
147 N 2nd St., Philadelphia
Admission is free: Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-4pm. Discover Philadelphia’s firefighting history at Fireman’s Hall Museum, a family-friendly museum housed in a beautifully renovated 1898 firehouse. One of the nation’s premier fire museums, it preserves Philadelphia’s rich fire service heritage while promoting fire safety education. Families and children can explore historic firefighting equipment, learn about the city’s role as the birthplace of America’s first volunteer fire companies, and enjoy an engaging, educational experience in Historic Philadelphia.
Independence Hall
520 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
Admission is free: Open daily, 9am-5pm; Hours of operation change seasonally. Visit Independence Hall, one of America’s most iconic historic landmarks and a must-see family attraction in Philadelphia. In 1776, the Second Continental Congress signed the United States Declaration of Independence here, and the United States Constitution was later debated and signed within its walls. Originally built as the Pennsylvania State House, the building once housed all three branches of Pennsylvania’s colonial government. Families and children can explore the birthplace of American democracy through an engaging and educational Historic Philadelphia experience.
The Liberty Bell
526 Market St., Philadelphia
Admission is free: Open daily 9am-5pm. Visit the iconic Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia to see one of America’s most powerful symbols of freedom. Families and children can view the historic bell up close and explore self-guided exhibits that explain its meaning and legacy. Be sure to speak with park rangers to hear the real story behind the Liberty Bell’s famous crack and its place in U.S. history. A must-see stop in Historic Philadelphia, it offers an engaging and educational experience for all ages.
Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia
Select Sundays during the summer, 9am-4:30pm. Please Touch Museum is a top family-friendly Philadelphia attraction where learning comes through play. Designed for children, it features hands-on exhibits that encourage curiosity, imagination, and discovery. Its school readiness program supports whole-child development by building confidence, connection, and social-emotional skills. Families can enjoy select free admission Sundays in Summer 2026, making it an easy, engaging way to prepare kids for school through fun, play-based learning.
Polish American Cultural Center Museum
308 Walnut St, Philadelphia
Admission is free. January- April: Open Monday to Friday; May- December: Open Monday to Saturday. Explore Polish heritage at the Polish American Cultural Center and Museum Exhibit Hall, a welcoming, family-friendly cultural attraction in Philadelphia. Discover Polish history, culture, and pride through exhibits that celebrate the Polish American experience. Serving as a hub for the local community, the center hosts events, lectures, and programs that promote cultural awareness and appreciation. Visitors from around the world are invited to learn, connect, and experience Polish heritage in the heart of the city.
Rodin Museum
2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
Admission is always “pay what you wish”; the garden is free year-round. Open Friday through Monday, 10am-5pm. Explore the world of sculptor Auguste Rodin at the Rodin Museum, home to one of the most comprehensive public collections of his work outside Paris. Set in a peaceful, family-friendly garden setting, the museum showcases some of the world’s most celebrated sculptures, offering an engaging and accessible cultural experience for visitors of all ages in Philadelphia.
Ryerss Museum
7370 Central Ave., Philadelphia
Admission is free (Donations welcomed).Hours: Friday through Sunday 10am-4pm. Explore the Ryerss Museum and Library, located in Burholme Park, a unique and family-friendly destination in Philadelphia. The museum features an eclectic collection of family heirlooms, paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and Asian artifacts. The library includes a dedicated children’s section with coloring supplies and board games, plus monthly “Crafty Kids” activities—making it an engaging, hands-on stop for families.
Science History Institute
315 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
Admission is free. Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 10am-5pm. Explore the Science History Institute, a family-friendly museum in Philadelphia that “tells the stories behind the science.” Founded in 1982, it brings the history of science and technology to life through engaging exhibits that highlight both well-known discoveries and overlooked stories. Families and children can learn how science shapes everyday life while exploring how scientific successes and failures connect to society and innovation.
Temple University Shoe Museum
148 N. 8th St., Philadelphia
Admission is free. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. Discover the unique Temple University Shoe Museum, a family-friendly hidden gem in Philadelphia. This one-of-a-kind museum features approximately 1,000 shoes across 14 exhibits, showcasing footwear history, design, and cultural style from around the world. Families and curious visitors can enjoy self-guided tours by appointment, making it an engaging and educational experience for kids, students, and anyone interested in fashion, design, and museum exploration in Philadelphia.
United States Mint
151 N. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia
Admission is free. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9am-4:30pm, (Open on Saturdays in the summer.) Visit the United States Mint to discover how American coins are made in this family-friendly Philadelphia attraction. Visitors can take a self-guided tour to see the coin-making process, view historic machinery including the first coin press, and meet “Peter the Mint Eagle.” It’s an engaging and educational experience for kids, students, and families interested in money, history, and how U.S. currency is produced.
Wagner Free Institute of Science
1700 W. Montgomery Ave., Philadelphia
Admission is free. Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9:30am – 4:30pm and the 1st Saturday of the month (February-June & September-December) Explore the Wagner Free Institute of Science, a unique, family-friendly science museum in Philadelphia dedicated to free education in science since 1855. Designated a National Historic Landmark, it offers a rare glimpse into a Victorian-era natural history museum that remains largely unchanged since the 19th century. Families and kids can enjoy self-guided tours featuring fascinating collections of rocks, minerals, fossils, taxidermy animals, and mounted skeletons—making it an engaging and educational experience for curious visitors of all ages.
Weitzman Nation Museum of American Jewish History
101 S. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia
Admission is free. Hours: Friday through Sunday, 10am-5pm. Explore the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, a family-friendly museum in Philadelphia dedicated to preserving and celebrating Jewish life and history in America. Through engaging exhibits and educational programs, the museum shares the stories, heritage, and cultural contributions of Jewish Americans. It also aims to foster understanding and appreciation of the diversity of the American Jewish experience, making it an enriching and accessible visit for families, students, and visitors of all backgrounds.
Woodmere Art Museum
9201 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia
Children are always free; Free admission for adults on Sundays, 10am – 5pm. Explore the Woodmere Art Museum, a family-friendly art museum located in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Set in a beautiful historic building, Woodmere showcases changing exhibitions and a vibrant collection of regional art. Families can enjoy The Helen Millard Children’s Gallery, featuring artwork created by students from Philadelphia-area schools and studios. The museum also offers outdoor sculpture installations across its grounds, along with art classes for children and teens—making it an engaging, creative destination for visitors of all ages.
Photo Courtesy of the Wagner Free Institute of Science