There are many exciting things to do near Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square!
Here are some of our staff picks:
Historic Landmarks
→ 6 minutes walk
→ Rittenhouse Square is a stunning, centuries-old park, one of the five original spaces planned by William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, in the 17th century. Unwind among the elegant sculptures, reflecting pool, and tree-lined walks that charmed locals for generations.
→ 7 minutes walk
→ Step inside the City Hall, a magnificent 19th-century landmark and the largest municipal building in the United States. A charming old elevator whisks you up to the city’s only 360-degree observation deck, offering panoramic views alongside 88 million bricks, 250 sculptures, and the iconic 37-foot statue of William Penn.
→ 7 minutes walk
→ One of Philadelphia’s most beloved and photogenic public spaces, home to Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE sculpture since 1976 and serving as the grand entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a lively hub where you can enjoy open-air events, Wedding Wednesdays, and The Portal, a live video installation linking Philadelphia to cities around the world.
→ 10 minutes walk
→ Standing beside the iconic City Hall, the Masonic Temple is a cathedral-like landmark
serving as the meeting place for the Grand Lounge of Free & Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, one of America’s oldest fraternal societies. Explore seven stunning ornate halls inspired by different cultures and eras, from ancient Egypt to classical Greece.
→ 27 minutes walk (7 minutes bus)
→ Located right next door to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center is home to one of the world’s most recognizable symbols of freedom. Have a 360-degree up-close view of the iconic bell, explore fascinating exhibits, and bust a few myths about its storied history along the way.
→ 29 minutes walk (12 minutes bus)
→ Opened in 1829 and once the most expensive building in the United States, Eastern State Penitentiary is a castle-like National Historic Landmark that became a worldwide model for prison reform. Walk the haunting cellblocks where Al Capone once lived, uncover stories of daring escapes, and explore critically acclaimed art installations inside one of the most storied and atmospheric prisons ever built.
→ 30 minutes walk (10 minutes bus)
→ Birthplace of American democracy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and the U.S. The Constitution was written in 1787, making it the most historically significant building in the United States.
→ 35 minutes walk (12 minutes bus)
→ Tucked in Philadelphia’s Historic District, the Betsy Ross House is a tribute to America’s most famous flag maker, home to the only fully functional 18th-century upholstery shop in America. Explore the stories of colonial-era women, watch authentic craftsmanship demonstrations, and get a glimpse into the life of the woman who sewed the very first American flag.
→ 39 minutes walk (19 minutes bus)
→ Walk to the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited residential street, a cobblestone National Historic Landmark where 32 original 18th-century homes still stand, preserving the same flower boxes, shutters, and Flemish bond brickwork that once lined the path of the artisans, tradespeople, and dressmakers who built Colonial Philadelphia.
Dining
→ 15 minutes walk (7 minutes bus)
→ Opened in 1893, Reading Terminal Market is one of the oldest and largest public markets in America. Feast on everything from authentic Philly cheesesteaks and Pennsylvania Dutch fare to soul food, offered by over 80 mostly local, family-run vendors in one vibrant, bustling historic space. Some of our team’s favorite spots to check out include DiNic’s, Beiler’s Bakery, Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, and Dutch Eating Place.
→ 25 minutes walk (12 minutes bus)
→ Explore Philadelphia’s Chinatown, anchored by the 40-foot Friendship Gate, a traditional Qing Dynasty-style arch built in 1984 by artist Sabrina Soong using tiles from Philadelphia’s Chinese sister city, Tianjin, and crafted with the help of artisans from China. Wander through local shops, soak in the neighborhood’s rich culture, and work up an appetite with some of our staff’s favorite spots, including Terakawa Ramen, Sang Kee, Ting Wong, Nine Ting, Yin Ji Rice Roll, Prince Tea House, CHICHA San Chen Bubble Tea, and Chubby Cattle/Chubby Nori.
Museums & Cultural Institutions
→ 7 minutes walk
→ Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the oldest natural sciences institution in the Western Hemisphere. Climb inside a T. rex skull, dig for fossils, touch live animals, and stand face-to-face with towering dinosaur skeletons, all within four floors of exhibits that blend world-class research with hands-on discovery spanning three continents of wildlife.
→ 9 minutes walk
→ Founded in 1863, the Mütter Museum is America’s premier medical curiosity museum, housing over 20,000 anatomical specimens, medical oddities, and historical artifacts, including slides of Albert Einstein’s brain cells, the death cast of the original “Siamese Twins,” and the eerily preserved “Soap Lady,” all displayed in a Victorian setting.
→ 11 minutes walk (6 minutes bus)
→ Housed in a Greek Revival building since 1824, the Franklin Institute brings science to life through immersive exhibits, explosive live demonstrations, and awe-inspiring astronomical presentations at the Fels Planetarium, including a walk-through giant human heart that has captivated visitors for generations.
→ 13 minutes walk (6 minutes bus)
→ The Barnes Foundation houses an extraordinary permanent collection that includes 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes (more than exist in all of France), and 59 Matisses, alongside masterworks by Picasso, all displayed in a stunning limestone building set on four-and-a-half acres of landscaped grounds.
→ 15 minutes walk (5 minutes bus)
→ Modeled after Milan’s La Scala Opera House, the Academy of Music is the oldest continuously operating opera house in the United States, a National Historic Landmark draped in scarlet, gold, and a 5,000-pound crystal chandelier, where presidents have been nominated, legendary composers have debuted, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company, and Ballet continue to grace its storied stage.
→ 15 minutes walk (9 minutes bus)
→ Anchoring Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is an architectural showpiece with a bold 150-foot glass vaulted rooftop, where eight world-class resident companies, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Ballet, deliver performances on celebrated stages, including the intimate cello-shaped Verizon Hall.
→ 18 minutes walk (8 minutes bus)
→ Home to the largest collection of French master, Auguste Rodin, known for masterpieces like “The Thinker” and “The Gates of Hell.” Marvel at 120 sculptures, set amidst beautifully designed gardens and a romantic reflecting pool.
→ 29 minutes walk (13 minutes bus)
→ Walk through 240,000 works spanning 2,000 years, from Renaissance masterpieces and medieval cloisters to works by van Gogh, Picasso, and Cézanne. Out front, the famous Rocky Steps were immortalized in the 1976 film where Sylvester Stallone triumphantly pumped his fists at the top, making them a bucket-list moment for visitors.
→ 30 minutes walk (13 minutes bus)
→ Born from the South Street Renaissance of the 1960s, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a dazzling over-3,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor mosaic world hand-built by local artist Isaiah Zagar from cement, bicycle spokes, ceramic shards, and pure imagination, weaving visitors through vibrant tiled passages, two indoor galleries, and a bi-level outdoor sculpture garden that is equal parts art, history, and obsession.