philadelphia ss tours tra

Atlantic City

Stroll the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk on the Atlantic Ocean.

The Entertainment Capitol of the World. Vegas Baby what more can we say?

New Orleans

The Big Easy, Nola, The French Quarter, and the biggest casino on the Gulf of Mexico.

Yes we cruise.

S & S Casino Tours

We offer professionly escorted trips to AC, Vegas, New Orleans and many other premiere destinations. We offer those great and enticing locations from Boston, Providence, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Tampa, Orlando and St. Petersburg. Also we have added cruises to our offerings.

Our company, incorporated in 1999 by Sandy and Scott Crammer, established a pivotal marketing agreement with Caesars Entertainment in Atlantic City. Initially focusing on charter flights to Atlantic City, our scope expanded rapidly, encompassing prominent destinations like Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Tunica.

Originating in Boston and Detroit, our initial marketing cities, we strategically broadened our reach to include Grand Rapids, Providence, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and West Palm Beach. Over the past 25 years, our services have evolved to offer both charter flights and commercial seat blocks from each city we operate in. Whether through our group trips or individual bookings, we efficiently cater to your reservation needs at multiple casino properties. Additionally, we have seamlessly integrated cruising into our portfolio, featuring both escorted group cruises and individual cruise packages.

Licensed in key states including New Jersey, Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, California, and Florida, we adhere to rigorous regulatory standards while ensuring a widespread geographical presence.

As a distinguished 7-star independent representative for Caesar’s Entertainment since 2004, our consistent top-10 national ranking among all Caesar’s Reps since 2001 underscores our commitment to excellence.

Our mission statement revolves around four core principles:

• Simplicity: A single phone call suffices to arrange all your gaming activities, covering flights, room preferences, and dining options.
• Honesty: We prioritize transparency, providing clear information to customers about the outcomes of their gaming activities.
• Integrity: We stand by our commitments and proactively rectify any mistakes, upholding the highest ethical standards.
• Dependability: With a solid foundation built on enduring relationships, we assure our clients of our sustained presence for years to come.

These principles guide our operations, ensuring a professional and reliable experience for our valued clientele.

Our Properties

Enjoy our hand crafted cruises that highlight combination of relaxation and excitement. We can book an individual cruise on any NCL, Royal Caribbean, Carnival cruise line, and Crystal Cruise Line. We accept all casino cruise certificates. 

Send a Question or Comment

(877) 748-1400.

• Podcast Home Page
• Show Notes Listing
• Forest Haven
• Lincoln Way
• The SS United States
• Fallside Hotel
• Pleasure Beach and Long Beach
• Taunton State Hospital
• Randall Park Mall
• Gary, Indiana
• Six Flags New Orleans
• The Destruction of Our Lady
• The Lost Garden of Beatrix Farrand
• Skin Experiments at Holmesburg Prison
• The Story of Urban Exploration Resource
• Ninjalicious and Infiltration.org
• The Life & Death of the American Mall
• What Happened To Brownsville
• Myths & Realities of Chernobyl
• Is Keepling Locations Secret Important?
• The Catskill Game Farm
• Abandoned Resorts of the Catskills
• The Tragedy At Third Presbyterian Church
• Losing Our Religion - Abandoned Churches
• Exploring Danvers State Hospital
• The Closure of the State Hospitals
• Why Were The Asylums Built?
• The Victory Theatre
• The Rise And Fall of American Theaters
• ABANDONED AMERICA ABROAD
• ENTERTAINMENT & COMMERCE
• HEALTH CARE
• HOMES & NEIGHBORHOODS
• HOTELS & RESORTS
• MISCELLANIA
• RELIGIOUS SITES
• SCHOOLS & RESEARCH
• LATEST ADDITIONS
• Leap of Faith 2024 Photo Workshop
• Dunnington Mansion Photo Workshop
• Prints, Mugs, and Other Goodies
• Signed "Age of Consequences"
• Books On Amazon
• MAILING LIST

SS United States

The SS United States is currently moored in Philadelphia.

The only entry to the SS United States is via a gangplank that gives access to the lower decks.

The remains of the grand staircase on the SS United States

The engine rooms of the SS United States were in remarkable shape, although the entire area was pitch black.

A Canada Goose's nest inside the doorway of the SS United States

👉 Join Abandoned America on Patreon for high quality photos & exclusive content 👉 Make a one-time donation to help keep the project going 👉 Listen to the new Abandoned America podcast 👉 Subscribe to our mailing list for news and updates

SS United States

Top ways to experience SS United States and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

SS UNITED STATES: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (1.48 mi) Live Casino & Hotel Philadelphia
• (2.75 mi) The Dwight D Hotel
• (2.33 mi) Independence Park Hotel, BW Premier Collection
• (2.97 mi) AKA Rittenhouse Square
• (2.73 mi) ROOST East Market
• (0.20 mi) IKEA Restaurant
• (0.23 mi) Chick-fil-A
• (0.54 mi) John's Roast Pork
• (0.58 mi) The Original Tony Lukes
• (0.28 mi) Wendy's

Cookie banner

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use , which became effective December 20, 2019.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

Site search

• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Archive.curbed.com
• For Sale
 in Philadelphia
• For Rent
 in Philadelphia
• Development
 News
• Architecture

• Neighborhoods

Filed under:

• South Philly
• Philadelphia Historic Preservation

Take a 360-Degree Tour of the SS United States Ship

A local photographer captured the abandoned ship in 2013

Earlier this year we learned that the SS United States, once the fastest cruise liner in the world, will set sail once again after sitting pretty in South Philly for years.

While the historic ship undergoes a $700 million restoration and feasibility study, a local photographer has started teasing photos and 360-degree tours of the ship from a few years back. Matthew Christopher, the photographer behind Abandoned America, tells Curbed Philly that he took the panoramas back in 2013.

It was a pretty tremendous experience; I've looked up at the SS United States for years and wondered what it would be like to be aboard, both in the past during her glory days and in the present. It really is a treasure, and I am so glad that they are working so hard to save her.

Christopher says an entire chapter of his upcoming book Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream will be dedicated to the SS United States.

If you click on these Facebook posts, you can then drag the photo around and take 360-degree tours from the top of the ship.

• SS United States Photo Gallery [Abandoned America]
• SS United States set to become cruise liner once more [Curbed Philly]

Share this story

Dry Dock Details & Tickets

Battleship new jersey dry docked for the first time in 32 years.

Dock #3 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, where the Battleship is currently berthed, is nearly empty of water.  Pumps have been pumping water back into the Delaware River so crews can begin preventive maintenance on the ship’s hull.  The dock is expected to be dry and free of mud soon.

The Battleship is expected to be in dry dock for 60 days.  A return date to the Camden Waterfront will be announced once crews examine the ship’s hull and begin work.

On Wednesday, March 27, the Battleship New Jersey left the Paulsboro Marine Terminal, where 2,000 tons of water were added to her for ballast, and successfully cruised north on the Delaware River to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.  The Battleship was guided by four tug boats from McAllister Towing and took about two hours to traverse the river to the Naval  Shipyard, where she is now berthed in Dock #3, the same dock she was launched from on Dec. 7, 1942.

On Thursday, March 21, the Battleship departed the Pat Jones/John Matheussen Pier for historic dry dock preventive maintenance for the first time in over 30 years.  The ship was again guided by tugs from McAllister Towing.  The ship was turned around, headed south under the Walt Whitman Bridge to the Paulsboro Marine Terminal, where nearly 500,000 gallons of  water was  added for ballast.

The dry dock project is vital for the Battleship’s longevity.  The ship is expected to be in dry dock for 60 days for preventive maintenance.  If all goes well, we hope to have the Battleship back at her pier at  the Camden Waterfront in late May/early June.  Please continue to consult our website for updates.

Dry Dock Guided Tours

Walk under the World’s Greatest Battleship! Guided dry dock tours of the Battleship will take place during Saturdays and Sundays while the ship is at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. See the massive Iowa-class battleship propellers, the underside of the ship and more!  Every dry dock tour guest will get a collectable Battleship hard hat to take home!

Dry Dock Guided Tour Tickets will launch Saturdays and Sunday, beginning April 6 and 7, and run every Saturday and Sunday while the Battleship is in dry dock.  Tickets must be purchased in advance online.  Standard Dry Dock Tickets are a $225 donation per person.

Battleship Curator Ryan Szimanski will also lead Dry Dock tours.  For Ryan to lead your tour, there is a $1,000 donation per person.

Tours take place at: 5195 South 19th St, Philadelphia 19112

Please Note:

• Dry Dock Tours are not eligible for museum discounts.
• Fees are non-refundable.
• This tour is  not  wheelchair or walker accessible  and climbing stairs is required to get into and out of the worksite.
• This is an active, outdoor worksite. Please dress accordingly including: steel-toed shoes and sturdy pants. Tour fee includes a commemorative branded hard hat and eye protection.  If you don’t have steel-toed shoes, we will provide a steel-toe shoe slip-on for your tour.
• Must be age 16 and over.

Please note: there will not be Dry Dock Tours on Sunday, May 5, due to the Broad Street Run. 

“Drydock tour was great. Once in a life-time experience to crawl underneath a battleship.” 

David from Little Rock. 

Tickets for the Dry Dock Tour, click below:

Dry Dock Guided Tour Tickets  

Dry dock guided tour with curator ryan szimanski .

“The scale of the thing must be seen to be believed. And maybe the coolest thing I’ve ever heard in my life is ‘Won’t you join me underneath by the keel-blocks?’ Spoken by Ryan.”

Trent from Chicago

Thanks to All who Bid on the Holiday Ensign Flag Flown over Battleship During Dry Dock Trip!

The Battleship appreciates all the bidders who bid to own the giant Ensign Flag that flown over the Battleship when she made her historic trip from the Camden Waterfront, down the Delaware River, to Paulsboro Marine Terminal.  This was the first time the ship was moving on water in over 22 years.

Look for  an upcoming auction on the flag that flown above the Battleship when she entered dry dock on March 27!

Thanks to the Winning Bidders Who Will Cruise Aboard the World’s Greatest Battleship!

A very special thank you to the winning bidders of the Battleship’s two eBay auctions for the opportunity for them and a guest to ride aboard our nation’s most decorated battleship from Paulsboro Marine Terminal, Paulsboro, NJ, across the Delaware River to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard’s Dock #3, where the Battleship was constructed over 80 years ago and where she will have her hull worked on this spring.  This historic trip will take place at 11am on Wednesday, March 27 and will last a couples of hours.

Thanks again and know that your bids go to support the Battleship’s Dry Dock project!

Stay tuned for details on riding aboard the Battleship for her return trip to the Camden Waterfront in early June!

Battleship Dry Dock Departure Celebration

March 21 at 11am.

To quote Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, “WOW!”   The Departure Celebration  was a phenomenal time!   Thanks to the over 1,000 people who came out to experience the celebration and watch the Battleship be moved for the first time in over 22 years.  The site of her pushing away from the pier and turning around on the Delaware River was unbelievable!

A special thank you to the participants in the Battleship Dry Dock Departure Celebration goes to speakers during the celebration, which included NJ Gov. Phil Murphy, Con. Don Norcross, RADM Thomas Anderson USN, NJ Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin,  Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr.,  Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, Master Chief Keith Cameron USN of the Submarine New Jersey (SSN-796), LCDR Chaplain James Johnson USN, and Battleship CEO Marshall Spevak.

Thanks also go to the Capt. Joe Benton and McAllister Towing, Creative Arts High School Jazz Band, String Band and Choir, Battleship volunteer and bugler Nan LaCorte, Navy Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 64 Honor Guard, Navy WWII veteran and Battleship volunteer John Quinesso Sr., Ken Kersch and the Battleship Gun Crew, Dietz & Watson for complimentary hot dogs, Wawa for complimentary merchandise, Pine Tavern Distillery and Farmers & Bankers Brewing for complimentary samples, Andreotti’s for bar service,  Donkey’s Place for cheesesteaks and everyone who had a role in the Departure event.

And a very very special Thank You goes to the Battleship’s volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to make the Departure Celebration and the Dry Dock Project possible!  Bravo Zulu!

Please join us at the Pier for the Battleship’s return event sometime in  June!  More details to follow!

Click below for drone footage of the Battleship just prior to leaving her pier at the Camden Waterfront:

Video of Battleship about to Leave Camden Waterfront 

Spirit of Philadelphia and Rendezvous Cruises with the Battleship

Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets on the Spirit of Philadelphia and the Rendezvous cruises on March 21 as they cruise along with the Battleship down the Delaware River!  Both cruises are sold out!

These unique cruises will launch from Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

The boats’ address is 401 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA.   The parking lot is in front of the boats.  For GPS, you can type Moshulu and that will bring you to the boats’ parking lot.   Additional parking is available across the street as well as next to the Hilton.  We recommend getting there early.  Click on link for map below:

Spirit Of Philadelphia Map Of Pier & Parking

For access to the boat that you purchased tickets for, please bring your receipt to show personnel at Boarding.   Boarding will begin at 10:30am and run through 11am.  The boats will launch at 11:30am.

The Battleship will depart from the pier at the Camden Waterfront at 12:10pm.

Battleship Dry Dock Merchandise

Exclusive Battleship New Jersey Dry Dock t-shirts, hats, mugs and more will be available for purchase at the Dry Dock at the Philadelphia Naval Yard and online at www.battleshipnewjersey.org/shop.

Battleship Dry Dock 2024 Yeti Tumbler

This 30 oz. Yeti-30oz Tumbler featuring the Battleship Dry Dock logo.   $65.00

To purchase, visit Battleship Dry Dock Yeti Tumbler

Battleship Dry Dock Ball Cap

Looks fashionable with this unique ball cap, which features the Battleship Dry Dock logo.

To purchase, visit Battleship Dry Dock Ball Cap 

Battleship Dry Dock Hoodie

Champion Adult Powerblend Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt in Silver Grey  with the Battleship official Dry Dock logo.

To purchase, click   Battleship Dry Dock Hoodie 

Battleship Dry Dock T-Shirt

Bayside Unisex Heavyweight T-Shirt with the Battleship Dry Dock logo in front.  Made in the USA.

To purchase, click   Battleship Dry Dock T-Shirt 

Battleship Dry Dock Animated T-shirt.

Available in sizes Small thru 3xl

To purchase, visit Battleship Dry Dock Animated T-Shirt

Battleship Dry Dock Painter’s T-Shirt

Available in sizes Small thru 3XL

To purchase, visit Battleship Dry Dock Painter’s T-Shirt

Help the Battleship While in Dry Dock

The Battleship will be in Dry Dock #3 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard from March through May. We hope to have the Battleship back and open for tours in early June.

While away, the Battleship cannot hold tours, group guided tours, events or overnight — all important revenue generators for the non-profit museum and memorial.

Please consider making a donation to help dry dock the Battleship, a non-profit museum and memorial on the Camden Waterfront, NJ.

To support this project, go to: DONATE to  Drydock

Dry dock information:.

USS New Jersey was dry docked for major work on at least three separate occasions in her last decade of service , which is the norm for an active vessel . Her most recent dry-docking was from late 1990 into 1991 when she was being deactivated and prepared for the mothball fleet. For an active vessel dry-docking every couple of years is common and necessary, for a m useum ship 20-year intervals is acceptable and common. It will be over 30 years before the ship is finally dry-docked.

The ship will go to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, just a few miles from there ship’s current location in Camden, New Jersey.

For more information, the museum will be updating this page as well as the museum’s social media channels, including the  Youtube Channel

What kind of work will be done?

The ship will be towed to the drydock where the ship will be taken out of the water. The priority for this project is to remove the marine growth on the hull, repaint the hull, inspect the through-hull openings and other sensitive areas, and replace the anodes used for cathodic protection.

Can I ride the ship to drydock?

No. The ship will not be able to allow guests of any kind on board while the ship is underway. The ship hasn’t been out of the water in more than thirty years and for safety’s sake guests will not be allowed on board for the tow.

When will the work be done?

Work will begin when the Battleship arrives at Dock #3 at the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard.  The Battleship will leave her current berth at the Camden Waterfront on March 21.  She will be worked on for roughly 8 weeks.  

How will the ship get to drydock?

The ship cannot move under it’s own power anymore. The ship will be taken to the yard by tug boats.

Will the ship come back to the same berth in Camden?

Yes, after the work is done, approximately 8 weeks after departure, the ship will return to her current berth in Camden.

Will tours of the  drydock be available?

YES! Tours of the drydock where you can get under the ship will be available, though guests will not be able to board the ship . Dry Dock Guided Tours will take place on Saturdays and Sundays while the Battleship is in dry dock.

How can I support the project?

DONATE to Drydock

Where can I send questions to?

[email protected]

• Philadelphia
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Imagine the Grandeur of Trans Atlantic... - SS United States

• United States    
• Pennsylvania (PA)    
• Philadelphia    
• Philadelphia - Things to Do    
• SS United States

Imagine the Grandeur of Trans Atlantic Travel on the Fastest Ocean Liner Ever Built!

If the grandeur of traversing the Atlantic in comfort and luxury appeals to you instead of a cramped jet, plan on making a short trip to Pier 82 to view the SS United States. The SS United States represents the very best of its class with an imposing raked bow and twin red, white and black funnels. The design of the ship in 1950 was so innovative that the details of her construction were classified top-secret. She was built for speed and to easily be converted from luxury ocean liner to troop transport ship if ever needed to transport large numbers of troops like the Queen Mary did in WWII. You can view the ship from the sidewalk outside the dockyard or from the second floor IKEA food court across the street. The ship is in conservancy and actively raising funds to restore it and open it to the public. Consider contributing to the conservancy to restore and open the ship to the public to make this a First Class Five Star Rating!

This majestic ship who still holds the speed record for crossing the Atlantic today lies rusting across from Ikea and Chic Fil A. This ship is worth seeing and saving. Consider donating to the conservancy.

This attraction can be viewed from afar, and while weathered is a great photo op. There are no regular tours as she is berthed in a secure port area. We were only able to see it up-close due to special arrangements. Hopefully in the future a visitors center and museum will be built and portions of the ship will be restored. Look up the SS United States Conservancy for more info.

As you drive up I-95 or stop for shopping at IKEA you will see the SS United States in her dilapidated splendor, moored for the past 20 years at Pier 82 in the Delaware River. Rusted and stripped of her interiors she still looks majestic as befits a maritime Grande Dame, and it does not take much imagination to conjure up her once illustrious past. She was designed by Philadelphia naval architect William Francis Gibb, built in the Newport News shipyards in Rhode Island and launched there in l952. Apart from being the latest luxury liner that crossed the Atlantic at a time when air travel was not yet popular, her most ambitious purpose was to capture the transatlantic speed record steaming westward across the Atlantic. 10 feet longer than the Titanic, nearly 10,000 tons heavier and with an unheard-of top speed of 38.38 knots, she accomplished this dream on July 7, 1952 . At 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, her crossing cut 10 hours off the Atlantic speed record that had been set 14 years earlier by the Queen Mary, who is now permanently moored in Long Beach, California, enjoying a second career as a floating luxury hotel. The SS United States was a luxury passenger liner of the highest order. Her passenger lists from 1952 to the late 1960s included celebrities, moguls and thrill seekers of all kinds. Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were passengers in l955. The liner was sorely missed when she was retired from service in1969 partly because flying across the Atlantic had become faster, less expensive and more convenient. Often compared to the ill fated Titanic that sank in 1912 when she hit an iceberg on her way to New York, the SS United States became known as the most famous passenger ship that did not sink. Since the 1950s and 1960s were a time of international tensions, the SS United States was also designed to be quickly converted into a military transport that could accommodate 14,000 soldiers and 2000 non-military passengers. Fortunately she never needed to convey troops. The Grade Dame of the Atlantic is currently owned by the SS United States Conservancy and plans are under way to revive this majestic ship for contemporary usage. I was a student when I crossed the Atlantic on the SS United States from Bremerhaven to New York in 1961, steerage of course, and I vividly remember when our group of students found a way to catch a glimpse of the glamour upstairs from the less glamorous stairs below.

See this piece of American history before she is either moved or scrapped and gone forever. A symbol of the Cold War, she is an important part of maritime history as the fastest passenger liner ever built and still holds the coveted Blue Riband.

In the 1950s this ship achieved fame by breaking all speed records for East an West crossings of the Atlantic Ocean ,Three days 10 hours and three days 12 hours; average speed greater than 40 miles per hour. This absolutely beautiful Ocean Liner is the only one built in the U.S. (Norfolk, Va. ship yard) and was designed for luxury travel and speed. After passing through many owners after retirement in the late 60s she is now controlled by the SS United States Conservancy and docked along the Delaware River in South Philadelphia at a cost of $60,000 a month. There have been many attempts to restore her for sailing or as a Hotel, Casino, or Tourist Attraction, sadly all have failed and she is once again facing scrapping. If you are interested in contributing to save this Noble Ship visit the SS United Conservancy, on line. For now she can still be viewed from behind a fence or from the lot across Columbus Ave. at Pier 82. Rusty but still sleek and imposing she is the one of the remaining Great Ocean Liners of the modernist period. (The Queen Mary is now a Hotel in Long Beach, California ,The QE2 is presently in libo awaiting possible renovation in Dubai, and the Norway, formerly the France was scrapped following a boiler explosion while docked in the Port of Miami) The SS United states still holds the crossing speed record with passengers on board and her loss would be a National Tragedy. Like the QE2 she was built with the secondary purpose of carrying troops into combat and may be the only fire proof liner ever built. The butcher block in the galley and a specially constructed fire resistant Steinway piano were the only wooden objects on board. The fabrics were all spun glass. My wife and I ,who are avid cruisers pay our respects with a yearly visit since we spend summers in the Philadelphia area. If you are a ship or history buff this is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Sill hoping she will be restored and preserved as a National Landmark.

Philadelphia Cruise Guide > Cruise Lines > SS United States

SS United States in Philadelphia

The SS United States is a historic cruise ship that is docked in Philadelphia. It lauched in 1952 and set speed records for crossing the Atlantic. The ship dropped out of service in 1969, and has been in Philadelphia since 1996.

The SS United States Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the ship. The conservancy would like to turn the ship into a waterfront attraction.

A few years ago, Crystal Cruises announced that it has a purchase option agreement to return the SS United States to active service. The cruise line will cover the expense of preserving the ship while completing a technical feasibility study.

Crystal Cruises' plan will transform the ship into a modern vessel with a capacity of 800 guests. Cruise itineraries might include Transatlantic voyages and a world cruise .

This video is a tour of the SS United States in Philadelphia. It includes footage of the cruiseliner in its operating days, and a tour of its condition now.

Features of the historic ship include a large deck space for sports like deck tennis and shuffleboard. Tall red, white and blue funnels are a distinctive design element. The SS United States carried over 3,000 passengers and crew.

Learn more about cruises from Philadelphia .

• Philadelphia

A hotel, speakeasy, and green space: A detailed list of what could be done with the SS United States. All it needs is a partner.

The renderings place the vessel on the Hudson River, but the conservancy hasn’t given up on staying in Philly.

The nonprofit caring for the SS United States, once known as the “queen of the seas” and now affectionately known as the “Ikea boat,” is still on the search for a new home for the vessel, and it’s hoping the release of a more thorough redevelopment plan will catch the eye of potential berths.

Though the vessel has called Pier 82 near the South Philadelphia Ikea home for about 27 years, its stewards have been in a rent dispute that’s playing out in court and could end in an eviction — the bench trial is slated for January. The ship has narrowly avoided becoming scrap before and the conservancy is once again raising the alarm, saying a failure to secure a new berth means a “symbol of our nation could be lost forever.”

The Washington-based SS United States Conservancy has long hoped it could give the vessel a second life, but returning it to the sea proved too challenging in 2016 . And while New York-based RXR Realty LLC announced plans to renovate the vessel in March 2020 , it was unclear where plans stood at the start of the year.

Those plans for the 990-foot behemoth were finally teased out earlier this month as the conservancy looks to Northeast cities beyond Philadelphia for a possible champion.

“This plan demonstrates conclusively that the SS United States can be a powerful economic engine and cultural showplace that will create thousands of jobs, become a globally recognized destination, and generate millions in tax revenue,” said Susan Gibbs, president of the conservancy and granddaughter of the vessel’s designer.

Here are some highlights of the proposed redevelopment plans by RXR and MCR Hotels .

A 1,000-room hotel

One of the highlights of the plan, the hotel in the ship would have two-star, four-star, and five-star price points. Some of the five-star hotel rooms would be cantilevered over the side of the ship where the lifeboats — removed decades ago — used to be. The cabanas are designed to offer prime views of whatever city the vessel ends up making its home.

Funnels with a newfound purpose

The SS United States’ two iconic red, white, and blue funnels — those giant stacks hovering above the vessel that used to give off exhaust — would be gutted and turned into atriums that would help usher light throughout the ship. In addition to improving circulation, the atriums would aid visitors in navigating the space, similar to an atrium in a hotel lobby.

Event space and more

In addition to meeting spaces, designers have carved out areas for larger events, including cocktail rooms and a 500-seat ballroom with a 20-foot floor-to-ceiling glass view of whatever city it’s in.

Design plans also allow space to convert former cargo spaces into a speakeasy and brewery to complement other “numerous food and beverage experiences.”

The redevelopment proposal aims to integrate the vessel into whatever pier it’s docked on and that includes creating pier-side green space. People would be able to enjoy that public space even if they’re not entering the ship.

Inside, however, the ship would feature a pool between the ship’s atrium funnels. The swimming area would have a retractable roof.

Slices of history

Another key component of the plan is a museum that would highlight technological and design features that made the SS United States a marvel of its time.

Still, designers are going for a historical “immersive experience” regardless of whether visitors choose to scope out the museum. Areas of the ship, such as the bridge and an engine room, would be restored in an effort to make slices of history easily accessible to visitors roaming about.

The future of the SS United States

Penn Warehousing & Distribution Inc., Pier 82′s landlord, claims the conservancy has not paid a rent increase since late 2021 and is seeking back rent and the ship’s ejection from the pier in court. Court filings from last summer say back rent exceeded $160,000 by March 2022 and has continued to accrue.

Ahead of the bench trial slated for January, the conservancy launched a social media campaign Wednesday in its effort to secure a new home. It’s asking supporters to email Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

“New York and other states’ leaders need to express their interest in seeing this bright future for the ship advance,” reads the message to supporters.

The actual email template to politicos is brief but emphasizes the peril the vessel finds itself in and how the redevelopment plan could create millions in economic activity and thousands of jobs — according to preliminary estimates the redevelopment could create about 4,000 construction and restoration jobs, 750 permanent jobs, and 950 indirect jobs. The nonprofit said it is prepared to donate the ship and design work in an effort to save the SS United States.

According to the conservancy, creating the redevelopment program and ensuring its engineering and financial feasibility cost about $6 million. The estimated cost of redevelopment is in the ballpark of $400 million, not including the pier-side redevelopment incorporated in the plan. The vast majority of the redevelopment would be privately funded.

The renderings of the plan place the ship on the Hudson River but the conservancy said the concept works in Miami and Philadelphia as well. According to Gibbs, there are plans to reach out to Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker.

“Additionally, given the possibility that the vessel could be evicted from Pier 82 in a matter of months — a decision that could mean her ultimate demise — we hope the Governor [Josh Shapiro] would be helpful in negotiating a temporary dockage arrangement to give us more time to advance on this bold vision for the historic SS United States,” she said in a statement.

Philadelphia

 past, present & awesome, experienced, knowledgeable and passionate…add it up and your enjoyment follows right along., as featured on.

COMING TO PHILLY?

Whether the solo traveler, with the family, young, old, from around the corner or around the world, let’s take a stroll and learn how and where our government formed, see where the Founding Fathers met and how Philadelphia evolved into one America’s largest cities and the one time capital of the U.S. Plus, pick up some cool facts the other tour companies don’t know – guaranteed.

TESTIMONIALS

"Tom was very knowledgeable and has a great personality. Highly recommend this tour! It was great!"

- Marcia Cincinnati, OH

Book tickets with tr.

Secure Booking

We help travellers get the best from tours and destinations.

Private Tours

Interested in a more personalized experience? Customized and private tours can be arranged to fit your schedule and historic interest. Please use the contact form to receive more information and pricing.

Step-on Tours

Your motorcoach will by guided through the historic district, Art Museum area, Chinatown, Ben Franklin Parkway, Avenue of the Arts, Pine Street and the Waterfront, among other sites. Relax in comfort while passengers receive an entertaining and informative narration of Philadelphia and its history.

Foreign Language Tours

Tours are available in Spanish, French & Italian for an additional fee. Advanced notice required. Please use the contact form for more information and pricing.

Like what you see? Book your walking tour today!

Ship & Shore Group Tours 

407- 408- 5200

FUN IN PHILLY!

Philadelphia - Lancaster - Atlantic City 

8 Days / 7 Nights * August 5-12, 2023

                $2,199 . 00! (ppdboc) Single $2,699. 00

Philadelphia: Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center, Betsy Ross House, Congress

         Hall, Museum of the American Revolution, Double decker city tour bus including hop/on,                 and hop/off access with 25 stops, Reading Terminal Market and more !

Lancaster: Amish adventure experience includes, Farmland bus tour, Homestead & School House tour, performance of MOSES at Sight & Sound Theater, a buffet dinner at Hersey Farm Restaurant and free time for shopping at Kitchen Kettle !

Atlantic City: Ship & Shore day trip to the place where it all started, 45 years ago !

        Visit Resorts Hotel & Casino, step onto the world famous Steel Pier, take a stroll on the                        world’s longest boardwalk, or try your luck at one of the city’s 30 casinos !

This Special anniversary tour features a 5 night stay at the Home 2 Suites Hotel in downtown Philadelphia, directly across from the Reading Terminal Market !

The first and last night lodging will be at the new, Holiday Inn in Smithfield, NC !

Your meals will include: 7 breakfasts, a dinner voucher for the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, a delicious buffet dinner at the Hersey Farm Restaurant in Lancaster & a lunch voucher to be used at Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.

All taxes & gratuities are included*!

Deluxe motor coach transportation !

Personalized V.I.P. service with onboard host/hostess !

THIS  IS  THE , ANNIVERSARY TOUR!

407-408-5200

THE 45th ANNIVERSARY TOUR!

Join Our Philadelphia Bus Tours

Welcome to city sightseeing philadelphia.

Our professionally guided 90 minute hop on/hop off bus tours are currently running daily every hour or less, with the first tour leaving stop 1 at 10:00am and the last tour leaving stop 1 at 4:00pm every day.

Night tours and walking to ur s are closed for the season and will reopen in the spring.

The tour schedule is subject to change by season.

Click here to view our route map!

• Most Popular!

Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour in Philadelphia

Experience Philadelphia with an expert-guided tour of the city on our hop-on, hop-off City Sightseeing Philadelphia double-decker bus tours . Choose from one-, two-, and three-day tickets, with multi-language audio commentary and a total of 28 stops over a 16 mile loop.

• Hour Glass 1 Day , 2 Days , 3 Days

Trending Philadelphia Bus and Walking Tour Tickets

• Hour Glass 24 Hours

Night Tour of Philadelphia

See the dazzling lights of the city from atop a double decker bus! Learn about Philadelphia history, including iconic people and buildings, from a professional tour guide as the twilight turns to a starry sky above you. Recorded audio commentary is available in 9 different languages.

24-, 48-, and 72-Hour Tickets

Enjoy 24-, 48-, or 72-hour unlimited access to our hop-on, hop-off City Sightseeing Philadelphia double-decker bus tours. Learn about our beautiful and historic city from live professional tour guides, with 9 different language options in recorded audio commentary.

• Hour Glass 90 minutes

Founding Fathers and Mothers

Explore the Philadelphia of the people caught up in the world changing events of 1776. A professional tour guide will lead you on a one mile walking tour through Philadelphia’s most historic square mile in Old City to see some of the city’s most famous sights!

City Sightseeing Philadelphia Is Revolutionizing Philadelphia Tours

City Sightseeing Philadelphia offers the premier daily hop-on, hop-off city tours on board our double-decker buses. Our professionally-guided tours with a live guide on each bus include recorded audio translations in 8 different languages, for a total of 9 language options. With 28 stops across a 16-mile journey, we deliver you to the doorstep of nearly 100 iconic attractions across Philadelphia. See the sights with our convenient one-, two-, and three-day hop-on, hop-off passes; discover the town under the cool cover of night with our Twilight Philly Night Tour; or explore the revolutionary history of Philadelphia’s most historic square mile with our Founding Fathers and Mothers Walking Tour. Group tours, private excursions, event transportation, and airport shuttle services are also available with our world-class fleet of charter vehicles.

Our Philadelphia bus tours speak YOUR language!

We welcome both international and domestic groups. With a live tour guide on each bus and audio tours in French, German, Mandarin, Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Japanese, and Hindi, experience Philadelphia with the best!

Philadelphia Sightseeing Tours is a Certificate of Excellence Winner!

We only had a relatively short time in Phily so wanted to see as much as possible. The hop on hop off bus tour was fantastic... we didn't even hop off. Our guide Warren was amazing - so knowledgeable and just a really great guy. Would recommend this tour to anyone in town.

Overwhelmingly satisfied with each department of this company. The women at the desk of the buses' starting point were very friendly and approachable, they didn't stalk us down the sidewalk for attention. The bus came at the exact time of when they said the bus would. And was prompt at each stop as well. The tour guides were very entertaining and kept the bus at a great speed for some great photo taking. We lost our wallet in the bus and contacted the office. They got right to work with going through each bus thoroughly to confirm if they found it. At first they did not but that did not stop them from continuing to look. They went through the other bus that we came back on from and found it there almost halfway through the day. Called us right away and made arrangements to send it over to our address. All I can say is they went above and beyond to make sure they covered every ground. That shows extreme loyal customer service. Can't wait to go on again!

Fantastic. Best way to see the city. I brought my mother and her best friend to Philly as a Mothers day gift. They are both in their 70s. Walking long distances is not a good option for them. Tour company had a shuttle pick us up in front of our hotel and drop us at the starting point for bus tour. We did the 2 day option which worked out perfect. 1st day we pretty much just rode the loop to see where all the sites were and get a lay for the land. 2nd day we got off at the specific places we wanted to spend more time touring. Hopped back on and back to hotel. Would highly recommend this tour. The ladies commented several times on what a wonderful time they had and how much of the city they were able to see by doing this bus tour. We are already planning our next trip.

Me and my girlfriend had a fun time on this bus tour, all the guides were informative but we especially loved earnest allot as he knew alot and was funny and knew alot, especially movie landmarks which I loved alot!!! Definitely will take this tour again if given the chance too.

We were only in Philadelphia one night and two days so we decided to do a bus tour to save time. We loved this tour! Warren was our guide, he was well informed and had a comical delivery that spiced it up. We saw several things that we would not have known about or had time to see on our own. I would highly recommend this company!

Had a wonderful Saturday afternoon with out of town guests. Even though I grew up in Philadelphia, the tour had some very unique facts about the town I was never aware of. Our tour guide, Alexa, was a very informative and interactive host. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who will be visiting the Center City area of Philadelphia. Their main start location is Old City, but if you want to hop on and off to see some sites, you can do this too.

• visitPA.com
• Hospitality Jobs

Type To Search

Public transportation serving Philadelphia and the Countryside...

Copied to Clipboard

Location & Contact

SEPTA Headquarters

• 1234 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
• (215) 580-7800
• Visit Website

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) provides public transportation into and within Philadelphia, as well as serving the surrounding Bucks , Chester , Delaware and Montgomery counties.

SEPTA is the nation’s sixth-largest public transportation system — with train, subway, trolley and bus lines serving a 2,200-square-mile region — giving visitors an easy, convenient and affordable way to explore Greater Philadelphia.

Getting Around

SEPTA provides public transportation to Philadelphia and the Countryside seven days a week, with rides available as frequently as every few minutes, helping residents and visitors navigate their daily schedules and city adventures to big games at the stadium complex , major events like the Philadelphia Flower Show , the city’s magnificent parks and more.

SEPTA’s website is a great resource for schedules and maps where passengers can determine which lines and stops are best for them. Real-time alerts are available online and via the SEPTA mobile app ( iOS and Android ) so riders can stay on top of weather delays and route changes.

Regional Rail

SEPTA’s Regional Rail trains serve Philadelphia and the Countryside, with stations throughout the city and in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, as well as parts of Delaware and New Jersey.

Three major stations in Center City make public transportation a great choice for exploring the city. Jefferson Station , Suburban Station and William H. Gray III 30th Street Station are within walking distance of some of Philadelphia’s top attractions , including Philadelphia’s Historic District , Reading Terminal Market , City Hall and Dilworth Park , and so much more.

All three stations carry passengers to and from Philadelphia International Airport and Amtrak service.

Subway System

The Market-Frankford Line (MFL) and Broad Street Line (BSL) make up SEPTA’s subway system, carrying hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors through Philadelphia every day.

The MFL , often referred to as the blue line because of the color of the line’s seats and signs, travels an east-west path through the city, with stops in popular neighborhoods like Fishtown , Old City and University City .

Known most commonly to locals as the El, the line is elevated for parts of the ride, giving passengers a bird’s-eye view of bustling business corridors, the expanding skyline and West Philly’s beloved Love Letters murals .

The BSL , also known as the orange line, runs between North and South Philadelphia beneath Broad Street. NRG Station — the final stop at the southern end of the line — is just steps away from the Wells Fargo Center and Lincoln Financial Field , making the BSL a great way for fans to get to Eagles , Phillies , Sixers and Flyers games as well as concerts and other events around the stadium complex.

The line also stops near South Philly dining and shopping destinations like East Passyunk; North Philadelphia attractions like the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel and refurbished Met Philadelphia performing-arts venue; Olney’s North Fifth Street business corridor; and Center City neighborhoods like Chinatown , Logan Square , Rittenhouse Square and Midtown Village.

Trolley Lines

SEPTA’s eight trolley lines provide service at street level and underground, connecting passengers to other transit lines and making stops in Center City and along neighborhood commercial corridors.

Passengers can ride lines 11, 13, 34 and 36 take visitors to leafy West Philadelphia, where they can shop and dine along Baltimore Avenue in Spruce Hill and Cedar Park.

More than 100 bus routes provide ground transportation to SEPTA passengers, carrying riders throughout the city and surrounding region and providing service to Regional Rail stations. Some lines have numbers while others have letters.

A handful are Night Owl routes , meaning they run 24 hours a day.

Norristown High-Speed Line

SEPTA’s high-speed line connects parts of Delaware and Montgomery Counties, with access to the Market-Frankford Line subway, trolley lines and the Manayunk /Norristown Regional Rail line.

The high-speed line stops in towns like Ardmore , where visitors can pop into small boutiques, sit down for a tasty meal and catch a concert or comedy show.

Tickets and Payment

There are multiple ways to pay for a trip on SEPTA. For the best value, visitors can use SEPTA’s smart fare system, SEPTA Key .

Passengers can purchase and reload reusable Key cards with the debit card-style Travel Wallet function online and at SEPTA sales locations and station kiosks .

SEPTA also accepts contactless payment methods (credit/debit card or Apple/Google/Samsung Pay) for travel on buses, trolleys and both subway lines (Market-Frankford Line and the Broad Street Line.)

Fares are consistent across subway, trolley and bus lines. If you don’t pick up a Key card, cash or contactless payment methods are accepted onboard buses and trolleys.

Both subway lines can also be accessed with a tap of your credit/debit card or preferred smartphone payment method (Apple/Google/Samsung Pay).

Quick Trip single rides can also be purchased at kiosks on subway lines and select trolley stations. Conductors are available on Regional Rail trains to assist and can even process a cash or credit card payment onboard.

Riders can also explore the Philadelphia region with the One Day Anywhere FleX Pass , which allows up to 10 rides on SEPTA buses, trolleys, subways and trains, taking you everywhere from Bensalem to the Phillies, from Alden to the Art Museum or Springfield to South Street. Passes are $13 and can be loaded directly on to a SEPTA Key Card.

Also available: a  One Day Neighborhood FleX pass , which allows up to 10 rides on buses, subways, trolleys and trains (up to any Zone 2 station) for just $10.

More information on fares, senior and student discounts, and transfers is available in detail on SEPTA’s website and Key website .

Accessibility

Many of the region’s SEPTA stations are wheelchair accessible, and every bus has a lift or ramp and can be lowered to street level. Accessible stations feature the access symbol next to the line name on SEPTA’s website.

SEPTA's articulated buses include low floor design and front-door ramps.   — Photo courtesy SEPTA

Individually trained service animals are welcome on all forms of transportation, and SEPTA’s website offers a text reader for those who are blind or visually impaired and need to access schedules and fare information. SEPTA Key fare kiosks at stations have Braille and raised lettering, and an audio function that converts on-screen text to spoken word.

SEPTA’s CCT Connect offers transit services to people with disabilities who are not able to use the other lines. Click here for more information on SEPTA’s accessibility services.

For more information about SEPTA and public transportation in Philadelphia, click the button below.

• Museums & Attractions
• Bucks County
• Center City
• Chester County
• Montgomery County
• Philadelphia Neighborhoods

Amtrak in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a quick trip via Amtrak train from New York, Washington, D.C. and more...

Stay in Touch

submarine becuna

Submarine Becuna

Becuna completed five wartime patrols, sinking three and a half ships and earning four combat stars for her service.

History and Significance

Particulars.

• Length after GUPPY refit: 307 ft 7 in
• Beam: 27 feet
• Displacement: 1,800 tons surfaced, 2,400 submerged
• Crew: 8 commissioned officers, 5 chief petty officers, 67 enlisted men
• Top Speed after GUPPY refit: 15 knots (17mph) submerged, 18 knots (21mph) surfaced

Traveled the Seas for Service​

Becuna returned to the United States in 1949 where she was reassigned from the submarine base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to the one located in New London, Connecticut.  In 1951 she underwent modernization as part of the United States Navy’s Greater Underwater Propulsion & Power Program, otherwise referred to as the GUPPY Program.   Becuna  was refitted with a Guppy 1A modification that included a streamlined hull, a hydrodynamic fairwater or “sail,” upgraded batteries, and a snorkel system.   Becuna  is the only Guppy 1-A type submarine remaining anywhere in the world.

During the Cold War,  Becuna  was primarily a training vessel, stationed at the submarine school in New London, Connecticut.  There she taught the next generation of submariners how to go to sea by completing training cruises and participating in NATO exercises.   Becuna’s  service also took her to the Arctic Circle, the Mediterranean, and more where she conducted surveillance assignments against the Soviet Union, taking photographs of radar installations through her periscope and recording the sonar signature of Soviet submarines.

25 years Of service

Historic ships collections​

Along with Cruiser  Olympia  and Submarine  Becuna , the Seaport Museum also maintains a vast collection of historical artifacts and records relating to both vessels. The Cruiser  Olympia  Collection has been inventoried and a collections guide can be found on the  Online Catalog   page of the website.

The Submarine Becuna  collection, which is not currently processed, dates from the 1940s until the 1960s. The collection is essentially divided into two parts: the submarine’s plans and mechanical operations, and the personal accounts and artifacts of those that served aboard her. Accounts and artifacts include correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, oral histories, biographies and ephemera, like menus, ration cards, invitations, and programs, relating to submariner’s time on Submarine  Becuna. 

additional resources

• J. Welles Henderson Research Center
• Donate Historical Artifacts & Records
• Volunteer With Us
• Submarine Becuna on Facebook

visit the seaport museum

Immerse yourself in award-winning exhibitions and climb aboard the Olympia , a nineteenth-century cruiser, and the Becuna , a World War II-era submarine.  

211 S. Columbus Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19106 215-413-8655

Monday – Friday: 10am -5pm Saturday: 10am – 5pm Sunday: 10am – 5pm Last admission: 4:30pm

• Buy Tickets
• Accessibility

• Home Design Experts
• Senior Living
• Wedding Experts
• Real Estate Agents
• Private Schools
• Mortgage Professionals
• 50 Best Restaurants
• Restaurant Finder
• Be Well Philly
• Find a Dentist
• Find a Doctor
• Life & Style
• Properties & News
• Find a Home & Design Pro
• Find a Real Estate Agent
• Find a Mortgage Professional
• Events in Philly
• Philly Mag Events
• Guides & Advice
• Find a Wedding Expert
• Bubbly Brunch Event
• Best of Philly
• Newsletters

If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours.

8 Unique Philly Tours You’ll Actually Want to Take

From badass women to ghost signs, these tours offer eight very different ways to see ( really see!) Philly.

Society Hill / Photograph by Jon Bilous/Alamy

Look, everybody loves a double-decker bus tour, and why not? It’s the greatest-hits album of the city: easy, breezy, covering all the biggies. But as any true fan can tell you, the lasting love comes from a deeper cut. For that, you’ve got a ton of choices.

PAGP’s Neighborhood Walking Tours Take the neighborhood walking tours by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philly . Tour manager Vinni Cheng calls them “pocket tours” — detailed two-hour jaunts through some small, specific swath of Philly like, say, Queen Village, where you visit the state’s oldest church (Old Swedes’, circa 1698) and learn the vaguely violent way Carpenter Street’s Sparks Shot Tower got its name. Chinatown, Society Hill, the Frank Furness buildings … PAGP covers massive territory, pocket by pocket. Check their site for scheduling.  

Hidden City Philadelphia Tours Hidden City offers similarly niche tours, but with an emphasis on “changing the way local folks look at familiar places.” Maybe that means you explore the secrets of the subway, or Philly’s lost Jewish Quarter … or maybe you make the annual bike ride from Independence Hall to the Wissahickon for the “Hidden Geology” tour, which looks at the way 500-million-year-old rocks shaped the Philly we know today.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Beyond the Bell Tours (@beyondthebelltours)

Badass Women of Philly Tour Speaking of hidden: In a city where founding fathers cast a long shadow, the Badass Women of Philly walking tour, offered by Beyond the Bell Tours , finally spotlights some fresh (female!) characters. From forgotten founding mother Hannah Callowhill Penn to Pride pioneer Barbara Gittings, these are stories you haven’t heard a million times — or ever.

Green Book W alking Tour The same could be said of historic preservationist Faye Anderson’s Green Book walking tour, generally offered in the spring and fall. (Check Anderson’s site to stay in the loop.) Everyone associates the Green Book with the Jim Crow South, she says, but Philly was segregated, too. And Anderson, a walking treasure trove of stories, will lead you through a series of landmarks — the luxury hotels that did (and didn’t) allow Black guests, for instance, and the clubs where Philly-born Billie Holiday and Lee Morgan performed — while telling the tales that contextualize this sliver of Philly history.  

Mural Arts Philadelphia Tours Slightly better known are the Mural Arts tours, which are popular for a reason: The art scattered about our streetscapes hits different when you’re up close, on foot, hearing the stories behind the murals and the communities they represent and decorate. MA is always coming up with new tours, too, like the recently added Germantown route.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Mural Arts Philadelphia (@muralarts)

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia Another crowd-pleaser is the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia. Yup, seriously: Get over the spectacle of a cloaked guide leading by lantern light and you’ll enjoy a fascinating, sometimes grisly history lesson. (So many bad marriages in the 1700s!)

City Running Tours If the walking part of all these walking tours feels too, er, pedestrian, try the guided City Running Tours, and jog your way along one of their intriguing routes. (South Philly landmarks! A craft beer trail! A circuit of Philly’s old, faded ghost signs !) They take all levels of runners.

Cara Schneider Bongiorno’s Philly Stories But if you prefer to avoid physical exertion altogether, call Cara Schneider Bongiorno. The 22-year Visit Philly vet has a new gig telling stories of important but little-known Philly moments (ever heard about the Mischianza of 1778?) at public meetups and private events. Shoot her a note via LinkedIn for info on her next event or to bring this fascinating “tour” to you.

>> Click here to return to the Ultimate Philadelphia Travel Guide.

This guide contains additional reporting by Hannah Albertine and Laura Swartz.

Published as “150 Ways to Do Philly Like a Tourist: A Tour for Every Philadelphian” in the July 2022 issue of Philadelphia  magazine.

Fun Events in Philly This Week

Where to Celebrate Taylor Swift’s New TTPD Album in Philly

20 Philly-Area Gardens and Arboretums to Visit

A Japanese-Inspired Rittenhouse Square Townhouse Makeover

On the auction block: pipersville hilltop mansion house for sale, get your tickets for this year's kalahari food & (not just) wine festival.

EVENT STARTS IN

IN THIS SECTION

The Gang Goes to South Philly: An It's Always Sunny Tour of Philadelphia

About the Tour

Visit the gang's hangouts.

Step into the world of TV's wildest gang with our It's Always Sunny Tour of Philadelphia! This lively walking tour takes you through the heart of the show's action in South Philly. You'll visit key locations from your favorite TV show, learn cool facts, and get to know the city in a friendly, relaxed setting.

Explore the hidden South Philly

See Dennis & Mac's Apartment

Learn It's Always Sunny Trivia

Wander the Italian Market

Laugh to the Gang's antics

"The IASIP experience exceeded all expectations."

"Our guide did a great job telling Sunny history, but was also wonderfully knowledgeable in general Philly history."

“I would recommend this tour to anyone who has seen and liked the show, even if you don’t consider yourself to be a super fan (like me)”

• Churches & Cathedral
• Sample Tour
• Tour Pricing

Philadelphia is home to many beautiful shrines and religious sites.

Our mission is to make them more accessible to Catholics in the area.

Philly Catholic Tours works with groups of any size to schedule visits

to shrines, sites, and churches

in and around the city and throughout the area. 

Additionally, just a few hours

away are important shrines and religious sites in places

such as Washington, DC, Baltimore, and New York.

We will work with your group to arrange special trips

to any of these locations.

Please browse our website for information

on area shrines, our company, and our tours.

Come celebrate and appreciate the

beauty, spirituality, and holiness

of our Catholic heritage in the Philadelphia area

and the surrounding region

with a memorable pilgrimage with Philly Catholic Tours.