Philadelphia may be famous for the LOVE sculpture and the classic cheesesteak, but the city’s cultural pulse is as compelling as its history. From the Liberty Bell, a symbol of freedom, to Rocky’s triumphant bronze figure at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and vibrant murals celebrating queer pride, the city is rich in landmarks that honour its past while embracing the present. Today, Philadelphia’s creative spirit is alive in leading museums, cutting-edge galleries, and independent spaces such as the brand new Calder Gardens, finally open after years in the making! 

Start your day at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, perched above the city like a Parthenon. Immortalised in the Rocky films, the steps are just the beginning: the museum houses an exceptional collection and constantly changing exhibitions. Highlights this season include:

• Brand X Editions: Innovation in Screen Printing (closes 16 November) — celebrating over 400 screenprints from emerging and established contemporary artists, including Helen Frankenthaler, Alex Katz, Rashid Johnson, and Emily Mae Smith.
• Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100 (8 November–16 February 2026) — marking a century since André Breton’s Manifesto of Surrealism, this exhibition features 180 works by more than 70 international artists, celebrating the imagination’s unbounded possibilities.

Just a short 15-minute walk brings you to Calder Gardens, Philadelphia’s newest cultural landmark. Dedicated to Alexander Calder, a native son and one of the 20th century’s most influential artists, the space combines Herzog & de Meuron’s architectural vision with Piet Oudolf’s serene landscape design. The garden and building reveal themselves gradually along woodland paths, turning a visit into a journey of discovery. Inside, a rotating selection of Calder’s mobiles, stabiles, and rarely seen works is displayed in dialogue with the landscape. Rather than blending in, the building stands as if on stage, perfectly framing Calder’s playful, kinetic sculptures.

Refuel with lunch at the Barnes Foundation Garden Restaurant, led by Executive Chef Michael O’Meara, where seasonal and locally sourced dishes complement the museum experience. Explore the extraordinary collection of 3,000 works, including African sculpture, decorative arts, and an exceptional selection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces by Van Gogh, Renoir, Matisse, and Picasso. Step into the hypnotic world of Henri Rousseau, with paintings drawn from both the Barnes Foundation and Paris’ Musée de l’Orangerie, for a rare opportunity to see two of the world’s most important Rousseau collections together.

Round off the day at the Rodin Museum, just a five-minute walk away. Even if you’re feeling museum-fatigued, the garden alone is worth a visit — pause to admire Rodin’s iconic The Thinker before stepping inside to explore the largest collection of his work outside of Paris, with over 140 bronzes, marbles, and plasters spanning every stage of the French sculptor’s career.