10 Great Places for Stunning Scenic Views of Philadelphia
See Philly from a whole new angle.
Catch some of the best scenic views of Philadelphia from One Liberty Observation Deck. Photograph by AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Philly is one of the prettiest cities in America. Don’t believe us? Check out the view from these scenic spots in Philadelphia, and you’ll soon be singing a different tune.
Cira Green
Open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. (6 a.m.-10 p.m. in summer), 129 S. 30th St., 12th floor.
There’s a big screen TV and a decent snack bar/beer garden area, but the main attraction at this clean, squirrel-free, litter-free, dog-friendly “park in the sky” is its wide open view of Center City facing east.
The rooftop at Cira Green. Photo via Flickr user Aries McFadden.
City Hall
Tower tours run noon-4:15 p.m., Monday-Friday, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
This viewing platform just below William Penn’s mighty shoes lets you see the city the way pigeons do.
Jean-Georges | Photo courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia
Jean-Georges Philadelphia
Open year-round, Comcast Center, Four Seasons Hotel, 1 N. 19th St., 59th floor.
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s fancy fine-dining establishment on the 59th floor of the Comcast Center pairs Michelin-level cuisine with massive windows looking out over Center City.
South Street Bridge
Open 24-7, South Street between 27th and 33rd streets.
This pretty, refurbished bridge allows a serene north-facing perspective of downtown, with the Schuylkill Banks Trail and boardwalk in the foreground.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Open 24-7, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Everybody knows you can get a sweet angle on the city from the so-called Rocky Steps, but for some rare air, swing around to the back of the Art Museum to the pagodas overlooking the Schuylkill River and Boathouse Row. (Then actually go into the museum and look at some art, ya bum.)
Bok Bar | Official
Bok Bar
Open during the summer months 1901 S. Ninth St., Eighth floor.
Once a stately old South Philly high school, Bok is now a hive of creative spaces with a spacious beer garden on top. The North-facing view is spectacular, especially at night. (Also check out Irwin’s, a year-round, indoor-outdoor Mediterranean restaurant with fancy cocktails and big windows, across the hall at the Bok complex.)
R2L Restaurant
Open year-round, 50 S. 16th St. 37th floor.
Chef Daniel Stern serves up fine dining on the 37th floor of Two Liberty in booths and tables that face out over the city.
Photograph courtesy R2L
Assembly Rooftop Lounge
Open year-round, The Logan Philadelphia, 1840 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Ninth floor.
This indoor-outdoor drinking spot provides stylish cocktails and a pretty perspective of the Parkway — especially from the balcony, which has comfy seating and blazing fire pits to keep the cold at bay.
One Liberty Observation Deck
$10-$15, open 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (10 a.m.-9 p.m. May-August), 1650 Market St., 57th floor.
If the staggering view of the city from the 57th floor of OG skyscraper Liberty One gives you vertigo, you can distract yourself with the giant bust of Ben Franklin, the green screen for photo ops, board games, etc.
Ben Franklin Bridge
Open 6 a.m.- 8 p.m. (6 a.m.-9 p.m. May-September), entrance at Fifth and Race streets.
The Ben’s recently refurbished pedestrian walkway offers runners, cyclists, photographers, and more a glorious view of the skyline looking west and the Delaware River waterfront looking South.
