Tim McManus is a freelance writer living in South Philly, where the food is even better than you’ve heard and the people are only half as scary as their reputation. These days, Tim is mostly interested in food and travel writing, but he spent 15 years in his past life as a sports writer and editor in Philadelphia and New York.
The dog days of summer are here—literally, at one Fishtown brewery—but don’t let those long, humid days get you down. There are plenty of things to do in Philly this weekend that will transport you to a different place and time. You can get in the Christmas spirit at Morgan’s Pier, jump 10 years into the future with a take on Shakespeare’s As You Like It at Clark Park, have a beer at a historical site with Parks on Tap, or celebrate nostalgia with an outdoor screening of one of the classic movies of the '80s. And if all else fails, nothing improves a mood like watching dogs in a pool. Go ahead, snag that restaurant reservation you can never get. And get those steps in while you can. It’ll be 95 again before you know it. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Philadelphia Best Philly events this weekend, July 26–28 Shakespeare in Clark Park Presents As You Like It The Bowl in Clark Park Fri–Sun 7 pm In this twist on Shakespeare’s classic comedy, directed by Ontaria Kim Wilson, the setting is Arden, Delaware, circa 2034, under the tyrannical rule of Duke Frederick. Join the cast, led by local actors Cheyenne Parks (Rosalind) and Tariq Kanu (Orlando), as they turn the park into an enchanted evening of live music and family-friendly fun. Admission is free. Christmas in July at Morgan's Pier Morgan’s PierFri–Sun at various times Morgan’s Pier is all about the summer vibes and the stunning views. But this week, you only need a little imagination to feel a chill in the air as the
Recognized as the most walkable city in America, The City of Brotherly Love is where you can walk the same cobblestone streets as the founding founders in the morning and spend your night fine dining at a James Beard Award-winning chef’s counter without stepping too far. We’ve got die-hard sports fans and large-scale venues to match our teams’ energy, 30+ stunning gardens and arboretums that gave us the title of “America's Garden Capital,” and a tight-knit community of culinary talent making national headlines. Supremely affordable, delightfully unpretentious, and a little gritty, Philly is a world-class city masquerading as a small town. Come for the history, stay for the food, and fall in love with the characters that make Philly unique. Here are 30 of the best things to do to kick off your visit. RECOMMENDED:The best Philadelphia hotels with hot tubsThe best hotels in PhiladelphiaThe best cabins in PhiladelphiaThe best Airbnbs in PhiladelphiaThe best attractions in Philadelphia This guide was updated by Philadelphia-based writer Alisha Miranda. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
What makes a city great? Some would say it’s all about buzzing neighbourhoods, affordable food and drink and a mighty selection of things to do, from art galleries and museums to live music and theatre. Others might highlight things like the happiness of its locals, access to green space and strong community vibes. We factor in all that and more in our annual survey, which asks city-dwellers around the world to tell us what it’s like to live, work and play in their hometowns right now. Thanks to the opinions and insights of locals on the ground and our global network of city experts, we’re able to create a global ranking of the world’s best cities – and the 2024 results are in. As in previous years, the basis of the ranking remains our global survey of the people who know their city best: the locals. Working with research company Potentia Insight, we surveyed thousands of city-dwellers about the quality and affordability of food, culture and nightlife in their city. We also asked locals how their city makes them feel: are they happy there? Is it a beautiful place? Is it easy to make social connections? Their thousands of responses gave us a unique insight into the reality of living in the world’s greatest cities right now. Now that international travel is forecast to bounce back to the highest levels since 2019, many travellers will be planning a city break this year – so in 2024, we added a little extra weight to a city’s global appeal. Each survey respondent was asked which
Talk to any Philadelphian of a certain age—let’s say, elder millennial and above—about their first tattoo and you’re likely to hear a story that starts in the same place: on South Street. It makes sense that the long-time home of Philly’s counter-culture would also be the place to get your first, or fiftieth, piece of ink. Many of those classic tattooing institutions remain and are worth your visit. But they’re hardly your only choice. From Fishtown to South Philly, a new generation of world-class artists has picked up the needle, bringing a wide range of styles and experiences. Whether you’re a walk-in going on an impulse or if you prefer to spend months combing through an artist’s Instagram page, there’s a place for you on this list. Here, the best tattoo shops in Philadelphia. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Philadelphia
The kind of steak Philly is best known for is usually served on a roll instead of a plate. That’s a tough perception to shake in the home of the cheesesteak. But the sweeping restaurant renaissance that hit the city over the last decade has also lifted a new generation of steakhouse standard-bearers. With fresh blood added to a roster of long-beloved neighborhood staples, the result is a surprisingly complete scene. Whether your wish is to live like the Rat Pack for an evening or to know where your steak lived before it reached your plate, or if you just have a good old-fashioned expense account to burn, we’ve got a steakhouse in Philadelphia for you. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Philadelphia