Historic Sites

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Monday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Sunday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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About

Home of the United States Congress when Philadelphia served as the nation's capital from 1790 to 1800.

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Tours & experiences

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Philadelphia Historic Self Guided Walking Tour and Scavenger Hunt
Private Sightseeing Tours
from
$43.10
per group (up to 6)

The area

Address

Neighborhood: City Center East

How to get there

8th St • 3 min walk
8th St • 3 min walk

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Best nearby

Restaurants

2,965 within 3 miles

Talula's Garden

1,499

0.2 mi$$$$ • American • Vegetarian friendly • Vegan options

The Wayward

157

0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar

Morimoto

1,019

267 ft$$$$ • Japanese • Vegetarian friendly • Vegan options

Dutch Eating Place

542

0.4 mi$ • American • German • Diner

Reading Terminal Market

10,726

0.4 mi$ • Dessert • Italian • Mexican

Miller's Twist

210

0.4 mi$ • Bakeries • American • Fast Food

Hershel's East Side Deli

422

0.4 mi$ • American • Deli • Kosher

Beiler's Bakery

1,333

0.4 mi$ • Bakeries • American • Fast Food

Bassetts Ice Cream

650

0.4 mi$ • Dessert • American

Red Owl Tavern

1,144

0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Contemporary • Gastropub • Vegetarian friendly

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Attractions

686 within 6 miles

Civil War Library and Museum

3

0 ftMilitary Museums • Libraries

Walnut Street Theatre

0.1 miHistoric Sites • Parks

Independence Mall

509

0.2 miNeighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas

National Archives at Philadelphia

1

0.1 miGovernment Buildings

Independence Hall

9,163

0.2 miHistoric Sites • Government Buildings

Independence National Historical Park

3,013

0.2 miHistoric Sites • Historic Walking Areas

Liberty Bell Center

4,945

0.2 miHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution

112

0.2 miMonuments & Statues

Lantern Theater Company at St. Stephen's Theater

25

0.1 miTheaters

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See what travelers are saying

tinylass
Sheffield, United Kingdom5,820 contributions
History
We visited here before a tour once we were through the security for Independence Hall. There were three members of staff that were very knowledgeable and friendly and there were some photos and information scattered about to read. The hall served as the seat of the United States Congress from December 6th 1790 to May 14th 1800 so plenty of history here!
Visited January 2024
Traveled as a couple
Written January 24, 2024
wheelswillroll
Weatogue, Connecticut270 contributions
Great history!
This is a great historical place to visit. You learn a lot about our country’s beginnings. The only drawback is they’re not really sure what to do with a person who uses a wheelchair. There’s a beautiful park out front of the buildings, but you can’t access it because there’s a gate there that people can go out of, but they can’t come in it. I did get in touch with one of the security guards and he helped me by walking me through the gate so I can get a picture of the front building with the statue in front of it.
Visited April 2024
Traveled solo
Written April 13, 2024
kates5283
Cincinnati, Ohio195 contributions
A must for history fans!
We enjoyed visiting Congress Hall! It wasn't on our to-do list, but a wonderful employee told us that they would be starting a tour soon, if we wanted to wait. It was a beautiful day out so we decided to go ahead and do the tour. Our tour guide was amazing and interacted so well with the kids in our group. We were unable to see the Senate area because they were being worked on, but we were able to see the House of Representatives. The architecture of the building was amazing as well. Definitely a must if you are visiting Independence Hall.
Visited October 2023
Traveled with family
Written August 14, 2024

These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5

358 reviews

Excellent

231

Very good

105

Average

20

Poor

1

Terrible

1

yazdragonfly

Ft. Lauderdale384 contributions

Underwhelming

Apr 2023

Our expectations were much more that what is actually here. To begin with, you must pass a metal detector and have you items scanned. That is reasonable in a protected area, however, once you enter the "courtyard", there is little to no security. There are no gates, or fences, just low hanging chains, which are easy to step over., so the security screening is almost laughable. The tour itself, which must be reserved online for $1/person, takes about 15-20 minutes, and you are taken into the building and shown where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Some background is given and you get to see two rooms. Then you are rushed out without barely any time to take a few pictures. Not worth the wait time of approximately 20-30 minutes, or the $1. You must be a real history buff to enjoy this stop.

Written May 19, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pat l

Gainesville, GA1,102 contributions

Wonderful history!

Dec 2019

A park ranger told us about the documents on display in the West Wing and another ranger gave us a brief lecture in Congress Hall about the events that would have happened in that room. It is another lovely building in the complex and the ranger did a great job. You do not have to get a reserved ticket to see this building or participate in the program, but you do have to go through the security line that goes to Indpenedence Hall.

Written January 2, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jpete02

Lansing, MI931 contributions

A little bit disappointing because of Covid restrictions

Oct 2021 • Couples

Non ticketed tour that lasts about twenty minutes. Just line up outside Congress Hall in the secured area (same security check as Independence Hall tour) and the tour runs every twenty minutes.

This Hall housed the first US Congress from 1790-1800 until it moved to Washington DC. Due to Covid, they only allow you to see the House of Representatives chamber on the first floor and not the Senate Chamber on the second. Don’t understand why it is safe enough to see the House but not the Senate. If the Senate Chamber is too small, they should just allow a few people to go up at one time, see it, and turn around.

Written October 7, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Prawet J

Washington DC, DC12,784 contributions

Another piece of US history.

Sep 2020

A part of the old Independence Hall (Old Pennsylvania Capitol Building). During my visit only the Independence Hall was open for public. The Congress Hall is located on 6th Street side which make the whole compound completed with the Old City Hall on the other side of the Independence Hall. Good piece of history.

Written October 4, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tenniseyeguy

new york155 contributions

Fascinating tour

Jun 2022

Thanks to the tour guide, Larry, we had an excellent visit to Congress Hall. He explained the history of the building with such ease and knowledge, that he brought the otherwise plain interior to life. This was a very good addition to the touring of Independence Hall.

Written June 14, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Keith F

Lillington, NC227 contributions

So surreal and awe inspiring.

Dec 2021 • Family

We love history and it was amazing to be in the same place that our country was formed. To see where our first congress met and made decisions that over 200 years later we still embrace. The park ranger was very knowledgeable and was very helpful with questions and telling us a brief history of the building and what went on there.

Written January 7, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wheelswillroll

Weatogue, CT270 contributions

Great history!

Apr 2024 • Solo

This is a great historical place to visit. You learn a lot about our country’s beginnings. The only drawback is they’re not really sure what to do with a person who uses a wheelchair. There’s a beautiful park out front of the buildings, but you can’t access it because there’s a gate there that people can go out of, but they can’t come in it. I did get in touch with one of the security guards and he helped me by walking me through the gate so I can get a picture of the front building with the statue in front of it.

Written April 13, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TLAOrangeville

Sanibel Island, FL500 contributions

A good supplemental tour after Independence Hall.

Apr 2022

We did not know we could go on this tour right before or after Independence Hall so we should have planned out time better. However, the tour was really interesting and it was fun to see the space. Unfortunately, the upstairs was not open when we were there so we felt a little like we only got half the tour.

Written April 17, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dean_Amy-2004

Gettysburg, PA8,405 contributions

By Independence Hall

Feb 2021 • Family

After hearing about the creation and signing of the US Constitution, be sure to visit Congress Hall to see where they put it into practice. The Senate (2nd floor) is currently closed due to COVID, but you can enter and view the original House of Representatives of the US. It is also the site of John Adam’s inauguration as the country’s second President.

Written February 12, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kates5283

Cincinnati, OH195 contributions

A must for history fans!

Oct 2023 • Family

We enjoyed visiting Congress Hall! It wasn't on our to-do list, but a wonderful employee told us that they would be starting a tour soon, if we wanted to wait. It was a beautiful day out so we decided to go ahead and do the tour. Our tour guide was amazing and interacted so well with the kids in our group. We were unable to see the Senate area because they were being worked on, but we were able to see the House of Representatives. The architecture of the building was amazing as well. Definitely a must if you are visiting Independence Hall.

Written August 14, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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