Lonely Planet Experiences – Markets, Mosaics & Magic
Art, culture, diversity, and of course, the spirit of Rocky lives on in South Philly! Join this Philadelphia tour to see just how eclectic this gritty city is. From hidden alleyways to Italian markets, family-owned businesses, and public art, South Philly is a slice of the real Philly.
South Philly Walking Tour Highlights
- Discover the hidden gems of some of the most historic neighborhoods in the country on this Philly walking tour
- Admire Isaiah Zagar’s beautiful one-of-a-kind mosaics at Magic Gardens
- Get to know the real South Philly from a local perspective
- Wander among the colourful stalls and enjoy the tastes of the shops, cafes, and restaurants at the world-famous Italian Market
- Take a glimpse into one of the city’s most charming neighborhoods and finish on Philly’s eclectic South Street
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Experience the best travel stories for yourself! Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world’s leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, some food samples, and admission to the mosaic gallery.
Exclusions: Personal shopping, and tips and gratuities for your guide.
Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Meeting point: Corner of 9th & South Streets, outside New Image Art & Framing. 601 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point: Bella Vista neighborhood, with access to convenient transportation.
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Take on the diversity of Philly in the best way possible – local style! Begin your Philadelphia neighborhood tour on the ever-colorful South Street. Follow your local guide through the streets of the Bella Vista neighborhood for your first glimpse of some beautiful mosaics. We swing by a historic deli, duck into a tempting bakery, and marvel at the sights, smells, and sounds of the famous Italian Market.
The market is the oldest and largest everyday open-air market in America, and you soon understand why it is one of Philly’s must-see attractions. Tempt your taste buds as we wander past the myriad of local stores carrying everything from cheese, chocolate, spices, and olive oils, to the best bakeries, butcher shops, and produce stalls. We take the time to mix with business owners and residents, taste some samples, and hear stories of early immigrants to the city. It was also here that Rocky ran through the streets on one of his famous training runs — feel free to recreate this scene yourself!
We continue this Philadelphia city tour with Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, which showcases the mosaic art of Isaiah Zagar. This amazing place includes a fully mosaicked indoor gallery and a massive outdoor labyrinthine mosaic structure. Here, your guide fills you in on the local tales of this area, giving you the opportunity to ask them any questions you may have about this classic Philly spot.
Your tour concludes at the Magic Gardens. From here, your guide can give you recommendations on where to go to eat, drink, and shop along Philly’s eclectic and dynamic South Street. Now that you’re a bona fide local, you may even want to make an appointment for your new Urban Adventures tattoo.
Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, some food samples, and admission to the mosaic gallery.
Exclusions: Personal shopping, and tips and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: A good pair of comfortable walking shoes is advisable. Make sure to check the weather report for rain!
Your Trip: This trip is offered on a “join-in” basis. Maximum group size is 12
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
Local contact
Office phone number: +1 215 280 3746
Email address: [email protected] -
Ms. Louise M. from USA traveled on 23 Aug 2017:
Chuck was friendly, informative and a pleasure to spend time with, and the tour was fascinating and informative!
Ms. Patricia G. from USA traveled on 26 Apr 2017:
Ben was amazing – even in the rain!
Mrs. Barbara B. from USA traveled on 23 Apr 2017:
Our group of 8 had a fantastic time. We learned so much and saw much more of South Philly than we would have on our own. Ben was a great guide. He was relaxed, friendly and knowledgeable.
Ms. Maryjane G. from USA traveled on 16 Nov 2016:
Chuck was knowledgeable and enthusiastic!
Ms. Rebecca T. from Australia traveled on 18 Oct 2016:
I thought this tour was a great opportunity to see a different side of Philadelphia. The guide was very knowledgeable.
Ms. Rebecca C. from USA traveled on 22 Jun 2016:
Very interesting and fun tour. Really enjoyed learning about the history of the market and the surrounding neighborhoods. Loved going into the shops and tasting things and getting to talk to the owners/shop workers.
Mrs. Lisa G. from USA traveled on 29 Mar 2016:
Our guide was Kendra and she was fabulous. So knowledgeable and outgoing. We lucked out and had a private tour (just 3 of us signed up for the day.) Kendra gave us opportunities to customize our tour a bit and was so enthusiastic about the neighborhood. We absolutely loved it.
Ms. Camilia d. from USA traveled on 28 Sep 2015:
Nina was the perfect tour guide. Very knowledgeable and willing to share what she knows. She even took me to the community garden where she gardens which was not part of the original tour, but that I appreciated very much.
Mrs. Irene A. from USA traveled on 08 Aug 2015:
We had a blast, learned a lot, and fell in love with the Italian Market and the mosaics! Kenny, our tour guide, was fun to be with and did an excellent job.
Mr. Spencer B. from USA traveled on 15 Jul 2015:
Chuck did a great job and will again when you hire him to run your European tours.
Ms. Mary M. from USA traveled on 03 Dec 2013:
actually, the trip EXCEEDED our expectations. I don’t think we could have had a friendly, more knowledgeable guide.
Mrs. Debra D. from USA traveled on 01 Aug 2013:
Our tour guide, Arielle, was fantastic!! She was extremely knowledgeable and shared a wealth of information with us. Although a native Philadelphian, I was reluctant to go but learned a great deal about the history of the buildings. Arielle integrated a wide range of information about the culture, heritage and history in her tour. She engaged us in conversation throughout the tour. I will definitely recommend this tour to my friends.
