While you may visit with a list of must-sees, don’t forget to leave plenty of time for open exploration. Each Philadelphia neighborhood has its own distinct culture that makes it unique. You’ll have a completely different experience eating comfort food in West Philly than you will visiting the museums of Old City. Take your time exploring the neighborhoods using the five public squares—Rittenhouse, Logan, Franklin, Washington, and Town Hall—as your guide.

While the public rail systems, both Septa and Patco, snake their way through the city and nearby parts of New Jersey, you’ll miss a handful of areas if you stick to metro only. Plus, walking is oftentimes faster and more enjoyable than subway or even ridesharing. And if you bring a car, read street signs judiciously to avoid a dreaded PPA ticket, and use the MeterUp app to pay your meter.

Every year, Philadelphia scores a handful of semifinalists for the James Beard Awards, as well as a few best chef and outstanding restaurant winners. While these world-class restaurants come with hard-to-get reservations, many of the most beloved places to eat are unassuming local spots. The cultural districts, like the Italian Market, Chinatown, Africatown, El Centro de Oro, and Little Saigon, are great places for a meal. And with several weekly farmer’s markets, you’ll never go hungry.

With over 4,000 murals, this is a city built on street art. You can even take walking tours dedicated to seeing the murals. Or, house tours that focus on the decades of architecture, like colonial trinity homes and mid-century buildings by I.M. Pei. Keep your eyes peeled for the thousands of mini gardens, statues, tile walls, and wheatpastes. If you want to see curated art, the Philadelphia Museum and the Barnes Foundation host free and pay-what-you-wish nights.

There’s an unwritten no judgements policy where people from different walks of life build communities together across Philadelphia. Cultural institutions like the Mummers Museum preserve that wacky history, while South Street is known for eccentric festivals like Rex Manning Day and South Street Fest. From indie music venues in all neighborhoods, to numerous drag and burlesque and magic shows, all of Philadelphia is a stage.