From historic cobblestone streets to candlelit restaurants, Philadelphia exudes old-world romance. As one of America’s oldest major cities filled with charm and culture, Philadelphia provides the perfect urban backdrop for couples looking to disconnect from daily stresses and reconnect through meaningful shared experiences.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Horse Drawn Carriage Ride | Tour through historic streets with iconic sights. |
| Philadelphia Flower Show | Explore the world-famous floral event. |
| Cooking Class | Learn new culinary skills together. |
| Stroll Through Longwood Gardens | Enjoy botanical beauty in formal gardens and woodlands. |
| Concert at The Dell Music Center | Experience live music in a natural amphitheater. |
| Tour The Magic Gardens | Discover an immersive mosaic art environment. |
| Sip and Paint at DaVinci Art Alliance | Enjoy a creative painting session with wine. |
| Tour The Glen Foerd | Explore a historic riverfront estate and mansion. |
| Live Jazz at South | Listen to smooth jazz in a sophisticated setting. |
| Sculpture Workshop | Create art together in a hands-on workshop. |
| Spruce Street Harbor Park Footbridge | Walk for scenic views and waterfront ambiance. |
| Sunset Helicopter Ride | Take a memorable ride above the city at sunset. |
The very streets here ooze sentimentality as visitors retrace the steps of figures like Benjamin Franklin who helped shape early America. Beyond the iconic Liberty Bell and Independence Hall lies a vibrant food scene, world-class museums, boutique shopping, open parks, enchanting river views and some of the top luxury hotels in the country.
Whether planning a quick weekend escape or an extended anniversary trip, Philadelphia sets an alluring stage. From strolling tree-lined squares to savoring intimate dinners to capturing stunning magic hour views of Boathouse Row, this city captivates. Here are 12 of the most romantic things for couples to do in Philadelphia.
Ride In A Horse Drawn Carriage
Name and Location: Ride In A Horse Drawn Carriage
History and Significance: Horse-drawn carriage rides through historic Philadelphia neighborhoods and parks offer a relaxing throwback for couples to admire 18th & 19th architecture. Operators like 76 Carriage Company and Phlash Carriage provide guided tours covering over 300 years of history.
What to Expect: Leisurely 45 minute tours discuss early American landmarks near Independence Hall or Victorian-era sites like Beautiful Belmont. Multi-stop rides include time for photos and attractions. Blankets provided for cooler weather. Most carriages accommodate up to 4 adult passengers.
Visitor Information: Book ahead online, prices from $100+. Year round options, spring-fall busiest. Day/evening tours available in downtown Philadelphia or Fairmount Park/Museum District. Rides proceed rain or shine; dress accordingly. Check animal safety policies.
Few experiences capture the nostalgia of Philadelphia quite like a regal tour in a horse drawn carriage. Several companies offer shared or private carriage rides taking travelers past major landmarks and hidden backstreets revealing iconic architecture and sights.
Not only does a leisurely carriage ride foster connection through close proximity, but it also provides a unique vantage point from which to admire the charming cityscape. Most routes meander through Old City and Society Hill where narrow colonial streets lined with 18th-century row homes and churches create photogenic opportunities around each turn.
Many carriages pass by popular landmarks like the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall where the intimate setting inspires dreaming together about the beginnings of America. Certain tours also incorporate special extras like blankets and champagne for snuggling up with that special someone.
See The Flower Show At Philadelphia Horticultural Center
Name and Location: See The Flower Show At Philadelphia Horticultural Center
History and Significance: Hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society since 1829, the annual Philadelphia Flower Show is considered the nation’s premier horticultural event showcasing ornate landscape displays by world-class designers, thousands of plants species, competitions and special events across 10 acres indoors and outside.
What to Expect: Massive exhibitor floor where visitors meander through mini gardens overflowing with flowering plants and relax in peaceful courtyard displays away from crowds. Butterfly house, make & take crafts, culinary demos, shopping all onsite over 2 weeks every March.
Visitor Information: Located along West River Drive. Advance ticket purchase encouraged, from $15-45. Open daily 8am-9pm show run. Public transit options, parking fee applies. Expect large attendance on weekends. Most displays involve walking, grounds accessible.
Each year, the Philadelphia Horticultural Center comes alive in brilliant blooms for the world-famous Philadelphia Flower Show. As the longest running horticultural event in the United States, the show transforms 10 acres of indoor space with unparalleled floral displays by premiere designers.
The event encapsulates a theme with past years including “Flower Power” in 2019 showcasing peace-and-love vibes from the 60s and 70s to “Riviera Holiday” in 2020 inspired by the warmth and romance of the Mediterranean coast. Wandering the grounds provides a feast for the senses with vivid colors, sweet fragrances and creative interpretations celebrating art through nature.
From intricate landscape gardens to rainbows of suspended florals to galleries with fine art pieces integrating flowers, the Philadelphia Flower Show fosters awe. The dazzling arrays of textures, colors and scents combined with the excitement of spring make for an atmospheric date.
Take A Cooking Class Together
Name and Location: Take A Cooking Class Together
History and Significance: Couples cooking classes teach fundamental culinary techniques in an intimate setting focused on cooperation through preparing, then enjoying a shared meal together. The Chef’s Kitchen established in 2014 offers customized date night sessions for pairs in their cozy space near Rittenhouse Square to connect over pure, seasonal flavors.
What to Expect: Hands-on instruction guiding class through creating an appetizer, main course and dessert side-by-side that you’ll later savor over conversation about the experience. Take home recipes provided. Themed menus range from seasonal market to regional cuisines. BYOB welcome.
Visitor Information: Class offered weekly for pairs only, starting at $135 per couple. Located at 131 S. 7th Street. Advance registration required, class runs 2 hours. Parking garage across street or transit accessible. Open to all cooking skill ranges.
Taking a couples cooking class provides a playful opportunity to learn new skills together while bonding over one life’s great pleasures: food. Several venues across Philadelphia offer entertaining hands-on classes revolving around specific themes from pasta making to seasonal ingredients to desserts and wine pairings.
Some venues like Valley Green Inn provide an idyllic pastoral escape right near the Schuylkill River Trail where students craft farm-to-table dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Back in the city, CookNSolo’s Haven cookery school allows couples to master staples like handmade pasta and tomato sauces under guidance of top culinary talent in an open-kitchen layout.
Whether opting for basics or gourmet treats, an immersive cooking class sets the stage for quality time peppered with laughter and rewarding teamwork ending in a meal made with love by both parties. Tasting the final edible creations over a glass of wine makes for the sweet capstone on a novel date sure to bring couples closer.
Stroll Through Longwood Gardens
Name and Location: Stroll Through Longwood Gardens
History and Significance: Originally farmland, Pierre du Pont transformed over 1000 acres of property into lush gardens, conservatories and groves in a lifework spanning over 30 years that continues today as nonprofit Longwood Gardens – widely considered among the world’s premier horticultural display sites 25 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
What to Expect: Couples can wander endless blooming landscapes following meandering paths revealing stunning floral shows, gushing fountains, romantic gardens, impressive waterlily pools inside steamy conservatories plus ever-changing exhibits through the seasons in both protected outdoor and indoor spaces.
Visitor Information: Kennett Square area off Route 1. Open daily 9am-6pm. Adults from $23 for basic access. Multiple cafes & restaurants on-site. Golf cart rentals and wheelchair accessible options. September fountain displays highly recommended.
Renowned as one of the world’s premier horticultural display gardens, Longwood Gardens immerses lovebirds in sheer botanical beauty across over 1,000 acres of both meticulous formal gardens and lush natural woodlands. From vibrant flower fields in spring to illuminated tree canopies in winter, Longwood transports through the seasons with regards to romance.
The grand Conservatory’s soaring palm house, ornate fountains, and peaceful courtyard filled with vibrant blooms like red amaryllis makes an opulent backdrop for affectionate exchanges. Outdoors, couples find secluded nooks tucked within weeping beeches, sparkling lakes, and meadows flush with warm hues.
As dusk falls, Longwood uses lighting design to cast a magical spell with illuminated dancing fountains, candlelit restaurants and the open-air stage glowing under constellations for unforgettable nights. Known equally for horticultural artistry and hospitality through the seasons, Longwood cultivates romance.
Catch A Concert At The Dell Music Center
Name and Location: Catch A Concert At The Dell Music Center
History and Significance: Nestled in wooded Fairmount Park for over 85 years, the open-air Dell Music Center has hosted legendary musicians like B.B. King, Judy Collins, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles performing in its stunning amphitheater setting against scenic backdrop leading concertgoers to dub the Dell “the world’s most beautiful urban concert setting” over the years.
What to Expect: World class talent at affordable prices all summer long – classical, pop, folk, jazz, R&B and everything between across nearly 30 shows from June to mid-August. Sample vendor fare or pack your own picnic spread to savor during shows.
Visitor Information: In East Fairmount Park along North Concourse and Cecil B Moore Avenue. Box office open daily late April-mid Aug then closed offseason. Ticket prices vary by artist. Transit accessible or parking pass fee per car. Grounds open early for tailgating before gates.
Nestled amid the trees between Philadelphia and the quaint suburban town of Bryn Mawr lies a natural amphitheater that has provided stellar city views and star-studded performances since 1930. The Dell Music Center open-air concert grounds artfully integrates sloping lawn terraces descending from the elevated dining deck to the covered main stage framed by wooded hillsides.
The Dell books renowned artists spanning eras and genres like Sting, John Legend, Judy Collins to the Philadelphia Orchestra. Something about swaying to classics from Stevie Wonder or Frank Sinatra on a balmy night with glittering Philly lights twinkling in the distance kindles nostalgia and unity ideal for couples seeking musical memories.
In addition to world-class shows under the stars, the Dell exudes date-night appeal with table seating at the dining deck allowing easier conversations than crowded general event venues. With exceptional city vistas amid an almost ethereal arboretum, the Dell Music Center scores high for ambiance.
Tour The Magic Gardens
Name and Location: Tour The Magic Gardens
History and Significance: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a colorful mosaic art gallery and nonprofit organization founded by Isaiah Zagar in the mid-1990s, located on Philadelphia’s famous South Street. The space includes Zagar’s studio, gallery and a giant outdoor art installation made from folk art statues, found objects, bicycle wheels, glass bottles, handmade tiles and mirrors.
What to Expect: Visitors find over 3000 square feet of creative spaces covered with mosaics created from tiles, bottles, bicycle wheels and mirrors. The interior galleries feature visionary works by Zagar as well as visiting outsider and folk artists. Events and hands-on art-making activities occur periodically.
Visitor Information: Tickets purchased online or on-site. Group tours need advanced reservations. Photos permitted in some designated areas for personal use. The gift shop sells original artworks, jewelry, ceramics and books.
Whimsical, psychedelic, eccentric and romantic all describe the Magic Gardens, an immersive mixed-media sculpture gallery and mosaic museum celebrated for its otherworldly art environments. Based in a series of connected Old City storefronts, the interior and exterior spaces feature a brilliant mosaic wonderland of found objects, flowing forms, mirrors, bike wheels and any material lending itself to creative invention by creator Isaiah Zagar.
Hand-inscribed poetry on columns, glittering arrangements in unexpected hues, faces peering from random surfaces, and ever-changing textures hold boundless visual intrigue for couples as they weave through the multi-layered exhibition. Signature elements like the heart-shaped mosaics or “Love Letter Tunnel” covered in affectionate phrases written on tiles create a loving energy perfect for stealing smooches.
With such creative ingenuity and thousands of intricate accents to discover across over 10,000 square feet, the Magic Gardens sparks inspiration, conversation and meaningful bonding for those sharing the joy.
Sip And Paint At DaVinci Art Alliance
Name and Location: Sip And Paint At DaVinci Art Alliance
History and Significance: The Da Vinci Art Alliance has supported emerging artists in Philadelphia since 1908 through affordable studio spaces, exhibition galleries and community education opportunities like group Sip N Paint nights. The cooperative non-profit organization strives to make the arts approachable and enjoyable using wine to spark creativity.
What to Expect: Grab canvas, brushes and some wine or BYOB to fuel your imagination as you follow along step-by-step with a guiding artist to recreate the featured painting. Laugh, chat and see your skills progress through the night. No experience required.
Visitor Information: Workshops held monthly at Da Vinci Art Alliance (704 Catharine St). $45 per person includes all art materials + glass of wine sponsored by Moore Brothers Wine Company. Advanced registration required. 2.5 hour class. Street parking available.
Combining two favorite date activities, the bring-your-own-wine paint nights hosted by DaVinci Art Alliance offer a lively creative foray for couples to try. The art center located in South Philadelphia opens its gallery doors weekly for the group BYOW painting sessions guided by an instructor leading participants step-by-step through recreating vibrant pieces.
From sunsets and nightscapes to flowers or abstract designs, the subject matter ranges to suit all levels and comfort zones when approaching a blank canvas. Adding the social and festive element of choosing bubbly beverages to complement the workshop enhances the light-hearted environment ideal for couples to relax and play.
Whether coming away with gallery-worthy artwork or silly attempts bursting with heart, guiding each other through painting snapshots, landscapes or motifs makes for a memorable memento. Plus, babysitting supplies like snacks, music and guided instruction mean couples can focus completely on each other.
Tour The Glen Foerd On The Delaware
Name and Location: Tour The Glen Foerd On The Delaware
History and Significance: Situated on 5.5 scenic acres along the Delaware River just north of downtown, Glen Foerd and its towering Italianate-style Grey Towers mansion paint a picturesque scene. Built in the mid-1800s by merchant Charles Conrad, the estate preserves 33 stunning rooms decorated to their 1880’s appearance open for public viewing.
What to Expect: Guided 45-minute tours reveal American Victorian splendor into opulent interiors among original antiques like Tiffany glasswork, while exterior terraced gardens encourage leisurely strolls amid lush landscape. Weddings, educational events and seasonal happenings also occur onsite.
Visitor Information: Just off Torresdale Avenue. Friday guided tours most weeks at 5pm by reservation – $8/person. Gardens open dawn to dusk daily free of charge. A 5802 Ridge Ave. Onsite parking; check public transit connections. Carriage House onsite limits mobility access.
Perched along the Delaware River just minutes from downtown Philadelphia lies Glen Foerd, a stunning 33-acre riverfront estate maintained as an architectural, cultural and environmental treasure. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the estate built in 1850 contains an Italianate-style mansion now used as a Gilded Age decorative arts museum as well as sprawling grounds ideal for riverside strolls.
The estate offers daily guided tours recounting Glen Foerd’s role in the Underground Railroad, the northern Civil War defense system and early 20th century Philadelphia high society. Visitors soak in scenic views of the Delaware River bordering downtown from vantage points all over the estate.
Seasonal events also utilize the ornate mansion interior, grand veranda, and sloping lawns for experiences like outdoor jazz concerts or fairy tale affairs that add to the magical ambiance. With striking architecture, educational encounters and sweeping waterfront access, Glen Foerd transports couples back through iconic periods of history in thoroughly romantic fashion.
Listen To Live Jazz At South
Name and Location: Listen To Live Jazz At South
History and Significance: Opened in 2009 just south of Philadelphia in Graduate Hospital, South jazz club transports guests to 1960s speakeasies through quality hand-crafted cocktails, extensive vinyl collections and a made-for-intimate-shows space hosting local and internationally known jazz performers nightly on its stage graced by greats like McCoy Tyner.
What to Expect: Dim lighting sets off the moody vibe augmented by retro chairs and vests for wait staff while musicians may include students from nearby University of the Arts up to legends still carrying on early American musical innovations couples can cozy up to listen and admire.
Visitor Information: 600 South Street. Casual dress but mature crowd. Ticket prices vary by artist/show. Limited seating so reservations strongly advised via website. Full dinner menu and drinks require ticket minimum per person ages 21 and up.
On the lively south side of Philadelphia, a restaurant and jazz club dubbed South Jazz Kitchen heats up the local music scene with smooth sounds perfect for sophisticated nights out. The split-level underground venue masters ambiance with low lighting, brick walls, candle accents and white-clothed tables tightly clustered around the compact stage.
As rising talents and jazz greats like from across Philadelphia’s renowned creative community take the stage, the lounge-style seating fosters conversation between soulful sets. The menu provides well-matched dishes like honey fried chicken, Cajun jambalaya and coconut shrimp rising above standard performance venue grub.
Between the fiery sax solos, velvety vocals and vibey red room aglow from the neon marquee outside, South Jazz Kitchen hits the right notes for spending quality time over phenomenal live music and drinks.
Take A Sculpture Workshop
Name and Location: Take A Sculpture Workshop
History and Significance: Established over 25 years ago, Sculpture Gym operates studio spaces led by award-winning Philadelphia artist and educator Jacqueline Metz offering weekly group classes focused on developing technical skills and creative confidence across sculpture mediums, fostering fun and fulfilling experiences for artistic couples.
What to Expect: Build bonds while learning foundations like armatures and additive/subtractive techniques using clay, stone, wood to execute artistic ideas. Series workshops available but singles welcome too. All tools, gear & guidance supplied as you supportively grow skills together.
Visitor Information: North Philadelphia location at 2601 Studio Building A. Registration required 24 hours prior, $45 per person per 2 hour session. Parking on Factory Street behind studio. Beginner to advanced artists over 15 years old. Closed toe shoes mandatory.
For active couples seeking a touch of culture and creativity infused into their date nights, taking a hands-on sculpture workshop offers artistic adventure perfect for sharing. Venues like Sculpture Gym and The Clay Studio facilitate small group classes guiding students through various building methods to create meaningful 3D artworks.
Mediums like clay, plaster, stone, and wax each lend unique textures and communication styles to shape pieces bursting with personal symbolism. Following along with step-by-step instruction in intimate studio settings, couples gain insights into each other’s problem solving methods, attention to detail and stylistic choices watching their works evolve.
Whether crafting small decorative objects like vases or abstract sculptural designs, the therapeutic art form proves conducive to joking around, appreciating different perspectives and admiring final collaborative displays.
Walk Across The Spruce Street Harbor Park Footbridge
Name and Location: Walk Across The Spruce Street Harbor Park Footbridge
History and Significance: Temporarily installed each summer along Penn’s Landing near the Delaware River downtown, Spruce Street Harbor Park coopts an unused highway underpass to create a fun public park space featuring colorful hammocks, light gardens, floating barges, play areas and food spots – all connecting via an overwater footbridge.
What to Expect: Stroll across the wooden harbor bridge holding hands as boats drift below to take in sparkling skyline perspectives together. Claim swing seats with views, roast s’mores at the beach, play giant board games or just cuddle atop a breezy hammock after grabbing eats from on-site food trucks.
Visitor Information: 301 S. Columbus Blvd. Free to access. Open late May through early September from 11am-1am daily. Accessible entry points. Drinks permitted. Parking garages charge nominal rates nearby during busy weekends. Family friendly before 8pm.
Among Philadelphia’s numerous romantic trails and pathways, the Spruce Street Harbor Park pedestrian bridge stands out for its striking views. The brightly lit elevated footbridge connects Penn’s Landing Harbor Park to a waterfront pavilion on the Delaware Riverside, transforming an ordinary walk across busy Columbus Boulevard into a special moment 110 feet in the air.
Strolling across the bridge covered in twinkling string lights, couples take in panoramic vistas of the Ben Franklin bridge glittering against the night skyline as boats pass below. The bridge leads directly to the charming Blue Cross Riverrink for classic winter skating or Spruce Street Harbor Park’s hammocks, floating barges and garden park atmosphere during warmer months.
No matter the season, gazing out over the water and lights with unobstructed views of the skyline from the Spruce Street Harbor Park footbridge sets the scene for romance each step of the way.
Take A Sunset Helicopter Ride
Name and Location: Take A Sunset Helicopter Ride
History and Significance: Special helicopter tours like those offered by Xponential Flight Adventures provide unparalleled aerial views of Philadelphia landmarks aboard state-of-the-art aircraft piloted by highly experienced commercial helicopter pilots. Late afternoon timing allows capturing glittering skyline vistas illuminated against vibrant sunsets – a unique perspective together.
What to Expect: Smooth 20 minutes flights include headsets allowing couples to talk during exhilarating open door photo opportunities hovering 1000 feet viewing historic sites along the cobblestone streets of Old City out to the bright lights of Boathouse Row shining off the Schuylkill River at golden hour. Custom add-ons available.
Visitor Information: Treat as fine dining budget. Book minimum 5 days ahead online, nonrefundable. $545+ per couple. Brandywine helipad located 30 miles outside Philadelphia. DVD souvenir included. Weight restrictions. Not recommended for pregnancy/medical issues.
While on the ground Philly sightseeing offers plenty for couples, ascending high above the cityscape for a bird’s eye sunset tour makes for next-level romance. Lucky visitors can book an exclusive helicopter ride with Philly By Air that lifts off from Center City and soars over famous landmarks dramatically illuminated in golden hour light.
Cuddling close in luxury aircrafts with bird’s eye views of sites like the Liberty Bell Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art with the iconic Rocky steps and Lincoln Financial Field, affection comes easy amidst awe. Special occasion packages incorporating champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries enhance the over-the-top experience that could top the list of most memorable dates ever.
Catching a glowing Ben Franklin bridge, neon Rivers Casino and Boathouse Row’s Victorian boathouses all glistening amid fiery orange and pink cloud streaks creates the perfect scene for falling deeper in love over Philadelphia from breathtaking new heights.
Conclusion
From hip bohemian cafes to grand arched promenades to world-renowned cultural institutions, Philadelphia brings the electricity. The historic metropolis filled with charm, consummate hospitality and rustic urban beauty prides itself on enriching lives daily…and passionately.
The very cobblestone streets seem to whisper encouragements for holding hands and dreaming big as couples encounter America’s storied beginnings interwoven with contemporary cultural marvels. Whether planning an ambitious itinerary across museums and iconic landmarks or simply savoring an intimate bistro, Philly sets the tone for affection.