We went on the holly jolly founding footsteps tour. This was by far the best tour I have ever been…read moreon. It was an absolute blast if you like to party. We did this as a girls night now and can't wait until next year. We stopped at amazing places and tour guide and musician were great! Shoutout to Warren and John.

Where to begin? It's Holiday 2024, and a bunch of videos on social media are showing how fun this…read moretrolley tour is. Super excited and filled with festive joy, we walk into Craft Hall around 8:20 pm for our 9 pm tour. We brought our BYOB, and the young lady at the door takes our liquor while we wait for our tour time. We check in with an older gentleman who stated we had to wait around to get the included pizza in the reserved session because it was for the 8:30 pm tour. He'll let the 9:00 pm tour know when they're up. Still excited for the experience, we waited for our tour time to be called for the pizza, thinking they would bring out fresh, hot pizza--but no, no, no, that was wishful thinking. The same pizza was kept for our tour time, and it did not look appetizing at all. Not sure if it was just cheese pizza, but we decided not to even find out. It looks like the trolley tour had a partnership with Craft Hall, and they had a small menu where you could order food, but we were already disappointed by the looks and presentation of the pizza. Unfortunately, when it was time for us to get on the trolley, it was cold and started to rain. We were the first ones by the trolley, ready to get on, but were stopped by the host/organizer and told to wait outside so they could get the bigger groups on first. The groups of twos, like us, had to run on after. We ended up being almost last, even though we were first in line. That was not okay. Finally, we're on the trolley. Yayyy! The first part of the experience wasn't pleasant, but the guy singing and his personality were nice. We snagged a seat at the front and tried to get back in the holiday spirit. The trolley drove and drove, and the first stop was to briefly see City Hall's Christmas Tree. Some people got off the trolley to check it out. Then, the trolley drove and drove again until we got off on a corner to walk around and see the Smedley Street Christmas Lights, which were nice. We got back on and rode through The Miracle on South 13th Street. Unfortunately, the trolley's windows were very foggy, so we weren't really able to enjoy the decorations at that point. The execution of this tour wasn't the best experience from start to finish. The only thing that was truly enjoyable was singing along with the singer. The tour could've been more organized and unique to the different Christmas festivities around Philly.

After having it on my list for a while, I finally took a tour of the Masonic Temple with my husband…read moreand some friends yesterday. It was worth waiting for. Right across from the Philadelphia City Hall, the Masonic Temple serves as the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. It's a huge building and - wow - is it maximalist! Our tour was a little over an hour, and I recommend booking ahead (a group walked in just in front of us and hoped to buy tickets for the tour about to start, only to learn that it was sold out). Our tour guide was knowledgable (but told us when she didn't know the answer to a question because the Masons are secretive and keep a lot of facts about what occurs in the Lodge to themselves). The architecture is really stunning and there's so much to see: incredible plasterwork, grand staircases, murals, and more! Photography without flash is allowed throughout the tour, and I took about a million photographs. The Temple has a fascinating history, and the architecture and decor made my jaw drop a few times. Definitely worth visiting if you live in or are visiting Philadelphia.

A beautiful building that houses the leadership offices of the Grand Lodge of PA Freemasonry. Tours…read moreare available, but need to be scheduled in advance. Beautiful lodge rooms, hallways, artwork and fraternal historical artifacts. A landmark historical building well-worth the visit. Certainly a must-see if you are a member of this ancient and honorable fraternity, as are both my son and I.

It was an absolutely freezing December day but we were enjoying every minute. Our guide was…read moreinteresting, engaging and charming. Our family group was ages 19-85 and we all loved it. Totally recommend!

Amazing tour through Philly sharing the history, struggle and eventual Pride of Philly…read more With our private tour through our employer we moved up from a walking tour to a trolley tour going through Philly and Central City jamming out to songs and artists that are Allies of the Queer Community. I would highly encourage everyone to check out this great company that continues to shed light on the sometimes forgotten history but actually should SHINE and RING out loud about what makes the city and the community great.

We took the Grim Philly daytime tour, called Revolution and Founding Fathers. Our tour guide was…read moreJOSH. It was a two hour walking and learning history tour in downtown historic Philadelphia near Independence Hall. It was like going to a theater show. The guide presented history with energy, enthusiasm and excitement. It felt like he was describing his close friends when he was talking. The tour was very informative and a lot of fun. Experiencing the tour in historic Philadelphia with Josh brought the experience into 4D, like watching an exciting, enthralling movie. Josh asked us questions and engaged the audience throughout the tour. A+++.

Tour was great!! Part history, part ghost story, funny and thoroughly entertaining all the way…read morethrough. I think a lot of it had to do with our tour guide, Ted. He was fantastic, always made sure everyone was having a great time, and was very knowledgeable about all things Philly historical. Highly recommended!

This is a fantastic way to spend an evening, taking in the history of not just Philadelphia, and…read morenot just Pennsylvania, but the birth of the United States of America. This is where it all happened. Bear in mind, my review is written based upon our visit to Philadelphia and our having taken this tour package on September 1, 2018. The meal at City Tavern was very good. We were seated at tables downstairs, and the room size was perfect for our group. The actors and actresses had ample room to carry on with their dialogue and fun while we ate. From the City Tavern we walked (via our "tour guide" John Dunlap) over to Independence Hall. It was just getting dark when we arrived and the place was absolutely beautiful. I am also posting photos, which include some taken outside of Independence Hall, before and after we were taken inside the building for a private tour, and a peek into a vital point in our nation's history... dare I say, the world's history(??). The package is well worth the cost, as it is filled with many different treats and available points of history being presented. I would especially recommend this for families, and it is equally applicable to couples, singles, young and old! Go and support these fine folk who do a magnificent job, putting on an outstanding display of a peek into our history.

Booked this tour to learn the history face to face. Tour begins in Independence Hall Visitors…read moreCenter. Mike walk our group to the City Tavern from there. On our way we met impersonator of the Dunlap and fun begun. During the dinner which served by servers "from 1700's" there was more interactions, we "learned " old Irish song,etc.. After dark we returned into Independence Hall , we had tour of it, watched "debate" about Declaration of Independence. After the tour Mike told us about charity work of the Company. Very impressive. Before we said goodbye everyone received copy of Declaration of Independence. Check them out!!! Lots of fun and help for a good cause, what can be better! !!

Was expecting a tour of the historical city... got a lecture on Adams and Jefferson. It was slow -…read moreand disappointing. We had to ask questions to get the guide back on track. Finally gave the tour guide a tip just to stop the pain and went and explored on our own. Such a waste of time and money. As a travel agent I will not recommend this company.

Had such a wonderful time getting a tour with David! The weather played no factor what so ever,…read moredespite the frosty air, David took us on a great walking tour! We started out at the Independence visiting center, and walked throughout the old city! David gave us a great insight and look into way things were of our founding fathers! One of the best things of the tour was going into Christ Church and sitting in the the very bench the Gen. George Washington (1st president) sat in! This tour was fantastic, and David is very knowledgeable of his history! He answers your questions and is very patient! Would recommend this tour over and over again

Excellent walking tour of Philadelphia. We chose the Colonial Philadelphia tour. The tour guide,…read moreReid Addis, is an architect. Lots of architectural trivia, but lots of history as well, and fun facts. Very entertaining. Very knowledgeable. Comprehensive. Will definitely book another one of these tours soon.

From the owner: If you only have two to three hours in Philadelphia, spend it getting to know this historic city…read morethrough an architectural walking tour by phillyPHAT. We take your family and friends through a memorable Philadelphia sightseeing trip and a fun historic and architectural outing. We offer organized and thought-provoking Philadelphia walking tours, both public and private. Experience our historic, World Heritage city through the eyes of an architect. "Great buildings and monuments give a city the illusion of being static and timeless. But cities are best seen in movement, in the everyday life of their people, and in the sinews and connective tissue that hold the organism together. Walking is what makes a city livable and, above all, pleasurable. That is the way to survive a city, whether you are a resident or a visitor." Ben Wilson in his book Metropolis Every building in Philadelphia has a story to tell, from the materials, technology, and styles favored when it was constructed, to the people who designed, built, lived and worked there. Events of historic proportion take place in and around buildings as well. Come with me on this journey to discover all the secrets each building on our tour is waiting to tell us.

This incredibly boring tour was a waste of money and time. The tour guide spent the whole time…read moretrying to be funny. She was not. Usually a ghost tour will attempt spookiness and at the very least give some good history or stories about people of the area. We got very little history and the stories about ghosts were told as punchlines. Not spooky or entertaining at all.

This Tour was both a nice after dinner walk, and a great way to delve into stories in Philadelphias…read morehistoric district. It wasn't scary even for the kids in the group. But the guide Ellis kept them engaged by letting them look for EVP activity while on the tour. Ellis was a very engaging speaker, who clearly loves history. Great tour 100% recommended by my family.

Hands down, THE BEST Halloween attraction I've been to! Anyone can run around w/ a chainsaw, which…read morebtw is annoying, not scary. The devil (literally) is in the details. The level of artistry was impressive & went way beyond cheap jump scares. The staff NEVER broke character, from roller skating zombies, to fortune tellers, to mafiosos, no one was phoning it in. The walk thru of attractions was guided, but not rushed, & allowed just enough recovery time in between haunts. Each theme was different, from oceanic scares to a haunted ice cream truck. I found myself paying attention to the elaborate displays instead of just being shoved thru a dark corridor like cattle as people grab at you. The prison backdrop lends it's own level of creepiness, peering into dark cells & exam rooms w/ only moonlight to illuminate the stone walls. It inspired us to take the prison tour, which we were glad was available since we were unable to return during day hours. The Speakeasy/Al Capone's Cell was the highlight. Having a drink (even tho it was barely a drink) inside the cells being entertained by singers & performers was a unique experience. We initially thought, 2 hours max & grumbled at the cost. Turns out, we spent the entire night & had so much fun we bought extras. VIP really only gets you past the long a** line out front, but entry into the speakeasy allows an interaction w/ the players well worth the additional cost. We stayed until the very last performance, literally the last 2 people to exit the attraction. At no point did staff make us feel we overstayed. Clearly the organizers gained control over mishaps from last year, as our experience was nothing like the reviews that almost discouraged us from attending. If what you enjoy is a bunch of screaming teens who just want to push past you in an overly orchestrated frenzy, this is NOT the event for you! It is not overly scary or gory. It is a very professional, artistic, horror carnival that has a little something for everyone- history, some scares, & performance art.

Every year it is getting better and better. I went in with the thought that if it is not better, I…read moream not going to return. This year they really did well. I enjoyed going from one haunted attraction to another. In the past few years I felt like they were going in the direction of a hangout and drinking and less haunted attractions. But, this year they evened it out. It was a great. There was two sections to hang out and have a drink. A great way to spend your time while waiting for lines or a way to calm your nerves. I enjoyed having one haunted house after another. The special effects and the decor for the houses really were kicked up a notch this year, 2025. Ordering tickets online is very easy, and I always buy the parking pass for the zoo because it is convenient. The pricing is and can be pricy, but it is a fundraiser. So I do not really complain about it. The bus drivers were great and engaging both to there and back. I enjoyed the stories and the music. Overall this has always been my favorite haunted attraction in Philly. It really never fails. I highly recommend taking a tour outside of the Halloween time frame. I have done one of them before and loved it.

12/10 would recommend…read more This was a pleasant surprise on a random day in Philly. I've always been a history nerd (even tho I don't remember half the things I'm learning). Our host provided so much history in not only the background of the musical/artistry world but Philly as well. Facts, details and PEOPLE you never knew existed or was from the place of brotherly love! While he speaks you get to view a video of artist you grew up with and learned to love! So much information ANDDD he stops at places we wanted to visit while there too. The liberty bell, Rocky stairs and what should be historical areas around downtown! The Bus is equipped with top quality A/C, a bathroom, very clean and souvenirs are available for purchase. Bonus: there is a big surprise at the end. I won't give it away but trust me you don't want to miss out!

My wife and daughter wanted to do this. I was ambivalent, but once we started moving, I was so…read moreglad we did this. The air-conditioned bus with bathroom facilities, and an extremely knowledgeable and entertaining driver made this an amazing experience. "The Funky Man" as he told us to call him, gave us a history of Philadelphia's Blues, Soul, Jazz, Gospel, Pop, Rock, and Rap influences throughout the years. We had a couple of stops where we left the bus and were able to view Philly's walk of fame, the Rocky statue and the famous steps (which I opted out of racing up to the top). Along the way we saw many other non-musical sights as well (Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, etc.) Fun facts, an engaging driver, and video clips on the bus along the way made this the highlight of our trip to this wonderful city. (Of course, a visit to Pat's cheesesteak stand was great also, but that's another review.)