Organized Tours

Boat Tours

Known as the "Hidden River," the city-intersecting, tidal Schuylkill River doesn't have the span of the mighty Delaware -- but it does have some great sightseeing. Schuylkill Banks (tel. 215/222-6030; www.schuylkillbanks.org) offers two narrated boat tours, a 1-hour "Secrets of the Schuylkill Tour" that offers a thoroughly unique perspective on Philadelphia's evolution ($20 for adults; $15 for students and children 11 and under), and a 2 1/2-hour visit to Bartram's Garden which includes a meadow walk and an open-hour tour of the Bartram House ($25 for adults; $20 for students and children 11 and under). Hours vary.

Penn's Landing's the Spirit of Philadelphia  (tel. 866/394-8439) at the Great Plaza combines brunch, lunch, or dinner with a cruise on a 600-person passenger ship, fully climate-controlled, with two enclosed decks and two open-air decks. Reservations are suggested. Trips can be up to 3 hours and cost from $44 to $97. Popular among special-events planners and promgoers, the tour involves an enjoyably (ironically) cheesy show and, if you sign up, a filling meal.

Across the dock, the slightly shabbier Riverboat Queen  (tel. 215/923-2628) also offers cruises and dining.

May to October, the RiverLink  (tel. 215/925-LINK [5465]) provides a 10-minute interstate crossing from landings just outside the Independence Seaport Museum and the Adventure Aquarium. The ferry is large inside, and the views of the Philadelphia skyline are great. Departures from Penn's Landing are on the hour, from Camden on the half-hour, from 9am to 5pm daily. Round-trip fares are $7 for adults and $6 for children. Packages including admission to various Camden attractions are a good deal and are available at the Independence Seaport Museum and attractions along the Philadelphia or Camden waterfront.

Tip: The formerly popular Ride the Ducks land-to-water tours were discontinued in 2010, following an accident on the Delaware River.

Bus & Trolley Tours

Big Bus is a fleet of double-decker, British-style tour vehicles (tel. 866/324-4287 or 215/923-5008; www.bigbustours.com). Tours of historic areas, conducted by guides in the climate-controlled vehicles, leave from the visitor center at 5th and Market streets. The tours cost $27 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $10 for children.

Philadelphia Trolley Works and 76 Carriage Company (tel. 215/389-TOUR [8687]; www.phillytour.com) offers 90-minute tours of the historic area in trolley-style buses. Trolley passes valid for 24 hours are $27 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $10 for children 4 to 12. The trolleys pick up at 5th and Chestnut streets. Seasonal Fairmount trolley tours are $20 for adults and $13 for seniors and children. There's also a discount zoo/trolley combination pass: $38 for adults, $21 for children 4 to 12. Short horse-drawn carriage tours start at $30.

Horse & Carriage Tours

To get the feel of Philadelphia as it was (well, almost -- asphalt is a lot smoother than cobblestones), try a narrated horse-drawn carriage ride. Operated daily by the 76 Carriage Company , tours begin at 5th and Chestnut streets in front of Independence Hall. They run Monday through Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 6:30pm. Fares range from $30 for 15 minutes to $80 for an hour. Evening tours from 6:30 to 10:30pm are available by appointment; call for rates. A word to the historically wise: It's not uncommon for these guides to stretch the truth. If you do take a carriage ride, it's best to concentrate on the scenery you see -- as opposed to the stories you hear.

Walking Tours

We have a section of self-guided walking tours. If you'd rather follow a guide, however, top marks go to summertime Old City walkabouts hosted by the Colonial characters of Once Upon a Nation. April to October, Old Original Walking Tours of Philadelphia gives you an excellent 90-minute walking tour, for a mere $9. Year-round, the Independence Visitor Center and www.gophila.com have information about special-interest tours such as African-American Philadelphia, Jewish sights of Society Hill, cultural centers of Chinatown, underground railroad stops in Germantown, and delicious stands of the Italian Market. Oh, and there's Lights of Liberty, too.