Philadelphia Private Walking Tours

Philadelphia Tours and Experiences See what others overlook. Understand what others don't.

Colonial history meets an authentic urban vibe in Philadelphia, a former Quaker enclave that grew into the most important city in Colonial America.

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Philadelphia Private Walking Tours

Context Travel Philadelphia Tours

Philadelphia, a city steeped in history, is renowned for its pivotal role in the founding of the United States, hosting the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Its streets echo with the legacy of figures like Benjamin Franklin, William Penn, and the birth of American democracy. This rich historical backdrop sets the stage for Context's Philadelphia tours, where scholars and historians reveal the city's multifaceted past. Notably, Context Travel's headquarters is based right here in Philadelphia, providing a unique local perspective on the city's history.

Our flagship Philadelphia walking tour is our Philadelphia Colonial History Tour. This tour begins by exploring the city's layout and the visionary influence of William Penn, who not only founded Pennsylvania but also designed Philadelphia's grid system. Starting near the plaza-scale plan by Second Street, we'll see how Penn's design fostered commerce, trade, and immigration. As we traverse the historic core, we'll examine themes like Quakerism, religious tolerance, and open trade highlighted by buildings over 200 years old.

Depending on availability, we might visit historic homes, museums, and significant churches like Carpenter's Hall, Old St. Mary's, St. Peter's, and Independence Hall. Our narrative will cover Philadelphia's evolution through the colonial period, focusing on the rise of a wealthy merchant class and their impact on the city's social, architectural, and political landscape up to the American Revolution.

We conclude our tour at Headhouse Market in Society Hill, once a bustling trade center, now a lively farmer's market, providing a fitting end to our journey through Philadelphia's colonial history and its key sites in Old City.

By choosing Context for your Philadelphia tour, you're opting for an experience that goes beyond conventional tourism. You're stepping into a narrative crafted by those who live and breathe history, offering you a Philadelphia private walking tour that's both educational and profoundly engaging.
What Context Philadelphia Travelers Say
(4.81) 158 Reviews

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Charlene was a fantastic guide! She was friendly, personable, and clearly a subject matter expert. She personalized the tour based on what we were interested in. Great experience!
My wife and I had an absolutely delightful tour yesterday with Joella as we were given a perfect overview of the key historic sites around the Old City and City Center of Philadelphia! It was our first day of our week-long visit to this wonderful city, filled with history related to the founding of our republic. Joella immediately asked what our desires were for our tour so she could customize her plans accordingly. She was excited about sharing valuable insight about the places we visited and her tour was the perfect mix of walking, standing, and resting along the way during our three-hour tour. We were completely satisfied with her choices and would certainly recommend her walking tour to other visitors to Philadelphia who also want a tour that stands out among many available here in the City of Brotherly Love. One of the things that capped our excellent tour was the three of us sharing our reflections on some of the key sites Joella led us through, including how the historical events and "sides" of the political and moral issues of that time period are still reflected in many of today's world events. Thank you, Joella - and thank you Context!
Charlene was very knowledgeable, a great communicator and tailored our walking tour to our needs.
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