Things to Do in Philly

Reading Terminal Market is one of America’s oldest and largest public markets, but statistics are only the appetizer. More than 80 independent merchants fill this Center City landmark with roast pork, Pennsylvania Dutch baked goods, fresh produce, seafood, spices, flowers, handmade gifts and enough dessert to turn “just looking” into a complete fiction.

The market makes an excellent lunch stop before heading to Old City for Philly Crawling’s Liberty Pub Crawl. Our daily 2-hour 15-minute tour visits four local pubs while an expert guide shares the hidden and hilarious stories of colonial rebels, revolutionary troublemakers and the role taverns played in Philadelphia history. Consider it a balanced Philly itinerary: roast pork in the afternoon, rebellious Founding Fathers with a drink later.

In 2026, USA Today 10Best readers voted Reading Terminal Market the Best Public Market in America. The trophy is nice, but the real proof arrives when you walk through the door and immediately need a lunch strategy.

How a Railroad Gave Philadelphia a Market

Philadelphia had a thriving public-market culture long before Reading Terminal opened. Early outdoor stalls lined High Street, now Market Street. By 1859, the city had removed those street markets, and the Farmers’ Market and Franklin Market operated in buildings near 12th and Market Streets.

Then the railroad came calling. In 1890, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company bought the block for a new terminal. The merchants refused to disappear quietly, so the railroad agreed to build them a new market beneath the train shed and tracks. Reading Terminal Market opened on February 22, 1893, with trains rumbling above, cold storage below and a grid of aisles inspired by Philadelphia’s street plan.

The trains stopped using the terminal in 1984, but the market kept going. That feels appropriately Philly. The locomotive can leave. Lunch stays.

What to Eat at Reading Terminal Market

Your first lap is reconnaissance. Your second lap is lunch. If you somehow leave without dessert, the market cannot be held responsible.

1. Start with DiNic’s roast pork. The classic combination of tender roast pork, sharp provolone and broccoli rabe delivers a proper introduction to one of Philadelphia’s great sandwiches. The cheesesteak gets the billboards, but roast pork has plenty of devoted fans. Our guide to Philly’s signature sandwiches explains why choosing only one is an unreasonable burden.
2. Grab a hand-rolled pretzel at Miller’s Twist. These soft, butter-dipped Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels come together in full view, which turns waiting for a snack into dinner theater with dough.
3. Order breakfast or lunch at Dutch Eating Place. This counter serves Pennsylvania Dutch favorites, including blueberry pancakes, chicken pot pie and warm apple dumplings. Breakfast followed by dessert disguised as fruit is a respected vacation tradition.
4. Make room for something beyond the Philly classics. The merchant directory includes Caribbean, Cajun, Filipino, Greek, Indian-Pakistani, Jewish deli, Middle Eastern, Thai and other options. A group can arrive with five different cravings and leave without holding a committee meeting.
5. Finish with Bassetts or Termini Brothers. Bassetts Ice Cream, established in 1861, became the first merchant to sign a Reading Terminal Market lease in 1892 and remains family-owned. Termini Brothers brings the cannoli, cookies and Sicilian pastries. This is not an either-or situation unless you have shown up tragically full.

It Is More Than a Giant Lunch Counter

Prepared food earns plenty of attention, but Reading Terminal remains a working public market. Shoppers come for produce, meat, poultry, seafood, cheese, spices, coffee, flowers and pantry goods. Other merchants sell books, crafts, clothing, jewelry and Philadelphia gifts.

Take time to wander the aisles instead of racing from sandwich to dessert. A visit that begins with a pretzel can end with olive oil, a cookbook and a bouquet. The market has range.

Plan Your Visit

Reading Terminal Market is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is free. Individual merchant hours vary, so check the official hours and holiday schedule before building your entire day around one specific counter. Pennsylvania Dutch merchants are closed on Sundays, an important detail when a warm pretzel or apple dumpling has become emotionally necessary.

Give yourself at least 60 to 90 minutes to browse and eat. Arriving before the main lunch rush gives you more room to study the options before hunger begins making executive decisions. The market’s online merchant map also helps, although following your nose remains a highly effective navigation system.

Merchants accept cash, major credit cards and Reading Terminal Market gift cards. Digital-payment options vary by stand. Seating is available in the market, but popular lunch periods can turn finding a table into a low-stakes competitive sport.

Getting There and Parking

The market is at 1136 Arch Street, beside the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Jefferson Station connects directly to the complex, and the 11th Street stop on the Market-Frankford Line is one block away.

Drivers can use two partner garages for discounted two-hour parking after spending at least $10 in the market and getting validation. The market lists parking at the Hilton Garden Inn Garage at 11th and Arch Streets and the Parkway Garage at 12th and Filbert Streets. Check the official directions and parking page for current rates before you go.

Come Hungry, Leave Happy

Reading Terminal Market combines more than 130 years of Philadelphia history with one of the city’s best collections of food under a single roof. Its historic aisles remain current, its local character includes flavors from around the world, and its crowds confirm that Philadelphia still loves a good market.

Make a lap, order boldly and save room for dessert. Then continue the Philadelphia history lesson with drinks on Philly Crawling’s Liberty Pub Crawl in Old City. We will handle the stories and the route. You just need to arrive ready to laugh, learn and raise a glass.