How to Spend 6 Hours in Philadelphia: The Mint, Chinatown and the Rail Park
Updated October 3, 2026
Six hours in Philadelphia lets you string together Franklin Square, the coin presses of the US Mint, the painted Friendship Gate, a bowl of hand-pulled noodles and a walk on an old railroad viaduct turned into a park.
North of Market Street, between Independence Mall and Broad Street, lies a cluster of sights that most visitors miss. Begin in a restored colonial square with a carousel, then watch the presses where much of the country's pocket change is struck. Cross into Chinatown under its ornate gate, slurp noodles stretched by hand in front of you, and finish on a stretch of elevated railroad that has been turned into a park with swings and skyline views. The route is free apart from lunch and any carousel or mini golf tickets, needs no booking, and works best on a weekday, when the Mint is open.
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The 6 hour plan, stop by stop
Stops and travel: 2 hr 48 min to 4 hr 13 min of 6 hours
Laid out in 1682 as one of William Penn's five original squares, this park was neglected for decades before a 2006 restoration brought back its 1838 marble fountain and added family attractions. A carousel decorated with Philadelphia landmarks spins year round, the mini golf course winds past models of the Liberty Bell and Boathouse Row, and the SquareBurger stand sells burgers and shakes. Entry to the square is free, with separate tickets for rides and golf.
Tip: Order a Butterscotch Krimpet shake at SquareBurger, made with the beloved local snack cake, and sit by the fountain.
- Time here
- 25 to 40 min
- Website
- historicphiladelphia.org
NaviTime to head out from Franklin Square for United States Mint. It's a 6 minute walk if you leave now. Here's the link
The first national mint opened in Philadelphia in 1792, a few blocks from this building, which is the fourth to hold the operation. A free self-guided tour leads along a gallery forty feet above the factory floor, where you can watch blanks being stamped into coins when production is running. Exhibits include the first coining press and Peter, the eagle who reportedly lived at the original mint. Tours need no booking and run on weekdays, plus Saturdays in summer, and they are running again after a spring 2026 entrance renovation.
Tip: Bring government photo ID for the security check, and leave food and drink behind because they are not allowed inside.
- Time here
- 40 min to 1 hr 15 min
- Website
- usmint.gov
NaviTime to head out from United States Mint for Chinatown Friendship Gate. It's a 12 minute walk if you leave now. Here's the link
This ornate archway, about forty feet tall, was built in 1984 by artisans from Tianjin, Philadelphia's sister city in China, and it was one of the first authentic Chinese gates built in the United States. Painted tiles, dragons and phoenixes in brilliant colors decorate its roofs, and the inscription reads Philadelphia Chinatown. It marks the heart of a neighborhood that dates back to a laundry opened in the 1870s.
Tip: Walk under the gate and up the block to see the colorful murals on the side walls of nearby buildings.
- Time here
- 10 to 15 min
- Website
- visitphilly.com
NaviTime to head out from Chinatown Friendship Gate for Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House. It's a 4 minute walk if you leave now. Here's the link
Behind a simple storefront, cooks stretch, slap and fold dough into long strands, and the noodles arrive in steaming bowls of beef broth seasoned with chili oil and herbs. The style comes from Lanzhou in northwest China, and the shop has become one of the most loved casual meals in Chinatown, with shaved noodles and pork dumplings among the favorites. It serves lunch and dinner every day.
Tip: Ask for the noodles in a thicker cut, which hold up better in the beef soup, and add a plate of dumplings.
- Time here
- 35 to 50 min
- Website
- nanzhounoodlehouse.com
NaviTime to head out from Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House for The Rail Park. It's an 11 minute walk if you leave now. Here's the link
Opened in 2018 on a curving stretch of the old Reading Railroad viaduct, this quarter mile elevated park offers native plantings, oversized bench swings and wide views over the Callowhill neighborhood to the skyline. It is the first phase of a planned three mile route along the former rail line. Murals and public art line the way, and entry costs nothing.
Tip: Head to the swings at the western end for a moment of calm with the Center City towers rising behind them.
- Time here
- 25 to 40 min
- Website
- therailpark.org
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