Unique and Affordable Date Ideas in Philadelphia

We are all familiar with the typical haunts of Philadelphia: the Art Museum, Love Park, Rittenhouse Square. But what do you do once these are all checked off your list? While there seems to be endless possibilities in a city like Philadelphia, planning a date—let alone affording one—can be a daunting endeavor. Whether a first date or a new adventure with your boo, whip out this list the next time you want to go out this month!

Discover the world of the Philadelphia Magic Gardens

Get lost in the treasures and secrets of Isaiah Zagar’s whimsical gift to Philadelphia. Located on South Street, Zagar transformed a vacant lot into a mixed media mosaic containing twists, turns, and endless surprises. Play I Spy or discover your favorite element among the tiles, bottles, bicycle wheels and repurposed objects for a few hours of fun. Offering a student discount with ID, as well as general tickets for just $10, this slice of paradise offers excitement as well as rich history of artists and activists in Philadelphia that dedicated themselves to making the streets beautiful with their folk art. After your visit, stroll right down South Street for scattered mosaics and more discovery. Maybe even stop at Jim’s Steaks for the best cheesesteak in the city. (Sure, “best cheesesteak” is a hot debate, but let’s not argue about Pat’s and Gino’s—this list is for you to try something new!)

Waste away the day away (into the night) at Spruce Street Harbor Park

Swing in a hammock under dripping colored lights along the waterfront with a beer in hand. Spruce Street Harbor Park, open until the end of September, features food trucks, a beer pier, and oversized lawn games all surrounded by hammocks. If the hammocks are all occupied? Snuggle up at the beer pier in nets that overhang the river with a perfect view of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Check the schedule online to catch free live music too! I love this location, because you can choose be part of the action without spending a dime.

Explore Asian culture at the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden

Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best Hidden Tourist Attraction,” the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden puts you on a cultural island outside of the city and is an experience unlike any other in Philadelphia. While the spring brings incredible cherry blossoms to the 1.2-acre landscape, autumn paints the trees in equally picturesque colors. Peek into a real Japanese tea house, but don’t forget to remove your shoes! Shofuso is the perfect leisure activity to bask in natural beauty and take a break from city life for a bit. Student discounts offered here as well.

Picnic on Belmont Plateau

Arguably the most affordable option on this list while still being incredibly romantic, is a picnic in Fairmount park! Wow your date with your creative choice at the top of the park overlooking the city while you lounge. Lay a blanket under the tree on Belmont Plateau with the perfect view of the Philadelphia skyline. Bring your favorite food, a refreshing beverage, a frisbee, your camera, and maybe even paint supplies to fully enjoy and capture the vista for your memories. Don’t forget bugspray and/or sunglasses! Personal note—I highly suggest seeing the skyline from this vantage point at least once in your lifetime.

Kittens and coffee at Kawaii Kitty Café

Spend an hour or two surrounded by playful kittens for just $11—an admission price that is directly donated to care for the cats! “Kawaii” translates directly to “cute, pretty, charming, dear, and pet” and has inspired an entire culture in Tokyo of cute, fluffy, and adorable things and images. This café offers hour-long reservations to play with their cuddly cats and hang in the cat lounge. Looking for a longer date? Stick around for a coffee and a snack and sit in front of the full-length windows to continue to watch the kittens play. Anyone over the age of 5 can participate with adult supervision, and this great café also offers adoption services if you fall in love!

Be amazed at medical oddities in the Mutter Museum.

This is the most unusual of my suggestions and definitely requires a strong stomach. Calling all dark tourists, curious people, and those with a taste for uncomfortable science! The Mutter Museum is a creepy attraction filled with anatomical models, specimens, and medical instruments both old and modern, to give visitors “an understanding of the history of diagnosis and treatment of disease.” A short description like this cannot do the museum justice in all that it holds—check out the website above if you’re interested. A parting tip from my boyfriend and I if you decide to try it out: eat lunch BEFORE you go!

Drink next to the heart of America at the Independence Beer Garden.

Located on Independence Mall, the Independence Beer Garden is a great cove for casual outdoor drinking. While this can get pricey if you are a beer-lover, its location is perfect for combining with free tours of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, so your date doesn’t have to end so soon. Do historical sites differently—sip and talk until it’s time to step out and see the sights!