Exploring Philadelphia the sustainable way

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau is encouraging visitors to get walking or pedalling and go local, with sustainable tours in the city.

Reduce your impact on the environment and support local businesses, restaurants and purveyors with responsible experiences perfect for adding onto any Philadelphia itinerary.

Caffeinate with care

Start with a cup of coffee from La Colombe’s flagship Fishtown café. The Philadelphia-founded and community-focused coffee company has a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly practices, including direct sourcing and sustainable packaging. Other local roasters with neighborhood coffeshops include Reanimator, Herman’s, Ultimo, and Elixr.

Stroll through Philadelphia’s distinct neighborhoods

Explore one of the most walkable downtowns in the nation on your own two feet, instead of using rideshare or hailing a cab, with a self-guided adventure through multicultural communities. To learn more about the history of each neighborhood, join one of Philly Tour Hub’s many different walking tours, including one that guides you through the mosaic-lined streets of South Philadelphia and into the Italian Market, where you can shop at a mix of independent vendors representing a variety of global cuisines and cultures.

Bike your way through the city

Rent a bike from one of over 140 Indego bike share stations around the city and pedal through neighborhoods or along the Schuylkill River Trail, stopping for a choose-your-own adventure of open-air photo ops along the way. TIP: Consult our guide to biking in Philadelphia for tips and tricks for exploring the city on two wheels, including suggested bike trails and routes.

Leave no trace as you explore Philadelphia’s parks

The preservation of natural resources is a priority in Philadelphia, which is home to over 10,000 acres of parks, squares, and recreation sites that establishes the urban park system as one of the world’s largest. This large assemblage of green space includes the 2,000+ acre Fairmount Park, which lines the banks of the Schuylkill River and features miles of biking, walking, and hiking trails and dozens of picnic-perfect lawns. Continue to northwest Philadelphia to navigate over 50 miles (80 km) of rustic trails by foot or by bike in the 1,800-acre Wissahickon Valley Park.

Refuel with plant-based plates

Those who prefer a vegetarian, vegan or plant-based diet will find no shortage of options around Philadelphia, such as the 100% plant-based eateries owned by woman restaurateur Nicole Marquis, including HipCityVeg, Bar Bombón and Charlie Was a Sinner. Other plant-based options include the vegan versions of breakfast staples served at the intimate South Philadelphia diner, The Tasty, or the falafel sandwiches, salads and tahini shakes at Goldie.

Shop for tax-free clothes, for the good of the planet and local communities

Home to tax-free shopping on clothes and shoes, Philadelphia is a shopper’s delight, and choosing to buy from locally owned businesses helps support our city’s diverse communities. Shop everyday styles and outdoor essentials made with ethically sourced materials from United By Blue in Old City or University City. For every product sold, the Philadelphia-based apparel company removes one pound of trash from the earth’s waterways. Venture to Philadelphia’s Garden District, Chestnut Hill, where you will find over 30 independent boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and other independent businesses that were approved as green businesses in 2020. Other shopping hotspots filled with independent businesses include Old City, Northern Liberties, Fishtown, and Manayunk.

Sip sustainable suds at craft breweries

Enjoy craft beer from Pennsylvania’s first Certified B Corporation brewery, Triple Bottom Brewing Company. The Spring Arts brewery is powered by renewable energy and is a fair chance employer, providing job opportunities to those who have overcome incarceration or homelessness. Triple Bottom also sends spent grain from their brews to local composters and cows. For more craft beer with a sustainable spin, visit Yards Brewing Company, also found along Spring Garden Street. Philadelphia’s original craft brewery was also the first brewery in Pennsylvania to be 100% wind-powered, and now also features solar panels placed on the roof of their 70,000-square-foot brewery and taproom.