Philadelphia Art Tour: Explore Murals and Mosaics

Discover the hidden gems of Philadelphia’s South Philly neighborhood on an art walk. Explore stunning murals, mind-bending mosaics, and the incredible Magic Gardens.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Theater of Living Arts - Meet your guide outside this iconic local concert venue and hear how it has played such a huge role in the counterculture spirit of South Street

  • South Street - A vital commercial and artistic artery of South Philly, South Street has been at the forefront of this city’s counterculture scene for generations. Your guide will lead you past an array of locally-owned art galleries and shops, pointing out decorative facades and giving you fascinating morsels of history along the way

  • Da Vinci Art Alliance (DVAA) - This community-based art organization has been a staple in this neighborhood since the 1930’s. Today it supports local artists in the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities by offering exhibit space and grant funding. Guests can view its current exhibits while learning about its past efforts and future goals. Proceeds of your ticket will be donated to DVAA

  • Bella Vista - Throughout your tour, you’ll weave in and out of the streets and alleys of Bella Vista, the neighborhood surrounding the Italian Market and Magic Gardens. Here, you’ll see how Philadelphia’s first suburb has changed in the last 200+ years, including beautiful homes, gardens, and public art.

  • Queen Village - Queen Village is a charming neighborhood in Philadelphia known for its historic charm, cobblestone streets, and quaint atmosphere. Located just south of Center City, it offers a mix of historic row houses, trendy shops, cozy cafes, and vibrant community parks, making it a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.

  • Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - Zagar’s masterpiece, a once-barren abandoned lot on South Street transformed it into a mind-bending labyrinth of glass, tile, paint and almost everything else under the sun. This is something that must be seen to be believed, and you will be granted free admission into the Gardens at the end of this tour.

What's Included
  • View breathtaking hidden gems, and hear the story behind the art and the artists
  • A local expert guide who will lead you to iconic pieces of public art
  • Admission to the Philadelphia Magic Gardens after tour
  • A visit to the Davinci Art Alliance, a community-based art organization
  • A pleasant walk through one of Philly’s most diverse and eclectic communities
  • A donation to a local community art organization
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Additional food and drink
  • Not all locations listed are guaranteed stops
Additional Information

Philadelphia isn’t merely renowned for its role in American history - it also boasts an awe-inspiring array of public art, particularly in its vibrant South Philly area! This excursion will take you into the essence of the Queen Village and Bella Vista districts where you can discover remarkable and unexpected artworks, such as awe-inducing murals and perplexing mosaics. As you learn about the history behind the art you discover, you’ll comprehend how local art creators and their work are embraced and cherished by the communities they inhabit, and appreciate the amazing accessibility to art across a grand city like Philadelphia. After wandering through the street art and possibly a gallery, you’ll finish the tour at the extraordinary Magic Gardens, which hosts some of the most awe-inspiring art sculptures you’ll ever encounter. A portion from your ticket fee contributes to a regional organization that endorses city artists, enabling you to make a direct influence on the wonderful community highlighted in your tour!

Location
Theatre of The Living Arts
South Street
Meet outside the entrance of the Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA); 334 South St., Philadelphia, PA 19147
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(106 Ratings)
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Scottm76
Jul 21, 2024
Great local art tour! - Chuck was fantastic! Very personable and knowledgeable! We enjoyed that he included some history and general philly knowledge as well. Would DEFINITELY do another tour with him!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janet_m
Jul 14, 2024
Great tour - Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Perfect mix of art and local stores. Awesome tour. I would definitely do it again!
Review provided by Viator
K2389oojeanl
Jul 1, 2024
Fun and informative - Heather was very knowledgeable about the murals she showed us, which were colorful and diverse. She was thoughtful about pace and finding shade. The bonus was twofold: visiting the DaVinci Art Alliance and knowing that a portion of our fee would support local art nonprofits.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shamila_c
Jun 24, 2024
Great informative and inspiring tour - I loved the tour through SouthPhilly. It’s nice to get to know this part of the city with a local guide. I’ve been to places I normally wouldn’t find on my own. The art is so inspiring. It’s an example for other cities to incorporate art to flourish. Loved the history!
Review provided by Viator
A3537eklaurad
Jun 21, 2024
Amazing Tour! Thanks Heather! - This was an amazing tour! We had Heather as our guide and she did a fantastic job and was so well informed. We even got to meet an artist along the way! Great experience and would highly recommend it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W6588fxkarenj
Jun 17, 2024
History in the Heat - David, our tour guide, was great. Very pleasant and accommodating as well as very knowledge. It was a very hot day and our party included some people who were impacted a lot by this. He did a wonderful job of making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Docmmh
Jun 17, 2024
A fun filled fabulous tour of the mural arts in and around South Street; Carla was an excellent and informative guide!!! - Carla was a super guide, very knowledgeable and friendly! Definitely recommend this tour for friends and family!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert_s
Jul 30, 2024
very knowledgeable guide, great information - The tour guide was quite knowledgeable and gave us very thorough information on the sites we visited, that truly increased our appreciation and understanding of what we were looking at. My only criticism is that he ran a bit over what I believe was the advertised time frame.
Review provided by Viator
Regina_l
Jun 26, 2024
Not just murals. - Chuck did a great job with a fairly motley crew :). I thought we were going to look at and learn about murals, and we did some of that, but we also went to some local shops that sold local art, a thrift store, and more. I learned more about the neighborhood than I was expecting.
Review provided by Viator
Richardnr1895qu
Jun 26, 2024
Walking Tour of the Art of South Street - The wall art, murals and mosaics, as well as the Philadelphia Magic Garden were fascinating and beautiful. Our tour guide, Heather D, was very knowledgeable and personable. It would have been perfect if not for the 95-degree weather, which was very enervating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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