The Philadelphia Museum of Art features over 240,000 objects filled with treasures spanning across continents and cultures, drawn from a collection of more than 400,000 works of art like prints, drawings and photographs. The huge stone edifice of the museum, supported by majestic Doric columns, looks over the Schuylkill River. Scale the steps made famous in the 'Rocky' movies.

Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) can best be described as—a large, square space filled with ideas and beauty. Past shows have included retrospectives of Agnes Martin, Robert Morris, Cindy Sherman, Robert Mapplethorpe, Paul Thek and Peter Campus. There's no permanent collection, so check ahead about the current schedule. From July 1, 2008 ICA has become free to all visitors.

Established in 2009 with a view to promote and encourage contemporary photography, the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center is one of the best places in the city to learn about photography and check out exciting new talent. The center conducts various workshops and educational programs for budding photographers at all levels. Apart from this, the center also hosts numerous photography events throughout the year like the annual Philly Photo Day, which draws huge participation from the general public. The center's gallery hosts exhibitions by upcoming talent and established names alike. Check website for upcoming events and more.