Rittenhouse Square Park

Address: Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States

Website: https://rittenhousesquare.org/

Hours: Public park - open daily

Admission: Free

Rittenhouse Square is a public park and neighborhood plaza in Center City Philadelphia, one of the five public squares laid out in William Penn’s original plan for the city in 1682.

The square functions as a compact urban park with paved paths, lawns, trees and benches and is a focal point for the surrounding neighborhood of shops, restaurants and galleries. People come for short visits, lunch breaks, dog walking and neighborhood events and there is a seasonal farmers market on site on weekends.

Originally laid out as Southwest Square in the colonial plan, it was later renamed for the American astronomer David Rittenhouse in the 19th century; the park and surrounding district developed as a residential and cultural enclave through the 1800s and 1900s.

The park sits in Center City Philadelphia in the Rittenhouse neighborhood, surrounded by dense urban blocks and short walking distance from commercial corridors and transit connections.

• Best time to visit: The small landscaped square hosts a year-round mix of park users, local events, and a seasonal farmers market on weekends.
• Access note: Located in a dense commercial and residential district, on-street parking is limited so public transit or walking is often easier.

Rittenhouse Square sits in Center City Philadelphia. Main transit options: SEPTA Broad Street Line to Walnut-Locust or PATCO to 15th-16th; multiple bus routes also serve the area. The square is a short walk from 19th Street and Rittenhouse Avenue intersections.

• Visit on weekdays or early mornings to see more neighbourhood life and quieter benches.
• Walk the square's perimeter to see a variety of public sculptures and good café terraces.
• Check the Friends of Rittenhouse Square website for weekend markets and special events.