Best Team Building Activities: Philadelphia Insider’s Guide
When it comes to team building activities, Philadelphia, PA is where it’s at! Philly is known for its vibrant neighborhoods and rich history, and it’s the ultimate destination for team bonding.
Philadelphia’s diversity makes for a fantastic community for visiting businesses. We have major pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk and Johnson & Johnson, a huge banking presence, and big service industry players like Aramark. The city is a major draw for conferences from all over, too.
The options are endless, whether you’re planning a day of bonding between colleagues or hosting corporate events in Philadelphia. It’s an exciting city with so much to offer and it makes for some of the best experiences around.
This guide takes a deep dive into why Philly team building is so special and the best activities to help you make the most of your visit.
Why Are Team Building Activities Philadelphia-Style So Great?
Philadelphia is the most underrated metropolis in the country. I’m an LA native turned East Coast transplant, and I lived in New York City before coming to Philadelphia. In my opinion, Philly isn’t even a mini NYC—it’s a better NYC! I absolutely love it here.
After 18 years of facilitating events in the city, I can honestly say that I believe in the power of team building here in Philly. In just a short time, we can help teams connect, build trust, and ultimately improve workplace performance. It’s surreal to watch sometimes.
Whether it’s fun activities like salsa making or meaningful community service projects like bike builds, Philadelphia offers something special.
It’s not just a city; it’s an experience. Whether or not you’re from around here, I wholeheartedly believe that your team will thank you for planning some team building activities, Philadelphia-style!
Team Building Activities in Philly By the Seasons
Philadelphia fully experiences all four seasons, and each one creates a different atmosphere for activities and events. Here’s a quick breakdown of what the weather’s like, the vibe for each season, and some of the best festivals and team building events Philadelphia has to offer at any given time.
Spring (March-May)
Weather: Cool with occasional rainstorms. Average temperatures range from 45°F to 70°F.
Vibe: Fresh and excited with blooming flowers and festivals.
Check out the Philadelphia Flower Show if you have the chance. It’s the biggest, oldest flower show in the States that stretches across several acres! The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is also a treat (and a great time for a mixology class!).
If you miss the Flower Show, check out the Cherry Blossom Festival at Fairmount Park in April. The Festival of Fountains also kicks off in May with daily fountain shows in Longwood Gardens. It’s particularly fun in the evenings because they turn on colorful lights to make the shows extra beautiful—a nice way to wind down after a day of events!
Summer (June-August)
Weather: Warm and humid. Average temperatures range from 70°F to 85°F and sometimes hover in the 90s.
Vibe: Energetic with tons of outdoor events and waterfront fun.
Summertime in Philadelphia means food festivals, concerts, and outdoor events. It kicks off with Philly Beer Week, a 10-day event that usually starts at the end of May and stretches into the first week of June. It’s the perfect time for a pub crawl and foodie scavenger hunt—it creates such a fun and friendly vibe that you don’t wanna miss.
The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is a blast, too. It transforms Franklin Square into a dreamy garden filled with massive lantern displays, and it’s something everyone should see at least once.
Fall (September-November)
Weather: Comfortable with crisp autumn air. Average temperatures range from 50°F to 70°F.
Vibe: Vibrant with a buzz around the city as it preps for upcoming seasonal events.
The Fringe Festival spans almost all of September, and it’s packed with theater, dance, comedy, and arts of all kinds—it’s definitely a must-see! If your team loves the spooky season, I’d also recommend Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary. They fill the cell blocks with haunted houses, live performers, themed bars, lounges, audio tours, and more.
The main attraction is the changing colors, though. The leaves usually start to turn in mid-October and keep up the show through early November. It turns every park and street into a beautiful fall colors tour, and I definitely recommend outdoor-themed events like scavenger hunts this time of year. The fall colors are particularly beautiful in Fairmount Park!
Winter (December-February)
Weather: Cold with occasional snow. Average temperatures range from 30°F to 45°F.
Vibe: Cozy with festive seasonal events.
The New Year’s Day parade in Philly is absolutely wild and totally different from any other parade! It’s definitely worth checking out if your team is in the area. Ice skating at Penn’s Landing is also a great option.
And don’t even get me started on the sports scene; the Eagles are huge here! The city goes absolutely wild for its teams, and if you’re here during football season, I highly recommend catching a game. It’s also a great time of year for escape rooms and other indoor events.
Team Building Activities: Philadelphia’s Best Spots
The neighborhoods and parks around Philly are simply fantastic. Each place seems to have something special to offer, and there’s an endless array of things to do, foods to try, and experiences to enjoy! This is part of what makes team building activities in Philadelphia so much fun, in my opinion.
South Philly
My personal favorite neighborhood is South Philly. There’s this street called Passyunk Avenue that’s constantly changing, with new restaurants opening all the time. And the Ninth Street Italian Market? It’s incredible—food vendors, butchers, cheese shops, coffee places, ice cream shops—you name it.
I recommend doing a Day at the Museum Scavenger Hunt at the History of Italian Immigration Museum. The Food Truck Challenge would also fit the Passyunk vibe since it’s a hot spot for Philly’s food trucks.
Broad Street
As a theater person, I’m also in love with Broad Street and its numerous theaters. The Arden Theater in Old City is particularly special. And for food lovers, Reading Terminal Market is a must-visit! It’s a converted train station with over 50 different restaurants and food vendors, which is totally amazing.
I’d love to see a Murder Mystery Dinner set up in a private room of a Broad Street restaurant to take full advantage of the vibe here. It’d also be fun to do a Polaroid Scavenger Hunt here!
Chinatown & Franklin Park
Chinatown is another gem, and it’s right next to Franklin Park, which I’ve already mentioned a couple of times in this article. In the summer, you can set up a fantastic team building day exploring Chinatown and ending up in Franklin Park, or vice versa!
Check out the Chinatown Friendship Gate to set the mood for bonding, enjoy some authentic Asian cuisine, and then swing over to Franklin Square! The park has a carousel, miniature golf, a huge fountain, food stands, and lots of grassy areas. It’s a great spot for outdoor events! These two locations would make a nice spot for an Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt, too.
Penn’s Landing
Another incredible area in Philly is Penn’s Landing. In winter, it turns into an ice rink with log cabins and vendors. Come spring and summer, it’s full of festivals and street fairs. It’s this massive waterfront area with so much happening—there’s even a Dave and Busters!
It’s one of the most unique spots for group activities Philadelphia has to offer, and it has excellent accessibility to the rest of this beautiful city. I recommend trying the Go Team Scavenger Hunt along Penn’s Landing so you and your team can check out everything it has to offer.
Honorable Mentions
I could fill a whole book if I told you about all my favorite places in Philly, so I’ll end my list here with a couple more honorable mentions that I just can’t leave out:
- Old City is fantastic for historic sites. It has landmarks like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and is a great spot for walking tours. I think it’d be a great spot for a Mystery Bus event with so many fun locations to see.
- Fishtown is this up-and-coming, hip area with great creative vibes. It’s packed with cool cafes and bakeries, complete with a fun nightlife scene. It could be a fun location for a High Tech Scavenger Hunt with your team!
- Center City is the heart of Philly! It’s vibrant and exciting, and don’t even get me started on the museum area or the shopping district along Walnut Street and Rittenhouse Square. It’s another fantastic location for a Pub Crawl event, too.
Tips for Great Team Building Activities in Philadelphia
When you’re in Philadelphia, group activities tend to be a hit no matter what you do. That said, here are some pro tips to help ensure your event goes off without a hitch:
- Think about the season: Team building Philadelphia-style is much more fun when you’re not too hot or too cold, so plan around the seasons! Outdoor scavenger hunts or waterfront activities shine in the summer, escape rooms and murder mystery dinners are great for the winter, and so on.
- Leverage Philly’s unique locations: From historic locations to trendy hotspots, each area in Philly has something special to offer. Pick a location that fits your team’s interests and objectives for a better experience.
- Incorporate iconic experiences: Take advantage of Philly’s ruck culture with activities like food tours at Reading Terminal Market or sports-themed events. You can also check out iconic spots after your team building activities—Philadelphia makes it easy either way.
- Blend fun with function: From hands-on activities like a Food Truck Competition to meaningful community service on the Do Good Bus, blending entertainment with team growth tends to lead to the most memorable, impactful experiences.
Best Team Building Activities: Philadelphia Group Activity Reviews
I obviously can’t get enough of Philly, but you don’t have to take my word for it! Check out these reviews from people who have tried TeamBonding’s activities:
- Donation Station: “The team and activities were wonderful! We really appreciate their speed and efficiency in getting set up and organizing. I’ll definitely be considering TeamBonding again for a future engagement.” — Venture Backed
- Tools for Schools: “Your team welcomed us at the event last night with ease and was geared up to handle any inquiries we may have. Not to mention, they were prepared to help us load the backpacks into our cars after the donation was presented; we are very grateful for all your help in organizing the connection and having such a “can do” attitude.” — ACHIEVEability from Roberts Event Group
- Team Teddy: “I have only heard good things about the event! Thank you so much for your partnership on this event. I am really looking forward to future events together.” — Opus Agency
- Polaroid Scavenger Hunt: “The team really enjoyed the Polaroid Scavenger Hunt event! Everyone had a lot of fun bonding through the activity and getting out to explore the city a bit. Again, thank you so much! It was a pleasure working with you and the rest of the TeamBonding team to organize and run the scavenger hunt activity.” — Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Ready for Team Building Activities? Philadelphia Is Waiting!
Philadelphia isn’t just a city—it’s a playground for bonding and fun. Whether your team likes food, drinks, history, adventure, or all of the above, there are endless ways to create lasting memories and help everyone connect.
Don’t settle for the usual when you can explore, laugh, and grow together in one of the most dynamic cities in the country. Get in touch with us to give your team an experience they’ll never forget!
