The Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2 hours: the essential route
Quick answer
In 2 hours you can see the Philadelphia Museum of Art's essentials: start at the Rocky Steps, then follow this order: Van Gogh and the Impressionists, Cézanne, the Duchamp galleries, Brancusi and the period rooms. Plan about 100 minutes inside plus 20 minutes on the steps.
Hours and prices checked on · Official website
Point your camera at any artwork
Try it free at Philadelphia Museum of Art
AnyArt recognizes paintings, sculptures and monuments and tells you their story in seconds, like a personal audio guide. Free for iPhone, iPad and Android.
The route: 8 stops in 2 hours
The museum is large and works change galleries often. We do not give room numbers: pick up the day's floor plan at the entrance or look each work up in the app. Timings include walking.
- 1
0:00 · Outside · The steps
The Rocky Steps and statue
Run up the 72 steps like Rocky Balboa and take the photo with the skyline behind you. The Rocky statue stands at the foot of the steps.
- 2
0:20 · European art galleries
Sunflowers — Vincent van Gogh (1889)
One of the Arles sunflower paintings. Look at the thick impasto: every stroke has relief.
- 3
0:30 · European art galleries
The Large Bathers — Paul Cézanne (1906)
Cézanne's last great painting, huge, with figures blending into the landscape. A root of Cubism.
- 4
0:45 · 20th-century European art
The Duchamp galleries
The museum holds the world's largest Duchamp collection, including The Large Glass and the installation Étant donnés, viewed through a peephole.
- 5
1:05 · Modern sculpture
Bird in Space — Constantin Brancusi
Pure polished forms that shaped modern sculpture. Walk around it to see the reflection shift.
- 6
1:15 · American art
The Gross Clinic — Thomas Eakins (1875)
A painting of a real operation, so raw it shocked its era. The American galleries have more Eakins.
- 7
1:30 · Period rooms
Whole rooms: temple, tea house and European interiors
The museum keeps complete interiors moved from other places. Pick one or two before leaving.
- 8
1:50 · Café or shop
Final break
Finish with a coffee and review your photos with AnyArt: point it at anything whose label you did not read.
Tips to make the most of it
- Enter at 10am: the first hours are the quietest.
- Friday evenings are busier because of pay what you wish; for quiet, go in the morning.
- Leave large bags in the cloakroom if the museum asks.
- Use AnyArt to identify any work and hear its story, as an alternative to an audio guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see the museum in 2 hours?
Yes, if you focus on its most famous works. For a relaxed visit allow 4 hours.
Where is Van Gogh's Sunflowers?
In the European art galleries. Pick up the floor plan because rooms change.
Where are the Rocky Steps?
In front of the main building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. They are outdoors and free.
Is Friday pay-what-you-wish worth it?
Yes if the 5pm-8:45pm window suits you, but it is busier. Arrive early.