Know Before You Go

When you purchase your tickets, you’ll choose between two Daytime Admission options—Self-Guided Audio Tour or Guide-Led Tour & Discussion. 

Purchase Self-Guided Audio Tour admission if you prefer to explore at your own pace. We recommend that all visitors start with our main audio tour (stops 1-10), which lasts about 40 minutes and provides an overview of the penitentiary’s history. From there, you can explore freely, listening to additional stops—based on your interests—on topics like daily life, notable prisoners, race, escapes, sports, and more. 

Purchase Guide-Led Tour & Discussion admission if you prefer an interactive, conversational tour experience. These tickets include a 45-minute tour and discussion, led by an Eastern State educator, at the time and date selected. Before or after your tour, you can also explore any of our audio stops based on your interests. 

Both types of Daytime Admission also include access to these additional experiences:

• Mini Tours — Short, guide-led tours (5-20 mins) highlighting a specific space or theme. Topics and schedule change daily.  
• Exhibits — Prisons Today and The Big Graph explore the impact of prisons and mass incarceration today. Freedom through Faith explores the history of Jewish life at Eastern State Penitentiary and religious freedom in incarcerated settings today. 
• Art Installations — There are 14 art installations currently on view—each offering a distinct perspective on the history and impact of the criminal justice system. 
• Points of Interest — Visit Al Capone’s Cell. Step inside the penitentiary’s historic synagogue. 
• Seasonal Programs — Throughout the year, we offer a rotating selection of seasonal, themed programs including pop-up talks, hands-on activities, and immersive experiences. Find details on current offerings on our Events page. 

When purchasing online, daytime admission is $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $17 for college students and youth ages 7-17. When purchasing at the door, daytime admission is $23, $21, and $19, respectively. (Not recommended for children under the age of seven.)

Eastern State members always receive free daytime admission to Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.

Yes! We are currently accepting reservations for guide-led group tours, self-guided audio tours, and virtual group tours.

Visit our Group Tours page for more information.

Yes! In addition to our student, children, and senior rates for daytime admission and our group rates, we offer a variety of special discounts.

• Discounted admission is available by request for Museums for All, ACCESS Card, and SEPTA Key REDUCED FARE card holders.* These card holders will be granted $2 admission per person for up to four guests during daytime historic site hours. Visiting guests must present their valid ID upon arrival. Offer not valid for Summer Nights, Halloween Nights, or other special events.
   
• Upon request, visitors with a disability will receive $2 admission per person during daytime historic site hours.* Paid Personal Care Assistants are always provided complimentary admission when accompanying a visitor with a disability.* Offer not valid for Summer Nights, Halloween Nights, or other special events.
   
• Philadelphia high school students may use their student ID to gain entrance to Eastern State during daytime historic site hours for FREE, thanks to STAMP, a city-wide initiative led by Art-Reach.* Offer not valid for Summer Nights, Halloween Nights, or other special events. For more information, visit www.art-reach.org/STAMP.

*PLEASE NOTE: These discount programs are intended for individual use only and may not be used for group visits.

• Have a SEPTA Key Card? You can save $2 on adult daytime admission! Offer valid online only. Not valid for pre-arranged, private tours or special events, including Summer Nights or Halloween Nights. Visit the SEPTA Perks website for more information.
• Sightseeing in Philly? Bundle Eastern State admission with multiple top Philadelphia attractions and save up to 51% with Philadelphia CityPASS® tickets.

For daytime admission, we allow the flexibility to make reservation changes, including cancellations and refunds, up to 24 hours in advance of your visit without incurring fees. Simply send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know if you'd like to reschedule or request a refund.

Please Note: There are no refunds or exchanges for special events, including Summer Nights and Halloween Nights.

The Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package is the best way to experience Philadelphia during your visit. The offer includes free parking at your hotel and other valuable perks. Learn more.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc. is a charitable nonprofit organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Proceeds benefit the preservation and interpretation of this National Historic Landmark. Thank you for your support!

Eastern State Penitentiary is located at 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130. You can access customized driving directions on Google Maps.

The historic site is accessible to Philadelphia Trolley Works, Big Bus, The Phlash, Philadelphia Bike Tours, and several SEPTA bus routes.

While we do not have our own parking lot, there is a parking lot neighboring us at 22nd St & Fairmount Ave. Parking costs vary. For exact pricing, please call Parkway Corporation at (267) 765-3665.

Additionally, you can find parallel parking bordering the historic site. Eastern State Penitentiary is so large that it occupies one full city block. Bordering Eastern State on the west (to the left if you are facing the entrance) is 22nd Street. On the Eastern State side of 22nd Street, parallel parking is free and unlimited. The same is true of Brown Street, which borders our back wall. Again, parking is free and unlimited only on the Eastern State side of the street. If you choose to park anywhere else in the neighborhood, just exercise caution and read all signs.

Eastern State Penitentiary is also accessible by public transit.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is located in beautiful, historic Fairmount, a neighborhood of Victorian homes and some of the best restaurants in the region. We are located in the Parkway Museums District, just five blocks away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

We are fortunate that Fairmount is quite safe. You should, of course, take all the safety precautions that you would normally take. Lock your car, and don’t leave valuables in clear view inside the vehicle.

Please visit our Hours of Operation page for the current operating schedule. Hours of operation are subject to change. Most visitors spend about two hours on site.

When you arrive, you’ll follow a one-way route through the site, which begins with our main audio tour. The main audio tour, which provides a general overview of the penitentiary’s history, includes ten audio stops and lasts about 40 minutes total.

From there, you can end your tour or continue to explore additional audio stops, art installations, and exhibits. Depending on your interest in doing this and the time you have, this could take several hours. Most visitors spend about two hours on site.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is open rain or shine, and the building does not have climate control. Summers can be quite hot, and winters can be quite chilly. Please dress for the weather, and be sure to wear appropriate footwear. Sandals, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, and high heels are not recommended.

While there are no dining facilities within the historic site complex, there are several wonderful restaurants in the surrounding neighborhood.

Yes! Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site may be the most picturesque place you’ve seen in years. We encourage you to bring a camera when visiting the historic site, but we ask that you honor our Non-Commercial / Personal Photography policies when photographing during your visit.

In addition to the general admission fee, non-members must purchase a daily "photography equipment pass” if they wish to use a tripod, monopod, or easel while on site. Equipment passes are $10 per person and are valid only on the day they are purchased. While we recommend you purchase your tickets online in advance, photography equipment passes can only be purchased at the admissions window on site. Want free daytime admission and free photography equipment passes all year long? Become a Member today!

Any photographer (professional, amateur, or student), ad agency, or other commercial entity wishing to photograph models (professional or amateur); wear costumes or use props; photograph the building without visitors; photograph in non-public spaces; or conduct shoots that require equipment (other than a tripod, monopod, or easel) must make reservations in advance. Visit our Photography and Filmmaking page for more information about setting up a private photo shoot.

We are dedicated to providing a safe experience for every visitor. Therefore, weapons of any kind, pepper spray, pocketknives, lighters, flashlights, alcoholic beverages, and any other potentially dangerous objects are not permitted inside the historic site. We have a strict "no guns" policy, which means that even persons licensed to carry a firearm, including off-duty law enforcement officers, will not be permitted to bring their weapon into the historic site complex (and we can't hold them for you, either).

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site offers a wide range of services for our patrons. For information on ADA accessibility, service animals, captioning, ASL interpretation, sensory-friendly touch tours, and other accommodations, please visit our Accessibility page. 

Our staff is available to assist all guests to the best of their ability.

If you have additional concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact our administrative offices at [email protected] or (215) 236-3300.

Thousands of visitors tour Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site every week without incident.

That said, Eastern State Penitentiary was abandoned for more than 20 years and remains in a state of semi-ruin. Visitors should exercise caution and stay within the clearly marked public areas. Ground surfaces can be uneven, and stone edges can be sharp. Please watch children carefully, as the building can pose safety hazards to unattended children. For visitors’ safety, the historic site complex is monitored by a closed circuit surveillance system.

Download our public statement regarding lead-based paint hazard.

Paranormal investigations (including the use of EVP recorders or other pieces of paranormal investigation equipment) are not permitted at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. While we know this is an area of interest for many, our mission drives our work. At this time, we are focusing our resources on maintaining and expanding programs that explore the penitentiary's history and connections to contemporary criminal justice reform.

Eastern State does not allow third parties to conduct unauthorized events or sell tickets to the general public. Any persons conducting unauthorized events will be asked to leave the site without a refund. 

Thank you for your understanding!