Wilmington is one of the bigger cities that’s super accessible from Philly via public transportation and worth a day trip if you want to check out what northern Delaware has to offer. From the art museum to the hundreds of acres of gardens to the downtown shopping district, Wilmington has plenty to offer in the way of entertainment.
Also, important: It’s where Joe Biden lives.
Here’s how to plan your Wilmington day trip…
How to get there
We’d recommend taking SEPTA’s Regional Rail to get to Wilmington for the day via the Wilmington/Newark Line. You can catch the train at a number of locations in the city and it’ll cost you no more than $7 for a one-way ticket. Here’s the full Saturday train schedule.
If you do decide to take the car down for the day, the drive will probably take you about 45 minutes, assuming you don’t hit much traffic. Here’s the best route:
What to do
Delaware Art Museum
If you’ve already made your way through the art museums in Philly, you might want to check out something different — according to the museum, it’s known for its “large collection of British Pre-Raphaelite art, works by Wilmington-native Howard Pyle and fellow American illustrators, and urban landscapes by John Sloan and his circle.” Tickets are $12 for adults and the museum is located at 2301 Kentmere Parkway. Find more visitor information here.
Also: Heading to Wilmington in September? Check out the Brandywine Festival of the Arts. More details here.
Nemours Mansion and Gardens
This French-style old mansion once owned by Alfred I. duPont has been described as a “mini-Versailles” that sits on 222 acres of land in Wilmington. It features a large mansion you can get a tour of and acres of gardens to peruse. Tickets to see the gardens are $10 and a guided tour of the mansion is $15. Find more visitor information here.
Visit Market Street
Once you get off into the city, Wilmington can be very walkable — if you know where to walk. Hang out in the Market Street area for history, shopping and restaurants centered in this downtown area. Rodney Square is right in the center of this business district and is a good place to start walking through the city.
If you keep walking toward Martin Luther King Boulevard, you’ll end up at the start of the riverwalk that falls along the Wilmington riverfront area.
Where to eat and drink
Capriotti’s – Stop by this sandwich shop for lunch at 510 N. Union St. for one of the best subs you’ve ever had. Try the Bobbie, a carved-turkey stuffed sandwich with filling and cranberry sauce. Be careful with the sizes — even a small is quite large.
Chelsea Tavern – This bar and restaurant in downtown Wilmington features local beers — every Dogfish bottle goes on the menu for as long as it lasts. It’s located at 821 N. Market St.
Harry’s Savoy Grill – Check out this steakhouse at 2020 Naamans Rd. that’s known for its prime rib and classic steak offerings.
Mikimoto’s Asian Grill and Sushi Bar – Feeling like eating Asian? Swing by this Japanese restaurant and sushi bar for dinner at 1212 N. Washington St.
Ristorante Attilio – This homey Italian restaurant is family-owned and features homemade pasta ans other speciality dishes. Find it at 1900 Lancaster Ave.
