Here is our list of the best company outings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Company outings ideas in Philadelphia are events that take teams to exciting locations outside work to spend quality time together. These events let team members bond while enjoying fun, informative activities. For example, taking a food tour, playing a few rounds of pool, or enjoying a concert together are outings that bring teams together outside the office. These activities promote interaction, boost morale, and encourage bonding among associates in The City of Brotherly Love.
These activities are examples of employee engagement ideas, company offsites, and relationship-building activities. These activities are similar to Philly team building events and corporate event ideas in Philly.
This list includes:
- company outings for small groups in Philadelphia, PA
- company outings for large groups in Philadelphia
- company outings for adults in Philadelphia
- corporate outing ideas in Philadelphia
Let’s get started!
List of corporate outing ideas in Philadelphia
With so much history packed into a setting with a contemporary vibe, Philadelphia offers corporate outing ideas that cover a wide range of interests. Here are some of the best ideas to check.
1. Historic Philadelphia Photo Scavenger Hunt (Top Choice)
Philadelphia has many historical sites, and going on a photo scavenger hunt is a great way to explore them! You can immerse your team in the secrets of the city through the Historic Philadelphia Photo Scavenger Hunt.
This experience includes the following:
- a knowledgeable guide sharing lesser-known facts about the city
- a 90-minute journey from Washington Square Park to Benjamin Franklin’s grave
- thrilling photo prompts and intriguing trivia questions
- interactive games that prompt participants to engage with their surroundings
- photo sharing and an announcement of the winning team
Moreover, we can customize this event to suit your team’s preferences, ensuring a personalized experience. This unforgettable tour will forge lasting memories and foster teamwork skills!
Learn more about Historic Philadelphia Photo Scavenger Hunt.
2. Espionage! (Team Favorite)
Teams can enter the thrilling world of secret agents with Espionage! This team building experience takes you on a journey of spies, puzzles, and strategic challenges.
Espionage! includes the following:
- 90 minutes with a world-class host to lead the experience
- undercover teams of spies and agents
- secret identities and deception
- clever code scrambles, word searches, and scavenger hunts
- group discussions and strategic thinking to uncover hidden identities
We will meet you at your preferred location and provide all the necessary supplies for this thrilling game. Espionage! will boost your creative thinking and competitive spirit.
Learn more about Espionage!
3. Field Day (Popular)
Your team can go on a journey of interactive outdoor games and competitions with Field Day! This captivating experience is designed to improve relationships and develop crucial workplace skills.
Here is what you can expect:
- a 90-minute session with a highly experienced facilitator
- classic childhood games and new outdoor competitions
- activities that will spark childhood memories
- photo ops to capture team memories
In addition, we will bring all the necessary materials to your chosen location. If you are looking for an activity that fosters teamwork, promotes friendly competition, and cultivates camaraderie, then check out Field Day!
Learn more about Field Day.
4. Shady Maple Smorgasbord
Philadelphia has a long history of Dutch residents, and visitors can experience the ultimate in Dutch cooking at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord! This venue is the largest smorgasbord in the US and features over 200 feet of delicious Dutch meals. Diners can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day except Sundays. The menu includes classic dishes such as scrapple, brisket, and pierogies. After filling up on Dutch delicacies, you can head over to the farm market. This market features many products, from baked goods to Shady Maple specialties to takeout meals. Before leaving, you can also stop by the gift shop to snag books, collectables, and quilts.
Learn more about Shady Maple Smorgasbord.
5. Pizzeria Beddia
If you have a small team and are looking for a unique experience, then consider stopping by Pizzeria Beddia! This restaurant has pizza, of course, but they also offer a one-of-a-kind hoagie omakase experience. Omakase means “chef’s choice,” so there is no set menu. Instead, diners will eat whatever the chef prepares. Firms can book this intimate experience for groups of up to six. Tickets include a cocktail, small plates, several hoagies, pizzas, and signature soft serve. If you have a larger party but would still like a private experience, then consider the restaurant’s pizza parties! Groups of six to 24 can book a family-style experience featuring small plates, salads, pizzas, and soft drinks. Be sure to stop by for an interesting meal!
Learn more about Pizzeria Beddia.
6. Eastern State Penitentiary
History buffs on your team will love visiting this building! In its heyday, Eastern State Penitentiary was the most expensive and well-known prison in the world. Famous criminals like “Slick Willie” Sutton and “Scarface” Al Capone served sentences here. Visitors can enjoy either a daytime or a nighttime tour. During the day, teams can explore with a guide and learn about the penitentiary’s history as well as its influence on modern structures. In addition, the site offers an audio tour with stories from three former wardens and 25 guards and prisoners. Viewers can also check out art installations and exhibits like Al Capone’s cell. Brave teams can also explore the space at night! The night tour includes the same features as the day tour, plus guests get to enjoy an outdoor beer garden. Supposedly, the penitentiary is haunted, so watch out for ghosts as you explore!
Learn more about Eastern State Penitentiary.
7. Independence Park
Your list of company outings for large groups in Philadelphia should include a trip to Independence Park. You can book guided tours of Independence Hall, the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, to give team members a window into the most significant moments in the country’s birth. Across the quad, the Liberty Bell stands ready to receive visitors on a first-come-first-served basis. Scheduled events focusing on American history happen throughout the year.
Details about Independence Park will help you plan your visit.
8. Yards Brewery
Yards has been creating some of Philly’s best-loved beer since 1994. Brew fans on the team will appreciate the 40-minute guided tours that give groups of up to 15 a behind-the-scenes look at the beer-making process, with samples included. Teams can hang in the taproom and order beer and small bites afterward. You can also book the community table for two-and-a-half-hour semi-private outings that include an open bar and family-style food.
You can schedule a tour of Yards Brewery for your team.
9. Private Coffee Classes
Coffee can be just as complex as wine in terms of taste, body, and bouquet. Private classes explaining the essence of coffee make thoughtful company outing ideas in Philadelphia for teams who crave java. With a one-hour tasting session like those at Function Coffee Labs, coffee lovers can explore the roasting process and how bean choice affects flavor while sampling various brews. Teams can also attend courses covering how to prepare the perfect pour-over for their daily enjoyment or learn the secrets to perfecting espresso from their home machine.
Learn more about private classes at Function Coffee Labs.
10. Buffalo Billiards
Head-to-head competition over a pool table at Buffalo Billiards makes a great Philadelphia team outing for game lovers. The warm, welcoming atmosphere gives the vibe of an old-time pool hall, complete with a bar and grill for enjoying beverages and bites. There are daily happy hours, pinball, dart boards, skeeball machines, and shuffleboard decks to get everyone in on the game hall fun.
Learn how to rack them up at Buffalo Billiards.
11. Lucky Strike Bowling
The swankiest bowling alley in Philadelphia is ready for a corporate outing with your team. As an iconic location in the bowling world, Lucky Strike brings its Hollywood sensibility to the City of Brotherly Love. The retro design, neon accents, and funky décor give visitors something special to look at while they wait their turn. Teams can split up for tournament-style play or spread into smaller groups for more personal competitions.
Details on setting up an outing for your team are available at Lucky Strike.
12. Philadelphia Museum of Art
An outing to this world-class art museum is an eye-opening opportunity for teams to explore iconic works from incredible artists. You can see famous works from names like Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse, and Monet in the museum’s permanent collection. There are exhibitions held throughout the year as well. Admission on Friday nights between 5:00 and 8:45 p.m. is a “pay what you wish” program, which makes an excellent option for budget-conscious teams.
As a bonus, attendees can recreate one of the most famous scenes in cinema history with a visit to the Rocky Steps and take photos with the Rocky statue at the museum entrance.
You can check out the museum calendar to see what events are right for your team.
13. Wonderspaces Immersive Art Experience
Teams with an artful side will find Wonderspaces enchanting. This gallery immerses visitors in interactive art installations highlighting technology and modern life. Teams can explore rooms where their shadows come to life, paint walls with the motion of their bodies, explore light projections, and view inventive animation all around them. This corporate outing encourages associates to engage with the art as part of the experience.
The details and schedule for Wonderspaces will help you plan your outing.
14. Comedy Improv Class
For corporate outing ideas in Philadelphia that emphasize communication and interaction, try a comedy improv class. These fun exercises provide instruction to expand critical skills while offering uproarious entertainment. Walnut Street Theater has courses that teach techniques for fast thinking, comfortable public speaking, and off-the-cuff interactions. Associates can add a valuable tool to their arsenal in an easy-going atmosphere where humor and enjoyment are the norm.
Class descriptions at Walnut Street Theater will help you decide on an outing.
15. Concert at Union Transfer
A concert in an auditorium that was once a railroad luggage transfer station is a company outing that blends culture and history. This acclaimed theater space welcomes musical acts of all genres, with a focus on indie and bands that are a bit off the beaten path. If your team includes music nerds who love a good live act, then you can arrange tickets for your group at the box office and avoid costly processing fees. You can spend the saved money on refreshing drinks and light snacks at one of the three bars inside the theater.
The Union Transfer show schedule has a great line-up.
16. Philadelphia Zoo
An outing to Philadelphia Zoo will get employees acquainted with nature and history in a single trip. Philadelphia Zoo was the first full-fledged zoo established in the United States and remains an industry leader dedicated to the education and conservation of animals on a worldwide scale. Visitors get a close-up view of nearly 1300 animals in a lush 42-acre garden-like setting. In addition, teams can walk among exhibits that house many endangered species whose natural habitats are being restored in part with assistance from the zoo’s fundraising efforts.
For more information, take a look at Philadelphia Zoo.
17. Ghost Tour of the City
The spooky side of Philadelphia’s history awaits in a selection of nighttime ghost tours. These after-dark guided excursions take place in various locations around the city. Highlights include cemeteries and haunted houses, as well as landmarks like Independence Hall and the First Bank of the United States. You can stroll among the ghosts of historical figures and spectral citizens as your guide tells tales to chill your spine. Those brave enough to embark on a tour will see one of America’s oldest cities from a new shiver-inducing perspective.
If your associates have nerves of steel, then a ghost tour makes a thrilling Philadelphia team outing.
18. Dinner Cruise
Dinner cruises make relaxing company outings for adults in Philadelphia. Cruisers will enjoy striking skyline views while gliding along the Delaware River. These outings include a buffet meal on a luxurious craft, energizing music provided by a DJ, and a view of famous landmarks like Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Naval Shipyard. Tours last between two and a half and three hours and include games and entertainment and highlights of the cityscape. There are also lunch and brunch cruises available for daylight events.
There are schedules and cruise descriptions available to help plan your event.
19. 9th Street Italian Market Tour
The oldest outdoor market in America is an outing that combines food and history in a scenic city setting. Participants can enjoy a walking tour of this charming neighborhood, with stops and samples at bakeries, delis, and artisan shops. World-famous Philly cheesesteaks are also on the menu, as are regional produce and farm fare, deli specialties, and handmade chocolates. Tours accommodate groups of 12 to maintain the personal feel, making these outings great company outings for small groups in Philadelphia, PA.
Learn more about taking a market tour to plan one for your crew.
20. Philly Magic Gardens
At Philly Magic Gardens, the guiding principles are diversity, community, originality, and inspiring others through self-expression. Created by artist Isaiah Zagar, this outdoor art space features towering walls and whimsical floors covered in brightly colored mosaics. Visitors can experience the artful surroundings in a 40-minute guided tour, followed by 20 minutes of self-guided wandering of the grounds to see more. There are also neighborhood tours available, including an exploration of more than 40 public artworks around the gardens.
You can follow the trail to Philly Magic Gardens.
21. Franklin Institute
Science geeks on the team will enjoy the themed outings in a hands-on visit to Franklin Institute. These extravaganzas celebrate the fun side of science and sometimes include musical acts, science-oriented games, lessons, and activities. There are even visits to the planetarium for a cosmic side quest! Past events have centered around mixology, time travel, and cabaret performance. Though themes change throughout the year, each festive gala offers associates a chance to explore the museum in a party atmosphere.
For details and upcoming events, check into Franklin Institute.
Conclusion
Philadelphia provides historical sites, exciting city-based activities, and scenic tours for associates to enjoy together. The dining scene, the history, and the culture blend to create an environment primed for fun team building interactions. With so many activities available, there are outings to satisfy teams of all interests.
Next, check out this list of company outing ideas in NYC and this guide to finding local team building activities.
Grace He