January in Philadelphia — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.6/10January averages 1°C (34°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 87 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.6/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? October scores 2.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
February in Philadelphia: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6/10February averages 3°C (37°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 81 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 6/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? October scores 2.5 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
March in Philadelphia — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.7/10Expect 7°C (45°F) in March. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
116 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 6.7/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 8.5/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in Philadelphia — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.
April in Philadelphia — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7.7/10April averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Monthly rainfall reaches 118 mm — wet for this destination — but about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 7.7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
May holds up well in Philadelphia — 3rd best month
Good · 8.2/10Temperatures hover around 18°C (64°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
115 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 8.2/10 on the same scale — 3rd of 12 months, versus 8.5/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
June in Philadelphia — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 8.4/10June averages 23°C (73°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rainfall runs 78 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.4/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
July in Philadelphia: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.3/10July averages 26°C (79°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Monthly rainfall reaches 114 mm — wet for this destination — but about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 6.3/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? October scores 2.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
August in Philadelphia: strong conditions, 7th of 12
Good · 7.2/10At 24°C (76°F) this is comfortable city weather in August, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
107 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 7.2/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 8.5/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
September in Philadelphia — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 8.2/10At 21°C (70°F) this is comfortable city weather in September, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
101 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 8.2/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 8.5/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
October: the best month of the year in Philadelphia
Best window · 8.5/10October averages 15°C (59°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 80 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.1 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Philadelphia at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
November in Philadelphia — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 7.6/10November averages 9°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 65 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.6/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
December in Philadelphia: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.6/10At 4°C (38°F) this is proper winter weather in December: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Budget for roughly 96 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.4 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 5.6/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 8.5/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in Philadelphia — 2.9 points higher on the same scale.
