35+ Fun Things to do in New Haven, Connecticut

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Have you ever heard of the historic city of New Haven?

Located on the coastline of Long Island Sound, New Haven, Connecticut, was founded in 1638 as the first planned city in the United States.

It served as a co-capital of the state during the Colonial era and is home to many distinguished organizations. 

Nicknamed “the Elm City” due to the trees’ prevalence, the coastal city is filled with academic excellence and culture, including several colleges and three nationally-ranked regional theatres.

Whether you enjoy wandering through historic New England cities, or are visiting one of the five universities in town, here is your guide to things to do in New Haven, Connecticut.

What to do in New Haven, Connecticut

Map for this guide

Since you’re looking for what to do in New Haven, here is a map I created just for you to go along with the information in this guide!

• Brown: Transportation
• Red: Apizza
• Orange: Restaurants
• Yellow: Sweets
• Purple: Things to do in New Haven Connecticut

The Best Things to do in New Haven, CT

1. Take a tour of the historic Yale University

The Ivy League institution is a stalwart of New Haven, Connecticut.

Yale University traces its roots back to the 1640s when colonial clergymen established a school in the European tradition.

It was formally named Yale College in 1718 for a Welsh merchant and benefactor of the school, Elihu Yale.

It’s the third-oldest university in the United States, behind only Harvard University and the College of William and Mary.

Throughout its history, it has been a place of incredible academic study, achievements, and has produced numerous notable alumni.

Although you can choose to wander the campus at your leisure, guests can also opt to take a free tour of the historic campus, led by current students.

The tour leaves from the Visitor Center daily, just across from the New Haven Town Green.

The campus architecture is beautiful, and it’s a pretty fantastic walk through the storied academic grounds.

You can also register online for a free virtual, interactive tour of the campus.

If you’re interested in learning more, I have a whole guide on the best things to do around Yale University.

2. Explore prehistoric fossils at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

Looking for things to do in New Haven about dinosaur history?

The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University is a great place to spend your time.

Founded in 1866, today, the museum has several world-renown permanent collections.

The most well-known is in The Great Hall of Dinosaurs. It features many skeletons, including a mounted Brontosaurus skeleton and The Age of Reptiles mural by artist Rudolph Zallinger.

The museum offers tours of various exhibits included with your admission ticket on Saturdays and Sundays.

3. Marvel at the rare works found at Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

This is one of those libraries known for being a book lover’s paradise.

Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is one of the largest collections of rare books and manuscripts in the world, with more than one million total volumes.

Since its opening in 1963, the library has grown to contain some of the very first copies of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, John James Audubon’s Birds of America, and Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The building itself has no windows; instead, opaque panes made of Vermont marble act as windows.

Sunlight filters through them to reach inside, which prevents the rare papers from damage.

While you have to be a researcher or Yale member to access the prints themselves, there are several special exhibitions available to visitors for public viewing, like the University library’s first books dating back to 1742, or the Gutenberg Bible.

4. Explore the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments

Established in 1900, the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments is a fascinating museum within the Yale University system.

Part of the Yale School of Music, the museum is home to musical instruments spanning more than three centuries.

Famous instruments on display include a 1742 organ from John Snetzler, a 1784 clavichord from Hoffman, and pianos from Könnicke dating back to 1795.

The museum actually hosts a historically accurate concert each year, using instruments from their collection.

You can visit their permanent and temporary exhibits during their admission hours; however, the museum is currently closed for renovations.

5. Explore the galleries at the Yale Center for British Art

The Yale Center for British Art, which holds the most extensive collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom, should not be missed.

Its enormous collection includes thousands of works by artists dating from the 1400s to the present day, ranging from paintings, sculptures, and pictures to scholarly volumes on the rich history of British art.

Among its permanent exhibitions are some works by Americans who lived in Britain throughout this period.

While alumnus Paul Mellon gifted the permanent collection to Yale in 1966, the sustainable structure that houses the University art museum was designed and erected by Louis I. Kahn in 1977, directly across the street from the Yale University Art Gallery.

The Center offers free admission, public tours of the works, special exhibitions, and architecture, as well as a research program consisting of lectures, conferences, and workshops.

They also offer an app you can use inside the museum or at home and act as a guide to its artworks.

6. See the Yale University Art Gallery

On the other side of Chapel Street, across from the Yale Center for British Art, the Yale University Art Gallery preserves more than 300,000 pieces in its collection to protect and showcase all different forms of artwork from any time period.

Since its founding in 1832, it’s known as the oldest university art museum in the United States. You can visit its collection for free and participate in any of its programs.

Both museums also provide an app that can be used at the museum or at home as a guide to their artworks.

7. Find your new favorite book at the Atticus Bookstore Café

Just as the name implies, you can find both great food and your new favorite novel all without leaving the Atticus Bookstore Café!

The original location opened in 1975 on the first floor of the Yale British Art Museum.

You’ll find a selection of classic, new releases and staff picks to peruse, as well as their excellent food and bakery goods.

Along with the original cafe, they’ve since expanded to include the Atticus Market in the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven.

8. Cheer on the Bulldogs at a Yale University football game

If you’re looking for some of the best things to do around Yale University, you can’t miss an opportunity to cheer on the Bulldogs!

Every fall season, the Yale football team plays at the Yale Bowl, right around the corner from the Yale campus.

Spend your crisp autumn day tailgating before the game starts, and then head inside the stadium to watch the game.

You can purchase tickets for their games on their website.

Fun Fact: Due to stadium renovations, the Giants NFL football team used the Yale Bowl as their home facility for twelve games from 1973 to 1974.

9. Wander through The Shops at Yale

Right around the corner from the Yale University campus, you’ll find The Shops at Yale.

This high-end outdoor shopping center offers an eclectic mix of more than sixty popular brands and local retailers.

They also have everything from quick bites and snacks to excellent, sit-down restaurants.

Spend some time popping between the different shops and boutiques and stopping into the various restaurants for meals and snacks when you need a shopping break.

10. Pay your respects at the Grove Street Cemetery

Adjacent to the Yale campus, Grove Street Cemetery is the final resting place of some of New Haven’s most important former residents, including Connecticut inventor Eli Whitney, who invented the cotton gin.

It was established in the 1790s as the first charted burial ground in the country after the former cemetery on the New Haven Town Green became overcrowded.

Notable features include the entrance gate to the cemetery, which is considered one of the best examples of Egyptian Revival architecture.

It’s a quiet, historic place, full of some truly incredible monuments. 

11. Walk around the Town Green

A square park encompassing five of New Haven’s most central streets–Chapel Street, Temple Street, College Street, Church Street, and Elm Street–the New Haven Town Green is one of the most important things to do in downtown New Haven.

It was first established in the 1640s as a Puritan marketplace.

Throughout its history, General George Washington spoke on the grounds during the American Revolutionary War, and Abraham Lincoln gave one of his presidential campaign speeches here.

Today, the picturesque 16-acre park is a must-visit for any New Haven sightseeing. At the city’s heart, it features three historic churches and the New Haven Town Hall along its sides.

The Green is a great place to add to your New Haven itinerary for a stroll or a picnic, especially during the warmer months, or to attend outdoor concerts, fairs, festivals, and other community events.

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12. Spend a day at the various New Haven Colleges and Universities

Although Yale University is the most historical of the higher education institutes in New Haven, there are many other colleges in town.

The University of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College, and Gateway Community College all call the city of New Haven home. 

13. Try the It Adventure Ropes Course at Jordan’s Furniture

This is one of the most exciting things to do in New Haven, Connecticut.

It’s something you’ll need to see to believe! Housed in the former New Haven Register newspaper’s building, Jordan’s Furniture is a chain of furniture stores in New England.

Within each of their stores, they house different attractions.

Their New Haven, Connecticut location houses It Adventure Indoor Ropes Course, which boasts the largest indoor high ropes course in the world.

It’s incredible!

With two ropes courses and a bunch of different adventure indoor activities in New Haven, including climbing walls and zip lines, it’s undoubtedly an exhilarating experience. 

14. Walk along the coast at Pardee Seawall Park

This 1.3-mile park is located right next to the coastline and offers beautiful Long Island Sound views.

Walk, bike, or relax on benches, conveniently located along its path.

It’s one of the best things to do in New Haven, Connecticut on a beautiful, leisurely day.

15. Enjoy the view from Lighthouse Point Park

Situated on Long Island Sound, the park is built on the site of a Revolutionary War battle. 

This shoreline park is a beautiful area to add to your New Haven itinerary.

There are two main features of Lighthouse Point Park.

First, the Five Mile Point Lighthouse, originally built in 1805 and decommissioned in 1877, was added to the National Registry of Historic Landmarks in 1990. 

Secondly, the antique Lighthouse Point Carousel was built in 1916 in the folk art style.

After closing in the 1970s due to weather damage, the City of New Haven restored the antique Carousel a decade later and it became listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

It has 72 restored mounts on a 60-foot platform and is decorated with paintings that represent New Haven.

And, starting in mid-November through the end of the year, Lighthouse Point Park hosts one of Connecticut’s beautiful fall festivals, the Fantasy of Lights.

16. Hike the trails or stop and smell the roses at East Rock Park

East Rock Park is one of the most popular things to do in New Haven because of its beautiful location and varied landscape of forests, cliffs, and rocky boulders.

It’s a quick drive from most surrounding towns in Connecticut and a quick drive just north of downtown New Haven.

With more than 10 miles of trails and a variety of interesting outdoor activities available to visitors–from rock climbing to sledding and ice skating in the winter–there is something here for everyone.

Throughout the spring and summer months, you can find more than 50 varieties of roses in full bloom at the Pardee Rose Gardens inside the restored Pardee Greenhouse.

However, many people choose to come to this park for its hiking.

For an excellent vantage point of the surrounding towns, hike to the Summit, at the top of East Rock Park, and you’ll find one of the best views in the state.

With a 360-degree panorama of the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, you’ll be able to see for miles. 

It’s one of the best things to do in New Haven in the fall!

17. Try authentic Italian-American “apizza” in Little Italy

New Haven, Connecticut, is full of incredible food influenced by the Italian-American population that calls this area home.

They even have their own style of pizza, repeatedly ranked as the top in the United States.

Honestly, pizza is already pretty perfect. However, there is a pizza style known to the small state of Connecticut that is truly the best around.

The Apizza style was created by immigrants coming to New Haven, Connecticut, from around Naples, Italy, at the turn of the 20th century.

It’s a thin-crust, coal-fired pizza, most similar to New York style.

But, it’s differentiated from its neighboring technique by its chewiness, shape, and toppings.

There are now several restaurants in New Haven, Connecticut that serve the style, like Sally’s, Modern, and BAR (this particular dance club and brewery has originated its own flair on the apizza style.)

However, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana originated the pie and is still widely considered the best.

Pepe’s signature Apizza is their white clam pizza with fresh littleneck clams on top of a white pizza. I promise it’s delicious.

If you’re interested in visiting some of the top Connecticut breweries, make sure you check out my guide.

While the Apizza style has spread throughout Connecticut and to nearby New York’s Westchester County, you need to add this to your New Haven itinerary and try it for yourself.

On any given day, Apizza places have lines out the door, with locals and tourists alike vying for their spot at one of the storied booths to enjoy a fantastic pie.

18. Experience true fine dining at the Union League Cafe

Ready to wow with fine dining?

The Union League Cafe is a premier French brasserie which combines fine cuisine with an unpressured atmosphere across the street from Yale University.

Although the food is French, the restaurant itself is completely connected to the history of New Haven.

The restaurant is housed in the Beaux-Arts building designed by New Haven architect Richard Williams, on the site of Roger Sherman’s homestead, New Haven’s first mayor and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Articles of Confederation.

This is a perfect place to celebrate a milestone, spend a romantic evening out in the city, or have an upscale night in town.

19. Eat at one of New Haven’s other great restaurants

Since Italian influence is strong in New Haven, fantastic Italian restaurants include Consiglio’s Restaurant, Basta Trattoria, and Olives and Oil Wine + Cucina.

And if you’re looking for a fancier date night in New Haven dining out, Tre Scalini is one of the best choices.

If Italian food isn’t your favorite, New Haven also has a variety of other great styles.

Bella’s Cafe is my favorite spot for brunch.

Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill has phenomenal seafood, right on the water.

20. Head to Louis’ Lunch to try the first hamburger

Are you interested in an original?

According to the Library of Congress, Louis’ Lunch is a true New Haven hidden gem.

The restaurant opened in 1895 and is recognized for originating the modern-day hamburger. 

21. Take in the view from a rooftop bar

Want a drink with a view? New Haven has three beautiful rooftop bars you need to check out!

High George is the name of its beautiful rooftop lounge on top of The Blake Hotel.

Only open on Friday and Saturday nights, they even have a retractable roof for you to enjoy the space all year long.

At Elm City Social, you’ll feel the roaring ’20s vibe from the moment you step through the front door.

The cocktail bar and restaurant is serving up on its inside and rooftop spaces right around the corner from the Shubert Theater and the New Haven Green.

And, of course, you’re sure to have a great night out at 116 Crown, one of Connecticut’s top cocktail bars.

With a signature menu of avant-garde cocktails and awesome food, you’re sure to have a fun evening here. And those truffle fries–they’re a must!

22. Enjoy Italian pastries and other desserts

Bakeries, gelato, and coffee shops abound in the college town.

There are at least seven coffee shops within walking distance of the Yale University campus.

Donut Crazy is known for its wacky donut flavors.

Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop is a staple mom-and-pop bakery.

Katalina’s Kupcakes is home to rich, decadent cupcakes.

Doughilicious has jumped onto the edible cookie dough trend.

Even a favorite New York City cookie shop Insomnia Cookies has now made its way to New Haven.

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23. Catch a performance at one of New Haven’s award-winning theaters

There are three world-class theaters in New Haven – the Shubert, the Long Wharf, and Yale Rep.

Shubert Theater

Opened by the turn of the 20th Century theatre moguls, the Shubert brothers, the Shubert Theater in New Haven, Connecticut, was originally a testing ground for new shows before they opened on Broadway.

To date, more than 300 productions have opened at the Shubert before making their Broadway debuts, including Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, and My Fair Lady. 

Today, the Shubert hosts several different projects throughout the year, including Broadway “out-of-town” tryouts and national tours, ballets, and concerts.

If you happen to be in town on the first Thursday or Saturday of the month looking for unique things to do in New Haven, the theater offers a free tour to the public at 11 a.m.

Long Wharf Theater

In 1965, a new performance space, using borrowed movie theater seats, opened in a vacant warehouse on New Haven’s harbor.

Today, it’s known as the Long Wharf Theater.

Showing six plays per season operating in its two performance spaces, the theater was also the recipient of an honorary Tony Award, New York City theatre’s highest honor, in 1978 for its Excellence in Regional Theatre. 

Yale Repertory Theater

Yale University has one of the highest-regarded theatre programs in the country – it only makes sense they would have phenomenal performances.

Yale Rep is Yale School of Drama’s professional-in-residence company and has also won a Tony Award for Excellence in Regional Theatre.

They’ve had seventeen productions transferred to Broadway, and boast more than 100 premieres since opening in 1966.

24. Attend an ancient Compline mass at Christ Church

At Christ Church near the Shops at Yale, you can experience a true Compline mass every Sunday night during the university terms.

Starting at 9 p.m., the Christ Church choir sings the ancient hymns from a hidden location in the church, while the whole interior is illuminated by candlelight.

Compline – also known as Complin, Night Prayer, or the Prayers at the End of the Day, is the final church service (or office) of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours, which are prayed at fixed prayer times…In Western Christianity, Compline tends to be a contemplative office that emphasizes spiritual peace. In most monasteries it is the custom to begin the “Great Silence” after compline, during which the whole community, including guests, observes silence throughout the night until after the Terce the next day.

“Compline.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Mar. 2022.

25. Play your day away at Elm City Games

Elm City Games is an amazing game shop the library, which is home to more than 1,500 games. 

Here, you can sit down to play all kinds of tabletop board games, card games, and dice matches.

It’s only $10 for a day pass, including access to any games in their shop.

You’re bound to find far more options than standard classics like Monopoly, Sorry, or Chutes and Ladders, and you have the opportunity to buy any game in the store.

26. Play a round at Barcade in New Haven

“The Original Arcade Bar” started in 2004 in Brooklyn, New York City combining American craft beer with classic arcade games for a truly unique gaming experience.

The facility is constructed in an arcade-style, so there are many exciting activities and classic games to enjoy. Each site contains around 40 games ranging from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s.

Along with New Haven, they also have locations in Manhattan, Jersey City, and six locations around the United States.

Spend a few hours of your night out here, trying different beers and daring a friend to match your highest score.

27. Catch a concert at the Westville Bowl or College Street Music Hall

Concert lovers will love New Haven. There are several concert venues in New Haven, but three stand out above the rest.

Across the street from the city’s famous Yale Bowl, you’ll find the Westville Bowl.

However, instead of football, this stadium caters to concerts and comics.

The venue is open to all ages (unless a performance specifically states otherwise) and has accessible seating.

On their website, you can find out about upcoming performances at the Westville Bowl, purchase tickets, and learn more about their parking situation.

Catching concert performances at College Street Music Hall is another one of the best things to do in New Haven at night.

This live music venue is a restored 1926 theater that now hosts at least one concert every week. Find their upcoming concert schedule here.

Or, check out Toad’s Place for another concert perspective.

28. Head to Toad’s Place for live music

Toad’s Place has been a popular music venue and nightclub in New Haven, Connecticut, for decades–my father still rocks his vintage Toad’s Place t-shirts from when he regularly caught concerts here in college!

Check out their website to see what type of show you might enjoy most, and purchase tickets through their box office in person, over the phone, or online.

29. Attend a New Haven Symphony Orchestra performance

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra has been filling New Haven’s performance halls with magnificent music for nearly 120 years.

Morris Steinert, a German immigrant, was urged to organize an orchestra with other amateur musicians around the start of the twentieth century. Since then, the NHSO has been flooding the city with music.

Fun Fact: The New Haven Symphony Orchestra is the fourth-oldest orchestra in the United States.

Depending on your musical tastes, the Symphony offers a classics series, a pops series, and family and special events throughout the season.

Most of their concerts occur within the Lyman Center for the Performing Arts in New Haven. However, their calendar includes appearances in locations around New Haven County.

30. Immerse yourself in an Escape Room

You and your team will have an hour to unravel the mystery of your game room at Escape New Haven, Connecticut’s leading escape room venue.

All of their games are developed in-house and overseen by a top staff of game masters, ensuring that you enjoy the most immersive gaming experience possible.

Fun fact: They also have a number of outdoor experiences that take you through downtown New Haven to explore the intricacies.

In addition to New Haven, there are facilities in Providence, Rhode Island, and Sacramento, California.

31. Sleep inside a Brutalist building designed by Marcel Breuer

Affectionately known to locals as the “Pirelli Building,” world-renown modernist architect Marcel Breuer designed the building in the Brutalist architectural style in the 1970s.

However, after sitting empty for more than 20 years, sharing a parking lot with the city’s Ikea, Hilton has transformed the local landmark into the latest edition of its Tapestry Collection.

Now called the Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, it offers 165 guest rooms, is fully sustainable, pet-friendly, and offers amenities like a fitness center, a boutique, and parking on-site.

And, it’s within view of two of the other awesome things to do in New Haven–the Long Wharf Theater and the It Adventure Ropes Course at Jordan’s Furniture.

The Best Things to do Near New Haven, CT

32. Spend a day on one of New Haven’s beaches

Along with Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven county has several beautiful beaches to spend a hot summer day!

You can check out the list with all my favorites here.

33. Learn about the Industrial Revolution at the Eli Whitney Museum

The Eli Whitney Museum, located just over the border on the Hamden side of New Haven, honors the life of American inventor Eli Whitney.

Born in 1765, Whitney created the cotton gin during the Industrial Revolution.

This device, which separated cotton seeds from cotton fibers, significantly accelerated the process and is regarded as one of the most significant designs of the time.

You may explore numerous historic locations and exhibits on the campus of the Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop, as well as try out their children’s and adult education courses.

Their walk-in programs are only accessible on weekends.

More information about the various museum exhibitions and activities is available on their website.

34. Check out the PEZ Visitor’s Center

PEZ was invented in Vienna, Austria, in the 1920s as an alternative to smoking. It has become one of the most famous candies, with its hundreds of dispensers becoming highly sought-after collector’s pieces.

Fun Fact: PEZ is named after pfefferminz, the German word for peppermint. The first letter P, the middle letter E, and the last letter Z.

The PEZ Visitor Center is located just a short drive from New Haven in Orange, Connecticut.

Spend the day learning more about the company’s history, seeing renowned PEZ dispensers from the past, and watching the production facilities prepare and package the tablets and tubes.

35. Unlock your creativity as a paint and sip class

At Muse Paintbar, anyone can unlock their creativity.

Just a ten minute drive from downtown New Haven, head over to the Post Mall in Milford to spend a few hours lost in the art of painting.

When you head to their website, you can peruse the class times and what painting will be taught during that period. Once you decide, you can book online and show up at the start!

They provide all of the paints, brushes, and canvas you’ll need to create your masterpiece, and you can buy small bites and drinks from their menu to accompany your painting time.

Since opening in 2012, Muse Paintbar has expanded across the eastern seaboard, with locations all over New England and even as far south as Virginia.

How to Get to New Haven, CT

Trains will be your most convenient public transportation option to get to New Haven, especially if you’re coming from New York City.

Otherwise, adding a stop in for your New Haven itinerary is a great choice for your New England road trip, due to its connections.

New Haven is just off I-91 and I-95 and can be easily accessed by car.

Unless you’re spending all your time in downtown New Haven, many of the places on this list you’ll need to drive to reach.

Plan to rent a car or think about rideshare. Major companies like Uber and Lyft both operate in New Haven.

If you’re coming up from New York City, the Metro-North New Haven train line is your choice.

New Haven line trains leave Manhattan from Grand Central Terminal or Harlem-125th St, and it takes a little over 2 hours to arrive at the last stop.

However, Amtrak trains also stop at Union Station in New Haven, so you have even more train options. 

Where to Stay in New Haven, CT

Since I grew up right outside New Haven, I’ve never stayed in a hotel while visiting the city. However, there are several quality hotels and apartment-style stays that are close to the city center and the Yale University campus.

• Budget hotel – Just steps from the Shops at Yale, the Courtyard New Haven at Yale (Booking | Hotels) is a great standard option in town. Equipped with conventional Marriott accommodation and conveniences, this hotel also has an outdoor terrace, an on-site bar, and a fireplace in the lobby.

• Luxury hotel – The Blake Hotel (Booking | Hotels) is a trendy hotel that blends modern design with classic architecture. Located in the heart of downtown, the hotel has a beautiful rooftop patio with a cocktail bar and lounge and a few other restaurants. Choose from standard rooms to suites with sitting areas and kitchens and use their on-site gym.

• Apartment stays – If you’re looking for a true home-away-from-home experience, check out the New Haven Village Suites (Booking | Hotels.) This pet-friendly apartment-style hotel offers studio suites, two-bedroom suites, and ADA-compliant suites, with full kitchens in every block. With additional amenities like a picnic and play area for youngsters, daily housekeeping, and a full complimentary breakfast, you won’t want to leave.

• Close to the Yale University campus – Formerly known as Hotel Duncan, Graduate (Booking | Hotels) is one of the closest hotel options to the historic campus. Sitting right across the street from the Yale School of Art, it’s only fitting that the hotel has such an upscale, eclectic style. Making your experience memorable with complimentary bike rentals and access to the university’s Payne Whitney Gym (one of the largest indoor facilities in the USA,) you can truly take advantage of the Yale culture while staying here. 

Day Trips from New Haven

Mystic, Connecticut

On the Connecticut shoreline over by Rhode Island, you’ll find the beautiful seaport city of Mystic.

The town has been a hub for the ship-making industry since the 1700s, and has transformed into a quintessential New England coastal town.

From a maritime living history museum to an aquarium, Mystic has so many fun things to do!

You can also check out my guides on spending one day in Mystic and the best fall activities for more ideas.

New York City

You can easily add a day trip to New York City into your New Haven itinerary.

Head to Union Station and take a Metro-North train headed south into Grand Central Terminal.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Big Apple activities, check out my list of free things to do in New York City, and free museum hours in New York City. 

Poughkeepsie, New York

Less than a two-hour drive north into upstate New York you’ll find Poughkeepsie.

If you enjoy the history of American presidents, you’ll find the estate and birthplace of Franklin D.

Roosevelt on the grounds of his Presidential Library and Museum, as well as the beautiful raised park Walkway Over the Hudson.

If you’re looking for great upstate getaways, here is my guide to Poughkeepsie.

Sample 3-Day New Haven Itinerary

Day 1

Today is a Yale day! Breakfast at one of the coffee shops within walking distance from the campus. Then, head to the Yale University campus for a tour of the grounds.

After, you can spend the afternoon wandering through the Yale University Art Gallery. Head to dinner at Tre Scalini or Consiglio’s before your show at one of the three historic New Haven theaters.

Day 2

Today is all about the apizza. While Pepe’s is my favorite, you can choose any of the famous apizza places on Franklin Street for a pie or two.

Then, walk over to Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop for dessert before heading to Pardee Seawall Park and Lighthouse Point Park for a beautiful walk by the water.

Finally, head over to BAR for dinner to try out the apizza style with flair.

Day 3

Today is for the adventurous things to do in New Haven, Connecticut. If you’ve always wanted to visit New York City, this would be your day to train in and explore.

Otherwise, head to the Peabody Museum to observe the world-class paleontology collections.

Lunch at Atticus Bookstore & Cafe before spending your afternoon at It Adventure Ropes Course at Jordan’s Furniture to test your skills on the high ropes.

End your New Haven itinerary with a beautiful dinner at Shells & Bone.

Fun Things to do in New Haven: Wrap-Up

From the gorgeous grounds and history at Yale University to absolutely incredible food–if you’re taking a road trip through New England and looking for some of the best activities in Connecticut, make sure you take a stop off in New Haven, Connecticut. 

What are your favorite things to do in New Haven, Connecticut?

Lyndsay

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