Overview
Hartford is the capital of the state of Connecticut in the United States of America. It is home to the country's oldest public art museum (Wadsworth Atheneum), and the Mark Twain House, in which the author wrote his most famous works and raised his family. Mark Twain wrote in 1868, "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief."
13 sights · 15 things to do · 18 places to eat · 8 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Hartford
Connecticut State Capitol
Downtown atop Bushnell Park the capitol is a National Historic Landmark that opened back in 1878. This stunning building is made of marble and is topped off by a gold dome. Open for free on-hour tours year round.
Bushnell Park
The first publicly funded park in America. Located in the center of the city and bordering the state capitol building. The park was designed by the architect of Central Park in New York City.
Wadsworth Atheneum
America's first public art museum, founded in 1842. The Wadsworth has more than 45,000 works of art as part of its permanent collection. Free admission during final hour (4-5PM) $20/adult, $15/senior, $10/student, childr…
Connecticut Science Center
With 150 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, plus daily programs and events, the Connecticut Science Center offers endless exploration for children, teens and adults.
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch
The first permanent triumphal arch and the first permanent war memorial in America, it pays tribute to the Connecticut soldiers who lost their lives in the American Civil War. It also pays tribute to slaves and their str…
Old State House
Downtown. The original Connecticut Capitol building is a National Historic Landmark that dates back to 1796 making it one of the oldest state houses in the country.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 19°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Sep.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BDL Bradley International Airport, Hartford — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
- HVN Tweed New Haven Airport, New Haven — 36 mi away. Directions
A recommended route for getting to Hartford from a rather distant city is to fly into Boston Logan International Airport and then take one of the below-mentioned buses into the city. This also happens to be the cheap route.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Connecticut State Capitol, Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Bushnell Park
- Lunch Black-Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen & Bar
- Afternoon Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, XL Center
- Dinner Salute
- Evening Pig’s Eye Pub
Day 2
- Morning Elizabeth Park, Connecticut Historical Society Museum & Library
- Lunch Fire-N-Spice Vegan Restaurant
- Afternoon Mark Twain House & Museum, Harriet Beecher Stowe House & Library
- Dinner Kravin Pho
- Evening Spigot Cafe
Day 3
- Morning Pratt & Whitney Stadium
- Lunch ON20
- Dinner The Capital Grille
- Evening Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Over the years, Hartford came to be known for its Italian cuisine. South End of Hartford used to be called Little Italy, and even though most Italian-Americans have migrated to the southern suburbs of the city, their restaurants and shops remain. Today, however, Hartford is not limited to Italian cuisine. Waves of immigrants from South America, the Caribbean Islands (mainly Puerto Rico and Jamaica) and southeast Asians have added a richer cuisine to Hartford. South End and West End is filled with Peruvian and Brazilian cuisines. West End and parts of East Hartford have seen a surge in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, North End and parts of West End are known for their Jamaican and Caribbean/West Indies cuisines, and Park Street for the Puerto Rican cuisine.
To the locals and those in the surrounding areas, Hartford is known for its giant grinders (sandwiches). Most of these giant grinder shops are in the South End neighborhood, on or near Franklin Avenue, which include Corner Grinder, Franklin Giant Grinder, La Rosa's, and Wethersfield Pizza House.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Founded in 1635, Hartford is among the oldest cities in the United States. It is home to the country's oldest publicly funded park (Bushnell Park), the oldest continuously published newspaper (the Hartford Courant), and the second-oldest secondary school (Hartford Public High School).
The Greater Hartford region is enmeshed with Springfield (Massachusetts), which lies only 24 miles to the north. Hartford and Springfield are the principal cities in the Knowledge Corridor, the second largest urban region in New England with 2.18 million people, 29 universities and colleges, and 120,000 university students.
Tourist information
- Hartford tourism website
Climate
The climate of Hartford Connecticut is hot humid continental. Winters are moderately cold with some snow. Summers are hot and humid. Typical summer heat indices average around 86°F during the day and 66°F at night. It's not unheard of for heat indices to climb upwards to near 100°F and not go below 75°F on some exceptionally hot and sweltering summer days.
Get in
A recommended route for getting to Hartford from a rather distant city is to fly into Boston Logan International Airport and then take one of the below-mentioned buses into the city. This also happens to be the cheap route.
By plane
Bradley International Airport (BDL) is 15 mi north of Hartford in nearby Windsor Locks. It can be reached by car along I-91. CT Transit's Bus 30 operates service between the airport and downtown.
By car
Hartford is located in the junction of Interstates 91 and 84, as well as Connecticut Routes 2 and 6.
- From Boston/Worcester, MA: I-90 West (tolled), then I-84 West
- From Springfield, MA: I-91 South
- From New Haven: I-91 North
- From New York City: I-95 North or Hutchinson River Parkway/Merritt Parkway (CT-15 North), then I-91 North
- From Danbury/Waterbury: I-84 East
- From Providence, RI: Route 6 West, then I-384 West
By train
- Train operators:
- Routes stopping at Hartford:
- Amtrak Hartford Line operating 3-5 trips per direction daily between Springfield and New Haven with stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford.
- Northeast Regional operating twice daily between Springfield and Washington, D.C. with stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, Wallingford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New Rochelle, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New Carrollton.
- Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New Carrollton.
- Valley Flyer operates twice daily between Greenfield and New Haven including stops in Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford.
- Travel time to Hartford form New Haven is 45 minutes and from Springfield is 40 minutes.
By bus
- Greyhound operates to Hartford Union Station. Buses are available from Springfield, New Haven, New York City, and Boston.
- Peter Pan Bus operates express buses to Hartford Union Station from more than 50 cities in North East United States.
- Go Buses operate to the Morgan Street Bus Station from Manhattan, Cambridge, Newton, and New Haven.
Get around
By car
Hartford is easy to navigate. Street parking is free on the weekends. Downtown is the safest to drive and park.
By public transport
- CT Transit Hartford operates public bus service throughout the Greater Hartford Area. Most bus-stops receive service every 15-30 minutes. The regular fare is $1.75, with one free transfer. All day passes are also available for $3.50. Passes can be bought online or at the CT Transit Customer Service and Sales Outlet located at State and Market Streets next to the Old State House (M-F 7AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-3PM,
- CT Fastrak is Connecticut’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. It is a system of bus routes that utilize a bus-only roadway on dedicated lanes with offboard fare payment and level boarding, using a former rail corridor. The CTfastrak system provides direct service to and from Hartford to New Britain, Bristol, Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol and more with routes that take advantage of the bus-only CTfastrak roadway.
- Dash Shuttle is a free circulator bus that operates in the downtown area every 15 minutes Monday-Friday 7AM to 7PM and weekends during major events. The route connects the CT Convention Center, the Riverfront, the Arts and Entertainment District, various restaurants, and downtown hotels.
See
See Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch
The first permanent triumphal arch and the first permanent war memorial in America, it pays tribute to the Connecticut soldiers who lost their lives in the American Civil War. It also pays tribute to slaves and their struggle. The iconic arch was dedicated on September 17, 1886.
See Mark Twain House & Museum
Located in the city's historic Asylum Hill neighborhood, this is where popular author Mark Twain lived from 1874-1891. During this time Twain wrote many famous books, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Built in the high Victorian Gothic style, this home has been fabulously restored and offers an enlightening insight into the family life of one of America's favorite authors. The accompanying Visitors Center offers an additional educational perspective relative to the issues of Twain's day.
See The Governor's Residence
Located in the city's West End neighborhood the governor's mansion was built back in 1909 and has been the home of governor's and their families since 1943. The 15,000 square foot (1,400 m2) residence is on 4 acres (1.6 hectares) and has 9 fireplaces, nine bathrooms, a pool and is a National Historic Landmark. Guided tours can be arranged.
See Colt Factory (Colt Armory)
Hartford. America's favorite gun shop, shaped like an Arabian palace. It can be viewed just south of the skyline from East Hartford. It is in Hartford's south end.
Do
Do XL Center
The largest arena in Connecticut. This is the former home of the Hartford Whalers National Hockey League team and numerous other professional sports teams and the current home of American Hockey League Hartford Wolfpack, and one of two homes for the men's and women's basketball programs of the University of Connecticut Huskies, and for its men’s hockey program. Various bands and recording artists perform here, mostly popular and more established acts.
Do Xfinity Theatre (formerly New England Dodge Music Center)
Hartford (North Meadows - just north of Downtown). This is a huge amphitheater that has 6,100 seats in a covered pavilion and a lawn that can hold up to 18,000 people. The Center brings in big name concerts each year including the Dave Mattews Band, Britney Spears, O.A.R., Weezer, John Mayer, Pearl Jam and Aerosmith. The Center is closed in the winter months but is open the rest of the year.
Do Connecticut Convention Center
At 540,000 square feet (50,000 m2), the largest convention center in southern New England overlooks the Connecticut River and downtown. Hosts tons of national and local conventions, events, meetings, dinners, etc. each year. Attached to the center is the 409-room, 22-story Marriott Hartford Hotel Downtown.
Do Pratt & Whitney Stadium (Rentschler Field)
East Hartford. An awesome stadium completed in 2003 that is the home of University of Connecticut Football. The stadium is also used as a concert hall and has hosted big names like Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and The Police. Overall the stadium sits on 75 acres (30 hectares) and has 40,000 seats.
Do Real Art Ways
One of the country’s early multi-disciplinary “alternative spaces,” Real Art Ways has evolved to become a leading center for contemporary art and ideas. Programming covers a broad range of cultural activities including visual arts exhibitions, concerts, literary readings, education and family programs, public art, community projects, and daily cinema screenings.
Sports
- Hartford Yard Goats — the Minor League Baseball team, home stadium is Dunkin' Park.
- Hartford Athletic — the Division II Professional League soccer team, home field is Dillon Stadium.
- Hartford Wolf Pack — the American Hockey League (AHL) team, they play their home games at the XL Center.
- UConn Huskies — the university's football team plays at Rentschler Field (Pratt & Whitney Stadium), and the men's and women's basketball teams play off-campus games at the XL Center.
Learn
Buy
Shop West Hartford Center
A New England Village that has vibrant entertainment, restaurant, and shopping just west of the Hartford city line. The "Center" as it's known locally boasts more than 140 shops and restaurants, most of which are locally owned and operated including Max's Oyster Bar, Bookworm, The Wild Raspberry, Becker's Jewelry, Allen Collins and Cuzzi's Men's Store.
Shop Blue Back Square
An addition to West Hartford Center, this development is a 550,000-square-foot mixed-use development that features shops, restaurants, a movie theater, offices and condos. Very pedestrian-orientated development that has tiny streets and storefronts facing the streets. Shops and restaurants include Crate & Barrel, REI, Barnes & Noble, Whole Foods, Criterion Cinemas, National Jean Company, the Cheesecake Factory and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.
Shop Westfarms Mall
A large and upscale regional mall with over 1,000,000 square feet of shopping and dining space. The mall opened back in 1974 and today features 160 shops and restaurants including Nordstrom, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, JC Penny, Aldo, Apple, Banana Republic, Coach, Express, Gap, Martin + Osa, Talbots and Pottery Barn.
Shop Bass Pro Shops
Specialty retailer focusing on hunting, camping, fishing and other outdoor activities. Bass Pro Shops stores serve almost as tourist attractions and the East Hartford location is no different. There is a museum displaying wildlife of the Connecticut River Valley, an indoor archery range, an aquarium, a gun library, a restaurant and a huge indoor mountain filled with taxidermy animals.
Shop Stew Leonards
Landmark grocery store with 4 locations in New York and Connecticut including one in Greater Hartford. Stew Leonards is known as the world's largest grocery store. A visit here is unlike a visit to a typical grocery store. There are singing mechanical cows and bananas and samples of everything from soup to sweet potato chips.
Shop The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk
A traditional lifestyle center located east of Hartford, over the Connecticut River that opened not too long ago. Evergreen Walk is home to over 60 shops and restaurants including LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, 57 Sheffield, Ann Taylor, Coldwater Creek, Highland Park Market, Johnny Rockets, Joseph A Bank and Omaha Steaks
Shop The Shoppes at Buckland Hills
Another large regional shopping mall that is located east of Hartford, over the Connecticut River. The mall opened in 1990 and is part of one of the largest retail areas in the Northeast. The mall is home to big name shops and restaurants including Macy's, JCPenney, Barnes & Noble, Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant, H&M and the Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Eat
Over the years, Hartford came to be known for its Italian cuisine. South End of Hartford used to be called Little Italy, and even though most Italian-Americans have migrated to the southern suburbs of the city, their restaurants and shops remain. Today, however, Hartford is not limited to Italian cuisine. Waves of immigrants from South America, the Caribbean Islands (mainly Puerto Rico and Jamaica) and southeast Asians have added a richer cuisine to Hartford. South End and West End is filled with Peruvian and Brazilian cuisines. West End and parts of East Hartford have seen a surge in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, North End and parts of West End are known for their Jamaican and Caribbean/West Indies cuisines, and Park Street for the Puerto Rican cuisine.
To the locals and those in the surrounding areas, Hartford is known for its giant grinders (sandwiches). Most of these giant grinder shops are in the South End neighborhood, on or near Franklin Avenue, which include Corner Grinder, Franklin Giant Grinder, La Rosa's, and Wethersfield Pizza House.
Eat Bear's Smokehouse Barbecue
Opened in 2014, brings southern-style BBQ to the neighborhood.
Eat Black-Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen & Bar
Serves BBQ and Cajun restaurant southeastern food. The restaurant also plays live music from many well-known and local blues artists.
Eat El Pollo Guapo
A neighborhood rotisserie joint featuring whole roasted chickens, fresh sides, tacos and salads.
Eat Salute
Trendy Italian restaurant with an upscale menu of pastas (gluten-free available) & grilled dishes.
Eat Fire-N-Spice Vegan Restaurant
Vegan restaurant.
Eat Le Petit Chef
French restaurant, sandwiches.
Eat The Brownstone
Pizza, bar. Local branch of a small chain that started in New York's East Village.
Eat Kravin Pho
Pho & other Vietnamese specialties.
Eat Han Restaurant
Sichuan cuisine.
Splurge
Eat ON20
Fine dining restaurant. Acclaimed New American fare in an elegant, urbane space on the 20th floor with city & river views.
Eat The Capital Grille
Fine dining restaurant. Outpost of the upscale steakhouse chain offers classic American fare and a clubby, refined setting.
Eat Max Downtown
Fine dining restaurant. Upscale spot with prime cuts & seafood, extensive wine list, cocktails for expense account crowd.
Eat Máncora Restobar
Peruvian cuisine.
Dessert
Eat Mozzicato De Pasquale Bakery & Pastry Shop
Eat Scotts' Jamaican Bakery
Drink
Drink Vaughan's Public House
Cozy pub offering traditional Irish fare, Guinness & single malts amid dark woods & memorabilia.
Drink Pig’s Eye Pub
Famous for never having a cover, and live bands on the roof top patio. Overall a rowdy little place with lots of fun.
Drink Black-Eyed Sally's
Southern fare & BBQ in a hip, vibrant roadhouse with live blues, jazz & soul music.
Drink Arch Street Tavern
Historic restaurant/bar featuring a rustic atmosphere, pub food and live music.
Drink Agave Grill
Upscale tequila bar, quieter and more mature. Features an excellent selection of tequila and also serves up great Mexican cuisine.
Drink Spigot Cafe
Laid-back bar with wide selection of draft and bottled beers.
Microbreweries
Sleep
There are an abundance of large chain hotels in the Hartford area as well as many upscale ones downtown and in the suburbs. Over 60,000 rooms are located in Greater Hartford.
Downtown
Stay Residence Inn Hartford Downtown
In the heart of downtown in the Richardson Building which dates back to the late 1800s, two buildings away from the Old State House and the Hartford Stage and one block from the Hartford Civic Center / XL Center. Features 120 rooms on 8 floors plus a restaurant, 2 cafes and a fitness center.
South Meadows
Stay safe
Despite what the media says, Hartford is generally a safe city. The areas where tourist attractions, colleges, shops, nightclubs and restaurants are is safe. Most of the violence is confined to the north end of Hartford which includes areas north and west of downtown (excluding the North Meadows and West End). A majority of the attractions and entertainment in Hartford is located in Downtown/Central Business District, the West End, South End, and North Meadows and these areas are fairly safe.
North Meadows safety: If you are a visitor you would visit the North Meadows if you were attending some sort of event. The Dodge Music Center, Connecticut Expo Center and the Greater Hartford Jaycees Community Boathouse are all in the North Meadows. This area is not a residential neighborhood, it is a commercial and industrial neighborhood and when major events take place there is a police presence in the area to make sure things don't get out of hand at a big concert for example.
West End safety: The West End is home to the Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, UCONN School of Law, Hartford Seminary, University of Hartford, Governors Mansion, Elizabeth Park and Watkinson School. This area is extremely safe and since there are so many colleges University of Hartford and UCONN police patrol the area in addition to the Hartford Police Department
Downtown/ Central Business District safety: Downtown is home to the Old State House, Wadsworth Atheneum, State Capital, Capital Community College, Constitution Plaza, Hartford Civic Center, CT Convention Center and most of the major Hartford hotels (Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn Express Downtown, Goodwin, Residence Inn by Marriott, Homewood Suites by Hilton) as well as many of the well known nightclubs, bars and restaurants and so there are usually people downtown. If you are planning on going to the major nightclub/bar area by Union Station (Allyn Street, Union Place, Ann Street) there are sometimes police patrolling the area to make sure nothing gets out of control. Also when there are major events such as games or conventions there are also usually extra police on duty.
South End safety: The south end is safe but when driving in areas of the south end do be cautious as drivers can be wild and pedestrians many times do not confine themselves to crosswalks. Besides Franklin Avenue, Wethersfield Avenue and Maple Avenue many areas of the South End are residential so there is a sense of community and low crime
North End safety: Areas in the north end of Hartford (Albany Avenue between just north of downtown and the west end) and the surrounding neighborhood can be dangerous during the nighttime. Since it is better to be safe than sorry, if you are planning on driving through this area keep your doors locked.
Go next
- Springfield, Massachusetts - 24 miles (39 km) north.
- New Haven, Connecticut - 37 miles (60 km) south.
- Storrs, Connecticut - 25 miles (40 km) east.
Nearby
East Hartford
City / town · 5 listings · 4 mi away
Wethersfield
City / town · 13 listings · 4 mi away
West Hartford
City / town · 24 listings · 4 mi away
Newington
City / town · 1 listings · 6 mi away
Windsor
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
South Windsor
City / town · 11 listings · 7 mi away
Rocky Hill
City / town · 52 listings · 8 mi away
Manchester
City / town · 22 listings · 8 mi away
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