Overview
New Haven is a city in Connecticut that is best known as the home of Yale University.
16 sights · 2 things to do · 14 places to eat · 6 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about New Haven
Yale University Visitor's Center
Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University
Yale University Art Gallery
Chapel at High St. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Th until 8PM from Sep-Jun, Su 1-6PM. Free.
Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University
Includes the Yale Babylonian Collection donated by JP Morgan in 1910, and many other world-renowned artifacts and collections.
Yale Center for British Art
Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
The Beinecke holds Yale's rare books and manuscripts. The building is impressive from outside, but particularly beautiful inside due to the glow that the translucent veined marble walls have on a sunny day. Rotating exhi…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 15°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Aug. (climate data from nearby Waterbury)
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.
- HVN Tweed New Haven Airport, New Haven — 3 mi away. Directions
- ISP Long Island MacArthur Airport, Islip — 36 mi away. Directions
- BDL Bradley International Airport, Hartford — 46 mi away (major hub). Directions
Additional airports for flights with additional airlines:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $8 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Yale University Visitor's Center, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University
- Lunch Claire's Corner Copia
- Afternoon Yale Collection of Musical Instruments, New Haven Museum
- Dinner Louis' Lunch
- Evening Toad's Place
Day 2
- Morning Yale University Art Gallery, Yale Center for British Art, Shubert Theatre
- Lunch Sally's Apizza
- Afternoon The Green, Amistad Memorial
- Dinner Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
- Evening Archie Moore's
Day 3
- Morning Lighthouse Point Park, Pardee Morris House
- Lunch Modern Apizza
- Afternoon Fort Nathan Hale Park
- Dinner Libbys Italian Cookies and Pastries
- Evening Bar and the Brü Rm
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
New Haven has many famous pizza parlors and is often credited with having introduced pizza to the United States, although New Havenites themselves often contend that New Haven-style apizza (pronounced uh-BEETZ) is a separate food from pizza altogether. The pizza has a thin, bitter crust, offset by high quality ingredients, making for one of the world's best pizza experiences. The most famous pizza locations are Pepe's and Sally's, which are over 80 years old and usually have lines going around the block. Modern Apizza—a more recent arrival (1934), further from the city center—has nonetheless usurped these establishments as the local favorite. For a real New England New Haven experience, order the white clam bake pizza—the simple toppings of garlic, olive oil, and New England clams against the backdrop of the bitter, oven-scorched crust make for a delight to the senses.
While it is a bit sacrilegious to pass through New Haven without trying the pizza, the small city has an astonishing wealth of fine dining establishments—easily rivaling the dining scene of any of New York's outer boroughs. The blocks just south of Yale University along Chapel, Crown, and George Streets are home to the majority of the city's best restaurants. Often-cited top restaurants in town include the Union League Cafe, Ibiza, Heirloom, and Zinc, but there are fantastic options around every corner in this part of town to try.
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
With a population density of 6,000 people per km2, downtown New Haven has a particularly residential character. As a result, numerous shops, cafes and top-rated restaurants have proliferated. Ethnic restaurants include Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Eritrean, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, Mexican, Thai, Indian and Malaysian cuisines, among many others. According to the Hartford Courant, New Haven has more pedestrian activity than any place between New York City and Boston, and also has a burgeoning nightlife scene.
The area is a center for bicycling and hiking, with nearby East Rock Park, West Rock State Park, and Sleeping Giant State Park. Together, they provide many miles of hiking trails and summits with expansive views over hundreds of square miles. Bicyclists enjoy cruising along the beautiful shoreline, or along the Farmington Canal Trail, a former canal and railroad that has been converted for recreational use.
Get in
By car
- New Haven sits at the junction of Interstates 91 and 95. Be careful to lock your doors, as the crime rate in New Haven has been known to elicit broken windows. Do not leave your GPS unit or its accessories (such as mounting units, suction cups, or suction cup marks on the window) in plain sight. Belongings are typically not taken in these incidents.
By plane
Go Tweed New Haven Regional Airport (HVN)
Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways are the only commercial airlines that fly into Tweed. As of April 2025, flights are available from Atlanta, Charleston (SC), Charlotte/Concord, Dallas/Fort Worth, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston-Hobby, Jacksonville (FL), Lakeland, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Norfolk, Orlando, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, San Juan (PR), Sarasota, Tampa, Vero Beach, West Palm Beach, Wilmington (NC), Washington-Dulles, and seasonally from Baltimore, Chicago-O'Hare, Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Detroit, Greenville/Spartanburg, Knoxville, New Orleans, Portland (ME), Savannah, and Traverse City.
Additional airports for flights with additional airlines:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) As the major airport for the New England area, Logan provides frequent non-stop service from most major cities in the United States and almost all major European airports.
- Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks (near Hartford), from which I-91 leads straight to New Haven, is much larger than Tweed Airport, with flights from cities throughout the eastern half of the United States and Canada and seasonal service from Mexico. It is about an hour away by car.
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is another major airport in the area, in Queens. It has flights from cities throughout the Eastern United States and Canada and from a few Caribbean destinations. It is about 1½ hours away by car. Airport shuttle service to New Haven is available, or you can get to Grand Central Terminal in New York and then a train to New Haven.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), also in Queens, is a major international airport. Airport shuttle service to New Haven is available, or you can get to Grand Central Terminal in New York and then a train to New Haven.
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), in northern New Jersey, is a major international airport. Airport shuttle service to New Haven is available, or you can take Amtrak to New Haven or a train from Grand Central Terminal.
By train
Stations
Train operators:
- Routes stopping at New Haven:
- Acela travels multiple times daily between Boston and Washington, D.C. with stops in Westwood, Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore. Its stops in Providence and New Haven provide easy access to Brown and Yale Universities. This is the only route in the U.S. which resembles a high-speed rail line, with a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h), though it can only go this fast on a few short segments. Stops at Union Station, but not State Street.
- Northeast Regional is Amtrak's busiest regional service, connecting Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the many towns and cities in-between. Toward the east end of the route, some trips terminate at Springfield instead of Boston. Some services also continue south into Virginia towards Newport News, Roanoke and Norfolk on three separate branch routes from Alexandria. This is also Amtrak's most frequent service, with multiple daily departures, and the longest trip takes 12.5 hours. Stops at Union Station and State Street.
- 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. Stops at Union Station, but not State Street.
- 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. Stops at Union Station and State Street.
- Valley Flyer operates twice daily between Greenfield and New Haven including stops in Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford. Stops at Union Station and State Street.
- Connecticut (CT) Rail operates the following lines out of New Haven:
* Shore Line East provides service between New Haven and New London, Conn. and intermediate points. It also operates a small number of trains between New Haven and Stamford, Conn. * Hartford Line is a commuter rail service between New Haven and Springfield, Massachusetts. This service features 17 trains a day from Hartford (12 of which originate in Springfield).
- Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line provides service between New Haven, New York City and intermediate points.
By bus
The New Haven Union Station at 50 Union Ave also serves as the central bus station for:
- Flixbus
- Greyhound also serves New Haven, but if you are coming from New York City, you may find Metro-North Railroad cheaper and more comfortable.
- Megabus. Service from Boston and Hartford. Buses stop at Union Station. Fares from $1 and up. Their bus stop is the same as the Peter Pan Bus stop.
- Peter Pan operates between cities in the Northeast U.S. (in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Philadelphia, PA; Albany, NY; New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Washington, DC)
Some of the same bus companies have an additional stop elsewhere in town. Check the tickets and their website for location of your stop.
- CT Transit Express #950 New Haven to Hanford express bus from the Chapel & Church St Transit Center and Union Station. Additional stops in Meriden, Middletown and Wethersfield. Check schedules for local stop locations.
- Yale Shuttle are local shuttles, operated by Yale University, from the NH Station to the Yale Central Campus and the Medical Campus on multiple routes.
Get around
Downtown New Haven is compact enough to be traversed by foot.
The city is also served by an efficient public bus system.
- CT Transit New Haven, +1 203-624-0151. Bus stops are marked with signs or a white stripe around utility poles in some cases. Buses all have bike racks.
Other transportation options include:
- A&S Taxi, +1 203-361-6198.
- M7 Ride, +1 203-777-7777.
See
Yale University has several sights of interest:
See Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
The Beinecke holds Yale's rare books and manuscripts. The building is impressive from outside, but particularly beautiful inside due to the glow that the translucent veined marble walls have on a sunny day. Rotating exhibits and a Gutenberg Bible are always on display.
Outside of Yale, New Haven has many notable sights:
See The Green
Public park in the center of the city. It's over 350 years old and recognized as one of the best 100 public spaces in the United States. Frequent festivals are held here.
See Lighthouse Point Park
Lighthouse Point Park gives a scenic view of New Haven’s shoreline and is perfect for those looking to leave the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. The park is home to Hawkfest, a celebration of the local wildlife, and the Carousel at Lighthouse Point. Visit their website for department phone numbers, park opening times, and parking information.
See Pardee Morris House
Visit a landmark of colonial New Haven. Built in 1750 and burned down in 1779 during a British raid on New Haven Harbor, the Pardee Morris House offers a glimpse into New Haven’s history. Classes, tours, and summer camps are held throughout the year. Visit the Pardee Morris House section of the New Haven Museums website for a schedule of events.
See Fort Nathan Hale Park
Get a spectacular view of the New Haven seaside as well as learn about the town’s colonial history. See Black Rock Fort, replete with the Betsy Ross flag, and take in a recreation of battles from New Haven’s past. Fish from its expansive pier or take the nature trail that leads from the park to the Pardee Seawall. The visitor center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 10AM to 4PM. Visit their website for more information.
See Amistad Memorial
Depicting the slave trader Joseph Cinqué, commonly known as Sengbe Pieh, this 14-foot bronze sculpture commemorates the events of the Amistad Affair of 1839, which was a kidnapping of 53 Mende captives, who led the revolt aboard the La Amistad, a two-masted schooner. It sits in front of a city hall, where the slaves were imprisoned during their trial.
- Institute Library, 847 Chapel St, historic subscription library, welcoming to visitors to the building. Free to visit.
Do
- Free community bike rides leave various bookstores and cafes each day; check with the Devil's Gear Bike Shop to rent cycles or find out about community rides. Local beaches are also a short bike ride or drive from the city center, and provide additional recreational opportunities.
- Dine at one of Wooster Street's popular Italian restaurants. New Haven is famous for its old-world style pizza.
- Visit the Crypt, an ancient graveyard under the Center Church on the Green. It is open April-October, Th & Sa 11AM-1PM.
- St. Patrick's Day Parade, one of the oldest in the United States.
- Visit summit of East Rock Park and West Rock Park where you can see the Three Judges Cave and hike along miles of trails.
- Tour Yale University.
- See an avant-garde jazz concert at Firehouse12, a firehouse converted into a modern bar and cutting-edge concert venue and recording studio.
- See a show at the famous Toad's Place, a must for any music lover.
- Bicycle along Farmington Canal, or shoreline bike routes.
Buy
When visiting, pick up a copy of the Downtown Guide at a local shop or restaurant. It will provide you with up-to-date information on the hundreds of restaurants downtown, and on shopping opportunities. New Haven abounds with hundreds of retailers, ranging from pricey local boutique to art galleries to national chains such as Ann Taylor.
Eat
New Haven has many famous pizza parlors and is often credited with having introduced pizza to the United States, although New Havenites themselves often contend that New Haven-style apizza (pronounced uh-BEETZ) is a separate food from pizza altogether. The pizza has a thin, bitter crust, offset by high quality ingredients, making for one of the world's best pizza experiences. The most famous pizza locations are Pepe's and Sally's, which are over 80 years old and usually have lines going around the block. Modern Apizza—a more recent arrival (1934), further from the city center—has nonetheless usurped these establishments as the local favorite. For a real New England New Haven experience, order the white clam bake pizza—the simple toppings of garlic, olive oil, and New England clams against the backdrop of the bitter, oven-scorched crust make for a delight to the senses.
While it is a bit sacrilegious to pass through New Haven without trying the pizza, the small city has an astonishing wealth of fine dining establishments—easily rivaling the dining scene of any of New York's outer boroughs. The blocks just south of Yale University along Chapel, Crown, and George Streets are home to the majority of the city's best restaurants. Often-cited top restaurants in town include the Union League Cafe, Ibiza, Heirloom, and Zinc, but there are fantastic options around every corner in this part of town to try.
Wooster Square
Eat Libbys Italian Cookies and Pastries
Amazing cookies, cannoli, Italian pastries, Italian ice, and coffee.
Downtown
Eat Louis' Lunch
This tiny hamburger joint, a few blocks off the Green, claims to be the inventor of the hamburger. The burger served in Louis' traditional style: steamed in an antique table-top cast-iron gas broiler, served between two pieces of white-bread toast, optionally with cheese, tomato, and onion. Condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard are not used or available, which is a point of pride for management who are adamant that such extras detract from the experience. Sides such as potato salad, chips, pies, and local Foxon Park soda are available. Do not expect McDonald's wait times for your burger!
Eat Aladdin Crown Pizza
Don't be fooled by the name; the best cuisine this place offers is not pizza; it's Middle Eastern. Be sure to try their falafel plate and baclava dessert. Authentic food with excellent service.
Eat Claire's Corner Copia
Vegan and vegetarian options, regularly-changing specials. Known for their Lithuanian coffee cake. Great bakery with gluten-free options. Kosher.
Eat Pacifico
Latin American seafood dishes with an upscale New York sensibility served at this LGBT-friendly restaurant.
Eat Union League Café
Upscale French cuisine. Make reservations.
Eat York St. Noodle House
If you're looking for an inexpensive, casual meal, York St. Noodle House is the place to go. Service is always friendly, and the menu always has irresistible options. Be sure to try their delicious boba fruit slushy. Try also coconut curry noodle soup and spicy wok basil noodle.
Eat Yorkside Pizza and Restaurant
Family-owned diner with large menu and very reasonable prices. Dough and sauces are made fresh daily on the premises.
Eat Zinc
Modern American. Chef's table options focus on local food items. Make reservations.
- Junzi Kitchen, <bdi>21 Broadway</bdi>, <abbr>☏</abbr> <bdi>+1 475 441-7836</bdi>. <bdi>11 am – 10 pm daily</bdi>. <bdi>Northern Chinese fare</bdi>
Eat Encore by Goodfellas
This is the perfect place not only for the connoisseur of Italian cuisine but for also a lover of movies. You can enjoy some of the finest Italian food New Haven has to offer while viewing movie classics on their ten flatscreen televisions
Eat Brazi's Italian Restaurant
Italian-American foods made with the freshest ingredients, salads, desserts. Dining, bar and banquet room.
East Rock
Eat Modern Apizza
This New Haven-style apizza place has really stirred up the waters of New Haven cuisine, dethroning the seemingly invincible Pepe's and Sally's as the city's (and quite possibly the world's) best pizza place. Modern Apizza has been voted "Best Pizza" in New Haven for 12 consecutive years in the New Haven Advocate’s "Best of" Reader’s Poll. Modern Apizza is a long walk, or a short drive, bike ride or trip on the "M" bus from Downtown New Haven.
- Atticus Market, 771 Orange St. New American fare plus pop-up pizza nights
Drink
Crown and Chapel Streets run through downtown New Haven and are packed with hundreds of restaurants, cafés, wine bars, lounges and the like. New Haven is the primary entertainment destination for the 800,000 people who live in the immediate area. When driving, watch pedestrians since the crowds can be thick, especially on weekends.
Drink Prime 16
16 taps of craft beer, accompanied by imaginative burgers
Drink Willoughby's
Locally roasted coffee. The to-go tumblers are reusable and a great deal.
Sleep
- Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Dr., boutique hotel in renovated former office building.
Stay safe
As with New York City, New Haven's crime rate has gone down considerably since the early 1990s, and it is now considered to be a safe city, at least in the downtown area. Today, there is very little risk involved with traveling to New Haven's tourist attractions as streets bustle with crowds generated by hundreds of restaurants, cinemas, theaters, cafes and stores. Luxury apartments and million-dollar condominiums have proliferated, adding a large population base to formerly industrial or commercial zones. In such areas, the downtown area is generally safe at night, but like other cities, late night travel through certain city neighborhoods outside the downtown, without someone who knows the area, is not recommended. When visiting, exercise the same precautions you would use in any large city.
It is not recommended to venture outside the Metro North stop at Union Station at night. Taxis wait near the doorway, and it would be wise to take advantage of them if you must arrive in New Haven during the evening. The surrounding area is poorly lit and has seen a variety of violent and non-violent crime.
Go next
- Mystic is famous for its seaport, and is a great family tourist attraction. It is about an hour away.
- Hartford is the capital of Connecticut, home to the state library and the Connecticut Capitol Building.
- New York City is the largest city in the country, which attracts tens of millions of visitors every year. It is 1½-2½ hours away.
- Boston has many tourist attractions, and is the capital of Massachusetts. It is about 2½ hours away.
Nearby
West Haven
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Branford
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Hamden
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North Haven
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Bethany
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