Overview
Rhinebeck is a township in Dutchess County, New York. The township encompasses the village of Rhinebeck and the hamlet of Rhinecliff. The downtown area of Rhinebeck is small enough to walk around within an hour or so, exclusive of extra time to visit churches and shops, have a meal, etc., and well worth it, as it is full of beautiful, lovingly decorated houses. It also has a beautifully preserved, functioning Roosevelt-era post office with murals that depict the history of the area and other interesting documentation.
3 sights · 1 things to do · 5 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Rhinebeck
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
A "living" aviation museum (airworthy vintage aircraft) covering the 1903 through 1939 era of vintage aviation (including aviation engines and operable period ground vehicles), May through October, 10AM-5PM. Airshows, Ju…
Rhinebeck Post Office
Functioning post office built in 1939, with original wooden doors and other elements, WPA-era murals depicting the history of life in the region, photos of the dedication ceremony attended by President Franklin D. Roosev…
Wilderstein
Stunning Queen Anne-style mansion set in park-like grounds designed by Calvert Vaux. Open May though October, Th-Su noon-4PM (last tour at 3:30PM). Call for special holiday events: Halloween Party, Victorian holiday tour…
Upstate Films
A non-profit member-supported arts organization, primarily serving as an independent cinema.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Albany)
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.
- SWF New York Stewart International Airport, Newburgh — 31 mi away. Directions
- ALB Albany International Airport, Albany — 57 mi away (major hub). Directions
US Route 9 is the main north-south road in the area. The major east-west route is called Market St. in downtown Rhinebeck. It is East Market St./State Route 308 east of Route 9 (Mill St./Montgomery St.) and West Market St./State Route 85 west of Route 9. West Market St. becomes Rhinecliff Rd. and enables access to the Amtrak station in Rhinecliff.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $12 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck Post Office
- Lunch Aba's Falafel
- Afternoon Wilderstein, Upstate Films
- Dinner Bread Alone
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
The eateries in Rhinebeck are mainly along a 2-block strip on East Market Street east of Route 9, plus several on Route 9 and a few others in strip malls and so on, slightly removed from these two streets. You will see just about all of these in the course of a walk in the built-up area of downtown.
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
Local information
- Village of Rhinebeck website
Get in
By plane
- Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, +1 845-564-2100.
- Albany International Airport, 737 Albany-Shaker Rd, Albany.
By train
Go Rhinecliff–Kingston railway station
The station is small. As of August 2025, it is being renovated, and there is a temporary station for buying tickets in person, but the platforms and access to them are fully functional. There is very limited taxi service at the station. You may be able to get a ridehail and might have to wait a while for it to show up.
- Routes stopping in Rhinecliff:
- Adirondack operating daily between Montreal and New York City including stops along the way in Saint-Lambert, Rouses Point, Plattsburgh, Westport, Ticonderoga, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers.
- Ethan Allen Express operating daily between Burlington and New York City including in Middlebury, Rutland, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers.
- Empire Service operates twice daily between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City including stops in Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Additional daily trips operate between Albany (Rensselaer) and New York City.
- Maple Leaf operating daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and Niagara Falls (New York) include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls (Ontario). Stops between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City are the same as those made by the Empire Service. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States.
- Lake Shore Limited, operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer). The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City. Stops between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer) include South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and New York City include Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, and Croton-on-Hudson.
By car
US Route 9 is the main north-south road in the area. The major east-west route is called Market St. in downtown Rhinebeck. It is East Market St./State Route 308 east of Route 9 (Mill St./Montgomery St.) and West Market St./State Route 85 west of Route 9. West Market St. becomes Rhinecliff Rd. and enables access to the Amtrak station in Rhinecliff.
Get around
Downtown Rhinebeck is easily walkable for people with an average level of fitness, but if you need to get to or from the Rhinecliff train station, you will need a car or taxi or at least a bicycle, unless you want to walk 2 miles on roads without sidewalks.
See
See Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
A "living" aviation museum (airworthy vintage aircraft) covering the 1903 through 1939 era of vintage aviation (including aviation engines and operable period ground vehicles), May through October, 10AM-5PM. Airshows, June through October, weekends at 2PM. For $75, take a biplane ride over the Hudson River; Sa-Su, June through October.
See Rhinebeck Post Office
Functioning post office built in 1939, with original wooden doors and other elements, WPA-era murals depicting the history of life in the region, photos of the dedication ceremony attended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, other Roosevelt Administration officials, the King of Denmark and Iceland, and many locals, and many other historic photos and documents about the history of the village.
See Wilderstein
Stunning Queen Anne-style mansion set in park-like grounds designed by Calvert Vaux. Open May though October, Th-Su noon-4PM (last tour at 3:30PM). Call for special holiday events: Halloween Party, Victorian holiday tours, Yuletide high tea. The mansion is several miles outside town, so not practical to walk to.
Do
Buy
Shop The Epicurian
This store sells some quality products, at varying values (some are overly expensive, others not), but what may be most important to you is that this is a place you can go if you have time before your Amtrak train departs from Rhinecliff Station and you want tea or coffee and maybe a snack. Iced tea was $3 in July 2024, and the counterwoman graciously brewed some hot tea and then poured it over ice.
Shop Migliorelli Farm Stand
Excellent little farm stand, with delicious fresh peaches in season, tasty jams, etc. Well outside of the built-up area of town and requires a vehicle to access, but if you have one, it's worth going to to see what's in season.
Eat
The eateries in Rhinebeck are mainly along a 2-block strip on East Market Street east of Route 9, plus several on Route 9 and a few others in strip malls and so on, slightly removed from these two streets. You will see just about all of these in the course of a walk in the built-up area of downtown.
Eat Aba's Falafel
Delicious falafel, sabich and hummus made with fresh ingredients, including organic chickpeas. They have a few outdoor tables and a bit more space inside. Takeout is also available.
Eat Bread Alone
In spite of their name, this informal cafe also sells some tasty sweet and savory pastries, sandwiches, a couple of egg dishes and salads and breakfast burritos and does a brisk business selling coffee and tea. The peach tea has a very nice flavor and is not sweetened. Many people hang out and use their Wi-Fi. This is part of a small chain, as they also have a cafe in Woodstock and a cafe and bakery in Boiceville, and their breads are also for sale in various grocery stores and markets. Staff is sometimes very busy, but they are extremely kind. Outside seating in the courtyard outside the back door.
Eat Cinnamon
Unusually delicious, robustly spiced cuisine from regions throughout the Indian Subcontinent (though mild on request). Unusual touches like including plentiful caramelized onion in the white rice that comes with main dishes by default. Full bar with a fairly long list of interesting cocktails and other drinks. No outdoor seating.
Eat Gigi Trattoria
You can have an expensive meal at this restaurant, but you don't have to. The "skizza"s are great: The crust is crunchy through-and-through without being cracker-like, and they use fresh, high-quality ingredients. Two people with normal appetites can easily split a soup or salad (they offer "half bowls" of soup that are a full bowl to almost anyone else) and two pizzas and be full and satisfied. Good service, too. Gluten-free pizza is also available.
Eat Smoky Rock Barbeque
The pitmaster believes that he has created a new style of barbecue, New York barbecue. He may be right as, for example, the tender, deliciously spice-rubbed smoked Angus brisket owes a lot to traditional Jewish delicatessen food. For sides, if you like spicy food, consider getting some chipotle coleslaw, which is quite robustly spiced and unique. They also have some excellent local IPAs and hard ciders. They have plenty of space indoors and a fairly sizable patio.
Sleep
Splurge
Go next
If your next stop requires an Amtrak trip, beware that Rhinecliff Station is not reasonable to walk to from Rhinebeck, and if you try to get a ridehail to the station in real time, you may be at serious risk of missing your train. You are best off arranging for someone to drive you there or reserving a ride at least hours if not a day in advance of your train trip.
- Kingston, on the other side of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, has a much larger and in some cases considerably different selection of historic buildings than Rhinebeck.
- In addition to visiting other places in the Hudson Valley, consider going to the Catskills for some good hiking.
Nearby
Kingston
City / town · 17 listings · 5 mi away
Red Hook
City / town · 9 listings · 6 mi away
Hyde Park
City / town · 14 listings · 10 mi away
Saugerties
City / town · 3 listings · 11 mi away
Woodstock
City / town · 9 listings · 14 mi away
New Paltz
City / town · 21 listings · 15 mi away
Poughkeepsie
City / town · 24 listings · 15 mi away
Amenia
City / town · 7 listings · 19 mi away
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