Overview
Shrewsbury is a city in the Central Massachusetts region of Massachusetts.
2 sights · 2 things to do · 6 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Shrewsbury
Heberts Candy and Tours
Where white chocolate was first made in the United States.
General Artemas Ward House
Tour the large house, which was built in 1727, and later became home to famous Revolutionary War general Artemas Ward. The house is now a museum and research center for the Ward family and colonial Massachusetts owned by…
Ski Ward
Serious skiers will probably laugh at this place, but it is easy to get to for millions of residents in southern New England and offers a popular tubing center.
Bowlero
Upscale bowling alley with an arcade, bar, and pub food.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 80°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Nov. (climate data from nearby Wellesley)
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.
- ORH Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester — 9 mi away. Directions
- BED Laurence G Hanscom Field, Bedford — 25 mi away. Directions
- BOS Boston Logan International Airport, Boston — 36 mi away (major hub). Directions
The nearest commercial airport is Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, about 20-30 minutes away from most parts of Shrewsbury. Travel to and from the airport is mostly along city streets in Worcester so your travel time will depend greatly on time of day and traffic conditions. It has daily service to JFK International Airport in New York as well as occasional flights to destinations in Florida.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Heberts Candy and Tours, General Artemas Ward House
- Lunch Sawa
- Afternoon Ski Ward, Bowlero
- Dinner Udupi
- Evening Deja Brew
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Shrewsbury is a town of 36,000 (in 2010) within Worcester County that serves as a mini hub along with Worcester for the region. It is chock full of restaurants, bars, and suburban neighborhoods. It also has a large Indian American population.
Get in
By plane
The nearest commercial airport is Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, about 20-30 minutes away from most parts of Shrewsbury. Travel to and from the airport is mostly along city streets in Worcester so your travel time will depend greatly on time of day and traffic conditions. It has daily service to JFK International Airport in New York as well as occasional flights to destinations in Florida.
By car
Shrewsbury can be reached by car in a variety of ways. I-290 connects the town to the northwest and depending where you are going, you may want to use either exit 25 for Main St or exit 26 for Boylston St (Route 140). I-290 can also be used to reach the northern parts of Shrewsbury from the Massachusetts Turnpike via Worcester. You can reach the southern portion of Shrewsbury from the Massachusetts Turnpike using exit 96 for Millbury. Route 9 is a major state highway that runs directly through the middle of Shrewsbury, connecting the town to Worcester in the west and east towards MetroWest.
By bus
You can reach parts of Shrewsbury from Worcester using the Worcester Regional Transit Authority's Route 15 bus. This will take you across Lake Quinsigamond along Route 9 and up Maple Ave to Shrewsbury village. This bus will get you to most restaurants in Shrewsbury.
See
See General Artemas Ward House
Tour the large house, which was built in 1727, and later became home to famous Revolutionary War general Artemas Ward. The house is now a museum and research center for the Ward family and colonial Massachusetts owned by Harvard University. Call for tour availability.
Place Shrewsbury Common
Picturesque New England town common lying at the center of Shrewsbury village. The common has several monuments, a gazebo, plenty of trees, and is lined by historic buildings.
Do
Buy
Eat
Eat Sawa
Asian restaurant serving steak, sushi, and hibachi.
Eat Udupi
South Indian cuisine serving dosai, uthappam, and curries.
Eat Pho Sure
Casual and authentic Vietnamese restaurant specializing in pho bowls.
Eat Atlantic Poke
Quick service poke restaurant.
Eat Lakeside Bar & Grill
Unassuming strip-mall restaurant with solid pub food and a few beers.
Eat Jimmy's Tavern & Grill
Popular spot for steak and pub fare.
Drink
Drink Deja Brew
Learn how to brew your own beer from the helpful staff while you sample the wares of others.
Sleep
Stay Days Inn – Shrewsbury
Nearby
Worcester
City / town · 126 listings · 5 mi away
Millbury
City / town · 7 listings · 7 mi away
Boroughs
City / town · 64 listings · 7 mi away
Clinton
City / town · 25 listings · 9 mi away
Marlborough
City / town · 9 listings · 9 mi away
Hudson
City / town · 5 listings · 10 mi away
Upton
City / town · 4 listings · 10 mi away
Ashland
City / town · 14 listings · 13 mi away
My experience
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