Things to Do in New Haven: Top Sights and Original 3, 5 & 7-Day Itineraries
New Haven, on Connecticut's shoreline about two hours from New York City, is home to Yale University, free world-class art museums, a strong theater tradition and the famous coal-fired "apizza" of Wooster Street.
This guide covers the best things to do in New Haven, 3, 5 and 7-day itineraries with the Thimble Islands, Mystic and Hartford, plus food and where to stay.
Top things to see in New Haven
Yale University
Gothic campus, Beinecke Library and student-led tours.
Yale University Art Gallery
Free, the oldest university art museum in the Americas.
Yale Center for British Art
Free museum in a Louis Kahn building.
Peabody Museum
Dinosaurs and natural history.
New Haven Green
Historic central park with three churches.
Wooster Street
Home of New Haven-style pizza.
East Rock Park
Summit views over the city and Long Island Sound.
Lighthouse Point Park
Beach, 1840 lighthouse and antique carousel.
New Haven in 3 days: an original itinerary
1Day 1 · Yale
Take a student-led campus tour of Yale, stepping inside the Beinecke Rare Book Library with its translucent marble walls. Lunch on Chapel Street. In the afternoon, visit the Yale University Art Gallery and the Yale Center for British Art across the street. Dinner on Wooster Street with a white clam pizza.
2Day 2 · Museums and views
Visit the renovated Peabody Museum and its dinosaur hall. Lunch in the East Rock neighborhood. In the afternoon, hike or drive up East Rock Park for views of the city and the Sound. Spend the evening at a show at the Shubert Theatre or Yale Repertory Theatre.
3Day 3 · Shoreline
Head to Lighthouse Point Park to see its 1840 lighthouse and ride the historic carousel. Lunch by the water. In the afternoon, explore the earthworks of Fort Nathan Hale and Black Rock Fort. Dinner at a seafood restaurant on the harbor.
New Haven in 5 days
Follow the 3-day plan above, then add these two days:
4Day 4 · Thimble Islands
Drive to Stony Creek in Branford and take a small-boat cruise around the Thimble Islands, a cluster of granite islets with summer cottages. Lunch on lobster rolls in Stony Creek. In the afternoon, walk the Branford shoreline. Return to New Haven for dinner.
5Day 5 · Mystic
Take a day trip to Mystic, about an hour east, for Mystic Seaport Museum and its tall ships, plus the Mystic Aquarium. Lunch in downtown Mystic. In the afternoon, stroll the drawbridge area. Return to New Haven in the evening.
New Haven in 7 days
With a full week, keep days 1 to 5 and finish with:
6Day 6 · Hartford
Visit Hartford, about 45 minutes north, for the Mark Twain House and the Wadsworth Atheneum, the oldest public art museum in the US. Lunch in Hartford. In the afternoon, see the State Capitol. Return to New Haven for dinner.
7Day 7 · Last day
Enjoy a final breakfast near the Green, a burger at Louis' Lunch, which claims to have invented the hamburger sandwich, and last shopping on Broadway. Metro-North and Amtrak trains connect Union Station to New York City.
What to do in New Haven on a weekend
For a weekend in New Haven, combine Yale's museums, a campus tour, East Rock and pizza on Wooster Street.
New York is about two hours away by train.
What to do in New Haven in the evening
Evenings mean theater at the Shubert and Yale Rep, plus bars and live music along College and Crown streets.
Summer brings free concerts on the Green.
New Haven for couples
Couples can dine in Wooster Square, see a play and watch the sunset from East Rock.
New Haven with kids
With kids, the Peabody Museum, Lighthouse Point's carousel and beach, and the Thimble Islands cruise are favorites.
What to eat in New Haven
Apizza
Thin, charred, coal-fired pizza.
White clam pizza
The signature pie.
Lobster rolls
A shoreline treat.
Louis' Lunch burger
Served on toast since 1895.
Craft beer
From local breweries.
Where to stay in New Haven: best areas
Downtown
Walk to Yale and the Green.
East Rock
Leafy and residential.
Wooster Square
Close to the pizza places.
Branford
Shoreline inns.
What to do in New Haven when it rains
On rainy days, visit the free Yale University Art Gallery, the Yale Center for British Art, the Peabody Museum and the Beinecke Library.
How much does a trip to New Haven cost?
Expect $150 to $250 per night, $15 to $30 for a meal and free entry to Yale's art museums.
Practical tips for New Haven
Best time to visit
May to October, with fall foliage in October.
Getting around
Walk or bike downtown; trains to New York and Hartford; a car for the shoreline.
Our practical tips
- Yale's art museums are free.
- Go early or late for pizza lines.
- Take the train from New York.
- Book campus tours ahead.
- Visit East Rock at sunset.
- Check Yale Rep's schedule.
Mistakes to avoid
- Arriving at peak dinner time on Wooster Street.
- Driving and parking downtown.
- Skipping the museums.
- Missing the shoreline.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in New Haven?
Tour Yale, visit its free museums, eat pizza on Wooster Street and hike East Rock.
Are Yale's museums free?
Yes, the art gallery and British Art center are free.
How far is New York City?
About two hours by train.
When is the best time to visit?
Late spring and early fall.