New England’s southernmost state is full of surprises. From tony seaside mansions to quaint fishing villages, the Connecticut coast is among the region’s most varied and scenic road trip destinations. Home to Yale University, the community of New Haven is a cultural heavyweight with a small-town feel that belies its world-class museums and grandiose architecture. Inland lie farms, forests, and the urban grit of Hartford, a historic city with ties to writers Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Spring flowers start blooming from April through June, when mild temperatures are ideal for exploring. Summer heat in July and August sends visitors and locals alike to the beach, until September ushers in cooler weather, pick-your-own apples, and crisp air. While Connecticut enjoys milder winters than northern New England states, cold snaps mean skiing, ice skating, and sleigh rides.
Connecticut is among New England’s best places to travel by public transit. The small state has 11 Amtrak stops that link key towns—including New Haven, Mystic, Hartford, and Old Saybrook—to neighboring states. Bus services by CTtransit, Greyhound, and other private companies put everything else within reach. The most scenic rides, however, are on Connecticut ferries, including interstate ferries between New London and destinations in Rhode Island and New York.
New Haven pizza is nothing like New York slices. Firstly, many restaurants call the thin-crust, blistered, coal-fired specialty “apizza,” and if you want mozzarella it’s essential to ask for yours with “mootz.” White clam pizza and cheese-free tomato pie are signature styles, which you can find at all three of the city’s most famous pizza places: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Modern Apizza, and Sally’s Apizza.
Local Currency US Dollar ($) | Time Zone EDT (UTC -5) | Country Code +1 | Language(s) English | Attractions 4 | Tours 40 | Reviews 547 |
Mystic Seaport Museum—the largest maritime museum in the US—is Connecticut’s top tourist attraction. The museum is home to the last surviving wooden whaleship on earth, along with historic vessels ranging from schooners to steamships. On dry land is a recreated 19th-century seafaring village with coopers, shipsmiths, and shops.
...MoreHead to the beach. Connecticut has over 300 miles (482 kilometers) of beaches, ranging from family-friendly Ocean Beach Park to Sherwood Island State Park’s colorful sand. Getting out on the water is also popular, whether you’re cruising the scenic Thimble Islands, paddling a kayak, or sailing at Mystic Seaport Museum.
...MoreGo to Hartford to explore the city’s under-the-radar history, science, and art. Top places to visit in Connecticut’s capital city include the Mark Twain House & Museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and the Connecticut Science Center, a family-friendly destination with more than 10 galleries.
...MoreYes, Connecticut is worth seeing. The state’s attractions range from a gorgeous seacoast to pastoral upstate scenery, plus history-rich cities that invite exploration. Stop by the capital of Hartford for a dose of literature and art, then head to New Haven to visit museums on the elegant Yale University campus.
...MoreWith its historic buildings flanking a tidal estuary opening onto the Mystic River, picture-perfect Mystic is among the prettiest towns in Connecticut. Scenic country roads surround the town, which was founded in 1654. Today, Mystic’s top attractions include the open-air Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Aquarium, and the nearby Foxwoods Casino.
...MoreConnecticut is known for the Neapolitan-style pizza—sometimes called “apizza”—that’s a New Haven specialty. With a thin, blistered crust, New Haven pizza is cooked in a searing coal-fired oven. Two of the most distinctive styles are the cheese-free tomato pie and a garlicky white clam pizza topped with mozzarella.
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