18 Things To Do In New Haven, CT (Yes, Including Pizza!)

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Less Basic Things to Do in New Haven, Connecticut

I’ve been to New Haven, Connecticut, a few times now, and this city continues to surprise me with its food scene and cultural opportunities.

Thanks to that one prestigious university that calls New Haven home, there is quite a bit to do here that’s free, too. Free is always good, especially when there’s pizza to eat.

This guide gets into everything I’ve done on visits to New Haven, including a full week we spent in New Haven on a tour of New England.

Quick Tips for Your New Haven Visit

Your Flight: Flights into the regional airport in New Haven are pricey. Seek out deals to any of the New York City airports or New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport, instead.

Boston is another option if you’re on a longer road trip. Use Skyscanner to watch flights from your starting point around the United States. Love deals? Subscribe to Going.

Your Accommodations: Browse Booking.com or Hotels.com for your options in New Haven. Vrbo is my Airbnb alternative.

Your Ride: You’ll need a car to get to and around New Haven. Book a rental car ahead of time.

Top Spots: Eat New Haven-style pizza, find your favorite museum at Yale University, and visit West Haven for its beaches and scenery.

Disclosure: Travel on the Reg uses affiliate links to keep things running around here. At no additional cost to you, I earn a lil’ commission if you make a purchase. Any income earned supports the upkeep of this site. I appreciate you!

Is New Haven worth visiting?

New Haven is worth visiting for its food scene — including pizza and beyond that — and its cultural offerings. The city is most well known for Yale University, its picturesque setting on the Long Island Sound, and, yes, pizza.

As the second largest city in Connecticut, it may have somewhat of a chip on its shoulder, but that only makes it feel that much scrappier. It’s also a great base for adventures within a short drive of the city.

Things to Do in New Haven

Despite the garbage weather that persisted during our last stay in New Haven, we still had a great time in the Connecticut town. I’ll start with everything we were able to see on that trip and visits prior, followed by some aspirational items for next time.

Eat the best pizza in New Haven.

I go into this one in detail in my guide to the best pizza in New Haven. In brief, though, we indulged inFrank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally’s Apizza, and Modern Apizza, the three most well-known pizzerias in the city.

If you’re all, “But I can only choose one!” go for Pepe’s.

I also feel sad for you. Plan better next time.

Pretend like you attend Yale University.

You can’t visit New Haven without seeing the influence of Yale University on the town. For your own walking tour of campus, start at the iconic Harkness Tower.

Note: Infrequent tours take you inside the tower, climbing up 130 steps to get a closeup of the bells. Check the university’s website if you’re interested in the hike.

If you like architecture, head to the Sterling Memorial Library next. It’s an excellent example of the Gothic Revival thing Yale has going on.

For some good people watching, settle in on the New Haven Green. We visited on a rainy day, but it was still remarkable to see a green space this size in the middle of the city.

Visit the three historic churches that surround the park. That includes the United Church on the Green, the Center Church on the Green (First Church of Christ), and the Trinity Church on the Green.

The Amistad Memorial is also worth a look, just off the green.

See rare books at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

There will be a few things here from the Yale University campus that deserve their own addition. The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is one of those spots.

This place is stunning and culturally significant. Case in point: They have their own copy of a Gutenberg Bible.

Visitors are welcome in the mezzanine and entry hall. Only Yale folks are allowed in the other areas of the library.

Visit the Yale University Art Gallery.

This impressive free museum boasts art from around the world and across a number of time periods. See all of the masters, including van Gogh, Monet, and Rubens.

Explore photography exhibits and contemporary art we still have a hard time wrapping our heads around.

Truly, it’s an impressive place that you spend a few hours in. Reserve your tickets in advance online if you’re visiting in the evening or on weekends.

Embrace your inner Anglophile at the Yale Center for British Art.

The Yale Center for British Art boasts the largest collection of British art that isn’t in the U.K. This place is a little bit overwhelming as a result, but it’s also free.

We went to this one after the Yale University Art Gallery, so we were a little bit spent. The halls inside are worth a look alone, even if you’re not a connoisseur of British art.

Pop by the Atticus Bookstore Cafe after. They serve up hot mulled cider when the season calls for it, light snacks, and sandwiches, with books on the other side. It was busy with Yale students on our visit.

Walk through history at Grove Street Cemetery.

Also known as the Grove Street Burial Ground, the Grove Street Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in the country. A National Historic Landmark, it’s unique as the first cemetery to arrange the dead in family plots.

Fun fact: It’s also described as “The City of the Dead,” with cross streets marked so your map apps know where you’re going.

Notables include Civil War heroes and Amistad captives. There is a marker here honoring six men of the Amistad buried here, and a number of abolitionists who came after.

Stroll Bradley Point Park.

Bradley Point Park offers lovely walking opportunities to green spaces and the nearby West Haven beaches on top of impressive sunset views if you time things right.

If you need a destination while you’re there, check out the Veterans Walk of Honor, a series of memorials honoring veterans who served in the Korean and Veteran wars.

Fun fact: Keep your eyes peeled for a historic marker that shows an attack by the British on West Haven and Bradley Point Park back in 1776.

Explore West Haven beaches.

Once you’re done at Bradley Point Park, spend some time exploring the neighboring beaches of West Haven.

You’ll be within a short walk of Sea Bluff Beach and its atmospheric fishing spots, Savin Rock Park and its popular boardwalk, and Oak Street Beach, a wonderland for crabs.

What? Crabs deserve their due.

We found West Haven to be an excellent respite from the busier parts of New Haven proper, especially if you’re there outside of the summer months.

Grab something sweet at Marjolaine Pastry Shop.

If you’re looking for some of the best bakeries in New Haven, start at the Marjolaine Pastry Shop. You’ll spend quite a bit of money in here satisfying the sweet tooth of your spouse, but it’ll all be worth it when you sip on that hot chocolate you got just for you.

Yes, you’ll want whipped cream.

There’s a business inside this business, too. Pick up some truffles from the MELT Chocolatier counter while you’re at it.

Feel like a kid at the PEZ Visitor Center.

Visit the PEZ Visitor Center in nearby Orange whether you’re traveling with the kids or just enjoy a weird time. (The two are just 20 minutes apart, which explains why I’m including it here. I otherwise hate guides like this that take you far from town.)

You won’t spend hours in this place unless you get really invested in finding all of the crystal skull dispensers. In brief, each crystal skull dispenser comes with a letter or two that helps you solve a mystery message on a card you get when you check-in.

Note: Don’t tell anyone, but we were able to guess the clue without finding all the skulls throughout the shop and exhibits. We got a free PEZ dispenser for our ingenuity.

If that sounds too intense for you, just spend some time admiring all of the fun dispensers over the year. Japan does not mess around!

Sip wine at Stappa Vineyard.

The female-owned Stappa Vineyard in Orange was a must-stop for us as I love wine and fancy myself a feminist. The sips were delightful, and I won a round of a giant Connect 4 game on the lawn outside.

It was a really great afternoon.

If you come in the summertime, they serve up delicious sangria, as well. I had it in the fall without apology, though, so if you’re a fan, do indulge.

Visit the best New Haven breweries.

New Haven and its surroundings are an excellent place to do some brewery hopping. Our favorite wasEast Rock Brewing Company. They specialize inGerman-inspired beers in a fun setting with adult games and…delicious beer.

No Worries Brewing prides itself on that relaxed life with brews like its Hakuna Matata, a blonde ale, and its Even Flow lager.

BadSons Brewery is worth the short trek to Derby. It was chilly on our visit, but they have an excellent outdoor space where you can open up cans of their Big Whoop, a double IPA. If you’re hungry, order a pie from Roseland Apizza inside the bar.

Where to Eat in New Haven (That’s Not Pizza)

New Haven has more than pizza, you guys. I mean, if you’re only there for a day, just eat some pizza. If you’re there for longer, explore New Haven’s delicious food scene in a little more detail:

• Louis’ Lunch: This spot claims to have invented the hamburger, serving up the classic since 1895. Their version is on white toast, and the only toppings they offer are cheese, onion, and tomato, without exceptions.
• The Camacho Garage: This lively Mexican restaurant is known for their tacos and ceviche. Their beer-battered fish taco will remind you of the best taco shops in San Diego, if you’ve been lucky enough to indulge.
• Sri Thai: We’re usually on the hunt for Thai food no matter where we’re stopping. Sri Thai in West Haven is the best we found if you’re craving authenticity, and their plating is oh so pretty.
• The House of Naan Indian Kitchen & Bar: This eatery serves up modern Indian cuisine and playful appetizers like tikka fries and their house wings. All of your Indian food favorites are represented here, too.

With More Time in New Haven

We spent a full week in New Haven, but inclement weather we didn’t quite get to everything on our list. Check out a few more things we’ll tick off next time:

• Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History: We weren’t able to make it to this one because it was closed for a “once in a lifetime” construction project. I’d go just for the museum’s centerpiece alone: the Great Hall of Dinosaurs.
• New Haven Museum: This one has been around in some form since 1862 when it opened as the New Haven Colony Historical Society. Permanent exhibitions include New Haven’s roots in Puritanism and a gallery dedicated to the Amistad rebellion.
• Pardee-Morris House: In addition to the museum above, the historical society also runs limited tours of this property. The historic home was burned down but rebuilt following a raid by British soldiers in 1779.
• East Rock Park: Explore 425 acres of scenic views and hiking trails at this park named for East Rock, a traprock ridge that (literally) rose to prominence thanks to erosion. The summit of the park can be reached on foot or by car.
• Lighthouse Point Park: The lighthouse at this 82-acre park was built in 1847. You may see it labeled as Five Mile Point Light on your maps. Don’t miss the Lighthouse Point Carousel while you’re here.
• Pardee Seawall Park: If Lighthouse Point Park is too crowded, especially at sunset, this park nearby promises lovely views of the harbor.

READ MORE: Love harbor towns? Portsmouth is a New England favorite.

Day Trips From New Haven

If you have more time, don’t miss out on all the things to do near the city. You’ll have quite a bit of choice when picking day trips, but explore some of my faves below:

• Hartford, Connecticut: Visit the Mark Twain House & Museum on their living history actor tours. We got Twain’s gossipy maid as our guide, and it was as much fun as you can imagine. Don’t miss the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center next door.
• Mystic, Connecticut: Whether you’ve seen Julia Roberts kill it in Mystic Pizza or not, Mystic is an adorable look at Connecticut’s maritime history. It basically seems like it’s been frozen in time. Explore more with my guide to Mystic.
• Boston, Massachusetts: It’d make for a longer day trip, but if you really want a taste of that Freedom Trail, you can get to Boston in around two and a half hours. Pick a museum you’ve been eyeing and sample the city’s best lobster rolls.
• Providence, Rhode Island: Explore another cultural mecca in just about two hours’ time. If you get there early enough, kick things off at the historic West Side Diner. Read my detailed guide for a full day’s worth of activities.
• Newport, Rhode Island: Oh, are you fancy? Explore the mansions of Newport, or where Brian claims will be the first targets if we decide to eat the rich. You can be there in just about two hours from New Haven.

READ MORE: Several of these appear on my favorite New England road trip during peak leaf-peeping season.

Where to Stay in New Haven

I really didn’t like where we stayed in New Haven. It was the size of a shoebox in whatever terrible way you’re imagining.

The good news is, I don’t see it on any of the usual sites. Use the map below to browse your options for hotels and apartment-style places in New Haven:

Come for the pizza, but stay for the rest.

I’d be lying if I said New Haven-style pizza wasn’t what got New Haven on my radar in the first place.

A repeat visit allowed us to dig a little deeper into the cultural attractions of the city, like the excellent museums tied to Yale University. If you’re here for longer, you’ll find plenty to occupy your time within the surrounding towns.

Traveling elsewhere in New England? Read these next:

• Top Delights in Charming Stowe, Vermont
• Acadia National Park Is Pet-Friendly! Learn More
• A Halloween Guide for Trips to Salem
• Weekend Trips to Take From Boston, Massachusetts
• Traveling With Dogs? Don’t Miss Dog Mountain

More U.S. towns that were pleasant surprises:

• Our Favorite U.S. Cities That Are Underrated
• A Guide to the Best of Iowa’s Cedar Rapids
• Visit Tulsa for its Incredible Day Trips
• Top Things to Do in North Dakota’s Fargo
• Visit Cleveland, One of My Midwest Favorites

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Agnes Groonwald

Agnes Groonwald is the creator of Travel on the Reg, a travel/humor blog for regular people who travel in a regular fashion. She has been to 50/50 U.S. states and explored 30+ countries, most often as a digital nomad. She's all about sharing the honest truth about travel, real experiences, and all the quirky stuff about her favorite (and not so favorite) places.

1 thought on “Less Basic Things to Do in New Haven, Connecticut”

1. Absolutely loved your article. All the photos uploaded by you (especially the pizza one 😝) tempts us to visit New Haven soon. Could spend an eternity at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library reading every single book. Would also love to visit the PEZ Visitor Center and unleash my inner child.

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About Agnes

I’m a regular person here to share my wisdom and (hopefully) amusing truths about travel when it’s done in a regular way. Travel can be messy, awkward, and amazing, sometimes all at the same time. I’m here for all of it. Learn more about me here!

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