New Haven

Center Church on the Green

New Haven is a city in Connecticut that is best known as the home of Yale University.

Understand

With a population density of 6,000 people per km², downtown New Haven has a particularly residential character. As a result, numerous shops, cafes and top-rated restaurants have proliferated. Ethnic restaurants include Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Eritrean, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, Mexican, Thai, Indian and Malaysian cuisines, among many others. According to the Hartford Courant, New Haven has more pedestrian activity than any place between New York City and Boston, and also has a burgeoning nightlife scene.

The area is a center for bicycling and hiking, with nearby East Rock Park, West Rock State Park, and Sleeping Giant State Park. Together, they provide many miles of hiking trails and summits with expansive views over hundreds of square miles. Bicyclists enjoy cruising along the beautiful shoreline, or along the Farmington Canal Trail, a former canal and railroad that has been converted for recreational use.

Get in

The Bicentennial Memorial Rotunda for men of Yale who died in World War I

By car

• New Haven sits at the junction of Interstates 91 and 95. Be careful to lock your doors, as the crime rate in New Haven has been known to elicit broken windows. Do not leave your GPS unit or its accessories (such as mounting units, suction cups, or suction cup marks on the window) in plain sight. Belongings are typically not taken in these incidents.

By plane

• 1 Tweed New Haven Regional Airport (HVN  ^IATA), 155 Burr Street, ☏ +1 203 466-8833. Avelo Airlines is the only commercial airlines that flies into Tweed. As of July 2023, flights are available from Baltimore, Charleston (SC), Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Greenville/Spartanburg, Melbourne/Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh/Durham, San Juan (PR), Sarasota, Savannah, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Wilmington (NC), and seasonally from Chicago-Midway.  

Additional airports for flights with additional airlines:

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS ^IATA) As the major airport for the New England area, Logan provides frequent non-stop service from most major cities in the United States and almost all major European airports.
• Bradley International Airport (BDL ^IATA) in Windsor Locks (near Hartford), from which I-91 leads straight to New Haven, is a much larger airport with flights from cities throughout the eastern half of the United States and Canada and seasonal service from Mexico. It is about an hour away by car.
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA ^IATA) is another major airport in the area, in Queens. It has flights from cities throughout the Eastern United States and Canada and from a few Caribbean destinations. It is about 1½ hours away by car. Airport shuttle service to New Haven is available, or you can get to Grand Central Terminal in New York and then a train to New Haven.
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK ^IATA), also in Queens, is a major international airport. Airport shuttle service to New Haven is available, or you can get to Grand Central Terminal in New York and then a train to New Haven.
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR ^IATA), in northern New Jersey, is a major international airport. Airport shuttle service to New Haven is available, or you can take Amtrak to New Haven or a train from Grand Central Terminal.

By train

See also: Rail travel in the United States

Stations

• 2 New Haven Union Station (ZVE  ^IATA), 50 Union Ave. All trains stop here. (updated Oct 2023)
• 3 New Haven State Street, 259 State St. Only local trains stop here. (updated Oct 2023)

Train operators:

New Haven Union Station

• Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Dec 2020) Routes stopping at New Haven:
  • Acela travels multiple times daily between Boston and Washington, D.C. with stops in Westwood, Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore. Its stops in Providence and New Haven provide easy access to Brown and Yale Universities. This is the only route in the U.S. which resembles a high-speed rail line, with a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h), though it can only go this fast on a few short segments. Stops at Union Station, but not State Street.
  • Northeast Regional is Amtrak's busiest regional service, connecting Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the many towns and cities in-between. Toward the east end of the route, some trips terminate at Springfield instead of Boston. Some services also continue south into Virginia towards Newport News, Roanoke and Norfolk on three separate branch routes from Alexandria. This is also Amtrak's most frequent service, with multiple daily departures, and the longest trip takes 12.5 hours. Stops at Union Station and State Street.
  • Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New Carrollton. Stops at Union Station, but not State Street.
  • Amtrak Hartford Line operating 3-5 trips per direction daily between Springfield and New Haven with stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford. Stops at Union Station and State Street.
  • Valley Flyer operates twice daily between Greenfield and New Haven including stops in Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford. Stops at Union Station and State Street.

• Connecticut (CT) Rail operates the following lines out of New Haven:

• Shore Line East provides service between New Haven and New London, Conn. and intermediate points. It also operates a small number of trains between New Haven and Stamford, Conn.
• Hartford Line is a commuter rail service between New Haven and Springfield, Massachusetts. This service features 17 trains a day from Hartford (12 of which originate in Springfield).

• Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line provides service between New Haven, New York City and intermediate points.

By bus

The New Haven Union Station at 50 Union Ave also serves as the central bus station for:

• Flixbus
• Greyhound also serves New Haven, but if you are coming from New York City, you may find Metro-North Railroad cheaper and more comfortable.
• Megabus. Service from Boston and Hartford. Buses stop at Union Station. Fares from $1 and up. Their bus stop is the same as the Peter Pan Bus stop.
• Peter Pan operates between cities in the Northeast U.S. (in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Philadelphia, PA; Albany, NY; New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Washington, DC)
  

Some of the same bus companies have an additional stop elsewhere in town. Check the tickets and their website for location of your stop.

• CT Transit Express #950 New Haven to Hanford express bus from the Chapel & Church St Transit Center and Union Station. Additional stops in Meriden, Middletown and Wethersfield. Check schedules for local stop locations.
• Yale Shuttle are local shuttles, operated by Yale University, from the NH Station to the Yale Central Campus and the Medical Campus on multiple routes.

Get around

Downtown New Haven is compact enough to be traversed by foot.

The city is also served by an efficient public bus system.

• CT Transit New Haven, ☏ +1 203-624-0151. Bus stops are marked with signs or a white stripe around utility poles in some cases. Buses all have bike racks.

Other transportation options include:

• A&S Taxi, ☏ +1 203-361-6198.
• M7 Ride, ☏ +1 203-777-7777.
• Devil's Gear Bike Shop, 151 Orange St, ☏ +1 203-773-9288. Provides low-cost daily or weekly bicycle rentals. 

See

Harkness Tower, part of the Yale University campus in downtown New Haven

Yale University has several sights of interest:

• 1 Yale University Visitor's Center, 149 Elm St (Visitor Center), ☏ +1 203-432-2300. Visitor Centerː M-F 9AM-4ː30PM, Sa Su 11AM-4PM. Guided toursː M-F 10ː30AM ̩& 2PM, Sa Su 1ː30PM.  
• 2 Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University (Whitney Avenue and Sachem Street, Science Hill section of the Yale campus), ☏ +1 203-432-8967, peabody.admissions@yale.edu. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Free.  
• 3 Yale University Art Gallery, ☏ +1 203-432-0600, artgalleryinfo@yale.edu. Chapel at High St. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Th until 8PM from Sep-Jun, Su 1-6PM. Free.  
• 4 Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University, 120 High St, ☏ +1 203-432-1775. Includes the Yale Babylonian Collection donated by JP Morgan in 1910, and many other world-renowned artifacts and collections. (updated May 2019)
• 5 Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel Street, ☏ +1 203-432-2800. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su noon-5PM. Free.  
• 6 Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 121 Wall St, ☏ +1 203-432-2977, beinecke.library@yale.edu. M 10AM-7PM, Tu-Th 9AM-7PM, F 9AM-5PM, Sa noon-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Closes for holidays and special events, check website or call. The Beinecke holds Yale's rare books and manuscripts. The building is impressive from outside, but particularly beautiful inside due to the glow that the translucent veined marble walls have on a sunny day. Rotating exhibits and a Gutenberg Bible are always on display. Free. (updated Dec 2019)
• 7 Yale Collection of Musical Instruments, 15 Hillhouse Ave, ☏ +1 203-432-0822, musinst@yale.edu. Tu-F 1-4PM, Su 1-5PM (Closed in August, national holidays and Yale's Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks). Free. (updated Feb 2020)

Outside of Yale, New Haven has many notable sights:

• 8 The Green. Public park in the center of the city. It's over 350 years old and recognized as one of the best 100 public spaces in the United States. Frequent festivals are held here.  
• 9 Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center (formerly Knights of Columbus Museum), 1 State St, ☏ +1 203-865-0400. Daily, 10AM-5PM. Free. 
• 10 Lighthouse Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Rd. Lighthouse Point Park gives a scenic view of New Haven’s shoreline and is perfect for those looking to leave the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. The park is home to Hawkfest, a celebration of the local wildlife, and the Carousel at Lighthouse Point. Visit their website for department phone numbers, park opening times, and parking information.  
• 11 Pardee Morris House, 325 Lighthouse Road, ☏ +1 203-562-4183. Visit a landmark of colonial New Haven. Built in 1750 and burned down in 1779 during a British raid on New Haven Harbor, the Pardee Morris House offers a glimpse into New Haven’s history. Classes, tours, and summer camps are held throughout the year. Visit the Pardee Morris House section of the New Haven Museums website for a schedule of events.  
• 12 Fort Nathan Hale Park, 50 Woodward Avenue, info@fort-nathan-hale.org. Get a spectacular view of the New Haven seaside as well as learn about the town’s colonial history. See Black Rock Fort, replete with the Betsy Ross flag, and take in a recreation of battles from New Haven’s past. Fish from its expansive pier or take the nature trail that leads from the park to the Pardee Seawall. The visitor center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 10AM to 4PM. Visit their website for more information.  
• 13 Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium at Yale University, 355 Prospect St, ☏ +1 203-432-3000, info@leitnerobservatory.org. Tu shows $5/person (under 13 free). Shows in the planetarium theater on Tuesday nights, followed by viewing of the night sky through telescopes (weather permitting). Check website for current shows, as well as special events on other nights. (updated Feb 2019)
• 14 New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave, ☏ +1 203-562-4183, info@newhavenmuseum.org. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa noon-5PM. 1st Su of monthː 1-4PM. Adults $4, Seniors $3, Students $2, Under 12 free, 1st Su free. (updated Feb 2020)
• 15 Marsh Botanical Garden, 265 Mansfield St, ☏ +1 203-432-6320. (updated May 2020)
• 16 Amistad Memorial, 165 Church St. Depicting the slave trader Joseph Cinqué, commonly known as Sengbe Pieh, this 14-foot bronze sculpture commemorates the events of the Amistad Affair of 1839, which was a kidnapping of 53 Mende captives, who led the revolt aboard the La Amistad, a two-masted schooner. It sits in front of a city hall, where the slaves were imprisoned during their trial.  
• Institute Library, 847 Chapel St, historic subscription library, welcoming to visitors to the building. Free to visit.

Do

East Rock

• Free community bike rides leave various bookstores and cafes each day; check with the Devil's Gear Bike Shop to rent cycles or find out about community rides. Local beaches are also a short bike ride or drive from the city center, and provide additional recreational opportunities.
• Dine at one of Wooster Street's popular Italian restaurants. New Haven is famous for its old-world style pizza.
• Visit the Crypt, an ancient graveyard under the Center Church on the Green. It is open April-October, Th & Sa 11AM-1PM.
• St. Patrick's Day Parade, one of the oldest in the United States.
• Visit summit of East Rock Park and West Rock Park where you can see the Three Judges Cave and hike along miles of trails.
• Tour Yale University.
• See an avant-garde jazz concert at Firehouse12, a firehouse converted into a modern bar and cutting-edge concert venue and recording studio.
• See a show at the famous Toad's Place, a must for any music lover.
• Bicycle along Farmington Canal, or shoreline bike routes.
• 1 Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Dr, ☏ +1 203-787-4284. Not only are some of the best plays in the North East performed right on this stage, the theater also gives back to the community by hosting classes and sessions for those interested in theater and want to get involved in the performing arts.  
• 2 Shubert Theatre, 247 College St, ☏ +1 203-562-5666. Box officeː M-F 9ː30AM-5ː30PM, Sa 10AM-2PM and prior to all performances. (updated Feb 2020)

Buy

Downtown New Haven

When visiting, pick up a copy of the Downtown Guide at a local shop or restaurant. It will provide you with up-to-date information on the hundreds of restaurants downtown, and on shopping opportunities. New Haven abounds with hundreds of retailers, ranging from pricey local boutique to art galleries to national chains such as Ann Taylor.

• 1 Ikea Home Furnishings, 450 Sargent Drive, ☏ +1 203-865-4532. Located just off Long Wharf Drive, visit the only Ikea store in Connecticut and check out their selection of inexpensive furniture and their restaurant 
• J Press, 262 Elm St. Fine men's suiting. 

Eat

White clam apizza from Pepe's

New Haven has many famous pizza parlors and is often credited with having introduced pizza to the United States, although New Havenites themselves often contend that New Haven-style apizza (pronounced uh-BEETZ) is a separate food from pizza altogether. The pizza has a thin, bitter crust, offset by high quality ingredients, making for one of the world's best pizza experiences. The most famous pizza locations are Pepe's and Sally's, which are over 80 years old and usually have lines going around the block. Modern Apizza—a more recent arrival (1934), further from the city center—has nonetheless usurped these establishments as the local favorite. For a real New England New Haven experience, order the white clam bake pizza—the simple toppings of garlic, olive oil, and New England clams against the backdrop of the bitter, oven-scorched crust make for a delight to the senses.

While it is a bit sacrilegious to pass through New Haven without trying the pizza, the small city has an astonishing wealth of fine dining establishments—easily rivaling the dining scene of any of New York's outer boroughs. The blocks just south of Yale University along Chapel, Crown, and George Streets are home to the majority of the city's best restaurants. Often-cited top restaurants in town include the Union League Cafe, Ibiza, Heirloom, and Zinc, but there are fantastic options around every corner in this part of town to try.

Wooster Square

• 1 Sally's Apizza, 237 Wooster St, ☏ +1 203-624-5271. 5-10:30PM (closed Mondays, closes at 10PM on Sundays).  
• 2 Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, 157 Wooster St, ☏ +1 203 865-5762. 11:30AM - 10PM (opens at noon on Sundays).  
• Libbys Italian Cookies and Pastries, 139 Wooster St. Amazing cookies, cannoli, Italian pastries, Italian ice, and coffee. (updated Mar 2021)

Downtown

• 3 Louis' Lunch, 261-263 Crown St, ☏ +1 203-562-5507. This tiny hamburger joint, a few blocks off the Green, claims to be the inventor of the hamburger. The burger served in Louis' traditional style: steamed in an antique table-top cast-iron gas broiler, served between two pieces of white-bread toast, optionally with cheese, tomato, and onion. Condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard are not used or available, which is a point of pride for management who are adamant that such extras detract from the experience. Sides such as potato salad, chips, pies, and local Foxon Park soda are available. Do not expect McDonald's wait times for your burger!  
• Aladdin Crown Pizza, 260 Crown St, ☏ +1 203-773-3772. 11AM-2AM. Don't be fooled by the name; the best cuisine this place offers is not pizza; it's Middle Eastern. Be sure to try their falafel plate and baclava dessert. Authentic food with excellent service. $7-12. 
• 4 Claire's Corner Copia, 1000 Chapel St, ☏ +1 203-562-3888. Vegan and vegetarian options, regularly-changing specials. Known for their Lithuanian coffee cake. Great bakery with gluten-free options. Kosher.  
• Pacifico, 220 College St, ☏ +1 203-772-4002. Latin American seafood dishes with an upscale New York sensibility served at this LGBT-friendly restaurant. $15-30. 
• Union League Café, 1032 Chapel Street, ☏ +1 203-562-4299. Upscale French cuisine. Make reservations. 
• York St. Noodle House, 1150 Chapel St, ☏ +1 203-776-9675. 11:30AM-10:30PM. If you're looking for an inexpensive, casual meal, York St. Noodle House is the place to go. Service is always friendly, and the menu always has irresistible options. Be sure to try their delicious boba fruit slushy. Try also coconut curry noodle soup and spicy wok basil noodle. $6-12. 
• Yorkside Pizza and Restaurant, 288 York St., ☏ +1 203-787-7471. Family-owned diner with large menu and very reasonable prices. Dough and sauces are made fresh daily on the premises. $10-25. 
• Zinc, 964 Chapel Street, ☏ +1 203-624-0507. Modern American. Chef's table options focus on local food items. Make reservations. 
• Junzi Kitchen, 21 Broadway, ☏ +1 475 441-7836. 11 am – 10 pm daily. Northern Chinese fare
• Encore by Goodfellas, 702 State Street, ☏ +1 203-785-8722. This is the perfect place not only for the connoisseur of Italian cuisine but for also a lover of movies. You can enjoy some of the finest Italian food New Haven has to offer while viewing movie classics on their ten flatscreen televisions 
• Brazi's Italian Restaurant, 201 Food Terminal Plaza, ☏ +1 203-498-2488. Italian-American foods made with the freshest ingredients, salads, desserts. Dining, bar and banquet room. 

East Rock

• 5 Modern Apizza, 874 State St, ☏ +1 203-776-5306. This New Haven-style apizza place has really stirred up the waters of New Haven cuisine, dethroning the seemingly invincible Pepe's and Sally's as the city's (and quite possibly the world's) best pizza place. Modern Apizza has been voted "Best Pizza" in New Haven for 12 consecutive years in the New Haven Advocate’s "Best of" Reader’s Poll. Modern Apizza is a long walk, or a short drive, bike ride or trip on the "M" bus from Downtown New Haven.  
• Atticus Market, 771 Orange St. New American fare plus pop-up pizza nights

Drink

The fancifully neo-Gothic Osborne Memorial Laboratories of Yale University

Crown and Chapel Streets run through downtown New Haven and are packed with hundreds of restaurants, cafés, wine bars, lounges and the like. New Haven is the primary entertainment destination for the 800,000 people who live in the immediate area. When driving, watch pedestrians since the crowds can be thick, especially on weekends.

• Archie Moore's, 188 Willow Street, ☏ +1 203-773-9870. 
• Bar and the Brü Rm, 254 Crown Street, ☏ +1 203-495-1111. 
• The Playwright, 1232 Whitney Ave, Hamden, ☏ +1 203-287-2401. 
• 1 Toad's Place, 300 York St, ☏ +1 203 562-5589, toadsplac@aol.com.  
• Prime 16, 172 Temple Street, ☏ +1 203-782-1616. 16 taps of craft beer, accompanied by imaginative burgers 
• Willoughby's, Church & Grove; York & Chapel. Locally roasted coffee. The to-go tumblers are reusable and a great deal. 

Sleep

• Clarion Hotel & Suites, 2260 Whitney Ave, ☏ +1 203-288-3831, fax: +1 203 281-6032. 
• Courtyard New Haven at Yale, 30 Whalley Ave, ☏ +1 203 777-6221, fax: +1 203 772-1089. 
• Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, 155 Temple Street, ☏ +1 203-772-6664. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Downtown luxury hotel with John Davenport’s restaurant on 19th floor; sample expensive wines at Bar 19, the Omni's own wine bar. Fitness and business centres, concierge, Wi-Fi. 
• Baymont Inn & Suites, 3 Business Park Dr, Branford (I-95 Exit 56 N/S), ☏ +1 203-488-4991. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. from $79. 
• 1 The Study at Yale, 1157 Chapel St, ☏ +1 203-503-3900, toll-free: +1 866-930-1157, info@studyhotels.com. 
• The Blake Hotel (The Blake), 9 High St., ☏ +1 203-390-5352. (updated Jan 2019)
• Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Dr., boutique hotel in renovated former office building.

Stay safe

As with New York City, New Haven's crime rate has gone down considerably since the early 1990s, and it is now considered to be a safe city, at least in the downtown area. Today, there is very little risk involved with traveling to New Haven's tourist attractions as streets bustle with crowds generated by hundreds of restaurants, cinemas, theaters, cafes and stores. Luxury apartments and million-dollar condominiums have proliferated, adding a large population base to formerly industrial or commercial zones. In such areas, the downtown area is generally safe at night, but like other cities, late night travel through certain city neighborhoods outside the downtown, without someone who knows the area, is not recommended. When visiting, exercise the same precautions you would use in any large city.

It is not recommended to venture outside the Metro North stop at Union Station at night. Taxis wait near the doorway, and it would be wise to take advantage of them if you must arrive in New Haven during the evening. The surrounding area is poorly lit and has seen a variety of violent and non-violent crime.

Connect

New Haven Free Public Library

• 1 New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm St, ☏ +1 203-946-8130. (updated Dec 2019)

Go next

• Mystic is famous for its seaport, and is a great family tourist attraction. It is about an hour away.
• Hartford is the capital of Connecticut, home to the state library and the Connecticut Capitol Building.
• New York City is the largest city in the country, which attracts tens of millions of visitors every year. It is 1½-2½ hours away.
• Boston has many tourist attractions, and is the capital of Massachusetts. It is about 2½ hours away.

Routes through New Haven

New York City ← Stamford ←	SW  NE	→ New London → Boston
New York City ← Bridgeport ←	SW  N/NE	→ Wallingford/Old Saybrook → Springfield/Providence
New York City ← Bridgeport ←	SW  N	→ Wallingford → Springfield
Hartford ← North Haven ←	N  S	→ Merges into
Providence ← East Haven ←	N  S	→ West Haven → New York City
Providence ← East Haven ←	N  S	→ West Haven → New York City
Hartford ← Hamden ←	N  S	→ Orange → New York City
Stamford ← West Haven ←	SW  NE	→ END
Stamford ← West Haven ←	W  E	→ Branford → New London