Things to do in Hartford

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Hartford Travel Guide

Hartford featuring heritage architecture, a city and an administrative buidling

Hartford featuring a garden and heritage elements

Hartford featuring a garden and outdoor art

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What to do in Hartford

Discover the most popular places to visit in Hartford

Mark Twain House featuring a house and heritage architecture

Mark Twain House & Museum

Walk in Mark Twain’s footsteps at the author’s beloved Hartford home. The museum next door will complete your Twain education.

Connecticut Science Center

Leave your textbooks at home and learn about science by playing, exploring and inventing your way through this interactive science center in Hartford.

Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

While seeing a play or concert in Hartford’s historic venue, look up to admire one of the largest ceiling murals in the United States.

Bushnell Park

Relax near the pond or take a ride on the antique carousel at one of America’s oldest publicly funded parks, located in the heart of Hartford.

Connecticut State Capital

After visiting Connecticut State Capital, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Hartford. Experience the area's acclaimed theater scene or attend a sporting event.

Riverside Park

Explore Hartford’s portion of the Connecticut River at this park. Walk along the Riverside and Sculpture trails, go boating or enjoy a picnic outside.

The Wadsworth Atheneum is an art museum located in Hartford, Connecticut.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

You can browse the exhibits at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, a museum with a story of its own, during your travels to Hartford. Experience the area's acclaimed theater scene and entertainment choices.

Connecticut Convention Center

Learn about the events happening at Connecticut Convention Center during your trip to Hartford. Experience the area's acclaimed theater scene and entertainment choices.

PeoplesBank Arena

Catch an event at PeoplesBank Arena during your trip to Hartford. Experience the area's acclaimed theater scene and great live music.

Discover the most popular landmarks and neighborhoods in Hartford

Connecticut Science Center featuring a garden

Downtown Hartford

4/5(448 area reviews)

Downtown Hartford boasts a bustling business district, housing major corporations and Connecticut's state government. Explore historic sites like the Wadsworth Atheneum, Bushnell Park, and the Old State House, while enjoying convenient access to Connecticut Transit Hartford and Union Station.

Barry Square

If you're spending some time in Barry Square, Webster Theater and Assaiante Tennis Center are top sights worth seeing.

Underneath that blue dome lies the east armory of a factory once owned by a man who changed American history, the innovator of the revolver, Samuel Colt. Sprawling around the crumbling red brickwork of the old Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, once the largest private armory in the world, are the remnants of Coltsville, the utopian village he built for his workers.

A model of 19th century industrial paternalism, Coltsville included a church, a social hall for dances and lectures, workers’ housing, a giant landscaped park home to deer and peacocks, sculpted botanical gardens, and thousands of feet of greenhouses filled with tropical fruit and flowers. Samuel Colt felt such responsibility for the welfare of his workers outside the factory that he went so far as to build Potsdam Village, to replicate the feel of the German village from which he imported his skilled craftsmen to work in his willow ware factory.

The National Park Service began having on-site presence in 2015, with workshops and tours, including up into the Blue Onion Dome which affords magnificent views of downtown Hartford, the Connecticut River and Colt Park, formerly the back yard of Armsmear, Samuel & Elizabeth Colt’s mansion. By 2016, an NPS ranger had taken up residence in the South Armory and was giving walking tours of Coltsville.

The old South, East and North armories are under renovation and the two 1855 brownstone buildings, the oldest structures on site, will become the National Park Service Visitor Center. The armories themselves have been or are being renovated into apartments, offices and education facilities.

Sheldon-Charter Oak

While visiting Sheldon-Charter Oak, you might make a stop by sights like Connecticut River and Charter Oak Tree Memorial.

Frog Hollow

While Frog Hollow might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Connecticut State Capital and Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.

Asylum Hill

You'll enjoy the museums and churches in Asylum Hill. You might want to make time for a stop at Harriet Beecher Stowe Center or Mark Twain House & Museum.

South Meadows

3.5/5(87 area reviews)

Visitors to South Meadows like its coffeehouses and seafood restaurants, and Connecticut River is a sight worth a stop.

Popular day trips from Hartford

East Hartford

Wethersfield

West Hartford

Bloomfield

Frequently asked questions

Is Hartford worth visiting?

From shopping to outdoor pursuits and history, there are plenty of great things to do in Hartford. Don't forget to discover the area's blend of unmissable sights, local charm and culture.

How do I spend a day in Hartford?

Connecticut Science Center and Dinosaur State Park are two excellent places to start your adventures. Remember to check out the shopping and dining options in Hartford while you're in town too.

What is the top tourist attraction in Hartford?

The top tourist attraction in Hartford is Xfinity Theatre, so don't forget to include it on your sightseeing itinerary.

Is three days enough to stay in Hartford?

Three days in Hartford is more than enough to visit the city's major highlights. Many guests stay for two days on average. Xfinity Theatre, Connecticut Science Center and Nomads Adventure Quest are highly rated sights. Want to see more? Hang around a while longer to explore nearby hotspots like Windsor Locks.

Is Hartford a walkable city?

It depends on what you want to do and see in Hartford. Several sights, including Xfinity Theatre and Connecticut Science Center, are reachable on foot. If you're up for a wander around some of Hartford's neighborhoods, Downtown Hartford is 2 kilometers away from downtown, while South Meadows is 3 kilometers away from the city center and also within walking distance.

What are some activities to do in Hartford with kids?

If you are after tours and attractions for all the family, have a look at these excellent ideas for what to do in Hartford with kids.

Hartford Historic Downtown GPS Self Guided Audio Walking Tour

What to do in Hartford for adults?

There are lots of things to do in Hartford, with activities for adults of all ages. Round off your day with a visit to Thomas Hooker Brewery or Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.

Are there free things to do in Hartford?

One of the easiest ways to find free things to do in Hartford is to speak with a local tour guide. You'll get insider tips on exciting neighborhoods, parks and other highlights you can experience without reaching for your wallet. Museum of Connecticut History is one sight that doesn't have an entrance fee.