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While we all absolutely love NYC, it’s also quite nice to escape from time to time and some of the loveliest, most low-key escapes are just over the border in Connecticut.
Whether you are living in NYC or just visiting and want to explore beyond the city, the charming coastal towns of Connecticut are excellent options for a day out.
The best part? You don’t even need a car as they are accessible with public transport.
Metro-North trains run regularly from Grand Central straight into these towns, so you can go car-free if you like.
Here are 6 of the best Connecticut day trips from New York City, with travel times for each.
💫 1. New Canaan
🚆 Getting there: about 1 hour 30 by train, or 1 hour by car
New Canaan is one of the prettiest towns in Connecticut, and it feels like a proper film set.
The train station is located near Main Street which is very convenient.
You can spend the day wandering the elegant main street which is full of upscale boutiques and lovely places to eat.
If you like architecture, you should visit the Glass House. It’s a famous modernist home designed by Philip Johnson (tours are seasonal, so book ahead).
It’s a refined, relaxing day trip and a real breath of fresh air after the city.
🎨 2. Greenwich
🚆 Getting there: about 52 minutes by train, or 45 minutes by car
The closest of the bunch, Greenwich is an elegant town that makes for a very easy day out.
Start on Greenwich Avenue which is a gorgeous shopping street. You’ll find loads of boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants here.
After that, head to the Bruce Museum, which combines art and science exhibits, and if the weather’s nice, go to the waterfront at Greenwich Point Park.
🌆 3. Stamford
🚆 Getting there: about 50 minutes by train, or 50 minutes by car
Stamford is also quite easy to get to as it takes less than 1 hour from the city.
Its walkable downtown is packed with restaurants and bars, so it’s a great option for foodies.
For a dose of nature, head to Cove Island Park on the waterfront. It’s lovely for a walk, with views out over Long Island Sound.
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center has a working farm, walking trails and a planetarium which makes it ideal for families.
🐠 4. Norwalk
🚆 Getting there: about 1 hour 5 by train, or 1 hour by car
Norwalk is a great all-rounder for a day out.
It’s full of galleries, restaurants, bars and shops, so it’s a nice area to wander and grab lunch.
Calf Pasture Beach is also very pretty so make sure to head there for a stroll or some relaxing time.
The big family draw is the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. It’s the only aquarium devoted to Long Island Sound, and it’s home to harbor seals, river otters and hundreds of species. The Norwalk Cove Marina mini golf is also a lot of fun and always a winner with kids.
In summer, you can even take a boat trip out to the Sheffield Island Lighthouse or go to the local market, the Sunset bazaar.
⛵ 5. Milford
🚆 Getting there: about 2 hours by train, or 1 hour 15 by car
A little further along the coast, Milford is a lovely, laid-back seaside town.
Start downtown where you can walk along the long town green and browse the shops. There are loads of cute independent clothes shops here so that can keep you busy for a while.
Then stroll down to Milford Landing Marina to admire the boats.
There are also loads of food options. I personally love Café Atlantique for breakfast and coffee.
For beach lovers, Silver Sands State Park is the highlight. It has a boardwalk and a sandbar that appears at low tide, letting you walk out to Charles Island.
It’s beautiful and well worth it but bear in mind you’ll need a car to get there and there is an entrance fee.
🍕 6. New Haven
🚆 Getting there: roughly 1 hour 40 to 2 hours by train or bus, or 1 hour 30 by car
New Haven is the cultural option of the group, and a brilliant day trip for food and history lovers. It’s also a great option for Gilmore Girls fans as it’s home to the world-famous Yale University.
Start by visiting the Old Campus of Yale and the Sterling Memorial Library which was built to look like a cathedral.
Make sure to also walk to the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. The building’s architecture is very interesting and surprising but it’s also home to one of the Gutenberg bibles.
While you can do all of that by yourself, I personally booked the free student-led walking tour and it was well worth it. It’s only 1 hour but you get to learn plenty.
Make sure to also head to Broadway to check out the Yale bookstore.
But there is another reason to come to New Haven: the pizza.
New Haven-style pizza is legendary, and the local “Holy Trinity” of Frank Pepe, Sally’s and Modern serves some of the best in America.
🗺️ Map of these Connecticut Day Trips from NYC
