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Are you heading to Lancaster, PA soon? Then this article is for you!
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lancaster is one of the most unique places you can visit in the US.
It’s famous for its Amish community, farmlands and rich history, and it’s genuinely unlike anywhere else.
While visiting Lancaster doesn’t require as much planning as other places (like Yellowstone for example), I still think there are a few things that you need to know.
You will find below all my tips and all the things I wish I had known before visiting Lancaster for the first time.
🚗 1. You’ll need a car
This is the big one. Since there is a train station in Lancaster and it’s quite easy to get there from Philly or NYC, it can be tempting to opt for public transport.
It’s definitely an option as far as getting there but once you are in Lancaster, you will need a car.
Although nothing is particularly far, everything is quite spread out, and there’s no real public transport to get you between the market, the farms and the villages.
You can actually get to Lancaster itself by train (there’s a station with direct services to Philadelphia and beyond), and if you don’t drive, you can still see the Amish areas by joining a guided tour or hiring a scooter from Strasburg.
But honestly, once you’re here, a car is by far the easiest way to get around and explore at your own pace. (I book mine through Discover Cars, they always find great deals.)
🙏 2. Be respectful of the Amish community (and don’t photograph them)
This is the most important tip of all.
The Amish are a peaceful community who actually live here, so it’s really important to remember that, as fascinating as it all is, this is not a zoo.
They’re used to visitors and they understand the curiosity, but the one thing they really don’t like, for religious reasons, is having their photo taken.
So please don’t photograph Amish people.
It’s absolutely fine to take pictures of the beautiful landscape, and of buggies if you’re far away but never of people.
It’s just the kind and respectful thing to do.
🐴 3. Be careful and mindful around the buggies
You’ll be sharing the roads with horse-drawn buggies, so take it slow and be considerate.
A lot of the roads out here are quite small, though you’ll notice the shoulders are often wider than usual, which is specifically so the buggies can travel along them.
When you come up behind a buggy, don’t fly past it.
Give it plenty of space and a wide berth when you overtake.
The horses are used to cars, but slowing down and being courteous is simply the right thing to do (and much safer for everyone).
📅 4. Don’t visit the Amish areas on a Sunday
If you’re spending a few days here, try to do all your Amish sightseeing on a Saturday or a Monday, and keep Sunday for something else.
Sunday is a day of rest for the Amish, which means you won’t see them working in the fields, and the shops and Amish attractions will be closed.
The one thing you may actually see more of is buggies on the road, especially around dusk as families head home from gatherings.
🗺️ 5. Download an offline map
The phone signal out in Amish country is, frankly, shocking, so don’t rely on it.
One of the loveliest things to do here is simply to wander the back roads, spotting farms and stopping wherever takes your fancy.
But with the signal being so patchy, you could easily end up somewhere with no idea how to get back.
Download an offline map before you set off (either through Google Maps or an app like Maps.me), and you’ll be able to explore freely without any stress.
⏰ 6. Start early
Lancaster is very much an early-to-rise, early-to-bed kind of place, so it really pays to get going in the morning.
A lot of the attractions open early (Lancaster Central Market, for example, opens at 6am), but nothing runs very late, even in summer.
The last tours are usually around 4pm.
So the earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to fit everything in, rather than starting late and feeling rushed or missing out.
🎟️ 7. Book your attractions in advance during peak season
If you’re visiting in the busy summer or fall months, I’d really recommend booking your attractions ahead of time.
Popular experiences like the Strasburg Rail Road and the farm tours can fill up fast, so booking in advance means you won’t be disappointed.
It only takes a few minutes and saves you the frustration of turning up to find everything sold out.
💵 8. Carry cash
I know this is unusual these days but this is actually really important.
Most of the Amish shops do not take cards therefore you will need to pay with cash (or check in some cases).
For this reason, it’s always worth carrying some with you.
I hope this article was helpful. Have a great time in Lancaster!
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