New Haven Attractions

Note: In 2021, visiting students may take online courses, but they may not live on campus. Currently enrolled Yale College students may live on campus.

City of New Haven Attractions

Founded in 1638 and the first planned city in North America, New Haven has a grid of nine squares that puts Yale directly in the heart of downtown.

The city is home to many great shops, restaurants, and events.

Atticus Bookstore

A New Haven icon, Atticus Bookstore/Café is located in the Yale Center for British Art. Its proximity to Yale, and in particular the Yale Repertory Theater, brings in students, faculty and theater luminaries like August Wilson, who used to rewrite new plays there.

Book Trader Cafe

New Haven has a great café culture. At Book Trader Café, one of many places for a great cup of coffee, you can find delicious sandwiches, drinks and desserts--and great used books.

Chapel St. & Broadway Shops

Home to many cute boutique shops all within walking distance.

Claire's Corner Copia

Claire's is a vegetarian's favorite cafe. We suggest you try their famous Lithuanian Coffeecake.

Concerts on the Green

The New Haven Green is home to a summer music series, film series, jazz festival, and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas.

Downside Watson

A specialty at Ashley’s Ice Cream on York Street: seven scoops of ice cream, nine different toppings, and two bananas served in a Frisbee.

East Rock

If you need regular contact with the great outdoors, you can easily get your fix. Located just over a mile from campus, East Rock Park makes for a perfect afternoon trip.

Food Trucks

New Haven has an incredible food truck scene. Food trucks are food stands on wheels serving anything from burritos to salad to Thai and Indian food, and you can find clusters of them on Prospect St., near the Medical School, as well as up and down Elm and York street. For a weekend trip, be sure to check out Food Truck Paradise.

Louis' Lunch

For a good old-fashioned hamburger, there's no better place than Louis' Lunch, the birthplace of the hamburger.

Pizza

New Haven pizza is some of the best you’ll find anywhere.  Whether it’s late night pizza at Yorkside, the world-famous Sally’s and Pepe’s in Wooster Square, or the ever-innovative BAR, there are lots of places to grab a slice - in fact, there are almost twenty.

Toad's Place

Toad's is legendary for its concerts and dance parties. The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Billy Joel have all played here.

Union Station

Historic Union Station provides access to Boston, New York, and other points on the East Coast via Amtrak and MTA's Metro-North Service. With a two-hour each way round-trip to New York's Grand Central Terminal, day trips to New York City are easy.

Pin: Still Looking for more to do in New Haven? Check out Info New Haven for a current list of events.