Visiting any new city can be both very exciting and intimidating, especially when you have only one day to explore it. Home to a number of beautiful attractions including iconic landmarks, verdant parks, historic neighborhoods, diverse cuisine and a lively nightlife, Hartford is a must visit in the state of Connecticut. It is impossible to visit all the attractions in the city in just one day, however, to make your vacation easier, we have complied a one-day itinerary consisting of all the must-visit places in Hartford.
Breakfast at 08:00 am
Since you have a long day of sightseeing ahead, it is best to start your day with a hearty breakfast at one of the famous diners of Hartford. Mo's Midtown Restaurant (25 Whitney Street) is a great place to visit for traditional American fare like pancakes, omelets and cheeseburgers. Allegro Cafe (347 Franklin Avenue) is another popular breakfast joint in the city for American cuisine.
Connecticut Science Center at 10:00 am
Established in the year 2009, Connecticut Science Center is a fun place to visit in the city of Hartford, especially for families with little children. Home to more than 150 hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, 4 educational laboratories and a modern 3D digital theater plus several live events, all spread over 9 levels. The museum is divided into different galleries like Forces in Motion, Exploring Space, Kid Space, Invention Dimension and more, each offering something new and fun for both adults and children.
Address: 250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, United States
Phone: 1 860 724 3623
Timings: 10:00 am to 05:00 pm (Tuesday to Sunday), Monday Closed
Website:
https://www.ctsciencecenter.org/Distance from Downtown Hartford: 1.1 miles or 5 minutes drive
Wadsworth Atheneum at 11:30 am
Opened in 1842, Wadsworth Atheneum is known for being the oldest museum in America. It is built in Gothic style architecture and is home to many outstanding collections of European Art, American Decorative Art, Contemporary Art, Customer and Textiles, and American Painting and Sculpture. With free entry for the public, Wadsworth Atheneum also hosts several exhibitions throughout the year.
Address: 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, United States
Phone: 1 860 278 2670
Timings: 11:00 am to 05:00 pm (Wednesday to Friday), 10:00 am to 05:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday), Monday and Tuesday Closed
Website:
https://thewadsworth.org/Distance from Connecticut Science Center: 0.3 mile or 7 minutes walk
Butler-McCook Homestead at 12:30 pm
If you love historic houses, then this is the place to be. Butler-McCook Homestead is a famous historic house museum and is also the oldest house in the city. It was built in 1782, and in 1971, it became a part of the National Register of Historic Places. Since this house was inhabited by one family for two centuries, one can find a number of Colonial and Victorian items on display. Do visit the gorgeous rose garden, which was designed by the prominent Jacob Weidenmann.
Address: 396 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103, United States
Phone: 1 860 522 1806
Timings: 12:00 pm to 04:00 pm (Thursday to Sunday between May and September, Saturday and Sunday between October and December)
Website: http://www.ctlandmarks.org/content/butler-mccook-house-gardenDistance from Connecticut Science Center: 0.2 mile or 4 minutes walk
Lunch at 01:30 pm
Cornerstone Deli (592 Main Street) is a great place for lunch in Hartford, known for its delicious sandwiches and other home cooked food. For sumptuous Caribbean food, head towards 50 Elm and Street Cafe (50 Elm Street) famous for its inspired menu and a vibrant ambience.
The Museum of Connecticut History and the State Library at 03:00 pm
If you are interested in knowing the history of Connecticut State, then you must visit The Museum of Connecticut History. From Connecticut’s early growth to it being the economic powerhouse of the country, the museum has everything there is know about the state. It even houses a wide range of firearms, portraits and other historic items. On the other hand, The Connecticut State Library is known for housing a myriad of public records, library information, archival and other administrative services for the public.
Address: 231 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT 06106, United States
Phone: 1 860 757 6535
Timings: 09:00 am to 04:00 pm (Monday to Friday), 09:00 am to 02:00 pm (Saturday), Sunday Closed
Website:
http://museumofcthistory.org/,
http://ctstatelibrary.org/Distance from 50 Elm and Street Cafe: 0.5 mile or 9 minutes walk
The Mark Twain House & Museum at 04:00 pm
If you have ever read books like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, then you must know who Mark Twain is. As the name suggests, this beautiful historic house was once home to the legendary author – Mark Twain. He and his family lived here for almost 23 years. The house is built in an American Gothic Style architecture and was also featured in 1000 Places To See Before You Die. You can visit the various rooms in the house or have a delicious snack at the Nook Farm Nook cafe.
Address: 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT 06105, United States
Phone: 1 860 247 0998
Timings: 09:30 am to 05:30 pm (Monday to Sunday, 04:30 pm is the last tour)
Website:
https://www.marktwainhouse.org/Distance from The Museum of Connecticut History and the State Library: 1.5 miles or 6 minutes drive
Elizabeth Park and Rose Gardens at 05:00 pm
Nature lovers will find themselves at home over here. Spread over 102 acres, Elizabeth Park and Rose Gardens houses almost 15,000 plants and 800 different types of roses. In 1983, the park became a part of the National Register of Historic Places. The best time to visit the park is during the fall season, when the foliage is at its best. In winters, Elizabeth Park also offers ice skating to its guests.
Address: 1561 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, United State
Phone: 1 860 231 9443
Timings: 11:00 am to 08:00 pm (Tuesday to Saturday), 09:30 am to 02:30 pm (Sunday), Monday Closed
Website:
http://elizabethparkct.org/Distance from The Mark Twain House & Museum: 1.7 miles or 7 minutes drive
Blue Back Square at 06:00 pm
Blue Black Square is the heart of shopping, entertainment and dining of West Hartford. It has anchor stores like Crate and Barrel, Barnes and Noble, Criterion Cinemas and REI Blue Back along with a number of regular stores like White House/ Black Market, Charming Charlie, Persian Rug Gallery, Janie and Jack and many more.
Address: 65 Memorial Rd, West Hartford, CT 06107, United States
Phone: 1 860 882 0678
Timings: 10:00 am to 09:00 pm (Monday to Saturday), 11:00 am to 06:00 pm (Sunday)
Website:
http://www.bluebacksquare.com/Distance from The Mark Twain House & Museum: 2.7 miles or 8 minutes drive
Dinner at 08:00 pm
Blue Black Square is home to a number of restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory, Besito, Bar Louie, World of Beer and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. However, if you want some fine Italian cuisine, then head towards First and Last Tavern (939 Maple Avenue) in Hartford city. For premium steaks, seafood and a wide range of wines, Max Downtown (185 Asylum Street) is the best place to go for dinner.
Explore Hartford’s Nightlife at 10:00 pm
For a night filled with lots of fun, good music and delicious drinks, head to Pig’s Eye Pub (356 Asylum Street). NV Nightclub LLC (177 Allyn Street) is another great place to visit for the latest Hip-Hop music. However, if you want something more low key, then head towards Spigot Cafe Inc (468 Prospect Avenue).
A Complete Map Guide of 24 Hours in Hartford
