New Haven, Connecticut

1. Yale University Art Gallery

Located on Chapel Street, the Yale University Art Gallery is an art museum housed in several buildings on the campus of Yale University in New Haven. The museum’s collection spans all periods and cultures, but is especially strong in its works of African sculptures, American decorative and fine arts, Italian paintings, and modern art.

Founded in 1832, it is the oldest university art museum in the western hemisphere and one of the top New Haven attractions. Yale University Art Gallery displays works by well-known artists such as Degas, Duchamp, Lichtenstein, Miro, Mondrian, Picasso, Rothko, and many more. Special programs are available for university students, schools in the area, and the general public.

Yale University, 1111 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, Phone: 203-432-0600, Yale University Art Gallery Video

2. New Haven Green

Located on Church Street, the New Haven Green is a historic park in downtown New Haven. Consisting of 16 acres, it is a privately owned park that originally served as the central square of a nine-square settlement plan designed by John Brockett, one of the original Puritan colonists. Today, the park is bordered by Chapel, Church, College, and Elm Streets, and divided by Temple Street into the northwest half and the southeast half.

If you are wondering what to do in New Haven with kids, this is a great place to explore. The park, along with three architecturally important 19th century churches, was designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark District. There are many events that take place in the park such as the Festival of Arts and Ideas and the New Haven Jazz Festival.

3. Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is housed in Yale University’s Hewitt Quadrangle on Wall Street, and it is the literary archive and rare book library of the Yale University Library. Built in 1963, the library was a gift to the university from the Beinecke family. Interestingly, the library is one of the world’s largest buildings dedicated exclusively to rare books and manuscripts.

The library has some of its most prized possessions on display, including a copy of the Gutenberg Bible. Some of the library’s other collections include works by James M. Barrie, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, Benjamin Franklin, Goethe, and many more. The library also presents temporary exhibits of books from its collection.

Yale University, 121 Wall Street, New Haven, Connecticut, Phone: 203-432-2977

4. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is a science museum located on Whitney Avenue at Yale University. Founded in 1866 by philanthropist George Peabody, it is one of the world’s oldest and largest natural history museums. The museum’s Great Hall of Dinosaurs is well known and includes The Age of Reptiles, a 110-foot (34 meter) long mural, as well as a mounted Brontosaurus.

The permanent exhibits contain birds, minerals, and artifacts of the Native Americans of Connecticut, Egyptian artifacts, wildlife dioramas, and much more. The museum’s collection of fossils is one of the largest and most important in the U.S.

170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, Phone: 203-432-5050

5. Taste of New Haven

Taste of New Haven is a walking food tour based in New Haven. Knowledgeable tour guides lead the tours and teach visitors about the culture and history of the city during the walks. The company offers several kinds of tours such as the “On 9 Tour,” which focuses on eateries around the Ninth Square in downtown New Haven.

The tour begins at the Elm City Market and continues to Skappo Italian Restaurant, Skappo Merkato, and finally Fornarelli’s Ristorante. Other tours include “Apizza Feast” and “Ride, Taste and Stay Package” as well as several Chef’s Cooking Classes like “Bun Lai of Miya’s Sushi.” Phone: 888-975-8664

6. East Rock Park

Located on Cold Spring Street in Hamden, East Rock Park is a city park operated by the city of New Haven. Consisting of 427 acres, the park is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The park is named for East Rock, a mountain ridge located within the boundaries of the park.

From higher elevations in the park, visitors can take advantage of excellent views of New Haven, Long Island, and Long Island Sound. Developed as a natural landscape, the park is a popular place for bicycling, bird watching, dog walking, hiking, and picnicking in the warm summer months and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during the winter.

7. Goodfellas Restaurant

Whether you want to meet some celebrities or you want to be treated like one, having dinner at Goodfellas Restaurant is an excellent choice. This upscale, elegant Italian restaurant greets every guest like a long lost relative, and the spacious, comfortable furniture and simple old-fashioned décor only add to the feeling that you are in the scene of the Sopranos or even the Godfather. Which, by the way, typically play silently on one of many flat screens around the room.

Chef/owner Gennaro "Gerry" Iannaccone prepares cuisine that is Italian at its very best, with a nod to our modern tastes – everything is sourced locally, and ingredients are often organic and seasonal. The flavors are exquisite, and the dishes are traditional, generous in portion, and made to perfection. Goodfellas also has an incredible wine list.

702 State Street, New Haven, Connecticut, Phone: 203-785-8722

8. Morris Steinert Collection of Musical Instruments at Yale

Located on Hillhouse Avenue, the Morris Steinert Collection of Musical Instruments at Yale displays a large collection of musical instruments. A part of the Yale School of Music, the museum was founded in 1900 with a gift of historic instruments owned by Morris Steinert. Later collections from Belle Skinner and Emil Herrmann enlarged the museum’s holdings in 1960 and 1962, respectively.

The museum’s collection is housed in a historic Romanesque building constructed in 1895. The permanent collection features important keyboard instruments such as clavichords, harpsichords, pianos, and organs, as well as historic wind instruments. The museum hosts a concert series where performers often use instruments from the collection. Admission is free.

15 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, Phone: 203-432-0822

9. Olea

Olea is a downtown Spanish/Mediterranean restaurant, superbly decorated in earthy colors with very modern details; everything is elegant and in good taste. The cuisine is Chef Manuel Romero’s modern version of Spanish favorites made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. He lets the basic components of his dishes speak for themselves without relying too heavily on spices.

If you are looking for romantic date ideas in New Haven, Connecticut, this is a great place to try. The presentation is superb, and the portions are adequate but not miniscule. You might want to try the Vieiras - grilled sea scallops served with Israeli coconut couscous, mango and passion fruit purée, edamame, parsley and grape tomatoes infused with balsamic vinegar. Desserts at Olea are an absolute must, while the wine list has some excellent Spanish as well as New World choices.

39 High Street, New Haven, Connecticut, Phone: 203-780-8925

10. New Haven Museum

The New Haven Museum and Historical Society has a mission is to preserve and present the history of the local area. Founded in 1862, it was originally known as the New Haven Colony Historical Society. The museum’s collection includes art, artifacts, furniture, photography, and other historic objects that cover New Haven history from the first settlement up to the present.

Its exhibits focus on local features like East Rock, Winchester, and Yale and on historic people such as Benedict Arnold, Noah Webster, Eli Whitney, and many more. The museum is housed in a 1929 Colonial revival style building.

114 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, Phone: 203-562-4183