Need a creative, historic Hudson River town with charm and culture? Head to Troy, New York! Once a thriving industrial hub, Troy has transformed into a lively city full of Victorian architecture, artisan markets, and a buzzing arts scene. Whether you’re admiring 19th-century facades, browsing local boutiques, or exploring farm-to-table dining, Troy is upstate New York at its best.
When I like to visit
The best time to visit Troy is from spring through fall (May to October). Enjoy mild temperatures perfect for walking downtown, riverside festivals, and exploring local parks. The fall foliage along the Hudson River is especially stunning.
Tips for getting There
- If you are traveling by car: Troy is located off I-787 and NY-7, about 15 minutes from Albany and 3 hours from New York City or Boston.
- By Train: The nearest Amtrak station is in Rensselaer (Albany-Rensselaer), about 20 minutes away by car or ride-share.
- By Air: Albany International Airport (ALB) is 20–25 minutes from Troy with multiple daily flights from major cities.
Where I like to stay
- Best Western Plus Franklin Square Inn – Comfortable and convenient stay right downtown, perfect for walking to restaurants and events.
- Gardner Farm Inn – Historic and stylish B&B just outside of downtown, with personalized touches and a peaceful setting.
- Hilton Garden Inn Troy – Modern hotel near RPI with spacious rooms and an on-site restaurant.
Top Attractions
1. Joe Bruno Stadium
Joe Bruno Stadium in the city of Troy, New York is the home field of the minor league Tri-City ValleyCats baseball team, which is part of the historic New York-Penn baseball league. Situated on the Hudson Valley Community College campus, the ballpark is located in the middle of the Capital Region of New York’s tri-city area, which is made up of Troy, Schenectady, and Albany, hence the name “Tri-CIty ValleyCats.” Every year, the Joe Bruno Stadium is home to more than thirty baseball games that take place between the month of June and the month of September.
80 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy, NY 12180, Phone: 518-629-2287
2. Oakwood Cemetery
The Oakwood Cemetery in the northeastern part of the city of Troy is a rural, non-sectarian cemetery that was established back in 1848 as a response to New England’s growing rural cemetery movement. The cemetery consists of about twenty-nine miles of roads, around sixty thousand graves, twenty-four mausolea, a crematorium, a chapel, two residential buildings, and four man-made lakes. It’s also known for its rolling lawns and dense foliage, and was listed in 1984 on the National Register of Historic Places. Oakwood remains as one of the “most well-preserved and distinguished nineteenth-century rural cemeteries” in the state of New York.
50 101st St, Troy, NY 12180, Phone: 518-272-7520
3. Tri-City ValleyCats
The Tri-City ValleyCats of New York’s Capital District are a staple for the summer months in Troy, New York, providing entertainment for people of all ages who love an old-fashioned, good baseball game, or even those who may not be die-hard fans. Tri-City ValleyCats games offer much more than just a baseball game, including a variety of promotions, entertainment, and attractions. The “Kids Zone” offers an entertaining space for children with its Bouncy Bounce inflatables, Speed Pitch, and other games. There’s also Sunday Funday, post-game base running, and the pre-game catch-and-stretch among several other game day activities.
80 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy, NY 12180, Phone: 518-629-2287
Romantic Activities and Attractions:
4. Hart Cluett Museum
The Hart Cluett Museum is a white marble house among the many nineteenth-century townhouses within the downtown Historic District of Troy. The building has been carefully cared for since it was originally built back in the year 1827. The Hart Cluett Museum today acts as a history museum from a cultural and architectural significance to life in America. While its contemporaries in New York City have been destroyed, the historic Hart Cluett House continues to exemplify the shift in Troy, New York from a commercial to an industrial economic base, offering a look at more than 125 years of private use.
57 2nd St, Troy, NY 12180, Phone: 518-272-7232
5. EMPAC - Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center
EMPAC - Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center is located at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a place where technology, sciences, and art comes together under one roof. Four excellent venues enable researchers, artists, and audiences to inquire, experience, develop, and experiment with the constantly changing relationship between the world around them, technology, and their senses. The Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center runs an artist-in-residence program and hosts numerous performances and screenings throughout the year that both visitors and locals alike can attend. The center is also home to Evelyn’s Cafe, open daily for lunch and before events.
110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, Phone: 518-276-3921
6. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Operating as a music hall since 1875, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is a must-visit National Historic Landmark while visiting Troy, New York. The structure of the music hall was first built in 1823 when it served as the Troy Savings Bank. Famous across the world for having impeccably and incredible acoustics, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has played host to iconic artists and musical legends from all over the world. Among the many to have graced the hall’s stage include Yo-Yo Ma, Ella Fitzgerald, and Vladimir Horowitz, as well as contemporary greats like India Arie, Trey Anastasio, and Boz Scaggs. Lovers of music and connoisseurs of sound ought to come to visit the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall if they haven’t done so yet, as it is the key to experiencing the acoustics that causes this music hall to stand alongside the best in the world.
30 Second Street, Troy, New York 12180, Phone: 518-273-0038
7. Houston Field House
The Houston Field House at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a multi-use arena and the third oldest college hockey rink in the United States after the Hobey Baker Memorial Rink at Princeton University and the Matthews Arena at Northeastern University. The Houston Field House is also the second oldest hockey arena within the ECAC Hockey League, right after Princeton University’s hockey rink. On the Field House’s western wall are the banners honoring the championship wins for the AWCHA, ECAC, and the NCAA, while the “America’s Pep Band” is positioned along the eastern wall during hockey games.
1900 Peoples Ave, Troy, NY 12180, Phone: 518-276-6262
If you are traveling with kids:
8. Burden Iron Works Museum
The Burden Iron Works Museum along the Wynantskill Creek and the Hudson River in the city of Troy was once an industrial and iron works complex. It formerly housed the Burden Water Wheel, which was the most powerful “vertical water wheel” in the history of the industry. It’s a widely believed story the the inventor of the “Ferris Wheel,” George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., had occasionally observed the water wheel during his time as a student at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
1 E Industrial Pkwy, Troy, NY 12180, Phone: 518-274-5267
9. Prospect Park
The city-owned and maintained Prospect Park in Troy, New York is one of the city’s three major parks. Consisting of around eighty acres once owned by the Warren Family and deeded to the city in 1902, the park is open to the public every year from the beginning of April through the beginning of November. Prospect Park consists of numerous recreational areas and facilities, including nature trails, a picnic pavilion, spray pool, comfort station, a soccer field, a softball field, playgrounds, two basketball courts, four handball courts, and fourteen tennis courts. Visitors can find eight parking areas around the park.
65 Prospect Park Road, Troy NY 12180, Phone: 518-235-7761
Must-see if you are a first-time visitor:
- Troy Waterfront Farmers Market – A year-round market featuring local produce, crafts, music, and food vendors.
- The Arts Center of the Capital Region – Classes, exhibitions, and public art in the heart of downtown.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) – Explore the historic campus and tech-focused galleries like EMPAC.
- Washington Park and Prospect Park – Enjoy green spaces, scenic views, and walking trails in Troy’s oldest public parks.
Where I Like to Eat
- Peck’s Arcade – Trendy New American dining in an intimate, ever-changing menu setting with craft cocktails.
- Lucas Confectionery – Cozy wine bar serving small plates in a beautifully restored historic space.
- Dinosaur Bar-B-Que – Lively outpost of the NY barbecue chain offering smoky classics near the Hudson River.
My favorite local events:
- Rockin’ on the River (Summer) – Free outdoor concert series held weekly along the Hudson Riverfront.
- Victorian Stroll (December) – Annual holiday celebration with costumed performers, horse-drawn carriages, and festive cheer.
- Troy River Fest (June) – Celebration of local art, music, food, and community in downtown Troy.
My favorite day trips within 30 Minutes of Troy, New York:
- Albany (15–20 min) – Visit the New York State Capitol, Empire State Plaza, and museums in the state’s capital city.
- Cohoes Falls (20 min) – Witness the powerful waterfall that once helped power the region’s mills and factories.
- Grafton Lakes State Park (30 min) – Hike, swim, or snowshoe through scenic trails and lake views.
- Downtown Schenectady (30 min) – Explore Proctors Theatre, the historic Stockade District, and Union College campus.
- Mechanicville (25 min) – Visit a charming river town with canal history and small-town diners.
Plan Your Trip