Hartford

Hartford is the capital of the state of Connecticut in the United States of America. It is home to the country's oldest public art museum (Wadsworth Atheneum), and the Mark Twain House, in which the author wrote his most famous works and raised his family. Mark Twain wrote in 1868, "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief."

City of Hartford as seen from the walkway on the Charter Oak Bridge

Founded in 1635, Hartford is among the oldest cities in the United States. It is home to the country's the oldest publicly funded park (Bushnell Park), the oldest continuously published newspaper (the Hartford Courant), and the second-oldest secondary school (Hartford Public High School).

The Greater Hartford region is enmeshed with Springfield (Massachusetts), which lies only 24 miles to the north. Hartford and Springfield are the principal cities in the Knowledge Corridor, the second largest urban region in New England with 2.18 million people, 29 universities and colleges, and 120,000 university students.

A recommended route for getting to Hartford from a rather distant city is to fly into Boston Logan International Airport and then take one of the below-mentioned buses into the city. This also happens to be the cheap route.

Connecticut State Capitol

• 🌍 Connecticut State Capitol, 210 Capitol Ave, ☏ +1 860-240-0222. M-F 8AM-5PM. Downtown atop Bushnell Park the capitol is a National Historic Landmark that opened back in 1878. This stunning building is made of marble and is topped off by a gold dome. Open for free on-hour tours year round. free. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Bushnell Park, Bounded by Jewell Street, Trinity Street, Elm Street and Capitol Avenue downtown. The first publicly funded park in America. Located in the center of the city and bordering the state capitol building. The park was designed by the architect of Central Park in New York City. (updated Sep 2015)
• 🌍 Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main Street, ☏ +1 860-278-2670, info@wadsworthatheneum.org. Th-Su noon - 5PM. America's first public art museum, founded in 1842. The Wadsworth has more than 45,000 works of art as part of its permanent collection. Free admission during final hour (4-5PM) $20/adult, $15/senior, $10/student, children free. (updated Jul 2024)
• 🌍 Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Boulevard, ☏ +1 860-SCIENCE (7243623). With 150 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, plus daily programs and events, the Connecticut Science Center offers endless exploration for children, teens and adults. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, Bushnell Park. The first permanent triumphal arch and the first permanent war memorial in America, it pays tribute to the Connecticut soldiers who lost their lives in the American Civil War. It also pays tribute to slaves and their struggle. The iconic arch was dedicated on September 17, 1886. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Old State House, 800 Main Street, ☏ +1 860-522-6766. M-F 10AM-5PM. Downtown. The original Connecticut Capitol building is a National Historic Landmark that dates back to 1796 making it one of the oldest state houses in the country. 
• 🌍 Elizabeth Park, 1561 Asylum Avenue, ☏ +1 860-231-9443. Elizabeth Park is on the national register of historic places. Elizabeth Park offers just over one hundred acres of formal gardens, green space, recreational facilities, walking loops, and the Pond House Café. Come enjoy the beauty of the gardens and grounds. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave, ☏ +1 860-247-0998. 9:30AM-5:30PM. Located in the city's historic Asylum Hill neighborhood, this is where popular author Mark Twain lived from 1874-1891. During this time Twain wrote many famous books, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Built in the high Victorian Gothic style, this home has been fabulously restored and offers an enlightening insight into the family life of one of America's favorite authors. The accompanying Visitors Center offers an additional educational perspective relative to the issues of Twain's day. Museum: $6/adult, $4/child; Tour & museum: $20/adult, $18/senior, $12/child. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Harriet Beecher Stowe House & Library, 77 Forest Street, ☏ +1 860-522-9258. This is the historic home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, who is best known for being the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The Stowe's moved in this house in 1873, one year before Mark Twain moved in next door. 
• 🌍 Butler McCook House & Garden, 396 Main Street, ☏ +1 860-522-1806. Downtown. The oldest home in the city that dates back to 1782. Also home of the city's oldest collection of art, antiques and household items. The site also includes a wonderful restored garden. 
• 🌍 Connecticut Historical Society Museum & Library, One Elizabeth Street at Asylum Avenue, ☏ +1 860-236-5621. In the West End the Connecticut Historical Society is one of the oldest historical societies in the country and has one of the greatest library and museum collections in New England. 
• 🌍 The Governor's Residence, 990 Prospect Ave, ☏ +1 860-566-4840. Located in the city's West End neighborhood the governor's mansion was built back in 1909 and has been the home of governor's and their families since 1943. The 15,000 square foot residence is on 4 acres and has 9 fireplaces, nine bathrooms, a pool and is a National Historic Landmark. Guided tours can be arranged. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Colt Factory (Colt Armory), 140 Huyshope Avenue. Hartford. America's favorite gun shop, shaped like an Arabian palace. It can be viewed just south of the skyline from East Hartford. It is in Hartford's south end. 

• 🌍 Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 250 Columbus Boulevard, ☏ +1 860-713-3131 ext 323. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 XL Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, ☏ +1 860-249-6333. The largest arena in Connecticut. This is the former home of the Hartford Whalers National Hockey League team and numerous other professional sports teams and the current home of American Hockey League Hartford Wolfpack, and one of two homes for the men's and women's basketball programs of the University of Connecticut Huskies, and for its men’s hockey program. Various bands and recording artists perform here, mostly popular and more established acts. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, 166 Capitol Avenue, ☏ +1 860-987-5900. Hartford (Downtown). The state's premier performing arts theater. Home of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and Connecticut Opera. Principally showcases classical music and traveling Broadway shows. Popular comics also tour here. 
• 🌍 Xfinity Theatre (formerly New England Dodge Music Center), 66 Savitt Way. Hartford (North Meadows - just north of Downtown). This is a huge amphitheater that has 6,100 seats in a covered pavilion and a lawn that can hold up to 18,000 people. The Center brings in big name concerts each year including the Dave Mattews Band, Britney Spears, O.A.R., Weezer, John Mayer, Pearl Jam and Aerosmith. The Center is closed in the winter months but is open the rest of the year. (updated Jun 2024)
• 🌍 Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard (Downtown), ☏ +1 860-251-8111. At 540,000 square feet, the largest convention center in southern New England overlooks the Connecticut River and downtown. Hosts tons of national and local conventions, events, meetings, dinners, etc. each year. Attached to the center is the 409-room, 22-story Marriott Hartford Hotel Downtown. 
• 🌍 Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street (Downtown). Tony award-winning theatre that constantly puts on shows and takes in shows from on-the-road Broadway plays. Usually produces six major productions annually and one or two summer productions each year. 
• 🌍 Dunkin' Park, 1214 Main St, ☏ +1 860-246-4628. Baseball stadium, home of the Hartford Yard Goats minor league baseball. (updated Jul 2024)
• 🌍 Dillon Stadium, 250 Huyshope Ave. Stadium, home of the Hartford Athletic soccer team. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Pratt & Whitney Stadium (Rentschler Field), 615 Silver Lane. East Hartford. An awesome stadium completed in 2003 that is the home of University of Connecticut Football. The stadium is also used as a concert hall and has hosted big names like Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and The Police. Overall the stadium sits on 75 acres and has 40,000 seats. 
• 🌍 Cinestudio, 300 Summit Street (at Trinity College), ☏ +1-860-297-2544. An independent theater on the campus of Trinity College that shows classic, art house and second run films. The theater is open to the public and has been showing films since its founding in 1970. 
• 🌍 Bowtie Palace 17 & Odyssey Theater, 330 New Park Avenue. A 17-screen movie theater near the West Hartford town line that has stadium seating and digital sound as part of all the theaters. There is also an Odyssey Giant Screen theater here. 
• Art Cinema, 255 Franklin Avenue. Built in 1919 in the south end this is the city's last operating movie house. The theater used to be known as the Rialto and changed names in the 1950s when it started showing art films. 
• 🌍 Webster Theater, 31 Webster St, ☏ +1 508-797-9696, info@webstertheater.com. Box office: Tu-F noon-4:30PM (and during shows). Voted the best rock club and best place to see live music for the past five years by the Hartford Advocate. The art deco theater has been fully renovated features everything from a movie screen to five different bars. (updated Jan 2022)
• Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street (I-84, Sisson Ave. exit), ☏ +1 860-232-1006. One of the country’s early multi-disciplinary “alternative spaces,” Real Art Ways has evolved to become a leading center for contemporary art and ideas. Programming covers a broad range of cultural activities including visual arts exhibitions, concerts, literary readings, education and family programs, public art, community projects, and daily cinema screenings. 
• 🌍 Ski Sundown, 126 Ratlum Rd, New Hartford, ☏ +1 860-379-7669, customerservice@skisundown.com. A great place for beginner and intermediate skiers, about 40 minutes west of Hartford, in Northwestern Connecticut. (updated Jan 2022)
• Sea Tea Comedy Theater, 15 Asylum St, ☏ +1 860-578-4832. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for events. It has improv shows and comedy shows. Also, there are family-friendly shows every Sunday from 2PM to 4PM. $10 for adults, $5 for children. (updated Jul 2024)

• University of Connecticut - Hartford Campus In August 2017, UConn opened its new campus in downtown Hartford, after nearly 40 years in neighboring West Hartford. The new campus is in the old Hartford Times Building on Prospect Street, part of Hartford's Front Street neighborhood.
• University of Hartford - The University of Hartford was chartered through the joining of the Hartford Art School, Hillyer College, and The Hartt School in 1957.
• University of Connecticut School of Law - is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only four in New England. The school was once ranked 50th overall, and 51st by academic peer reputation.
• University of Saint Joseph - is a Roman Catholic comprehensive institution of higher education and an undergraduate coeducational university with graduate programs.
• Trinity College - is a private liberal arts college. Founded as Washington College in 1823 as an alternative to Yale, it is the second-oldest college in Connecticut.
• Capital Community College - community college in downtown in the old G. Fox Department Store building on Main Street
• Rensselear at Hartford - is the Hartford branch of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
• Hartford Public Library - serves the city of Hartford. The library's main branch is at 500 Main Street in downtown Hartford. There also nine branch locations throughout the city.

• Stackpole Moore & Tryon, 242 Trumbull Street. Downtown. Upscale clothing store that has served the capital city since 1909. Carries men's and women’s clothing plus men's shoes. Sells top name brands including Burberry, Hickey Freeman, Agave, Scott Barber and Hugo Boss. 
• West Hartford Center. West Hartford. A New England Village that has vibrant entertainment, restaurant, and shopping just west of the Hartford city line. The "Center" as its known locally boasts more than 140 shops and restaurants, most of which are locally owned and operated including Max's Oyster Bar, Bookworm, The Wild Raspberry, Becker's Jewelry, Allen Collins and Cuzzi's Men's Store. 
• 🌍 Blue Back Square. West Hartford. An addition to West Hartford Center, this development is a 550,000-square-foot mixed-use development that features shops, restaurants, a movie theater, offices and condos. Very pedestrian-orientated development that has tiny streets and storefronts facing the streets. Shops and restaurants include Crate & Barrel, REI, Barnes & Noble, Whole Foods, Criterion Cinemas, National Jean Company, the Cheesecake Factory and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. 
• 🌍 Westfarms Mall. West Hartford / Farmington. A large and upscale regional mall with over 1,000,000 square feet of shopping and dining space. The mall opened back in 1974 and today features 160 shops and restaurants including Nordstrom, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, JC Penny, Aldo, Apple, Banana Republic, Coach, Express, Gap, Martin + Osa, Talbots and Pottery Barn. 
• Cabela's, 475 East Hartford Boulevard North. East Hartford. Specialty retailer focusing on hunting, camping, fishing and other outdoor activities. This is the only Cabela's in all of southern New England. Cabela's stores serve almost as tourist attractions and the East Hartford location is no different. There is a museum displaying wildlife of the Connecticut River Valley, an indoor archery range, an aquarium, a gun library, a restaurant and a huge indoor mountain filled with taxidermy animals. 
• Stew Leonards. 3475 Berlin Turnpike, Newington. Landmark grocery store with 4 locations in New York and Connecticut including one in Greater Hartford. Stew Leonards is known as the worlds largest grocery store. A visit here is unlike a visit to a typical grocery store. There are singing mechanical cows and bananas and samples of everything from soup to sweet potato chips. 
• The Shops at Somerset Square. Glastonbury. A cute upscale lifestyle center located just south of Hartford that houses a mix of local and national shops and restaurants including Max Fish Restaurant, Knoyzz, Kzen, Lux Bond & Green, Chico's, Talbots and Max Amore Restaurant. 
• The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk. South Windsor. A traditional lifestyle center located east of Hartford, over the Connecticut River that opened not too long ago. Evergreen Walk is home to over 60 shops and restaurants including LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, 57 Sheffield, Ann Taylor, Coldwater Creek, Highland Park Market, Johnny Rockets, Joseph A Bank and Omaha Steaks (updated May 2020)
• 🌍 The Shoppes at Buckland Hills. Manchester. Another large regional shopping mall that is located east of Hartford, over the Connecticut River. The mall opened in 1990 and is part of one of the largest retail areas in the northeast. The mall is home to big name shops and restaurants including Macy's, JC Pennys, Barnes & Noble, Sears, Brookstone, Coach, Dick's Sporting Goods, Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant, H&M and the Build-A-Bear Workshop. 

Over the years, Hartford came to be known for its Italian cuisine. South End of Hartford used to be called Little Italy, and even though most Italian-Americans have migrated to the southern suburbs of the city, their restaurants and shops remain. Today, however, Hartford is not limited to Italian cuisine. Waves of immigrants from South America, the Caribbean Islands (mainly Puerto Rico and Jamaica) and southeast Asians have added a richer cuisine to Hartford. South End and West End is filled with Peruvian and Brazilian cuisines. West End and parts of East Hartford have seen a surge in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, North End and parts of West End are known for their Jamaican and Caribbean/West Indies cuisines, and Park Street for the Puerto Rican cuisine.

To the locals and those in the surrounding areas, Hartford is known for its giant grinders (sandwiches). Most of these giant grinder shops are in the South End neighborhood, on or near Franklin Avenue, which include Corner Grinder, Franklin Giant Grinder, La Rosa's, and Wethersfield Pizza House.

• 🌍 Bear's Smokehouse Barbecue, 25 Front St, ☏ +1 860-785-8772, info@bearsbbq.com. Opened in 2014, brings southern-style BBQ to the neighborhood. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 Black-Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum Avenue, ☏ +1 860-278-7427. Serves BBQ and Cajun restaurant southeastern food. The restaurant also plays live music from many well-known and local blues artists. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 El Pollo Guapo, 26 Front Street, ☏ +1 860-246-2800. A neighborhood rotisserie joint featuring whole roasted chickens, fresh sides, tacos and salads. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 Salute, 100 Trumbull Street, ☏ +1 860-899-1350. Trendy Italian restaurant with an upscale menu of pastas (gluten-free available) & grilled dishes. (updated Sep 2020)

• 🌍 Fire-N-Spice Vegan Restaurant, 491 Capitol Avenue, ☏ +1 860-519-0476. Vegan restaurant. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 Le Petit Chef, 40 Temple Street, ☏ +1 860-241-8877. French restaurant, sandwiches. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 Cornerstone, 529 Main Street, ☏ +1 860-278-2923. Deli, Sandwich shop. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 HFC, 271 Farmington Ave, ☏ +1 860-246-0111. Fried chicken. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 The Brownstone, 114 Asylum Street, ☏ +1 860-969-6128. Pizza, bar. Local branch of a small chain that started in New York's East Village. 
• 🌍 Kravin Pho, 1999 Park Street, ☏ +1 860-904-5375. Pho & other Vietnamese specialties. 
• 🌍 Han Restaurant, 310 Prospect Avenue, ☏ +1 860-216-5726. Sichuan cuisine. (updated Sep 2020)

• 🌍 Vaughan's Public House, 59 Pratt St, ☏ +1 860-882-1560. Cozy pub offering traditional Irish fare, Guinness & single malts amid dark woods & memorabilia. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Pig’s Eye Pub, 356 Asylum Street. Famous for never having a cover, and live bands on the roof top patio. Overall a rowdy little place with lots of fun. 
• 🌍 Black-Eyed Sally's, 350 Asylum St, ☏ +1 860-278-7427. Southern fare & BBQ in a hip, vibrant roadhouse with live blues, jazz & soul music. (updated Sep 2019)
• 🌍 Arch Street Tavern, 85 Arch Street (across from the Connecticut Convention Center & Marriott Hartford Downtown Hotel). Historic restaurant/bar featuring a rustic atmosphere, pub food and live music. 
• 🌍 Agave Grill, 100 Allyn Street. Upscale tequila bar, quieter and more mature. Features an excellent selection of tequila and also serves up great Mexican cuisine. 
• 🌍 Spigot Cafe, 468 Prospect Avenue. Laid-back bar with wide selection of draft and bottled beers. 
• 🌍 The Corner Pug, 1046 New Britain Ave. (updated Sep 2019)

There are an abundance of large chain hotels in the Hartford area as well as many upscale ones downtown and in the suburbs. Over 60,000 rooms are located in Greater Hartford.

Despite what the media says, Hartford is generally a safe city. The areas where tourist attractions, colleges, shops, nightclubs and restaurants are is safe. Most of the violence is confined to the north end of Hartford which includes areas north and west of downtown (excluding the North Meadows and West End). A majority of the attractions and entertainment in Hartford is located in Downtown/Central Business District, the West End, South End, and North Meadows and these areas are fairly safe.

North Meadows safety: If you are a visitor you would visit the North Meadows if you were attending some sort of event. The Dodge Music Center, Connecticut Expo Center and the Greater Hartford Jaycees Community Boathouse are all in the North Meadows. This area is not a residential neighborhood, it is a commercial and industrial neighborhood and when major events take place there is a police presence in the area to make sure things don't get out of hand at a big concert for example.

West End safety: The West End is home to the Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, UCONN School of Law, Hartford Seminary, University of Hartford, Governors Mansion, Elizabeth Park and Watkinson School. This area is extremely safe and since there are so many colleges University of Hartford and UCONN police patrol the area in addition to the Hartford Police Department

Downtown/ Central Business District safety: Downtown is home to the Old State House, Wadsworth Atheneum, State Capital, Capital Community College, Constitution Plaza, Hartford Civic Center, CT Convention Center and most of the major Hartford hotels (Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn Express Downtown, Goodwin, Residence Inn by Marriott, Homewood Suites by Hilton) as well as many of the well known nightclubs, bars and restaurants and so there are usually people downtown. If you are planning on going to the major nightclub/bar area by Union Station (Allyn Street, Union Place, Ann Street) there are sometimes police patrolling the area to make sure nothing gets out of control. Also when there are major events such as games or conventions there are also usually extra police on duty.

South End safety: The south end is safe but when driving in areas of the south end do be cautious as drivers can be wild and pedestrians many times do not confine themselves to crosswalks. Besides Franklin Avenue, Wethersfield Avenue and Maple Avenue many areas of the South End are residential so there is a sense of community and low crime

North End safety: Areas in the north end of Hartford (Albany Avenue between just north of downtown and the west end) and the surrounding neighborhood can be dangerous during the nighttime. Since it is better to be safe than sorry, if you are planning on driving through this area keep your doors locked.

• Springfield, Massachusetts - 24 miles north.
• New Haven, Connecticut - 37 miles south.
• Storrs, Connecticut - 25 miles east.

Springfield ← Windsor ←	N  S	→ Berlin → New Haven
Springfield ← Windsor Locks ←	N  S	→ Meriden → New Haven
Waterbury ← West Hartford ←	W  E	→ East Hartford → Worcester
Springfield ← Windsor ←	N  S	→ Wethersfield → New Haven
END ←	W  E	→ Norwich → Stonington
Worcester via ← East Hartford ←	N  S	→ Wethersfield → New Haven
Bristol ← West Hartford ←	W  E	→ East Hartford → Providence
Poughkeepsie ← West Hartford ←	W  E	→ East Hartford → Providence