The Best Things To Do In New Haven

Located on the coast of Connecticut, New Haven often draws visitors to Yale, America’s third-oldest university. Aside from this well-known higher-education site, there are a number of historical, unique and fun attractions in this coastal city to keep all types entertained.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Tour Yale University

The pristine Cross Campus at Yale University

No trip to New Haven is complete without wandering the hallowed halls of the Ivy League Yale University. Founded in 1701, Yale has produced 61 Nobel laureates, five US presidents and 19 US Supreme Court Justices, along with some famous faces such as Meryl Streep, Lupita Nyong’o, George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton. Start your visit at the Yale Visitor Centre, in John Pierpont House, the oldest private home in New Haven. Tours last approximately one hour and are led by students who will provide insight into campus life, details on Yale’s 300-year history, and possibly even reveal information about its notorious secret societies, like the Skull and Bones.

This building’s unusual, translucent, marble exterior conceals an even more unusual interior: a six-story tower of book stacks. The library has one of the largest collections in the world of rare books and manuscripts, along with Yale’s literary archives. Part of the library’s permanent exhibit is the Gutenberg Bible, its oldest book from approximately 1454, and John James Audobon’s “Birds of America,” along with some of the earliest printed books from the West before 1500. Visitors can view the ground floor and mezzanine public exhibition areas, permanent exhibitions and varied special exhibitions. Admission is free.

Bring out your inner child at the PEZ Visitor Center

This multi-coloured candy lover’s dream has the largest collection of PEZ memorabilia in the world. A bit like stepping inside Willy Wonka’s factory, guests can look into the production facility through viewing areas and see the sweets being packaged. Enjoy quizzes and interactive games and learn the history of PEZ, which started in 1927. The center also holds the largest dispenser in the world – and a PEZ motorcycle! End your visit by shopping the largest collection of PEZ candy and merchandise. Tickets are bought on site, and the tour is self-guided.

Get cultural at the Shubert Theater

This 1600-seat theater has seen the premiere of many shows before they opened on Broadway. In fact, in the last 100 years, the Shubert Theater has launched more than 300 world premieres and 50 American premieres and hosted over 600 Broadway auditions. Established in 1914 by the Shubert Brothers, the theatre held the world premiere of Oklahoma!, and Marlon Brando launched his stage career here with A Streetcar Named Desire. Today, this beautifully restored theatre still plays host to the top Broadway shows along with performances of dance, live music and a summer art camp for children.

Be adventurous at It Adventure Indoor Ropes Course

Standing five stories high, this indoor ropes facility claims to be the largest in the world. Take an exhilarating Zip It zip-line ride over 48ft high, or traverse one of a hundred rope elements on the four-level rope courses standing at 56ft high. The options don’t end there: You can climb one of the four different climbing walls, and exit the ropes course via Jump It, a 50ft-high free fall! If that’s not enough, the experience includes “liquid fireworks,” a choreographed light, sound and music show with over 1000 water nozzles.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.