Understand

 Get in 

 Get around 

 See 

 Do 

 Eat

 Stay safe

Location

Flag

Quick Facts

Capital

Hartford

Government

U.S. State

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Area

14,357 km2

Population

3,596,080 (2013 est.)

Language

English(No official language)

Religion

Roman Catholic 43%, Protestant 27%, Non-religious 23%, Other 5.5%

Electricity

120V/60Hz (North American 

Connecticut is the southernmost state in the New England region, full of charm, small coastal towns, rural beauty and several major cities. The State's top tourist attractions include Yale University, which maintains numerous world-class museums, Mystic Seaport, the restaurant and nightlife scene in downtown New Haven, The Maritime Aquarium, and two major Native American casinos. Connecticut is only a half day drive from many of the largest cities on the East Coast like New York City, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Boston. Mountian resorts in New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York state, and ocean beaches in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and southeastern Massachusetts are only hours away.

Regions

Regions of Connecticut

Fairfield County

Southwest Connecticut, near New York City. This area has several beaches and lighthouses, and many of the state's biggest cities, such as Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk.

Litchfield Hills

Northwest Connecticut. This is the least densely populated area of the state. The region is known for it's colorful fall foliage. Most of the region is rural, but there are a few smaller cities, including Torrington, Danbury, and New Milford.

Greater New Haven

South central Connecticut. Home to Yale University, and numerous museums and theaters. The shoreline area has several beaches and lighthouses. It includes cities such as New Haven, Hamden, and Milford.

Connecticut River Valley

From North central Connecticut to the coast. Home to New England's 2nd most populous region, the Knowledge Corridor, featuring Connecticut's state capital Hartford and many historic sights.

Mystic-Eastern

New London, Tolland and Windham Counties in eastern Connecticut. The best coastal vibes in Connecticut are found along it's easternmost coastline, as well as the best beaches. Mystic is a small resort town, home to the famous Mystic Seaport/Aquarium. Has two of the biggest casinos in the world. Includes cities such as New London, Mystic, Uncasville, and Ledyard.

Cities

Hartford - state capital.

Bridgeport - most populated city in the state.

Danbury - also known as Hat City, Danbury is home to Western Connecticut State University, Candlewood Lake, and many good restaurants.

Greenwich - ranked the 12th greatest place to live, Greenwich is a quaint town with a great view of Long Island.

Mystic - one of the most common places to visit, due to the historic seaport and aquarium.

New Haven - state's "creative capital" and home to the greatest amount of pedestrian life, top-rated restaurants and tourist attractions

New London - home to the coast guard acadamy, New London has a historic view of Long Island Sound.

Norwalk - home to trendy SoNo with an active night life and The Maritime Aquarium

Waterbury - small urban community with lots to do. Look for the Union Station Clocktower that overlooks the city.

Other destinations

Connecticut is rich with history, nature, art and beauty. Truly something for everyone. The coast is lined with historic lighthouses, beaches, and nautical charm. While many people are drawn each year to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casinos, there are also state parks and forests throughout the state, and many smaller city parks as well. Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam, the Essex Steam Train and River Boat Ride in Essex, and Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill are great family trips.

Beaches

See "Do"

Understand

Geography

Connecticut is split by the Connecticut River, the largest river in New England. The state has 8 counties, and 167 towns and cities. The largest lake, Candlewood lake, is located near the New York border. The southern part of the state faces Long Island Sound for 117 miles.

Weather

Summers (May through early October) are sunny and warm to hot and often humid (75 to 95 F). Bring sunglasses, shorts and T-shirts for summer comfort when spending time outdoors (light-weight, light colored clothing). In fall and spring, temperatures are normally mild to cool (70's down to low 50's F), and early spring (April) can see rain showers, so pack a rain coat for early spring trips.

Winter months (December through mid March) are cool to cold (30 to 45 F), so pack jackets and sweaters (and gloves) for a winter trip. In summer convective thunderstorms san sometimes be severe, so listen to local watches and warnings when going outdoors.

As with the rest of the United States, English is the most commonly spoken language in Connecticut. Road signs and restaurant menus are generally written solely in English, while most restaurant and hotel staff are unilingual in English. Though some tourist attractions offer services in languages other than English, it is generally safe for tourists to assume that only English can be guaranteed in any given location.

As Connecticut has grown more diverse, large Spanish-speaking communities have emerged in many of the state's cities. As such, patrons may be able to find speakers of Spanish in hotels, restaurants, and other public facilities in Connecticut cities.

Get in

By plane

In state

Bradley International Airport(BDL) [2] in Windsor Locks is the state's largest airport. Nearby to Hartford and Springfield (Massachusetts), it has flights to much of the USA, Caribbean, and some cities in Europe.

Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, 155 Burr Street, New Haven, +1 203 466-8833, A smaller airport with Avelo as the major carrier, with daily flights to Florida, and several East Coast cities.

Waterbury-Oxford Airport, popular with private aviation. 

Sikorsky Mem'l Airport [6] in Stratford is a private aircraft charter service based there.

Meriden Airport in Meriden, CT provides private air charter.

Danbury Municipal Airport in Danbury is mainly used for general aviation.

Out of state

John F Kenndey, Newark, and La Guardia in the New York City area are all a common choice for travelers in Connecticut. John F Kennedy and Newark provide both domestic and international flights worldwide while La Guardia Services mainly domestic and select international flights to Canada and the Caribbean.

Logan International Airport in Boston can be a good choice for travelers going to the northeast corner of the state, but is far away from any of the major cities, such as Hartford and New Haven.

By ferry

The Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry crosses Long Island Sound daily between Port Jefferson, Long Island and Bridgeport, CT. It carries cars and passengers. Cross Sound Ferry connects New London, CT and Orient Point, NY (the easternmost tip of Long Island's North Fork.) It also carries cars and passengers.

By train

Amtrak provides frequent service to Connecticut destinations on trains between Penn Station in New York City and South Station in Boston. MetroNorth provides frequent weekday commuter service from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and several cities and towns in southwestern Connecticut's Fairfield and New Haven counties.

By bus

As with trains, there are frequent intercity buses between South Station Boston and Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan with stops in Connecticut. Major bus lines serving Connecticut include Peter Pan and Greyhound 

By car

Those entering Connecticut by car from the west can choose from three major routes. Interstate 84 enters Danbury, Connecticut from Pennsylvania and the lower Hudson Valley of New York and continues to Waterbury, Hartford and Worcester. The Merrit Parkway, closed to trucks and buses, enters the state from New York's Westchester County, and is considered one of America's most scenic highways because of how its design matches the bucolic leafiness of the suburbs that surround it. An extension of the Parkway tunnels under a hill north of New Haven and continues to Meriden where it merges with Interstate 91 going north towards Hartford and beyond. Interstate 95 traverses the east coast of the United States from Maine to Florida, and runs along Connecticut's coast from east to west. The visitor should be aware I-95 North according to federal road signs is actually going East in Connecticut, and I-95 South is going West in Connecticut. Between New York and New Haven I-95 goes through densely populated suburbs and is heavily congested. East (North according to directional signs on the road) of New Haven I-95 goes through more rural coastal towns and is not so congested.

Entering the state from Boston involves taking the Massachusetts Turnpike also known as Interstate 90 west to I-84, or Route 6, a two-lane road, or Interstate 95 from Rhode Island.

Get around

By car

Car is the easiest way to travel through the state, and the best if you are planning on sightseeing.Several major highways, including I95 and I84, run through the state.

By bus

Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT), 100 Leibert Road, Hartford, Phone: +1 860 522-8101, Fax: +1 860 247-1810, [12].

Bridgeport is served by its own service.

New Haven is also served by a free electric trolley system that runs the downtown area.

By Rail

Connecticut has a good Rail system compared to many other US States. This makes it possible to travel around the state if you don't own or want to rent a car. Most of the bigger cities like New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport are served by rail, with connections to locations all over the USA. However, be prepared to take a Uber to your final destination if it is located in a smaller town or suburban area without bus service.

Metro-North

Serves the shoreline towns between Greenwich and New Haven with trains continuing to New York City. Frequently departures during peak periods and half hourly off peak service. Be sure to check the schedule to find trains that stop at both your origin and destination! Also has branch lines that run between Stamford and New Canaan, Norwalk and Danbury , and Bridgeport and Waterbury. New Canaan trains run once an hour, Waterbury and Danbury trains once every few hours.

Shore Line East

Service between New Haven and New London with stops at shoreline towns. Service every few hours plus more frequent rush hour service.

CTrail Hartford Line

New Service that launched in June 2018. Serves towns along the I-91 corridor including Hartford, New Haven, and Springfield. Tickets can also be used on Amtrak trains within CTrail's service area except for the Vermonter. Service every few hours with a higher frequency during peak periods.

Amtrak

Amtrak serves Connecticut and connects it to the rest of the United States. The Amtrak hub is in New Haven at Union Station, with hourly runs up and down the East Coast, and connections in New York City to locations throughout the USA. Normally advanced reservations are required, although some tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter.

By Thumb

Hitchhiking is not common in the United States, as most Americans believe hitching a ride is dangerous. The I-95 corridor is not difficult and is serviced by a very nice series of rest stops. Walk on, stick out your thumb, and you should have no trouble getting a ride. In addition, the Fairfield service plaza (exit 21) is a frequent stop for buses between New York and Boston, and if there are any empty seats, it is possible to get on, often for free or reduced price if you're a good negotiator.

See

Botanical Gardens

Barlett Arboretum and Gardens is in Stamford.

Connecticut College Arboretum is in New London.

Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum is in Rocky Hill, south of Hartford.

Harkness Memorial State Park is in Waterford, west of New London.

Highstead Arboretum is in Redding, near Danbury

Marsh Botanical Garden is on the Yale Campus in New Haven

New Caanan Nature Center is in New Canaan, near Stamford and Norwalk

Colleges

Yale University is the 3rd oldest university in the country, and is one of the country's 8 Ivy League Schools. This school has been home to many famous people, including presidents, authors, judges, and senators. Yale is in the downtown area of New Haven, overlooking the green.

University of Connecticut, more commonly known as UConn, is a good college with famous men's and women's basketball teams. It is in Storrs, near Hartford

The United States Coast Guard Academy and Coast Guard training tallship USCGC Eagle in New London.

Connecticut College was founded in 1911 as a college for women, but went co-ed in 1969. The entire campus is an arboretum and is in New London.

Forts

Fort Griswold is in Groton.

Fort Nathan Hale is in New Haven.

Fort Trumbull is in New London (Connecticut)

Lighthouses

Avery Point Light is in Groton, near New London

Black Rock Harbor Light is in Bridgeport

Bridgeport Harbor Light is in Bridgeport.

Great Captain Island Light is in Greenwich.

Green's Ledge Light is in Norwalk.

Falkner Island Light is on the small island of Falkner Island, off the coast of Groton.

Five Mile Point Light is in New Haven.

Lynde Point Light is in Old Saybrook, near New London.

Morgan Point Light is in Noak, a small village in Groton.

Mystic Seaport Light is in Mystic.

New London Harbor Light is in New London.

Pecks Ledge Light is in Norwalk.

Saybrook Breakwater Light is in Old Saybrook.

Sheffield Island Light is on Sheffield Island, off the coast of Norwalk.

Southwest Ledge Light is in New Haven.

Stratford Point Light is in Stratford.

Tongue Point Light is in Bridgeport.

Sports

Minor League Baseball

Brideport Bluefish in Bridgeport

Connecticut Defenders in Norwich

Hartford Yard Goats in Hartford

Hockey

Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Bridgeport

Danbury Mad Hatters in Danbury

Hartford Wolfpack in Hartford

Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)

Connecticut Sun in Uncasville

Schools

Colleges such as Yale and UConn have many sports games open to the public.

Zoos

Beardsly Zoo is in Bridgeport.

Do

Museums

The Connecticut Historical Society offers exciting exhibits, programs, and events. This is suited for both children and adults, check out the upcoming events. 

Amusement Parks

Lake Compounce is the oldest amusement park in the United States. Located in Bristol, this park has dozens of rides for all ages, and good food.

Quassy is an old amusement park in Middlebury. This park is more suited for younger children.

Aquariums/Seaports

Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk

Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport in Mystic

Beaches

Calf Pasture Beach is a historical beach in Norwalk

Cove Island Park is a beach/park in Stamford

Cummings Park is a beach/park in Stamford

Hammonasset Beachis the largest beach in the state locacted in Madison

Pleasure Beach is a great family beach/park in Bridgeport

Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme

Sherwood Island State Park in Westport

Silver Sands State Park in Milford

Bicycle

Bicycling is popular in Connecticut. There are plenty of country roads, coast line, lighthouses, and hills to keep you going. The state maintains a website called CT Trails with a list and maps of trails. Some are paved and others are packed dirt.

Another comprehensive site is CT Bike Routes 15 of 500+ routes, cue sheets, and maps.

Casinos

Mohegan Sun is the largest casino in the country, and the second largest in the world. It is in Uncasville

Foxwoods is the second largest casino in the country, and the third largest in the world. It is in Ledyard

Hike

There are hikes for every level on mountains or along the beach, many of them are suitable for kids

Eat

Connecticut has an incredible amount of restaurants everywhere you go. There are thousands of restaurants state wide. Downtown New Haven is widely considered the restaurant capital of the state, with more top Zagat-rated restaurants than any other community in Connecticut by a wide margin. Interesting ethnic restaurants, including Eritrean, Malaysian, Turkish, Spanish, French, Mexican, Cuban, Jamaican, Ethiopian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Southern and Northern Indian, Nepalese, Cantonese and Italian restaurants can be found throughout the city. Also, the state's large casinos have plenty of dining opportunities.

Southington, Connecticut, between Hartford and Waterbury, is famous for their many apple orchards. This small town of forty thousand people has an incredible variety and supply of apples, celebrating their staple crop with the annual Harvest Festival in October. Anyone traveling through this beautiful state in the Autumn must stop in Southington for a bag of apple fritters and other foods made from the town's famous apples.

Drink

Liquor stores and grocery stores are open 8AM-10PM Monday-Saturday and now on Sunday until 6pm. Bars are generally open 7 days per week and are open until 1am or 2am pending on the day of the week.

Discover Connecticut's Craft Beer culture, boasting great local breweries, quality brewpubs and beer bars, home brew supply shops, and beer festivals. Many breweries offer tours of their facilities, and of course free samples of their products.

The legal drinking and purchasing age of alcoholic beverages is 21. Under age drinking is taken very seriously so if you are in a club or bar and appear to be under 30 you should be ready to present identification showing your age. However, there are exceptions. Under age drinking is allowed on private non-alcohol selling premises and on alcohol selling premises as long as there is parental presence and consent. Under age drinking is also allowed for religious and medical purposes.

Stay safe

Law Enforcement in Connecticut. The Connecticut State Police have jurisdiction over the whole state. The Connecticut State Police is different from most other police agencies. All Connecticut State Police patrol vehicles are unmarked and troopers have the option of adding a lightbar or interior lights. To positively identify that the vehicle is owned by CSP on the light bar or visor lights there is a small LED sign saying state police. CSP officers are permitted to take their vehicles home with them. CSP lightbar colors are red and blue unlike the other New England States which only uses blue lights. Local agencies also uses red and blue lights

Crime

Although Connecticut is well known for its affluence, and is the third wealthiest state in America, there are sections in the state's largest cities (especially Hartford, Bridgeport, and New Haven) that can be very dangerous in some areas, especially at night. Street crime is often only a concern away from the downtown areas in Hartford and New Haven. In New Haven, areas near the Yale Campus are well patroled by both Yale and New Haven Poilce.

Wildlife

Connecticut has a sizable bear population, and recently bear encounters are becoming very frequent. Most bears are encountered in the northern and western part of the state in rural areas. Don't leave food out when camping. If you see bear slowly back away in the opposite direction and wait for the bear to leave.

There are two poisonous snakes found in Connecticut, the Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnake. Do not pick any wildlife and when hiking in summer and early fall, don't stick your hand or feet where you can't see them.

Connecticut is the infamous birthplace of Lyme Disease. When hiking through long grass make sure to wear long sleeves and long pants and check yourself for ticks when you come indoors. Tick season are usually from April though November.

When heading to beaches on Long Island Sound, watch for rip currents and undertow if the ocean is rough or a coastal storm is offshore. Swim at life guarded beaches when possible.

Get out

New York - Surrounding Connecticut to the south and west, New York is home to America's largest city as well as amazing natural beauty in the less urban areas.

Massachusetts - The cities of Boston and Springfield are within reasonable driving distance of Connecticut's northern border.

Rhode Island - The capital city of Providence is a short journey to the east of Connecticut. Rhode Island has long stretches of white sand beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, and the city of Newport is a major tourist city year