Connecticut
Connecticut suits trips built around a university town, the Long Island Sound shore and a casino resort stay.
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Connecticut is a small state in New England, in the northeastern United States. It borders New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and its southern edge faces Long Island Sound. Trips here are often built around a few main stops. Two of them are New Haven, a university city on the coast, and Uncasville, home to the Mohegan Sun resort and casino.
New Haven is best known as the home of Yale University, and the campus runs through the downtown. Food is a draw too: the city is known for thin-crust, coal-fired pizza, often called apizza. Uncasville suits a stay built around dining, entertainment and resort amenities, especially if you want to stay in one place. Late spring through early fall suits walking and the shoreline, and fall brings color to the hills. Plan at least a few days, and rent a car if you want to move between areas.
Connecticut in five
- Get an ESTA before you flyVisa Waiver nationals need an approved ESTA before boarding a flight to the US. Apply only on the official CBP site, and check eligibility there first.Visas and entry
- Rent a car at Bradley AirportBradley International Airport, near Hartford, is the state's main airport. Outside New Haven, most sights in Connecticut need a car.
- Take the train from New York to New HavenAmtrak and Metro-North trains from New York stop at New Haven Union Station. It is the simplest way into the city without a car.New Haven
- Tip 15 to 20 percent at restaurantsServers expect a tip on top of the bill, usually 15 to 20 percent. The tip is not included in the price, so add it when you pay.
- Order the white clam pie at Pepe'sFrank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and Sally's Apizza are long-running pizza houses in New Haven. The white clam pie is a well-known order at Pepe's, and the lines can be long at peak times.New Haven
Neighborhoods
New Haven
- Best for: Rail day trips, first visits
- Price band: $$
- Union Station for Amtrak and Metro-North
- Yale campus is a walk from the Green
- Wooster Street pizza houses
Skip if you want a quiet base away from traffic.
Uncasville
- Best for: Casino stays, a resort base with a car
- Price band: $$$
- Mohegan Sun is the main draw in town
- The Thames River runs past the resort
- A car is needed to reach other towns
Skip if you want walkable streets and a choice of restaurants.
Things to do in Connecticut
See all attractions in Connecticut
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- Visa Waiver for many passports; ESTA needed before flying Read more
- Emergency
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected in restaurants and taxis, about 15 to 20 percent
- Time
- UTC-5, UTC-4 with daylight saving (Eastern Time)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, quiet
- FebruaryCold, raw
- MarchCool, late snow
- AprilSpring bloom
- MayMild, green
- JuneLong days
- JulyWarm, humid
- AugustWarm, humid
- SeptemberFall term, mild
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCool, quiet
- DecemberHoliday lights
Right now in Connecticut
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 46%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Connecticut
05:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°3°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue21°8°5%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed21°10°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu21°12°52%Thursday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Fri22°15°57%Friday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Sat17°6°57%Saturday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Sun14°4°20%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 20%.
Updated 04:11 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Mysticby car from New HavenMystic Seaport's historic ships and the Mystic Aquarium fill a full day.
- New York Cityby Amtrak or Metro-NorthTrains from New Haven reach the city directly, with no car to park.
- Hartfordby car from New HavenThe Wadsworth Atheneum and the Mark Twain House make a good half day.
Before you go to Connecticut
Rules for Connecticut, checked
- Visa Waiver visitors need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Apply only on the official CBP site.Source
- Declare food, plant and animal products at US entry. Check the CBP travel page before you pack.Source
- The legal drinking age is 21 in Connecticut. Carry photo ID for bars, restaurants and casinos.
- Carry a passport or a REAL ID-compliant card for domestic flights and federal buildings.
Plan around Connecticut
Trains from New York, airport access and when a car is needed.
Read the guideVisas and entryESTA, Visa Waiver rules and what to check before you fly.
Read the guideMoney and cardsTipping, cash and card use for US visitors.
Read the guideWhere to stayBases in New Haven, Hartford and Uncasville.
Read the guideNew HavenPizza, the Green and Yale, with rail links to New York.
Read the guideUncasvilleMohegan Sun resort and the Thames River town.
Read the guideConnecticut FAQ
Is Connecticut worth visiting?
Yes, for a long weekend. New Haven gives a university city with pizza, museums and rail links to New York, and Mystic adds coastal history.
How many days do you need in Connecticut?
Three to four days covers New Haven, Mystic and Hartford. Add a night at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville if the casino resort is part of the plan.
Where should I stay in Connecticut?
New Haven downtown for trains and food, Hartford for a state capital base near the airport, and Uncasville if the casino resort is the reason for the trip.
Do I need a car in Connecticut?
Not for New Haven alone, since trains and walking cover the centre. For Mystic, Uncasville or Hartford, a car is the easiest way to get around.
Can I visit New Haven as a day trip from New York?
Yes, by Amtrak or Metro-North. Two nights gives more time for the Yale campus and a slow dinner.
Is Mohegan Sun worth staying at?
Only if the casino resort is the goal. Uncasville is a small town, so a car is needed to reach other places in the state.