CitiesGood to know

Hartford

Connecticut

Connecticut's capital, the old insurance city, with Mark Twain's wonderful house and America's oldest public art museum.

Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

Mark Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn in a dazzling Victorian home here, and Harriet Beecher Stowe lived next door.

Best Time
Spring and fall
Time Needed
Half a day
Cost Level
$$$$
Open
Year-round
Getting There
Bradley International is 25 minutes north. Amtrak connects to New York and Boston.

What to See

1 of 3 are free
1–2 hours

Mark Twain House

Guided tours of his Gothic home.

1–2 hours

Wadsworth Atheneum

America's oldest public art museum, opened in 1844.

Free1–2 hours

Connecticut State Capitol

A gilded High Victorian Gothic building.

Know Before You Go

  • Check opening hours before you go, especially on weekends and at state buildings.

Where to Stay

Stay downtown.

Where to Eat

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Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.

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Go Next

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Providence

Rhode Island

A compact college city with a strong food scene and summer WaterFire bonfires on its rivers, near Newport's mansions.

Full Guide

Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Northeast list.