Getting There

Interstate 95 between New York and Providence skirts the shoreline of New Haven; I-91 from Springfield, MA, and Hartford ends here. Connections can also be made from the south along the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways. Downtown traffic isn't too congested, except at the usual rush hours, and there are ample parking lots and garages near the Green and Yale University, where most visitors spend their time.

Tweed-New Haven Airport (tel. 203/466-8888) primarily handles commuter and charter traffic, as well as feeder flights of US Air Express (tel. 800/428-4322). It's located southeast of the city, near Exits 50 and 51 off I-95.

Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL) has several trains daily that run between Boston and New York and stop in New Haven. To or from New York takes 1 1/2 hours; to or from Boston, about 3 hours. Metro North (tel. 800/638-7646 or 212/532-4900) commuter trains make many daily trips between New Haven and New York. Metro North tickets are much cheaper than Amtrak's, but its trains take longer.

Visitor Information

The Greater New Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau (tel. 203/777-8550) maintains an office at 169 Orange St. Downtown, INFO New Haven, at 1000 Chapel St. (tel. 203/773-9494), is open daily, all year. In addition to stocks of useful brochures, attendants can make theater and restaurant reservations and there is a computer terminal at which visitors can check their e-mail.

A bus designed to resemble an electric trolley makes a circuit of downtown, with frequent stops outside important attractions. In operation from 11am to 6pm Monday through Saturday, it passes along its fixed route every 15 or 20 minutes. At this writing it is free, but check before boarding or call the New Haven Trolley Line (tel. 203/288-6282).

Special Events

Important events are the new International Festival of Arts & Ideas, held at many sites around the city in late June, and a free jazz festival on the Green from late July to early August. Call INFO New Haven for dates and details.