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Before you go
Your trip to Lancaster.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Lancaster – Pennsylvania Destination Lancaster, Gettysburg and Hershey
How to get there
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Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) 55 km
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Lancaster Station 2 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
Lancaster station is served by trains that connect Philadelphia to Harrisburg, a trip of about one hour and ten minutes from Philadelphia. Harrisburg’s MDT airport is about 55 km away, and PHL is about 115 km. By car you reach it via US-30 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How many days
One day for downtown and the market; another for Strasburg and the county villages; a third for Landis Valley or a carriage ride through the farms.
When to go
From May to October, when the farms are active and tours run daily. The central market is open on some weekdays. Many Amish shops and attractions are closed on Sundays.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
For the county, yes: the villages, the railroad and the museums are outside the city. Downtown is walkable. On rural roads, slow down near horse-drawn buggies. Drive on the right.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Lancaster
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Morning
Central Market and downtown
Start at Lancaster Central Market, open on certain weekdays, and walk the historic center around Penn Square.
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Afternoon
Strasburg
Head to Strasburg for the steam train and the state railroad museum, located across the street.
2 days in Lancaster
Day 2
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Morning
County villages
Drive the rural roads to Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, which have farmers’ markets and, if you wish, carriage rides.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?
Visit Lancaster Central Market, ride the Strasburg steam train, see the state railroad museum, the Landis Valley Museum and the county villages like Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse.
Where can you see Amish communities near Lancaster?
In the villages east of town, such as Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse and Strasburg, and on the rural roads between them where horse-drawn buggies travel. There are guided tours that explain these communities’ way of life.
Is Lancaster Central Market open every day?
No: it is open on certain weekdays, generally Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check opening hours before you go.
What time zone is Lancaster in?
Lancaster follows Eastern Time: UTC-5 in winter and UTC-4 in daylight saving time, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.