State · Nova Inglaterra

Connecticut

Connecticut, in New England: the whaling port of Mystic, Yale University in New Haven, Mark Twain's house in Hartford, and colonial villages between New York and Boston.

In the photo: Gillette Castle

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The state

Get to know Connecticut

Connecticut is one of the country's smallest states and lies between New York and Boston, in southern New England. The coast opens to the Long Island Sound, with fishing villages and sailing harbors; the interior has hills, rivers and small towns with white churches and grassy commons—the region's classic picture.

Mystic, on the state's east coast, is home to the Mystic Seaport Museum, a recreated 19th-century maritime port featuring the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaling ship remaining in the world, and the Mystic Aquarium, with belugas. Nearby, Stonington and Essex are waterfront villages of old houses, and Gillette Castle, built of stone, overlooks the Connecticut River.

New Haven is the city of Yale University, with the Yale University Art Gallery and the Yale Center for British Art, and also of thin-crust pizza baked in coal ovens, which locals call apizza. Hartford, the capital, has the house where Mark Twain lived and wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and the Wadsworth Atheneum, one of the country's oldest public art museums.

In the northwest, the Litchfield Hills offer roads through forests, lakes and villages, popular in autumn for colorful foliage. For Brazilians, Connecticut often appears as a stop between New York and Boston: the Amtrak and Interstate 95 run along the state's coast.

When to go

From May to October days are usually pleasant. Summer, from June to August, is the season for beaches and boat trips on the coast, with highs near 28 °C. Autumn foliage typically colors the state from early October to early November. Winter is cold, with snow from December to March. Connecticut is 2 hours behind Brasília (1 hour during daylight saving time).

Getting there

Bradley Airport (BDL), near Hartford, has domestic flights; many visitors arrive via New York or Boston airports. From Brazil, the most common route is to fly to New York, which may have direct or connecting flights depending on season and carrier; check before purchasing. Amtrak trains link New York to New Haven in about 1.5 to 2 hours and continue to Mystic and Boston; the Metro-North also runs from New York to New Haven. A car is helpful for the interior.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Connecticut

Can you see Connecticut on a day trip from New York?

You can take the train to New Haven and return the same day. Mystic is about 2.5 hours from New York and fits better as a stop en route to Boston, with an overnight on the coast.

What is the Mystic Seaport Museum?

An open-air museum that recreates a 19th-century New England maritime port, with historic ships, workshops and houses. The centerpiece is the Charles W. Morgan, a wooden whaling ship launched in 1841. Visits typically take half a day.

When to see the autumn leaves in Connecticut?

Colors usually appear in the northern part of the state in early October and reach the coast by the end of the month. The Litchfield Hills and the Connecticut River valley are the most popular drives at that time.

Is it worth visiting Yale University?

It's worth it for those stopping in New Haven: the campus has Gothic buildings, libraries and art museums open to the public. The university usually offers campus tours; check the schedule before you go.

Tap a state to see its destinations. Limites: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.