walking tours
Take a break and a breath of fresh air. New Haven offers a number of self-guided tours; simply download photos, key information, audio narration, and you're good to go. From colonial-era houses to thought provoking modern sculpture, New Haven is a thriving outdoor museum of design, planning, restoration and adaptive reuse. The Elm City is rich in architecture, history, and culture ... and it's all just a few steps away.
Grove Street CemetaryDesignated as a National Historic Landmark, this cemetery serves as the final resting place for many prominent historical figures. With more than 14,000 burial records, this site was the first burial ground to offer family plots. Friends of the Grove Street Cemetery offer free guided tours, along with audio recordings for self-guided tours.
Guided Tours of Yale
Renovated in 2002, the Mead Visitor Center is the front door of Yale University and welcomes visitors from around the world. It is located across the street from the New Haven Green and offers daily tours of campus. No reservations are necessary, and tours are free of charge.
Arts & Culture Self-Guided Tours
Tapping into the font of New Haven's rich cultural offerings -- and
superior walkability -- the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce
(GNHCC) Arts & Culture Leadership Team assembled four walking tours
of the Elm City. For each of the below routes, you may download information and
audio narration:
Theater and Museum District
Beginning at the corner of College and Chapel Streets, at our very own
INFONewHaven, this tour snakes through the hub of the downtown arts
district. Stops include New Haven institutions such as Union League
Cafe, Skull & Bones, and Louis Lunch (birthplace of the
hamburger!).
Audubon Street
Big things do, indeed, come in small packages. This short walk down
Audobon Street cuts through the hub of the city's arts district.
Including the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and Creative Arts
Workshop, you will find several significant cultural organizations.
Beinecke Area
On this tour, you will explore the area surrounding Yale University's
Hewitt Quadrangle, or Beinecke Plaza. Starting at Memorial Hall and
ending with Grove Street Cemetery, this route sheds light on the
relationship between Yale and the city of New Haven.
Around the Green
Arguably the defining feature of downtown New Haven, the town Green is
packed with both history and civics lessons. From Bennett Memorial
Fountain to City Hall to Trinity Church, this tour will give you a true
taste of the heart of the city.
