Located in the Southern part of Connecticut (just an hour from New York City) is the charming seaside town of Norwalk, Connecticut. This historic town is the perfect weekend escape from NYC or for a fall getaway. Connecticut isn't usually on every travelers bucket list, but Norwalk and Fairfield county is certainly worth visiting. With its cute downtown areas, amazing hiking spots, cozy cafes, and top notch restaurants, Norwalk is truly underrated. Read on to discover what to do in Norwalk, Connecticut.

In this post all about what to do in Norwalk, Connecticut we will go over the best things to do, places to stay, where to dine, and more!

This post may contain affiliate links - if you purchase a tour or hotel via Daisies Abroad we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you

Table of Contents

• Best Hotels In Norwalk
• What To Do In Norwalk
  • Calf Pasture Beach 
  • Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum
  • Center for Contemporary Printmaking
  • Sheffield Island
  • Oyster Shell Park 
  • Mill Hill Historic Park
  • Explore New Canaan
• Where To Dine In Norwalk
  • Best Coffee Shops In Norwalk
  • Best Restaurants In Norwalk
• How To Get To Norwalk
• When To Visit Norwalk
• What To Do In Norwalk Wrap Up
• Written By Daisy MacLellan

Best Hotels In Norwalk, Connecticut

🛎️The Watershed - I stayed at the Watershed during my time in Norwalk and had a lovely stay! The Watershed is a boutique hotel with everything you need for a comfortable stay in Norwalk. At the Watershed you will find floor to ceiling windows, a small gym, a cute rooftop, an outdoor pool, an amazing restaurant, and beautifully appointed rooms. The Watershed should be your first choice when choosing a hotel in Norwalk.

🛎️The Hilton Garden Inn - If you can't get in at The Watershed, The Hilton Garden Inn is also a good option. While it's certainly not as cute as The Watershed, but you will find everything you need at the Hilton.

What To Do In Norwalk, Connecticut

Calf Pasture Beach 

Weather you are visiting on a hot summer day or during the barren winter, the beach is always a beautiful and peaceful place to be. Calf Pasture Beach is Norwalk's most popular beach as it offers calm waters, a picturesque fishing pier, playgrounds, green spaces, the stunning Norwalk Nature Valley Trail, and views of nearby islands.

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum

Built in 1864, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a 62 room mansion located in Matthews Park in the center of Norwalk. The Mansion itself is a primal example of a 2nd Empire style country house. Inside of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion you will find fascinating Victorian artifacts. When I visit the Lockwood Mathews Mansion it was closed for repairs, but just from seeing the outside of the magnificent structure I could tell that it is worth visiting.

Center for Contemporary Printmaking

Located right next to Lockwood-Mathews Mansions is the Center for Contemporary Printmaking. The Center for Contemporary Printmaking is home to a bunch of cool art works from local artists. It is a small place, but super cute and an easy stop after visiting the Mansion.

Sheffield Island

Norwalk is surrounded by small islands. Some are privately own, others are open to the public. Sheffield Island is a popular Island for tourist as during the summer months. You will find a historic lighthouse, home, trails, and plenty of wildlife on the island.

If you are interested in birds and migration, Sheffield Island will certainly peak your interest.

Book your Ferry To Sheffield Island here.

Oyster Shell Park

Oyster Shell Park is a beautiful little park in the center of Norwalk. Situated right on the Norwalk River, Oyster Shell Park offers walking trails, hilltop views, a playground, picnic spots, and more.

Read more on Oyster Shell Park here.

Mill Hill Historic Park

Mill Hill is a Historic Park in the downtown of Norwalk that is made up of three small and well preserved buildings all built in the 18th century (a schoolhouse, the governor's law office, and the Norwalk town hall). Mill Hill is a great spot to learn more about the colonial United States.

Read more on Mill Hill here.

Explore New Canaan

Located just north west of Norwalk is the ritzy town of New Canaan. New Canaan is home to beautiful nature reserves, a cute downtown, stunning historical buildings, and more. This town is a great day trip from Norwalk.

While in New Canaan be sure to explore the downtown area, visit Wavenly Park, see the Glass House, and explore Grace Farms.

Where To Dine In Norwalk

Best Coffee Shops In Norwalk

• Art Space Cafe - Located right next to the Lockwood Mansion and the Center for Contemporary Printmaking you will find the lovely Art Space Cafe. At the Art Space Cafe there is art displayed from local artists along with amazing coffee and food! The Art Space Cafe is a great place to do any work or just to grab a coffee.
• Mercantile at Graybarns - Located on the outskirts of town (going towards New Canaan), you will find the farm fresh Mercantile at Graybarns. Mercantile at Graybarns has a homey vibe as it is situated in a colonial home that was made into a coffee shop. The coffee and food is amazing at Mercantile at Graybarns - all is organic and locally sourced.

Best Restaurants In Norwalk

• Greer Southern Table - The Greer Southern Table is a southern restaurant located in the Wall Street Neighborhood of Norwalk. At the Greer you will find Saturday & Sunday brunch, Friday lunch, and supper served Tuesday - Sunday. Greer prides itself on serving organic, locally grown, and seasonal products. Greer is certainly a great dinner option in Norwalk - be sure to make a reservation!
• Cheese & Bread - Cheese & Bread is a cozy eatery located in downtown Norwalk. Offering the unique taste of Georgia (not the state, the country) you will have the opportunity to try something different at Cheese & Bread. Cheese & Bread is a family style restaurant, meaning the serves large dishes for your group to split. Be sure to make a reservation.

How To Get To Norwalk

Closest Airports To Norwalk - The closest airport to Norwalk is The White Plains Airport (HPN) which is about 15 miles away. Airlines such as JetBlue, Breeze, American, Delta, Alaska, KLM, Aeromexico, and more fly into HPN. Some other airport that you could fly into include JFK (51.1 miles), LGA (40.9 miles), and EWR (61.9 miles).

Getting To Norwalk - Renting a car and driving is probably the easiest option because once you get to Norwalk there isn't much public transportation. You can book a rental car here. The other option is taking a train. You can take the Amtrak from NYC Grand Central to Stamford, which is right next to Norwalk. There are also trains you can take directly from the airports.

When To Visit Norwalk

The best times to visit anywhere in the northeast is in the summer and fall. During the summer in southern Connecticut you kind of get that Hampton vibe. The fall is lovely because of the fall foliage!

As you can probably tell from my photos in this post I visited Norwalk in the winter (January). I actually loved this time! We had a snowstorm and I loved getting cozy at The Watershed and watching the snow fall.

What To Do In Norwalk FAQs:

How to spend a day in Norwalk, CT?

I would start your day at Calf Pasture Beach. Then grab breakfast/coffee at Art Space Cafe. Next, visit the Lockwood Mansion. Then, the Center for Contemporary Printmaking. Then, Mill Hill. At the end of the day check into the Watershed!

Is Norwalk, CT worth visiting?

Yes! Norwalk is such a charming town. It is the perfect escape from NYC.

What is Norwalk CT known for?

Norwalk is known for its history and Oyster industry!

What To Do In Norwalk Wrap Up

Norwalk is an adorable little town full of amazing restaurants, cute hotels, beautiful nature resturaves, and more. This small town is the perfect weekend trip from NYC. We hope that this post inspires you to visit Norwalk and Southern Connecticut. If you liked this post checkout our guide to New Canaan, Mystic, and our Complete Guide To New York City.

Written By Daisy MacLellan

This post all about What To Do In Norwalk, Connecticut was written by Daisy MacLellan. Daisy is the owner and main writer of Daisies Abroad. She is from Boston, Massachusetts an loves her Pomeranian, Latte. You will find Daisy exploring the world or at a local cafe writing.

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Happy Travels,

Daisy

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