6 Free Activities in New Haven

New Haven, Connecticut, in the heart of one of the richest states in the US, is ideal for the budget traveler. It is also a college town, which means free museums and other free attractions. See what there is to do that is free in New Haven.

free in New Haven — The New Haven skyline. Credit: Visit New Haven

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New Haven, in Connecticut, is home to an expensive, elite university, but it has plenty of free family friendly activities. This New England city is the 2nd largest in Connecticut, yet it maintains a small town feel.

Yale Art Gallery: This free fine-arts museum presents works of art from ancient times to the present day, with a variety of changing exhibitions. There are many hands-on activities for kids.

Yale Campus Tour: The Yale Visitor Center offers a free Kids’ Architectural Treasure Hunt brochure for children ages 6-11 that encourages children to hunt for architectural details and designs while on the Yale campus tour.

Yale Museum of British Art: The Yale Center for British Art houses the largest collection of British art outside the UK, in a landmark building by Louis Kahn. The free museum includes paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and rare books. Check for tours, concerts, and regular family programs.

Knights of Columbus: Established in 1982, the Knights of Columbus Museum features world-class exhibitions of artwork and history, particularly those representing the heritage of Catholicism. The family friendly museum is renowned for its annual Christmas exhibitions.

Eli Whitney Museum: The Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop is an experimental learning workshop for students, teachers, and families.

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For children between 5 and 12 years old, there are walk-in projects on weekends, summer, and vacation programs. The Eli Whitney Museum says there are 1001 things to build before you grow up.

Children can build a toy train on the weekends as a walk-in project.

The annual International Festival of Arts & Ideas (IFAI) is held annually in New Haven, CT in June. The Festival gives visitors the chance to experience global events and performances. Over 80 percent of the programming is free. The line-up includes art, theater, dance, music, culinary and family-friendly events.

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