
Highest-rated things to do in Connecticut by visitors
When planning your next holiday, you might feel an instinctual pull toward destinations that would take you across oceans, like Tokyo or Paris, but there are experiences closer to home that will have you thinking twice before booking a trip abroad ever again.
If you're craving a burst of adrenaline, why not reserve a spot in Michigan's famed Saugatuck Dune Rides? The activity's charmingly dated website is a great indication of its word-of-mouth notoriety and timeless appeal. Over in Arizona, you might be surprised to find that it's not just the Grand Canyon that tempts travelers to its desert landscape—it's also one-of-a-kind venues like the Musical Instrument Museum, where music enthusiasts can find over 7,500 instruments from 200 countries around the world.
Indeed, even if you've lived in Connecticut your whole life, you might be surprised by just how many top-rated things you've yet to cross off your list. From architectural wonders and picturesque views to historical museums and other must-see sights, you'll find your appreciation for Connecticut reignited just by reading through this list of top-rated things to do.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated things to do in Connecticut using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 15, 2025.
Whether you're a family of five traveling in a recreational vehicle or a duo of friends looking for a quick getaway in Connecticut, read on for a list of sights you could easily plan a trip around.

#30. Mystic River Bascule Bridge
- Rating: 4.4/5 (807 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. PEZ Visitor Center
- Rating: 4.2/5 (586 reviews)
- City: Orange
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Charles W. Morgan
- Rating: 4.7/5 (443 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Elizabeth Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (431 reviews)
- City: West Hartford
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
- Rating: 4.7/5 (425 reviews)
- City: Mashantucket Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Kent Falls State Park
- Rating: 4.3/5 (369 reviews)
- City: Kent
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Connecticut Science Center
- Rating: 4.3/5 (414 reviews)
- City: Hartford
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Lake Compounce
- Rating: 4.0/5 (859 reviews)
- City: Bristol
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. New England Air Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (327 reviews)
- City: Windsor Locks
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Ocean Beach Park
- Rating: 3.9/5 (409 reviews)
- City: Waterford Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
- Rating: 4.8/5 (286 reviews)
- City: New Haven
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Silver Sands State Park
- Rating: 4.3/5 (435 reviews)
- City: Milford
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,058 reviews)
- City: Norwalk
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Mohegan Sun Arena
- Rating: 4.4/5 (833 reviews)
- City: Uncasville Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Historic Downtown Mystic
- Rating: 4.4/5 (717 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
- Rating: 4.6/5 (580 reviews)
- City: New Haven
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.7/5 (606 reviews)
- City: Hartford
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Hammonasset Beach State Park
- Rating: 4.4/5 (600 reviews)
- City: Madison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Yale University
- Rating: 4.6/5 (838 reviews)
- City: New Haven
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. The Submarine Force Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (907 reviews)
- City: Groton Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Mohegan Sun
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1,522 reviews)
- City: Uncasville Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Thimble Islands
- Rating: 4.7/5 (406 reviews)
- City: Branford
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Yale University Art Gallery
- Rating: 4.8/5 (996 reviews)
- City: New Haven
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Mystic Dark Room
- Rating: 5.0/5 (272 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Olde Mistick Village
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1,768 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Gillette Castle State Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (807 reviews)
- City: East Haddam
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Mystic Aquarium
- Rating: 4.1/5 (2,959 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Foxwoods Resort Casino
- Rating: 3.9/5 (3,447 reviews)
- City: Mashantucket Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. The Mark Twain House & Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,754 reviews)
- City: Hartford
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Mystic Seaport Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,556 reviews)
- City: Mystic Mystic Country
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.