This academic town's Gothic-style university buildings and thriving research centers are surrounded by tree-lined streets, local bookstores, and independent cafes.
Princeton, a town in central New Jersey, invites you to walk through university buildings with Gothic designs, see where George Washington won the Battle of Princeton, and explore bookshops on Nassau Street. You can reach the town by train in about an hour from New York City or Philadelphia, making it easy to visit for a day or stay longer. Residential areas with tall trees sit near places like the Institute for Advanced Study, where Albert Einstein had an office. Visit the Morven Museum to see 18th-century rooms or stop by the Princeton Public Library with its glass-walled reading areas. The town feels both lively with student energy and calm enough to find spots to sit and think.
Princeton University Campus and Research
Walk across Princeton University’s grounds to see classrooms and labs used since 1746. Nassau Hall, built in 1756, became a military hospital during the Revolutionary War and later hosted early meetings of American government leaders. At Firestone Library, you can view original handwritten pages from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Sylvia Plath’s poetry drafts during scheduled tours. Fine Hall, home to mathematicians, includes a chalkboard-lined hallway where John Nash developed theories depicted in A Beautiful Mind. The Institute for Advanced Study, surrounded by woods on the town’s edge, allows visitors to walk trails between its research buildings.
Revolutionary War Battle Sites
Stand on the field at Princeton Battlefield State Park where George Washington’s troops pushed back British soldiers in January 1777. Follow paths that cross the original combat zone and pass the stone colonnade memorial. Inside the park’s Clarke House Museum, see muskets, uniforms, and household tools from the 1770s. Morven Museum & Garden, a white-columned building that housed New Jersey’s first governor, displays letters from Revolutionary leaders and restored servant quarters. Drive 15 minutes to Rockingham State Historic Site, where Washington stayed in a farmhouse for four months and drafted his final military orders.
Outdoor Areas and Water Activities
Rowboats and kayaks glide across Lake Carnegie, created in 1906 by flooding farmland donated by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Walk or bike along the flat gravel path of the Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath, which stretches 70 miles across New Jersey. Herrontown Woods and the Institute Woods have trails under oak trees older than the university, with wooden signs marking rare plant species. At Community Park North, join pickup soccer games or skate on the outdoor rink when temperatures drop below freezing. Greenway Meadows Park draws birdwatchers each spring to spot warblers and herons near its small pond.
Stores and Restaurants Downtown
Nassau Street’s sidewalks lead past bookshops selling academic texts, board games at jaZams, and Princeton sweatshirts at the university store. In Palmer Square, browse clothing boutiques or watch workers carve ice into sculptures during December festivals. The Princeton Shopping Center, a low brick complex built in the 1960s, holds a Saturday farmers’ market with apple cider and fresh pretzels. Order a “Big Tony” sandwich at Hoagie Haven on Witherspoon Street, piled high with steak, fries, and cheese. For dessert, try lavender honey or dark chocolate ice cream at The Bent Spoon.
Museums and Performance Venues
Visit the Princeton University Art Museum’s temporary gallery at 14 Nassau Street to see Roman coins, Japanese woodblock prints, and paintings by Monet. McCarter Theatre sells tickets for jazz concerts, Shakespeare plays, and stand-up comedy nights in its 1,100-seat auditorium. The Historical Society of Princeton offers walking tours that explain how the town’s Quaker roots shaped its role in the Underground Railroad. Every June, the Princeton Festival stages operas in Richardson Auditorium and hosts chamber music recitals in local churches. Drive 20 minutes to Grounds for Sculpture, where life-sized statues of people and animals appear in gardens and wooded areas.
Getting Around and Trip Planning
Take NJ Transit trains from Princeton Junction station to reach New York City in 65 minutes or Philadelphia in 55 minutes. Free orange-and-black shuttle buses loop through downtown every 15 minutes, stopping near the university art museum and shopping centers. If driving, use parking garages on Hulfish Street or Spring Street, which charge $2 per hour up to a $12 daily maximum. Princeton Airport, east of town, runs weekend sightseeing flights over the Delaware River but doesn’t handle commercial airlines. Most hotels cluster near Route 1, including chain options with free breakfast and budget-friendly motels.
