When most people plan to visit Lancaster, PA they picture the county (and the Amish), not necessarily the city itself. Sure, the Amish are fascinating to some and they make amazing furniture and baked goods. But after you’ve been stuck behind them on a back road while running late for work a few times, they kind of lose their shine. I didn’t know until recently that Lancaster was actually the capital of Pennsylvania for 13 years (from 1799-1812), and it is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. Which kind of explains why the historic homes in the area are so expensive!
Don’t listen to Wikipedia – it’s pronounced Lank-ister, not Lang-kih-ster or Lang-Caster.
Compared to the tiny sub-4,000 person town I grew up in, I thought Lancaster was MASSIVE when I was a kid. It made me nervous the few times we ventured into the city! While as of 2024 it’s the 12th largest city in Pennsylvania, there are only about 58,000 people that live there (about 552,984 in the metro area). For comparison – Pittsburgh at #2 has a little over 300,000 people, while Philly is #1 with a population of over 1.5 million. Visiting Lancaster from Philly is an easy day-trip, as the drive only takes about an hour and a half. The city seems to have had a resurgence since I moved away in 2013, and there are so many new places I can’t wait to check out!
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Looking for a caffeine boost? Check out all the coffee shops I’ve visited in Lancaster, PA
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Wine lover? Browse my guide to Lancaster County wineries
Transportation
Most people tend to drive when they visit Lancaster, PA, arriving via Route 30, 222, or 501. There are plenty of parking garages to choose from, all run by the Lancaster Parking Authority. I personally prefer to use the Prince Street Garage (111 N Prince Street) because it’s close to so many of my favorite places!
In terms of public transit, while Lancaster is too small for a subway system there are a number of bus lines that serve the city through Red Rose Transit Authority. Some of these lines also can get you to and from other popular towns in the area including: Ephrata, Lititz, Columbia, Millersville, and Elizabethtown.
Arriving By Train
There are actually two Amtrak lines that make a stop in Lancaster: the Keystone, which runs between Harrisburg and New York City, and the Pennsylvanian, which runs between Pittsburgh and New York City. While the Pennsylvanian only does one roundtrip daily, the Keystone on the other hand runs 13 trains on weekdays and 7 on the weekends. This makes Amtrak a convenient way to visit Lancaster, PA if you don’t want to drive, or like me just prefer not to.
The Lancaster Amtrak Station is located at 53 McGovern Ave. Just a 5 minute uber or taxi ride will get you to the middle of downtown!
Even though it’s a pretty small station with just two platforms, Lancaster is the second busiest Amtrak station in Pennsylvania after Philly’s 30th Street Station. There really isn’t much inside the station itself besides a ticket counter, vending machines, restrooms, seating, and a small coffee shop (which like many places in Lancaster County is closed on Sundays).
Visiting Lancaster and looking for things to do?
Check out these exciting options:
Things To Do
Visit the Historic Central Market
Did you know the oldest continuously operated public farmers market in America is located in the heart of Lancaster? I somehow always forget how much smaller it is than the famous Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. Because it’s in the heart of Amish country, you can find plenty of fresh produce, meats, preserves/jams/sauces, and of course baked goods. We snacked on some delicious apple cider donuts and a whoopie pie while we browsed. If you can’t make it on a Saturday, they’re also open on Tuesdays and Fridays (6am – 3pm).
Lancaster Central Market – 23 N Market Street.
Show Off Your Competitive Side
Decades – 438 N Queen Street.
Decades has a little bit for everyone: a 6 lane bowling alley, skeeball, and vintage arcade games – plus a bar and restaurant. It’s also fun to just grab a beer and people watch from the 2nd floor! While they’re family friendly during the day, it does transition into a 21+ space after 8:30pm.
Escape on Queen – 43-45 N Queen Street.
Puzzle your way out of one of 5 different themed rooms including a 1950’s gangster hideout, a pirate ship, and a 90’s holiday classic! Reservations are highly recommended.
Axe Throwing at Meduseld Meadery – 252 Harrisburg Avenue.
We just dropped in for mead flights ourselves, but the axe throwing looked so fun! This meadery just outside the city center has two dedicated axe throwing lanes. They recommend reserving a lane online, especially if you’re visiting on the weekend or have a larger group.
Browse and Do Some Shopping
Especially on warm days, I like to wander around a bit – stopping into any store that catches my fancy!
The Spice & Tea Exchange – 20 W Orange Street.
I’m not much of a tea person myself, but they also have lots of different flavored salts and sugars for those of us who like to cook and bake.
Space – 24 W Walnut Street.
This vintage/antique store specializes in Mid-Century modern pieces. I was bummed I’d taken the train on my last visit because there were so many things I wanted to take home!
Central Market Flowers – 258 N Queen Street.
Part florist, part home goods/gift store. They also have a small stall inside the market when it’s open.
Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar – 36 W King Street.
I’m a sucker for an infused olive oil or balsamic vinegar, and this tasting room always smells amazing. They also have a bunch of flavored sugars and salts that are perfect for baking.
Get a Little Crafty
I was never very good in art class, but that hasn’t stopped me from continuing to give things a try!
The PotteryWorks – 16 W Orange Street.
PotteryWorks is a paint-your-own-pottery studio with hundreds of pieces to choose from. It can get pretty busy on the weekends, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to reserve yourself a table in advance! Disclaimer: this maybe isn’t the best option if you don’t live nearby and are only in town for a day or two, as the painted pieces take about a week to be fired.
The BeadWorks – 52 N Queen Street.
Painting not really your thing? You could always head around the corner and make a piece of jewelry instead! Choose your project and beads, then do it yourself or get help from one of the friendly staff members. Interested in learning to make jewelry at home? They have classes including Beading Basics or Wire Work. After you’re done with your class you can also buy all the supplies you’d need to make your own jewelry at home.
Additional Itinerary Ideas
These are a few things that I either haven’t done yet myself or it’s been a veryyy long time. But they’re on my list for when I visit again in the future!
Catch a show at the Fulton Theatre – 12 N Prince Street.
Love musicals and plays, but can’t make it all the way up to Broadway? Then head over to what is purportedly the oldest continuously operating theatre in the United States!
Lancaster Stormers Baseball at Penn Medicine Park – 650 N Prince Street.
Founded in 2005, this team is part of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. They were back to back champions in 2022 and 2023!
Visit Historic Rock Ford – 881 Rockford Road.
Located a few minutes drive south of the city, you can take a tour of this 18th-century home that once belonged to a Revolutionary War general. Rock Ford is a very popular wedding and event venue in the area.
Where to Stay
If you’re not lucky enough to have family living nearby like I do, there are a number of great hotel options in the area to choose from for your visit to Lancaster, PA!
Hotel Highlight: Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
25 South Queen Street.
⭐ 3 – Star Hotel
View on: Booking.com or Expedia.com
Looking to be in the heart of it all, and willing to splurge a little? Or maybe you’re planning to spend some time at the nearby Convention Center? Then this is the hotel for you. Views from the room are beautiful and the rooms themselves are spacious and updated. While there is a restaurant connected to the hotel, Plough, I haven’t tried it because there are so many other amazing places within walking distance! You can easily get to any of the places I’ve highlighted in this post from this hotel.
Additional Hotels to Consider
Lancaster Arts Hotel – 300 Harrisburg Ave.
This boutique hotel is conveniently located just a mile from the Amtrak station, making it ideal for visitors arriving via train.
Hampton Inn Lancaster – 545 Greenfield Road.
While technically still in Lancaster, this hotel is about a 15 min drive from downtown. It’s a good option for people that want to save a little money and like less noise. We stayed here for my brother in law’s wedding!
What are your favorite things to do in Lancaster, PA? Let me know in the comments!
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