Lancaster
Save35 hand-picked places in 10 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See a ready-made day plan ↓10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Oldest continuously operating public farmers market in the US
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
- Try the whoopie pies and fresh produce
📷 Photos
- 2
Historic steam train ride through Amish farmland
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Try the dining car
- Allow 45 minutes for the ride
📷 Photos
- 3
Large collection of historic locomotives and railcars
3 tips
- Allow 2 hours
- Across from the Strasburg Rail Road
- Great for kids
📷 Photos
- 4
Working farm and 1805 house tours explaining Amish life
3 tips
- Take the guided house tour
- Meet the farm animals
- Open year-round
📷 Photos
- 5
Home of President James Buchanan
3 tips
- Guided tours only
- Open seasonally
- Beautiful grounds
📷 Photos
- 6
Living history museum of Pennsylvania German rural life
3 tips
- Check the event calendar
- Allow 3 hours
- Good for families
📷 Photos
- 7
18th-century religious community with medieval-style buildings
3 tips
- Guided tours
- Check seasonal hours
- Look at the narrow doorways
📷 Photos
- 8
America's first commercial pretzel bakery in Lititz
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Twist your own pretzel on the tour
- Walk Lititz main street after
📷 Photos
- 9
Shopping village in Intercourse with local foods
3 tips
- Taste the jams and relishes
- Stop for a pretzel
- Busy on weekends
📷 Photos
- 10
Historic 1852 theatre staging Broadway-style productions
- Tip: Book ahead
2 tips
- Admire the Victorian interior
- Dine nearby before shows
📷 Photos
Take this map with you
Opens Google Maps with these places, ready to save to your own list.
Before you go: Lancaster tips
Transportation
- Drive to explore: Amish Country is spread out, so a car is the best way to visit farms and villages.
- Take the train: Amtrak's Keystone Service connects Lancaster with Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
- Watch for buggies: Share the road with horse-drawn buggies and pass slowly and carefully.
Security
- Drive carefully on rural roads: Narrow country roads, buggies and farm vehicles call for extra caution, especially at night.
- Lock your car: Keep valuables out of sight when parked at attractions.
- Use normal city sense: Downtown Lancaster is generally safe, but stay aware at night.
Saving
- Shop at Central Market: Lancaster Central Market sells local produce and baked goods.
- Visit roadside stands: Farm stands sell fresh produce, pies and preserves.
- Enjoy First Friday: Galleries and shops downtown host free events on the first Friday of the month.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack for four seasons: Summers are warm and humid, while winters can be cold and snowy.
- Bring layers in spring and autumn: Days can be warm and nights chilly.
- Wear comfortable shoes: You may walk around farms, markets and downtown streets.
Cultural
- Respect Amish privacy: Do not photograph Amish people without permission.
- Try Pennsylvania Dutch food: Sample shoofly pie, whoopie pies and chicken pot pie.
- Avoid Sunday shopping in Amish areas: Many Amish businesses are closed on Sundays.
Local Hacks
- Visit Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse: These villages offer markets and shops in the heart of Amish Country.
- Take a buggy ride: A buggy ride offers a glimpse into Amish life.
- Ride the Strasburg Rail Road: The historic steam train runs through farmland.
1-day itineraries in Lancaster
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
More cities in United States
- Albuquerque
- Anchorage
- Annapolis
- Asheville
- Aspen
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Bar Harbor
- Bend
- Boise
- Boston
- Boulder
- Bozeman
- Branson
- Breckenridge
- Buffalo
- Burlington (Vermont)
- Cape Cod
- Cape May
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Charleston
- Charleston (West Virginia)
- Charlotte
- Chattanooga
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Colorado Springs
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Destin
- Detroit
- Durango
- Estes Park
- Flagstaff
- Fort Lauderdale
- Fort Worth
- Fredericksburg
- Galveston
- Gatlinburg
- Gettysburg
- Hilo
- Honolulu
- Hot Springs
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Jackson Hole
- Juneau
- Kansas City
- Kauai (Lihue)
- Kennebunkport
- Ketchikan
- Key West
- Kona
- Lake Placid
- Lake Tahoe (South Lake Tahoe)
- Las Vegas
- Leavenworth
- Lexington
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Mackinac Island
- Madison
- Martha's Vineyard
- Maui (Lahaina)
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Moab
- Monterey
- Myrtle Beach
- Nantucket
- Napa
- Naples
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Newport (Rhode Island)
- Oklahoma City
- Orlando
- Outer Banks
- Page
- Palm Springs
- Park City
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Portland (Maine)
- Providence
- Raleigh
- Rapid City
- Richmond
- Sacramento
- Saint Augustine
- Salem
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Fe
- Santa Monica
- Sarasota
- Savannah
- Seattle
- Sedona
- Spokane
- Springdale (Zion)
- St. Louis
- St. Petersburg
- Stowe
- Tampa
- Taos
- Telluride
- Toledo
- Tucson
- Washington DC
- Whitefish
- Williamsburg
- Yosemite Valley