Visiting Princeton: one of New Jersey’s most historic towns
Princeton is a charming and historic town in central New Jersey mid-way between New York City and Philadelphia.
The town is not only famous for Princeton University but for the vital role it played in the American Revolution.
Today you can spend your visit shopping in fine stores and dining in fancy restaurants, walking through the beautiful Princeton University campus, and taking in many nearby attractions.
Princeton is an easy drive from both New York City and Philadelphia and there is plenty of parking downtown.
Amtrak also serves Princeton via the busy Northeast Corridor line. At the Princeton Junction train station, catch the "Dinky" for the short trip to Princeton Borough.
Nassau Hall on the Princeton campus.
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Nassau Hall, Princeton University
The first stop on a stroll through Princeton University is often Nassau Hall. The iconic building was built in 1756. In 1783, the building briefly served as the nation's capital, housing the Continental Congress from June to November.
The building’s interior was destroyed twice by fire, in 1802 and 1855. Each restoration resulted in a different architectural style.
The Battle of Princeton (see below) in 1777, marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War, when the British troops holding Nassau Hall surrendered to General George Washington.
The building is located just inside the main gate off Nassau Street.
Princeton University Chapel
Another striking building on the Princeton campus is the University Chapel. Calling the building a chapel is a huge understatement, it looks much more like a cathedral.
The chapel was completed in 1928 at a cost of more than two million dollars and seats two thousand. At the time it was second in size only to the chapel at King’s College, Cambridge University. (Speaking about Cambridge, you can read our blog post about visiting Cambridge).
Today it hosts many interfaith services and weddings as well as seasonal concerts.
The official hours are 7 am to 11 pm but Debbie and I found the doors locked at mid-day on a recent trip.
It’s located a short walk behind Nassau Hall and worth the short walk.
Princeton Art Museum
Normally the Princeton Art Museum would be on the list of “must visit” attractions but it is undergoing a major upgrade. The building is closed until 2025 when a brand new building will open.
The museum operates two facilities that are currently open. Art@Bainbridge on Nassau Street in downtown Princeton and Art on Hulfish, also in downtown Princeton, are hosting exhibitions. The hours at both galleries vary so check the websites for exact info.
Palmer Square area
Directly outside the front gates of Princeton University is Princeton’s main shopping and dining area including Palmer Square. Palmer Square features a wide variety of restaurants and upscale shops selling clothing, shoes, jewelry, and home furnishings
There are numerous parking decks for leaving your car and the whole area is very walkable.
Some of the best restaurants include:
The Alchemist & Barrister - The landmark hotel and bar is located in a historic building. It has two cozy dining rooms, a traditional pub, and a patio area.
Blue Point Grill - The seafood restaurant is highly rated by Zagat. Their menu changes daily based on the available seafood but they always offer 10-15 rotating east and west coast varieties of oysters.
Hoagie Haven - There is nothing more “New Jersey” than a solid hoagie or sub sandwich. Hoagie Haven has been serving uniquely named sandwiches since the 1970s. The sandwiches include The Phat Lady (Cheesesteak, Mozzarella Sticks, Fries, Ketchup, and Hot Sauce) and THe Bod Bag (Cheesesteak, Hash Browns, Egg, Ketchup, and Hot Sauce).
The Bent Spoon - After dinner a stop at the Bent Spoon in Palmer Square is almost a requirement. The Financial Times recently named them one of the best cream shops in the world.
The McCarter Theater building.
McCarter Theater Center
A short distance from “downtown” Princeton is the McCarter Theater. The theater is a Tony Award-winning organization featuring theater, music, and dance.
The theater opened in 1930 and still maintains a modern yet classic look today. In the 1990s McCarter Theater underwent major renovations and a smaller second theater was added.
Stars who performed at the McCarter Theatre include Lucille Ball, Christopher Reeve, Ethan Hawke, and John Lithgow,
You can check out their varied performances on their website.
Terhune Orchards
A short drive away is Terhune Orchards, a family-owned spot to pick apples, pumpkins, blueberries, strawberries, and flowers. The huge farm is open year round but the largest crowds are on fall weekends.
In addition to the pick-your-own fields, Terhune’s Farm Store offers goodies such as fresh pressed cider, locally sourced gourmet foods, and their own award-winning wine. The 250-acre farm has been in the Mount family for 10 generations so it’s a New Jersey tradition.
Princeton Battlefield State Park
The Battle of Princeton was one of the fiercest battles of the American Revolution. General George Washington and his troops surprised and defeated a force of British soldiers on January 3, 1777.
The battle was just days after Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River.
There is not a lot to see at the park but it’s a nice spot to take in a little nature on the walking trails.
The Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ.
The Grounds for Sculpture
This is a very unique spot not far from Princeton.
The 42-acre sculpture park features the work of sculptor J. Seward Johnson. There are over 500 works in total, many of them life-sized or even larger. It’s an outdoor art gallery that you’ll not soon forget.
The spot is so great we even have a full blog post on it: Visiting the Grounds for Sculpture
Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park
The Delaware and Raritan Canal was built to connect the Delaware and Raritan Rivers in the 1830s. It was used for efficiently move freight between Philadelphia and New York City.
Now the 70-mile canal trail is used by bikers, walkers and runners.
We’ve ridden our bikes and walked on the trail many times, it’s flat and very easy to navigate. There are many access points along the trail, the closest to Princeton is at the intersection of Washington Road and Carnegie Lake.
Albert Einstein’s home.
Einstein’s House
Albert Einstein lived at 112 Mercer St. from 1935 until he died in 1955. The Einstein house was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1976.
The house is now owned by the Institute for Advance Study and there are signs subtly telling visitors that it’s a “private residence”.
There are no tours and nothing to see beyond the building’s exterior but it’s worth a drive-by and imagining Einstein walking out the front door.
Morven Museum
This National Historic Landmark is the former New Jersey Governor’s mansion. It was the home of Richard Stockton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Archaeology digs at Morven have uncovered evidence of Lenni-Lenape Native Americans made tools on the estate’s five acres.
The Museum has 45 minute docent-led tours on Wednesday through Sunday. Docents are volunteers so it’s best to check with the Museum to see if tours are running.
More information can be found on their website.
Classic buildings on the campus of Princeton University.
Princeton Walking Tour
For 16 years the Princeton Tour Company has been running tours of the Princeton area.
The most popular is a 3 mile, two-hour walking tour of the area.
You can book a tour on their website.
Where to stay in Princeton
If you want to stay in downtown Princeton the classic place to stay is the Nassau Inn. Located in Palmer Square all the downtown attractions are within walking distance. More info and rates can be found here.
The nearby Hyatt Regency is a modern hotel with an indoor swimming pool. More info and rates can be found here.
There are many more hotels in the area. You can check them out here.
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. This means that if we are recommending a product, activity, or hotel, we might be receiving a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
This post was researched and written by John of the Empty Nest Explorers. You can learn more about the Empty Nest Explorers here.
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