Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Norwalk is a coastal city of about 90,000 people on Long Island Sound in southwestern Connecticut, about 45 miles from New York City. Founded in 1651, it was burned by the British during the Revolution, and later became famous for oysters and hat-making. Today its harbor, islands and lively SoNo district make it one of the most interesting stops on the Connecticut shore.
South Norwalk, known as SoNo, is packed with restaurants, bars and galleries around Washington Street and the historic Palace Theatre. The Maritime Aquarium, beside the Norwalk River, showcases the creatures of Long Island Sound, and the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is one of the grandest Victorian houses in America. Families love the Stepping Stones Museum for Children.
In summer, harbor cruises head out to the Norwalk Islands and the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, and fishing boats still work the harbor. Cranbury Park offers trails around a historic mansion, the village of Rowayton has a waterfront charm all its own, and the Silvermine area is known for its art guild and country market.
The Maritime Aquarium in South Norwalk focuses on the sea life of Long Island Sound, with seals, sharks, sea turtles, jellyfish and touch tanks, plus an IMAX theater. In summer it runs boat study cruises on the Sound. Book timed tickets online and allow two to three hours for a full visit.
Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Mathews Park is a hands-on museum for young kids, with water play, a toddler area, science exhibits and a large indoor play structure. It suits children up to about age ten. Weekday afternoons are quieter, and timed entry tickets can be bought in advance.
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a grand Second Empire country house built in the 1860s, with a soaring rotunda, inlaid woodwork and frescoed walls. It is a National Historic Landmark and was a location in film. Guided tours run on set days, so check the schedule before you go to Mathews Park.
The Norwalk Museum in City Hall tells the city's story from its founding in 1651 through its oyster and hat-making industries. Displays include local pottery, maps and artifacts. It is small and free, and the City Hall building also holds a notable collection of WPA-era murals worth seeing.
Sheffield Island Lighthouse is a stone lighthouse from 1868 on one of the Norwalk Islands, reached by a seasonal ferry from South Norwalk. Visitors can tour the keeper's rooms, climb to the lantern and picnic on the shore. Ferries run in summer only, so reserve tickets and bring food and sunscreen.
Calf Pasture Beach is Norwalk's main public beach on Long Island Sound, with a sandy shore, fishing pier, playground, volleyball courts and a snack bar. Views look across to the Norwalk Islands. Non-residents pay a parking fee in summer, so arrive early on hot weekends when spaces fill up.
Cranbury Park is a 227-acre city park with wooded hiking trails, open meadows, a pond and a historic Tudor-style mansion on the grounds. It is popular for dog walks, picnics and sledding in winter. Trails are easy to moderate, and the main lot has space even on busy weekend mornings.
South Norwalk, known as SoNo, is a historic waterfront district of 19th-century brick buildings filled with restaurants, bars and shops near the aquarium. The restored Palace Theatre hosts concerts and shows. It is lively at night, and the SoNo train station makes it easy to reach from New York.
Rowayton is a small village within Norwalk on the Five Mile River, with a harbor of sailboats, a tiny downtown of cafes and shops, and Bayley Beach for residents. It feels like an old New England fishing village. Walk the riverside lanes and stop for lunch at a waterfront restaurant.
Silvermine is a wooded area on Norwalk's border known for the Silvermine Arts Center, founded by artists in 1922, which has galleries, a school and a shop. The Silvermine River and old mill buildings make it scenic. Check the arts center calendar for exhibition openings and seasonal art fairs.
Norwalk Harbor is a working harbor at the mouth of the Norwalk River, home to marinas, oyster boats and the historic Washington Street bridge. Paths and parks along the water give views of boats heading out to the islands. Take a harbor cruise or kayak tour in summer to see the islands up close.
The Norwalk Oyster Festival is a long-running September festival in Veterans Memorial Park celebrating the city's oyster heritage. It has seafood stands, live music, crafts, tall ships and carnival rides. Buy tickets online, use the shuttle from nearby lots and plan for crowds on Saturday afternoon.
Top-rated local businesses in Norwalk, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Norwalk? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Norwalk? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Noroton at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Karl Thomas Moore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: ajay_suresh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Noroton at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: User:Noroton, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Hayden Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Hayden Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Hayden Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: User:Noroton, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Pedro Xing, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: JohnOwensCT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: User:Noroton, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: User:Noroton, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Kemelian, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Kemelian, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ajay_suresh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Polaron, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: American, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Hayden Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jllm06, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jllm06, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jllm06, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jllm06, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Marty Aligata, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Msact, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Pedro Xing, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Noroton at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Noroton at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: JohnOwensCT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Whitney, Beckwith & Paradice -- Photographer, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Joe Mabel (on Flickr as Joe Mabel from Seattle, US), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
