The Essential Guide to Saratoga Springs, New York

Tucked away in the lowlands of the Adirondacks, a few miles south of Lake George, Saratoga Springs, New York, is surrounded by some of the most striking landscapes in all of Upstate. In the summer, tourists from far and wide flock to Saratoga Springs to watch world-class thoroughbred horse racing. But once the season ends and the leaves begin to change, Saratoga Springs transforms into the perfect cozy small town to catch a bit of autumnal charm. 

Unlike other places in Upstate New York that become hotspots in the fall, like Rhinebeck, the Catskills, and Beacon, Saratoga Springs remains delightfully under-the-radar and quiet between September and November. The city feels like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls—its energetic downtown area is filled with artisanal shops, quirky history, and a vibrant community.

Broadway, Saratoga Springs’ picturesque main street, is filled with exciting shops, bakeries, and restaurants, all bustling with life. Plus, its acres of parks make it the perfect destination for fall foliage seekers looking for destinations that go far beyond the usual New England hotspots. And its parks aren’t just filled with beautiful landscapes and long hiking trails. There’s something here for every kind of traveler, history fans, art lovers, and outdoor adventurers alike.

“I love the fall here because the craziness of racing season dies down, but the Oklahoma track is open, so you can still see the horses running in the morning and training,” says Sara Mikula, concierge of the Saratoga Arms hotel and a lifelong resident of the Capital-Saratoga area. “The charm of downtown really comes out with that change of the cool air and the leaves turning. You just get this relaxed sense after the racing season that makes Saratoga feel so special.” 

Here’s everything you need to know before planning a trip to Saratoga Springs, New York.

Best Hotels & Resorts

Saratoga Arms

The Saratoga Arms, a brick-mansion-turned-hotel has welcomed travelers to Saratoga Springs since 1870. The property has a special kind of refined, vintage charm, replete with relics like a retro annunciator panel and fun shower tiles that share facts about the city’s history in every bathroom.

MacKenzie Zarzycki, the vice president of marketing and communications of Discover Saratoga, says it’s her favorite in town. “ It’s a locally owned bed-and-breakfast hotel that’s just awesome,” she says, and adds that she’s particularly fond of the on-site restaurant. “They have a really great chef, and they just opened breakfast to the public on the weekends.” 

Each of the 31 rooms has been decorated by the Smith family, which has owned the property since the early 1990s. No two rooms at the hotel are the same, so every stay feels unique. All guests also get free breakfast in the morning, as well as access to a complimentary snack bar.

The Adelphi Hotel

You’ll be in a prime position to explore the best of what Saratoga Springs has to offer at The Adelphi Hotel, thanks to its convenient downtown location. The hotel, which cinched a Michelin Key this year, has 65 rooms and suites that skillfully combine historic Victorian style with modern touches. Guests can expect amenities like complimentary in-room refreshments, a game room stocked with billiards tables and classic board games, and a modern fitness center equipped with infrared saunas. 

The Adelphi Hotel also has two on-property restaurants. Salt & Char is a steakhouse with a farm-to-table ethos that showcases the best of Upstate New York’s produce, while Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro serves up decadent and inventive American fare with an exciting cocktail program and an impressive wine list.  

Hotel Brookmere & Arbor Spa

Hotel Brookmere & Arbor Spa is one of the newest hotels in Saratoga Springs, and sits on 9.7 acres of lush marshland just minutes away from the city’s downtown area.​​ The hotel’s 88 rooms blend modern comforts with the property’s dairy farm roots. Hotel Brookmere also has some exciting amenities, like a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a full-service spa with an outdoor sauna and an ice-plunge bath, as well as Regent, the hotel’s on-site restaurant and bar. 

Camp Hudson Pines

To get up close and personal with Saratoga Springs’ stunning scenery, head to Camp Hudson Pines, a luxury campground with airstream, glamping, and cabin offerings. It’s about 17 miles outside of Saratoga Springs, so this option will keep travelers far away from the energy of the city’s downtown area. Guests can access kayaks and canoes during their stay, and connect with other guests during Bonfire & S’mores on Friday nights.

Best Things to Do 

Spend time outdoors.

If you can make it to the city during the beginning of fall, check out the sprawling beauty of Yaddo’s Gardens, which also doubles as a retreat for artists—it’s hosted names like James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Sylvia Plath, to name a few

If you’re in the market for some sweet charm, head to Congress Park, located in downtown Saratoga Springs. The park bears a striking resemblance to the town square in Gilmore Girls, replete with a beautiful gazebo perfect for people watching. More adventurous travelers can head out to Saratoga Lake’s waterfront park for an afternoon of paddle boating, kayaking, and fishing. The lake is one of the best places to spot fall foliage in Saratoga Springs and is the perfect place to find quiet and tranquility in town. 

History buffs should head to Saratoga National Historic Park, which was the site of two pivotal Revolutionary War battles. Take a walking tour through Victory Woods, hike the Wilkinson Trail, or climb the Saratoga Monument for great views of the park’s landscape. Alternatively, you could take a private tour with an official Saratoga Battlefield Guide or spend an hour trotting down the battlefield on horseback.

Sip on mineral waters straight from the source.

You can’t come to Saratoga Springs without sampling water from one of its natural springs. The city has 21 public mineral springs available for visitors to try, each with a unique flavor profile. Tasting your way through the springs is one of the best ways to see the city—and it’s completely free to do. Just don’t forget to bring a cup or water bottle to sample the water, as drinking directly from the spout is frowned upon.

Visit a state park with several world-class cultural centers.

Saratoga Spa State Park is indeed a park, but it’s much more than that, too. The 2,200 acres here house several top-tier performance spaces, museums, spas, and hiking trails. You can catch a live show at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which have hosted shows by the New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and concerts by pop superstars like Laufey, Shania Twain, and Vampire Weekend.

There are also a few museums you can check out, too, including the National Museum of Dance, which tells the story and evolution of dance in the United States, and the Saratoga Automobile Museum, which explores the car’s impact on American culture.

For visitors seeking rest and relaxation, spend an afternoon at Roosevelt Baths & Spa, a hydrotherapy spa that uses mineral water from the nearby springs to provide guests with innovative wellness treatments. The spa has a bevy of services, including mineral baths, massages, facials, scrubs, body wraps, and a full-service salon.

Get into the spirit of spooky season.

During the Halloween season, Saratoga Springs is the perfect destination for some underrated scary history. Tour the city’s downtown area with Haunted Saratoga Ghost Tour to learn all about the spirits who haunt the old Canfield Casino and Hattie’s restaurant, uncover the legend of the Witch of Saratoga, and test your bravery by taking a seat in the Saratoga Springs Devil’s Chair. 

Learn about the town’s horse-racing history.

Most people know Saratoga Springs for its horse racing. Each summer, thousands of people from across the globe flock to the Saratoga Race Course, bringing in wild and rowdy crowds. In the fall, horse racing fans can brush up on the history of the sport at the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. There, racing fans and newcomers to the sport alike can learn more about the legacy of horse racing in the United States.

Best Shopping 

Beekman Street Arts District

The Beekman Street Arts Disctrict is one of Saratoga Springs’ best-kept secrets. This street is filled with incredible art galleries, home goods stores, and vintage shops. Make a stop at the Cottage of Art & Design or the Eden Compton Gallery to check out works by Saratoga Springs artists. At The Beekman Atelier, you’ll find locally made clothes, home goods, and provisions. For the best thrifting in town, head to The Vintage Shop, one of the largest vintage clothing stores in all of Upstate New York.

Saratoga Marketplace

Located in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs, this indoor marketplace is home to 13 locally-owned businesses and some of the best shopping in the city. Head to The Store to browse unique fashion brands like Twin, Corridor, and Outland Denim. And make sure to grab some artisanal sweet treats from Saratoga Chocolate Co. on your way out. 

Lyrical Ballad

Looking for your next read? Check out Lyrical Ballad Bookstore, a charming used and rare bookstore housed in a former bank that’s been around since 1971. The shop has a selection of over 100,000 books, including a collection so rare that the shop owners keep them locked away in the former bank vault.

Silverado Saratoga

Silverado Saratoga is a family-owned jewelry gallery featuring dazzling items from designers across the country. On a tight budget? The store has several gemstone pieces for under $100.  

Lola Saratoga

Serious vintage luxury shoppers should head to Lola Saratoga, a consignment shop with a one-of-a-kind collection of designer pieces. The store has a rigorous authentication process and deals on leather goods from brands like Tory Burch and Gucci.

Best Restaurants 

The Merc

The Merc is arguably one of the most underrated dinner spots in town. Located in the heart of downtown, this small American bistro serves an extensive menu of comforting American fare. Picky eaters and adventurous foodies alike will be able to find something they’ll love. You can’t miss out on the fried chicken and jambalaya, a perfect dish for colder autumn nights.

Seneca

For some of the coziest vibes in town, head to Seneca. The restaurant has an open kitchen with a massive wood-fired grill, making it the perfect spot during the colder months. Seneca’s menu has several grilled delicacies, including a veal chop and bone-in ribeye, but my dish is the beef goulash, made with paprika-braised ragu, ricotta cavatelli, herbed creme fraiche, and sweet potato crisps. Don’t skip out on dessert: the pumpkin bread pudding and London fog creme brulee are some of the best sweet treats in town. 

Darling Doughnuts 

This small-but-mighty bakery is known for its rotating menu of housemade donuts that go far beyond basic flavors. Locals say this spot is best during the fall, when it resurfaces its seasonal Gilmore Girls-inspired menu with things such as the Pumpkin Pancake: a pumpkin-glazed donut topped with a buttermilk pancake and a maple syrup drizzle. 

Forno Bistro  

Located in the historic Old Firehouse building on Broadway, Forno Bistro serves up elevated Tuscan Italian cuisine in a striking, historic space. The restaurant skillfully combines time-honored Italian techniques with locally sourced produce from across New York state. 

“ You really can’t go wrong with any dish at Forno Bistro,” says Mikula. “They’re very knowledgeable about wines and pairings as well, so if you’re a wine person, that’s a great spot.” 

Hattie’s

Thought you couldn’t get good Southern food north of the Mason-Dixon line? Hattie’s has been a Saratoga Springs staple since it first opened its doors in 1938. The restaurant has some of the best Southern cuisine in the northeast, and its fried chicken earned it a feature on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. I recommend the fried chicken sandwich, which comes with Cajun coleslaw on a toasted kaiser roll—it perfectly blends southern flavors with northern traditions. 

Fat Paulie’s Deli & Bagels

For a quick meal on the go, Fat Paulie’s Deli Deli & Bagels is your best bet. The shop brings the soul of Long Island’s incredible deli culture upstate, with a menu packed with hot Italian heroes, cold subs, and bagel breakfast sandwiches. Grab a Fat Paulie Special hot hero, made with house-roasted garlic and herb-rubbed roast beef, ladles of au jus, and house-made fresh mozzarella. Just don’t forget to grab lots of napkins—Fat Paulie’s sandwiches are notorious for being incredibly juicy.

Best Time to Visit 

Saratoga Springs draws throngs of fans in the summer months during horse-racing season. But, if you want to ditch the crowds, plan a visit at the end of September or the beginning of October to see the city’s best offerings while the weather is still warm enough to spend hours outside. 

Autumn is Zarzycki’s favorite time of year in town. “ You’re coming off the busy track and summer concert series, which brings massive crowds,” she says. “There’s beautiful fall foliage, there’s live music everywhere,  and we have so many fall community events in town.”

How to Get There 

Albany International Airport (ALB) is the nearest major airport to Saratoga Springs, and is a little over 30 miles away. From ALB, you’ll be able to catch flights from airlines such as Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Once you arrive at the airport, your best bet is to rent a car.

However, if you’d like to drive, Saratoga Springs is about 185 miles from New York City and 200 miles from Boston—it’ll take you roughly four hours to drive to the town from each metropolis. The route is especially stunning in the fall, when the roads are lined with fiery fall foliage.

Saratoga Springs also has an Amtrak station, located about six minutes by car from downtown. The station is serviced by two Amtrak routes, the Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express Train.

How to Get Around 

Travelers looking for a car-free getaway will love Saratoga Springs. Unlike most towns Upstate, Saratoga Springs has an extensive network of bus routes via the Capital District Transportation Authority, that can get you all around town. In the summer, visitors can use the city’s free seasonal trolley service to get to some of Saratoga Springs’ biggest tourist attractions. There are also several bikes available to rent through the region’s CDPHP Cycle! bike share program. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are also abundant in Saratoga Springs.

However, once you’re in town, you don’t really need a car to get to most of Saratoga Springs’ major attractions. “If you’re staying downtown in any of the properties on Broadway or near Broadway, you can walk to everything in town,” Zarzycki says. “One of the best features of Saratoga Springs is our safe and walkable downtown area.”