Things To Do in Greenwich, Connecticut

Let me just start this by saying, I haven’t done everything there is to do in Greenwich, Connecticut. These are just some things I managed to get up to when I was in town for a hosted stay at The J House Greenwich. I have some more exploring to do, but hopefully this list helps you get started with planning some adventures in Greenwich.

Great Captain Island

Great Captain Island is a 17-acre island off of Greenwich, Connecticut that’s only accessible by ferry. I wanted to visit the island to see Great Captain Island Lighthouse. It was one of the few Connecticut lighthouses that I hadn’t seen because of the distance from my house and the need for a ferry.

A stone lighthouse with a white lantern room sits on a grassy hill under a partly cloudy blue sky. The building has multiple windows and "1868" above the door. — Great Captain Island Lighthouse. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Want to Save This Post?

Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get more great travel guides.

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Daily Life Travels

In addition to the lighthouse, there are also small beaches on the island where you can swim. They have lifeguards, bathrooms, showers, a shaded pavilion, and picnic tables for those looking to enjoy a relaxing beach day on the island. Oh, and did I mention it’s also a bird sanctuary?

A sandy beach with trees in the background borders a calm body of water under a partly cloudy sky. — One of the small beaches on Great Captain Island. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Island Beach

Island Beach is another island you can visit off the coast of Greenwich, Connecticut. This island is best for a beach day. This island much more popular than Great Captain Island, and the ferry is much larger because of that.

White ferry named "Indian Harbor" docked beside wooden pilings, with a building and trees visible in the background on a sunny day. — The ferry that takes passengers out to Island Beach. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Island beach has two beaches and picnic areas. Unlike Great Captain Island, there’s a concession stand, so you don’t have to pack your own food. You can also camp overnight on this island. To camp, you’ll need permit and you can only book one evening per season.

Small island with trees, a pavilion, and a white building, surrounded by water with a pier extending from the shore under a clear sky. — Island Beach. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Greenwich Historical Society

The Greenwich Historical Society is home to the National Historic Landmark, the Busy-Holley House, which you can tour. The museum complex also features a garden and galleries. It’s a great spot to dive into the area’s history.

A large two-story white house with green shutters, wraparound porch, and multiple flags, surrounded by trees and a stone wall. — Exterior of the Bush-Holley House. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Pomerance Park

This park was once the former estate of Ernest Thompson Seton, who helped establish the Boy Scouts of America. You can view the ruins of the house that was once there during your visit to the park. There are some informational signs near the ruins about the house and Ernest Thompson Seton.

Stone ruins with arched openings stand amid green foliage and trees, suggesting remains of an old building in a forested area. — The stone ruins. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

The park also has a lot of hiking trails to explore and places to relax. There were a lot of people enjoying the park when I visited and many people walking their dogs. It’s a nice green space in Greenwich.

Wooden bench facing a calm lake, surrounded by dense green trees under an overcast sky. Stone edge and dirt ground in the foreground. — Pond and bench in the park. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Putnam Cottage

The Putnam Cottage was originally built in the 17th century, but has been added on to over the years to its current size and shape. The building was known as Knapp’s Tavern during the American Revolution. It is associated with General Israel Putnam and his escape from the British during the Revolutionary War. It also housed General Washington during the Revolutionary War.

A two-story red colonial house with a shingled roof, stone chimney, and adjacent stone extension, surrounded by grass and trees. A wooden sign stands at the left front. — Putnam Cottage. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Dine and Shop Along Greenwich Avenue

Greenwich Avenue is a historic area that features upscale shopping and dining. The area is super charming and it’s a really walkable place to explore. This spot is really well-known and popular, and for good reason.

Street view of shops and cafes with outdoor seating, large windows, and green awnings on a tree-lined sidewalk in a commercial district. — Greenwich Avenue. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Bruce Museum

This is an art, science, and natural history museum in Greenwich. When I visited, my favorite part was seeing all of the fossils. There were a lot more fossils than I was expecting! The museum also has a cafe on-site, which is a nice touch.

Dinosaur skeleton, likely a T. rex, displayed in a museum exhibit with a mammoth skeleton visible in the background against orange walls. — Fossils at the Bruce Museum. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Binney Park

This park was a recommendation from the manager at The J House Greenwich. It’s situated in the Old Greenwich section of town and it’s 33 acres. The park features walking paths, stone bridges, a gazebo, and water. When I went, I loved watching all of the turtles in the water. I’d never seen so many snapping turtles in one place before, and I was having the time of my life watching them swim around.