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Lancaster, PA Travel Guide
Your guide to exploring Bozeman like a local.
Timeless beauty, rich history, and wide-open adventure.
FOUNDED
1883
BEST TIME TO VISIT
May – Oct
TIME ZONE
MST
WALK SCORE
78
Overview
Things to Do
Itineraries
Getting Around
Where to Stay
Best Time to Visit
overview
OVERVIEW
Lancaster, PA Travel Guide
Wondering what to see in Lancaster, PA?
This south-central Pennsylvania city has been feeding people since 1730, and it's your gateway to one of the largest Amish communities in the world. Downtown Lancaster blends 300-year-old market traditions with modern food halls, while the surrounding countryside holds the farms, buggies, and back roads that give the whole county its nickname: Amish Country.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN BOZEMAN
TOP THINGS TO DO IN BOZEMAN
1. Shop at Lancaster Central Market—America's oldest continuously operating farmers market, running since 1730 on the same Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday schedule.
2. Visit the Amish Farm and House—A guided tour of an authentic farmhouse and barnyard just outside downtown. If you want a real Amish Farm, go to the Old Windmill Farm. Old Windmill Farm – Step onto a real working Amish farm where you can milk a cow, bottle-feed calves, gather eggs, and hear firsthand what life is like in Lancaster County from the Amish family who calls it home. Scroll to the recommended tours on the bottom for the link.
3. Take the Goot Essa Walking Tour—A self-guided audio tour through downtown Lancaster's food landmarks, market history, and hidden architecture.
4. Visit Southern Market—A modern food hall inside an 1888 building, with ten chef stations and global cuisine.
5. Explore the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy—The preserved home of the congressman who drove the 13th and 14th Amendments, including an Underground Railroad cistern.
6. Take an Amish buggy ride—Companies like Aaron & Jessica's and Abe's Buggy Rides take you through working farmland outside the city.
7. Catch a show at Sight & Sound Theatres—The largest faith-based theater in the country.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
SAMPLE ITINERARY
1-DAY ITINERARY:
Morning: Take the Goot Essa Walking Tour, starting at Lancaster Sweet Shoppe.
Afternoon: Browse Central Market, then explore the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center.
Evening: Dinner at Southern Market.
2-DAY ITINERARY:
Add a second day for an Amish buggy ride and a visit to the Amish Farm and House in the surrounding countryside.
Getting Around
Food
Yorgos
A Greek-owned diner on the same corner that's fed Lancaster since 1959, known for its gyro platter and pastitsio.
C'est La Vie Bistro
A French-inspired bistro tucked inside the Hager Arcade downtown, known for baked French onion soup and boeuf bourguignon.
Southern Market
A modern food hall with ten chef stations, ranging from sushi to schnitzel, plus a central bar.
Free Things To Do
1. Lancaster Central Market - Browse the historic stalls; buying is optional, looking is free.
2. Historic Downtown Grid - Walk Penn Square, Ewell Plaza, and Central Market on foot.
3. Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center Churchyard - Explore the grounds surrounding this historic site.
4. Lancaster Welcome Center - Stop in for maps, tips, and local recommendations.
STOPS WITH ADMISSION FEES:
1. Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy - Tour the preserved home and Underground Railroad cistern (~$20 adult).
2. Amish Farm and House - Take a guided tour of an authentic farmhouse and barnyard.
3. Sight & Sound Theatres - Catch a large-scale live theater production.
4. Amish Buggy Rides - Ride through working farmland outside the city (price varies by operator and route length).
Luxury
Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Cork Factory Hotel—walkable to Central Market and downtown attractions. Roughly $200-$320/night.
Moderate
Lancaster Arts Hotel, known for an onsite art gallery and romantic-getaway packages. Roughly $150-$230/night.
Budget
Holiday Inn Lancaster, Home2 Suites by Hilton Lancaster—both a short drive from downtown. Roughly $100-$170/night.
Where to Stay
Explore Bozeman at your own pace with our self-guided walking tour of Downtown
Bozeman.
RECOMMENDED TOURS & PAGES
FAQS
1. What is Lancaster, PA best known for?
Lancaster is best known as the gateway to Pennsylvania's Amish Country and home to Central Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the U.S.
2. Is downtown Lancaster walkable?
Yes. Most major downtown attractions, including Central Market and the historic buildings on the Goot Essa Walking Tour, are within a half-mile of each other.
3. Do I need a car to see the Amish countryside?
Yes, for the farms and buggy ride companies outside downtown. Most are a short drive from the city center.
4. What days is Central Market open?
Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday—the same schedule it's run for nearly 300 years.
5. Is Lancaster good for a day trip from Philadelphia?
Yes, it's about 70 miles west of Philadelphia, making it a reasonable day trip or overnight stay.
6. Is Lancaster family-friendly?
Yes. Central Market, Southern Market, and nearby Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park all cater well to families.
7. What's the best way to experience Amish culture respectfully?
Stick to organized tours, farm visits, and buggy rides from established operators rather than approaching private farms or homes directly.
8. How long should I plan to visit Lancaster?
A full day covers downtown; two days lets you add the surrounding Amish countryside.
FAQS
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