Lancaster, PA Travel Guide
Lancaster, PA Travel Guide
Plan Your Trip
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
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.
Download the Complete Travel Guide
Includes:
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✓ Complete travel guide
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✓ Printable map
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✓ One-day itinerary
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✓ Hidden gems
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✓ Travel tips
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✓ Offline access
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✓ Bonus recommendations not included on this page
Our Self Guided Tour
The Goot Essa Walking Tour is a GPS-triggered audio tour covering just over half a mile of downtown Lancaster.
It runs 30 to 40 minutes and covers Central Market, C. Emlen Urban's landmark buildings, and three centuries of Pennsylvania Dutch food culture, starting at the Lancaster Sweet Shoppe and ending at Southern Market.
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).
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.
Where to Stay
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.
1 Day 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.
FAQ's
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.
Recommended Tours
Tours on WalknTours!
Lancaster's Goot Essa Walking Tour
Pennsylvania Dutch Lancaster Country PA Amish Country Audio Driving Tour
Outstanding Local Experiences
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. Click here to learn more and book your spot. It fills up fast.
More Resources
