Happy Tuesday!! As most of you know if you’ve been following along on social media or my posts from last week – I was just in Greenwich, CT for a week doing makeup for a production of Shrek The Musical. I did a lot of exploring and sightseeing while I was there, so I decided to create a fun travel guide for those of you who are in the area or looking for a beautiful town to vacation in in the near future. There is a TON to do and the town itself is so old fashioned and sweet. I’m also including my full vlog of the trip so you can take a peek at some of my adventures captured on video. Let’s do this.

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Greenwich, Connecticut Travel Guide

About Greenwich, CT:

Greenwich is a swanky, high-end town that is home to CEOs, billionaires, actors/actresses (and their families) and more prep schools than you know what to do with. It’s touted as being exclusive, expensive and fairly unaffordable for the average Joe, and they like it that way. HOWEVER, Greenwich is also only 40 minutes away from New York City by train, is an attractive vacation destination for those in-the-know and it’s beaches, mansions, shopping and dining are gaining international attention. Can you do Greenwich on a budget? Let’s find out. I’ve put each item in order of budget, affordable and splurge prices organized by lodging / dining / activities.

Where to stay:

There are quite a few places in Greenwich that are nice places to stay if you are vacationing for a few days. 

BUDGET:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites – $120-$199 / night* 

This hotel has free parking, wifi and continental breakfast and a pool! It’s a very standard Holiday Inn Express – there isn’t anything fancy about it but it does the trick!!

AFFORDABLE:

Stanton House Inn – $213-$232 / night*

This hotel is walking distance away from the famous Greenwich Avenue where you can find shopping, dining and more. Historic and tastefully decorating, this is a must-stay location if you want to take in everything Greenwich has to offer.

SPLURGE:

Delmar Greenwich Harbor Hotel – $234-$451 / night*

To get the ultimate luxury Greenwich experience, try a couple nights at the Delmar Harbor Hotel. It is located right on the water, so every room has a beautiful view. The location has a 5-star restaurant, full salon and spa and continental breakfast and shuttle bus services. 

*based on 1 room, 2 adults. non-smoking

What to eat:

BUDGET:

Burgers, Shakes & Fries

This is home of the best burgers in Greenwich, apparently! Boasting incredibly quick service, delicious burgers, shakes and fries (obviously) and amazing customer service, this restaurant has it all. It has a 4.5 / 5 star review and is located in central Greenwich. 

Glory Days Diner

This is a classic diner with food exactly as you’d expect! They make their food fresh and boast that nothing is ever frozen before serving. It’s less than $10 per plate and they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has a very old fashioned feel and great customer service.

Firehouse Deli

This restaurant is a hole in the wall but don’t let that fool you into skipping lunch at the Firehouse Deli. Customers guarantee EVERYONE will find their perfect sandwich here. You get a ton of food for the price and most customers take home at least have and can get two meals out of one. Customers RAVE about this spot.

Gofer Ice Cream

This shop has 56 ice cream flavors, several different kinds of ice cream cones and lots of other frozen desserts. All of their ice cream is made in small batches so you get the best quality every single time. They have amazing reviews and most agree that it’s the perfect stop after dinner during the summer.

AFFORDABLE:

Mediterraneo

This is the perfect blend between Mediterranean and seafood. You have the option of eating at a table or the bar and they boast amazing desserts as well as full entrees. You DO need to make a reservation for this location but it’s worth the wait according to dozens of customers! 

Elm Street Oyster House

This is another seafood grill. They often have a full bar and this also requires reservations if you want to eat here. All of their fish is caught right there on the beach in Greenwich so it’s the freshest it can be. In addition to dinner, they also have a fabulous brunch menu and a lively happy hour!

Kneaded Bread, INC.

This is a fan favorite for the locals in Greenwich. They have amazing fresh breads and pastries – the smell alone makes your mouth water walking in! Their ingredients are very fresh and they don’t use preservatives. In addition to baked goods, they have salads, soups and desserts. 

Meli-Melo

I ate lunch here with my aunt while in Greenwich and loved it. They had AMAZING smoothies. I had a strawberry, lemon and orange smoothie and it was AMAZING. I also took a green juice to go. I would steer away from the juices with celery in it simply because it’s so over powering. Their grilled cheese and soups are also SO YUMMY. It’s the PERFECT lunch spot.

SPLURGE:

Blackstones Steakhouse 

This is an incredible restaurant whose staff REALLY treats their customers like family. The location is fabulous and centrally located. It’s a wonderful place to celebrate special occasions. Their menu is full of fresh meat and seafood, imaginative appetizers and delicious desserts.

Thomas Henkelmann

Entrees here are about $45-50 per plate and appetizers cost around $23-27, so this really is a special occasion restaurant. However, you get large portions and impeccable quality. Everything is made fresh. You absolutely need to make a reservation for this location or you won’t be able to get a seat in under 2 hours. 

Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse

This price point is about the same as Thomas Henkelmann, so it’s definitely a place for a special occasion vs just a random dinner out. They have a large selection of wine, seafood and meats. Gabriele’s is packed solid on holidays and weekends. They also have a HUGE vegetarian menu so they cater to a wide variety of people.

Activities to do:

1. Greenwich Point Park
2. Audubon Wildlife Preserve
3. Greenwich Avenue
4. LEO Zoological Conservation Center
5. Crown Greenwich Plaza Theater
6. Clay Art Center Gallery
7. Cove Island Park
8. Bartlett Arboretum

 

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

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I hope you enjoyed this comprehensive travel guide to one of the most historical cities in the United States! There is so much to do – even on a budget. You don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars to have a fun and relaxing vacation.

Have you been to Greenwich? Let me know what your favorite activity was in the comments below so I can add them to the list!