Massachusetts · United States
Worcester travel guide
Worcester is a city in Massachusetts, United States, home to about 207,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- ORH6 km · Worcester Regional Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/New York
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Worcester
Worcester is a city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The principal city of Central Massachusetts, Worcester is both the second-most populous city in the state, and the 113th most populous city in the United States.
Worcester was established as a town on June 14, 1722 and as a city on February 29, 1848. It has a population of around 200,000 and is the second largest city in New England, behind Boston. Worcester is the home of nine colleges and universities, the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, the Massachusetts Bio-Technology Research Park, and the American Antiquarian Society. Despite their large number, Worcester's colleges and universities have not left much of an imprint on the overall feel of the city--for better and for worse, it is not the least bit a college town.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Worcester
See
There is a surprising amount to see in Worcester. Many travelers might only consider it worth a day trip, but this would be mistaken. The Worcester Art Museum alone is big enough to occupy an entire day. Leaving aside the city's museums, you may still want to take a stroll through one of the city's historic parks or college campuses. Worcester has a museum for everyone. In addition to the Worcester Art Museum, there is an interesting little history museum and a science and nature center that is great for kids. The Museum of Russian Icons is in nearby Clinton.
- Worcester Art Museum
- EcoTarium - A Museum of Science and Nature
- Worcester Historical Museum
- Salisbury Mansion
- ArtsWorcester
- Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans' War Memorial
- Bancroft Tower
- Worcester Common
- Worcester City Hall
- Burnside Fountain
- Soldiers' Monument
- Hadwen Arboretum
Do
Worcester has a plethora of activities for visitors to enjoy. In the spring, summer, and fall, there is nearly always some sort of festival happening. Worcester also has a track record of attracting solid musical performances. Pop stars at the DCU Center, classical at Mechanics Hall, and metal at the Palladium. Worcester's sports teams are all minor league, but offer affordable entertainment.
- StART on the Street
- Worcester Red Sox
- Worcester Green Hill Municipal Golf Club
- Quinsigamond State Park
- Worcester Fencing Club
- Pakachoag Golf Course
- Central Rock Climbing Gym
- Crystal Caves Family Entertainment Center
- Broadmeadow Brook
- Blackstone Canal District Wagon Tour
- Worcester Ice Center
- Music Worcester
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Worcester to stay in
The city of Worcester itself doesn't have very many hotels. There are a few downtown and a few clustered around UMass Medical School on the Eastside. There aren't any unique or boutique hotels, just standard chains aimed at business travelers and parents of college students.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Worcester
Worcester has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; October is the wettest, with about 122 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Worcester: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), about 6.3 km from the city centre in a straight line; Laurence G Hanscom Field (BED, 47 km) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS, 66 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston or T.F. Green Airport in Warwick carry the bulk of passengers in the area, although they are each around an hour away from the city. Or, you could fly into Bradley International Airport in Hartford which is a little over an hour west of the city. There is train service from Boston to Worcester. Worcester does have its own airport, but it's not well served.
Getting around
Many of Worcester's points of interest are far spaced from one another. The only practical way to get around is by car (or bike). Public transit in Worcester is focused mainly on commuters. Cabs are often more expensive per mile than cabs in other cities. If you're there for more than just a visit, bicycles are available from many used stores and are the best way to get around and explore. Buses in the city usually run every 30 to 60 minutes, with some running only every two hours depending on the route.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ORH · Worcester Regional Airport
BED · Laurence G Hanscom Field
BOS · Boston Logan International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Worcester
Eat
Worcester provides a dining experience to suit all tastes. Everything from massive, opulent fine dining restaurants to "is this even a restaurant?" holes in the wall can be found here. Major global cuisines (Chinese, Indian, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese) are quite common. You can even find Afghan, Salvadorian, and Polish food scattered around the city. Shrewsbury St. is the city's emerging "Restaurant Row," where you will find the greatest concentration and variety of dining options. Worcester is full of cheap places to eat. Most of these will get you a meal for under $10.
Drink
Worcester has a nightlife option to suit everyone. You can attend a lecture or poetry reading at a coffeeshop, find a bar to quench all thirsts, dance the night away in a nightclub, or take in some live music. Worcester has a lot of bars as a result of its large college population. Unfortunately for the traveler, this makes many of them feel rather samey. For anyone interested in the raucous college set, the Blackstone Canal District is a good place to look, especially Water St. Still, with this many bars there are some unique and interesting spots that tipplers should explore.
Stay safe
Worcester is a somewhat notably dangerous city for the Northeast, to the point you might need some advice to stay out of danger. Street crime during the day is very rare but it can happen in dodgier neighborhoods. In particular, the entire southern half of the city is comprised of lower income neighborhoods that have somewhat common crime, but are safe to walk through during the day as long as you have common sense.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Worcester: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Worcester?
Worcester has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; October is the wettest, with about 122 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Worcester?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), about 6.3 km from the city centre in a straight line; Laurence G Hanscom Field (BED, 47 km) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS, 66 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Worcester?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Worcester
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.