The 10 best things to do in Troy, NY

A day in Troy can start at the Saturday farmers market, run through a museum or two and end with a concert in a hall built in 1875. This list is for Saratoga County readers planning a day or an evening in the Collar City and for families visiting RPI or Russell Sage College. Most of it sits within a few blocks of River Street, Second Street and Monument Square, with Oakwood Cemetery to the north and the iron works museum in South Troy.

Everything here is inside the City of Troy. Street parking downtown is free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend, according to the Music Hall. For dinner, see our Troy restaurants list.

How we chose

We looked for attractions, venues, museums, outdoor spots and shops with a steady local reputation and staying power, and we mixed ages, seasons and budgets. Each one was checked in late October 2026 against the place’s own website or the agency that runs it, and hours, prices and event dates come from those sources. Restaurants are left to our separate Troy restaurants list. The list is unranked and in alphabetical order, and no business paid to be included.

Hours, prices and dates below come from each business or official source and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.

The Arts Center of the Capital Region

Gallery admission is free at The Arts Center of the Capital Region, a River Street building with studios, galleries and performance space. Two shows hang through Nov. 20, The Scapegoat and the Bear and a printmakers’ exhibit called Commanding Color. Hands-on visitors can try pottery, stained glass or jewelry; drop-in class tickets start at $15 and are sold only in person at the info desk.

Hours: Tue–Thu noon–7 p.m., Fri noon–5 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; closed Sun–Mon; closed Dec. 21–Jan. 4 for the holidays

Address: 265 River Street, Troy, NY 12180

Why they made the list

• Founded in 1962, the center runs about 500 classes a year, according to The Arts Center.
• Art camps are grouped for ages 6 to 8, 9 to 11 and 12 to 15, according to the center.
• The current shows opened Sept. 25, 2026, during Troy Night Out, according to the center.

More details are in our directory listing.

Burden Iron Works Museum

Engineering students and industrial-history fans will find plenty at the Burden Iron Works Museum, housed in the 1881-82 office of an iron mill complex that once stretched a mile along the Hudson. A Corliss steam engine stands inside and a ladle car outside, with displays on bells, stoves and collars. Admission is $10; kids 12 and under get in free with an adult. Visit on a weekday afternoon, since the season ends in December.

Hours: Wed–Fri noon–4 p.m., May through December; closed Sat–Tue; group tours by appointment

Address: 1 East Industrial Parkway, Troy, NY 12180

Why they made the list

• The museum reopened May 29, 2026, with new heating and air conditioning, according to the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway.
• A working diorama shows Henry Burden’s horseshoe mill and water wheel, according to the Gateway.
• The office building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, according to the Gateway.

More details are in our directory listing.

The Counties of Ireland

Aran sweaters, Claddagh rings, tin whistles and Irish tea fill the shelves at The Counties of Ireland, a family-owned shop that has sold goods made in Ireland since 2000. Since 2005 the store has occupied a former shoe store on Third Street with original tin ceilings and maple floors. Gift shoppers and anyone with Irish roots will want time to browse. Online orders can be picked up in the store.

Hours: Tue–Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Sun–Mon

Address: 77 Third Street, Troy, NY 12180

Why they made the list

• The shop opened in Troy on June 8, 2000, and moved to 77 Third Street in June 2005, according to the store.
• Products are hand-picked and imported directly from Ireland, according to the store.
• The owner also runs a sister Irish shop in Lake George, opened in November 2019, according to the store.

More details are in our directory listing.

Hart Cluett Museum

History buffs get two experiences at the Hart Cluett Museum: galleries on Rensselaer County history and hourlong tours of the 1827 Hart-Cluett House, a white marble mansion at 59 Second Street. A permanent exhibit explains how Troy became the Home of Uncle Sam. Gallery admission is pay what you wish, with $10 suggested for adults and free entry for anyone 18 and under. Buy Holiday Greens Show tickets early.

Hours: Galleries Thu–Sat noon–5 p.m.; Hart-Cluett House tours Fri 3 p.m. and Sat 2 p.m.; closed Sun–Wed and major holidays

Address: 57 Second Street, Troy, NY 12180

Why they made the list

• The 70th Annual Holiday Greens Show runs Dec. 3 to 6, 2026; adult tickets are $20 and kids 16 and under are free.
• The 44th annual Victorian Stroll downtown is Dec. 6, 2026, according to the museum.
• Hart-Cluett House tours cost $20 for adults, according to the museum.

More details are in our directory listing.

Houston Field House

Friday nights in hockey season mean RPI games at Houston Field House, a rink that opened in October 1949 and seats more than 4,800. Union visits on Oct. 30 for Fright Night, a blackout game, and the Dec. 4 home game is the Teddy Bear Toss. The games suit families and visiting RPI parents. For tickets, call the RPI athletics line at (518) 276-6262 or buy online ahead of rivalry weekends.

Hours: RPI men’s home games mostly Fri–Sat at 7 p.m., with some 4 p.m. starts; next home game Oct. 30, 2026

Address: 1900 Peoples Avenue, Troy, NY 12180

Why they made the list

• RPI plays 17 regular-season men’s home games in 2026-27, according to RPI Athletics.
• Home dates after Oct. 30 include Nov. 20, 21 and 27 and Dec. 4 and 5, according to the RPI schedule.
• The Field House is also home to RPI’s women’s hockey team, according to RPI Athletics.

More details are in our directory listing.

Oakwood Cemetery

Spread over 282 acres of hills, lakes and roadways in northern Troy, Oakwood Cemetery was organized in 1848 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery’s Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel, a National Historic Landmark, holds Tiffany stained-glass windows and opens for scheduled tours. RPI and Sage visitors can look for Russell Sage’s unmarked mausoleum, built like a small Greek temple. Walkers, cyclists and leashed dogs are welcome during daylight hours.

Hours: Grounds daily 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; office Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–noon, closed Sun

Address: 186 Oakwood Avenue, Troy, NY 12182

Why they made the list

• A Gardner Earl Chapel tour (3 p.m.) and the self-guided Winter Luminary Walk (4:30 to 7 p.m.) are both set for Nov. 28, 2026, according to the cemetery.
• Emma Willard and RPI founder Amos Eaton are buried at Oakwood, according to the cemetery.
• The grounds hold about 60,000 graves and 24 mausolea and burial vaults, according to Oakwood.

More details are in our directory listing.

Riverfront Park

Downtown’s Hudson River edge belongs to Riverfront Park, a city park at Front and River streets that Troy dedicated in 2018 as William D. Chamberlain Riverfront Park. A promenade follows the rebuilt seawall, and the park marks the north end of the Uncle Sam Trail’s two-way cycle track. The park makes an easy stroll before or after the Saturday market. Park in the city lots north of the Green Island Bridge and walk south.

Hours: Check current hours before you go.

Address: Front Street and River Street, Troy, NY 12180

Why they made the list

• The city dedicated the park on April 21, 2018, to William D. Chamberlain, the city’s longtime director of operations.
• WAMC reported in 2020 that about 3,500 feet of downtown seawall had been rebuilt.
• The 7-mile Uncle Sam Trail connects to the Empire State Trail at the Troy-Menands Bridge, according to the city.

More details are in our directory listing.

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

Concertgoers have filled the upstairs hall at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall since 1875, and the seats are the 1875 originals, according to the hall. The fall calendar suits Americana and classical fans alike, from Jason Isbell (Nov. 5, sold out) to the Albany Symphony on Nov. 7. For acoustics, the hall suggests the Balcony or Gallery. Weekday street parking turns free at 5 p.m.

Hours: Box office Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; show times vary by event

Address: 30 Second Street, Troy, NY 12180

Why they made the list

• The hall seats 1,175, and the organ was installed in 1890, according to the Music Hall.
• Walk-in tours run during business hours when the hall is free and often during Troy Night Out, according to the hall.
• Other fall 2026 dates on the hall’s calendar include Chris Botti on Nov. 13 and Don McLean on Nov. 14.

More details are in our directory listing.

Troy Waterfront Farmers Market

Saturday mornings downtown revolve around the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, a producer-only market that runs 52 weeks a year. In summer, produce lines Second Street and prepared food rings Monument Square; on Nov. 7, most of the roughly 100 vendors move inside the Troy Atrium. The market draws families, students and couples. The free Fifth Avenue garage fills between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., so come early.

Hours: Sat 9 a.m.–2 p.m. year-round; outdoors around Monument Square May–Oct.; inside the Troy Atrium from Nov. 7, 2026 through April

Address: Monument Square and River Street, Troy, NY 12180 (Troy Atrium from Nov. 7, 2026)

Why they made the list

• The outdoor market draws up to 15,000 visitors a Saturday, according to the market’s April 2026 release.
• Last winter’s final seven indoor markets each drew more than 3,500 shoppers, according to the same release.
• SNAP shoppers get a $2 Fresh Connect coupon for every $2 in tokens, up to 25 coupons, according to the market.

More details are in our directory listing.

Uncle Sam Lanes

The bowling center keeps bumper lanes, lightweight balls and small shoes for kids, which makes Uncle Sam Lanes an easy rainy-day plan for families. Games cost $4 per person before 5 p.m. every day, plus $3 for shoe rental. Teens and college groups can return for Moonlight Bowling, when the lights go down, the music goes up and haze machines kick on. Birthday packages can be booked ahead.

Hours: Sun–Mon noon–10 p.m.; Tue–Thu noon–11 p.m.; Fri–Sat noon–midnight

Address: 600 Fulton Street, Troy, NY 12180

Why they made the list

• After 5 p.m., games are $4.50 Sunday through Thursday and $5.50 on Friday and Saturday, according to Uncle Sam Lanes.
• Uncle Sam Lanes is independently owned and smoke-free, according to the center.
• Youth bowling programs teach kids the basics of the sport, according to the center.

More details are in our directory listing.

Also worth knowing

On the last Friday of most months, Troy Night Out keeps downtown shops open late with music and art pop-ups, organized by the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Troy farmers market move indoors for winter?

The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market moves inside the Troy Atrium on Nov. 7, 2026, and stays there through April. Hours stay the same, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Is parking free in downtown Troy?

Street meters are free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend, and city garages and lots are free on weeknights from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., all weekend and on holidays, according to the City of Troy. The farmers market says the Fifth Avenue garage fills between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

What is there to do in Troy with kids?

Uncle Sam Lanes has bumper lanes and $4 games before 5 p.m. The Hart Cluett Museum’s suggested gallery admission is free for anyone 18 and under, and kids 12 and under get into the Burden Iron Works Museum free with an adult.

Last checked October 27, 2026. See a place we missed or a detail that has changed? Send us a correction.