Best in Albany
A state capital, a summer racing town and two old river cities where the Hudson meets the Mohawk.
See things to do »The Capital Region at a Glance
The Capital Region is the cluster of cities around the point where the Mohawk River flows into the Hudson, about two and a half hours north of New York City. Albany, the state capital, sits on the west bank of the Hudson; Troy faces it a few miles upriver; Schenectady lies along the Mohawk to the northwest; and Saratoga Springs is half an hour north on the Northway. Together they make a compact base with four very different personalities, and most visitors can see all of them in a long weekend.
Albany is one of the oldest European settlements in the country. Dutch traders built Fort Orange here in 1624, and its 1686 city charter makes it one of the oldest chartered cities in the United States. The skyline tells a later story: the turreted New York State Capitol, completed in 1899 after more than three decades of work, and the vast marble Empire State Plaza beside it, built in the 1960s and 1970s with its sculpture collection, reflecting pools and a performing arts center shaped like an egg.
Troy grew rich in the 1800s on iron, collars and shirts, and it kept much of its Victorian downtown intact. Its streets of brownstones and cast-iron storefronts have drawn film crews looking for period backdrops, and its churches hold an unusual number of Tiffany windows. Today the city is known for a Saturday farmers market, small restaurants, the acoustically celebrated Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on the hill above.
Saratoga Springs has been a resort since the 1800s, first for its mineral springs and then for horse racing. Saratoga Race Course, open since 1863, runs its summer meet from mid-July to Labor Day, and the town's population and prices swell with it. The rest of the year Saratoga is a lively small city with Broadway shops and restaurants, Congress Park and the springs and bathhouses of Saratoga Spa State Park. Schenectady, an old Dutch town that became the home of General Electric, has the Stockade, one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in the country, and Proctors theater downtown.
This guide gives each city its own page with highlights and bookable tours where they exist. There is also a page of restaurants we confirmed are operating and a calendar of yearly festivals and fairs. Albany is also a natural crossroads for longer trips: Interstate 87 runs north to Lake George and Montreal, I-90 heads west along the Mohawk Valley toward Syracuse and east to the Berkshires and Boston, and Amtrak connects the city with New York, Montreal, Buffalo and Chicago. For Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks and the rest of the state, see our sister guide, Best in Upstate NY.
Explore the Capital Region by Area
Top-Rated Things to Do in the Capital Region
Viator
Viator
TiqetsTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 31, 2026. Best in Albany may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Where to Eat in the Capital Region
Oysters on State Street since 1913, Indonesian touches at Yono's, fried chicken at Hattie's since 1938, Italian bread from a century-old Schenectady bakery and a year-round Saturday market in Troy: our dining guide covers all four cities.
the Capital Region dining guide »
Festivals and Events in the Capital Region
Albany's Tulip Festival opens the season in May, summer brings free concerts, the Saratoga racing meet and SPAC, and fall and winter add the Stockade art show and Saratoga's Chowderfest.
Want help planning the Capital Region?
Tell us when you are coming and what you enjoy. A travel specialist will put together hotel, activity and travel options for you — free, with no obligation.
Get free trip quotes »Plan Your the Capital Region Trip
the Capital Region — FAQ
How far is Albany from New York City?
About 150 miles, roughly two and a half to three hours by car. Amtrak trains from Penn Station to Albany-Rensselaer take about two and a half hours and follow the Hudson River much of the way.
Is Saratoga Springs part of the Capital Region?
Yes. It is about 30 minutes north of Albany on I-87, the Adirondack Northway, and many visitors stay in Albany and drive up for a day at the track or the spa park.
When is the best time to visit the Capital Region?
Late spring through fall. May brings Albany's Tulip Festival, mid-July to Labor Day is racing season in Saratoga, and September and October are mild with foliage nearby. Winters are cold and snowy.
Do I need a car?
It helps. CDTA buses connect Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga, and downtown areas are walkable, but a car is easier for moving between cities and reaching parks such as Thacher State Park or the Saratoga battlefield.
Which airport serves Albany?
Albany International Airport (ALB), about 15 minutes from downtown Albany and roughly 25 minutes from Saratoga Springs.