Amherst Travel Guide

Trek Zone

Town

Facts and practical information

Welcome to Amherst, a charming town nestled in the heart of the beautiful Massachusetts region in the United States. Known for its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and vibrant cultural scene, Amherst offers a delightful blend of small-town charm and intellectual vitality.

Nature enthusiasts will be captivated by the stunning surroundings of Amherst. With its close proximity to the majestic Mount Holyoke Range and the tranquil Connecticut River, outdoor activities abound. Hike through the lush trails of Mount Norwottuck or take a leisurely stroll along the scenic Fort River. For a unique experience, embark on a boat tour and explore the picturesque beauty of the Connecticut River Valley.

Amherst is also home to several renowned educational institutions, including the prestigious Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The vibrant student population brings a dynamic energy to the town, reflected in its diverse array of cultural events and artistic offerings. Immerse yourself in the thriving arts scene by visiting the Mead Art Museum, which houses an impressive collection of American and European art.

As you wander through the quaint streets of Amherst, you'll discover a treasure trove of historic landmarks. Pay a visit to the Emily Dickinson Museum, the former home of the renowned American poet, and gain insight into her life and works. Explore the historic Amherst Town Common, a picturesque park surrounded by beautiful colonial-era buildings, and soak in the town's rich history.

Food enthusiasts will delight in the culinary delights that Amherst has to offer. Indulge in farm-to-table cuisine at one of the town's many farm-to-fork restaurants, where fresh and locally sourced ingredients take center stage. Don't miss the chance to savor a delicious maple syrup pancake breakfast, a beloved tradition in Amherst.

Alternative names: Settled: 1703Population: 39.8 thous.Area: 27.8 mi²Elevation: 315 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 42°22'33"N, 72°31'12"W

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MassachusettsUnited States

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Amherst Top Attractions

Amherst Attractions - What to See and Explore

Amherst offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Emily Dickinson Museum, Mead Art Museum, University Museum of Contemporary Art, Yiddish Book Center. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Emily Dickinson • Museum • Historical place
Emily Dickinson Museum
The Emily Dickinson Museum is a historic house museum consisting of two houses: the Dickinson Homestead and the Evergreens. The Dickinson Homestead was the birthplace and home from 1855 to 1886 of 19th-century American poet Emily Dickinson, whose poems were discovered in her bedroom there after her death.
Museum • Art museum • Gothic Revival architecture
Mead Art Museum
Mead Art Museum houses the fine art collection of Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Opened in 1949, the building is named after architect William Rutherford Mead, of the prestigious architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. His wife, Olga Kilyeni Mead, left her entire estate to Amherst College.
Museum • Art museum • Modern art museum
University Museum of Contemporary Art
The University Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The UMCA has been housed in the university's Fine Arts Center since 1975, after the university began collecting works in 1962.

Museum • Specialty museum
Yiddish Book Center
The Yiddish Book Center, located on the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States, is a cultural institution dedicated to the preservation of books in the Yiddish language, as well as the culture and history those books represent.
Museum • Specialty museum • History museum
Beneski Museum of Natural History
The Beneski Museum of Natural History, Amherst College is located on the campus of Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. It showcases fossils and minerals collected locally and abroad, many by past and present students and professors.
Nature • Natural attraction • Lake
Campus Pond
The Campus Pond at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a pond located in the center of campus that was created in the early 1890s. It is bordered to the south by the Fine Arts Center.
Nature • Natural attraction • Park
Bare Mountain
Bare Mountain, 1,014 feet above sea level, is a prominent peak of the Holyoke Range of traprock mountains located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts, and part of the greater Metacomet Ridge that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border.
Church • Romanesque revival architecture • Romanesque architecture
Old Chapel
Old Chapel, formerly known as the Old Chapel Library is a former library on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Observatories and planetariums
Orchard Hill Observatory
The Orchard Hill Observatory is an astronomical observatory located at the highest point on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus. Constructed in 1965, the observatory is a red brick building with a 16-inch Cassegrain reflector optical telescope.
Church
Goodwin Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
The Goodwin Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is a historic church on Woodside Avenue in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Music and shows • Nightlife • Music venue
Fine Arts Center
The Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is an arts center located just north of downtown Amherst, Massachusetts and contains a concert hall and a contemporary art gallery.
Emily Dickinson • Cemetery
Amherst West Cemetery
Amherst West Cemetery is a historic cemetery on Triangle Street in Amherst, Massachusetts. The 4 acres cemetery was first laid out in 1730, when the voters of Hadley elected to establish a new burying ground in its eastern precinct. When the area was separated as Amherst in 1786, the property was taken over by the newly established town.
Museum • Art museum
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is a museum devoted to the art of the picture book and especially the children's book. It is a member of Museums10 and is adjacent to the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Carle was founded by Eric and Barbara Carle, and designed by Juster Pope Frazier Architects.
Emily Dickinson • Universities and schools
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. Founded in 1821 as an attempt to relocate Williams College by its then-president Zephaniah Swift Moore, Amherst is the third oldest institution of higher education in Massachusetts.
Museum • History museum • Georgian architecture
Strong House
The Strong House is a historic house at 67 Amity Street in Amherst, Massachusetts. Built about 1744, it is one of Amherst's oldest surviving houses, and a fine example of mid-18th century Connecticut River Valley architecture.
Art gallery • Museum • Universities and schools
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research university in Amherst, Massachusetts and the sole public land-grant university in Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Universities and schools
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was opened in 1970 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
42°19'42"N • 72°31'34"W
Hitchcock Center for the Environment
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment is located on the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Library
W. E. B. Du Bois Library
The W. E. B. Du Bois Library is one of the three libraries of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, the others being the Science and Engineering Library, and the Wadsworth Library at the Mount Ida Campus. The W. E. B.

Things to See and Do in Amherst by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Amherst.

Active

Mullins Center
Amherst
Convention centerBasketballHockey
Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium
Amherst
FootballSport venueSport
Pratt Field
Amherst
Sport venueSportArenas and stadiums
Earl Lorden Field
Amherst
BaseballSport venueSport
UMass Softball Complex
Amherst
Sport venueSport

Museum

Emily Dickinson Museum
Amherst
Emily DickinsonMuseumHistorical place
Mead Art Museum
Amherst
MuseumArt museumGothic Revival architecture
University Museum of Contemporary Art
Amherst
MuseumArt museumModern art museum
Yiddish Book Center
Amherst
MuseumSpecialty museum
Beneski Museum of Natural History
Amherst
MuseumSpecialty museumHistory museum

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Art museum

Mead Art Museum
Amherst
MuseumArt museumGothic Revival architecture
University Museum of Contemporary Art
Amherst
MuseumArt museumModern art museum
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Amherst
MuseumArt museum
Amherst Center for Russian Culture
Amherst
MuseumArt museum

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Universities and schools

Amherst College
Amherst
Emily DickinsonUniversities and schools
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst
Art galleryMuseumUniversities and schools
Hampshire College
Amherst
Universities and schools
George N. Parks Minuteman Marching Band Building
Amherst
Universities and schools
Campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst
Universities and schools

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Other categories

Neighbourhood

Day trips

Amherst – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Amherst, it's worth seeing attractions such as: MassMutual Center (Springfield), Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield), Mount Greylock (Adams).

19 milesS
Arenas and stadiums, Hockey, Sport
MassMutual Center, Springfield
The MassMutual Center is a vibrant hub of entertainment and sports located in the heart of Springfield, Massachusetts. This expansive arena and convention center complex plays host to a diverse array of events, from high-energy hockey games to captivating concerts...
20 milesS
Hoops history in the sport's birthplace
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts.
38 milesNW
Natural attraction, Park, Trail
Mount Greylock, Adams
Mount Greylock is a 3,489-foot mountain located in the northwest corner of Massachusetts and is the highest point in the state. Its summit is in the western part of the town of Adams in Berkshire County.
29 milesSE
Museum
Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge
Old Sturbridge Village is a living museum located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts which recreates life in rural New England during the 1790s through 1830s. It is the largest living museum in New England, covering more than 200 acres. The Village includes 59 antique buildings, three water-powered mills, and a working farm.
31 milesS
Specialty museum, History museum, Museum
New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks
The New England Air Museum is an American aerospace museum located adjacent to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The museum consists of three display hangars with additional storage and restoration hangars.