Downtown York is hands down one of the coolest little cities in Pennsylvania, if not on the entire East Coast– and we’re not just saying that because we grew up here. With the tagline of “historically edgy,” this vibrant destination offers a diverse array of activities and attractions for locals and visitors alike. With a charming Main Street (that’s been voted one of the best in the nation by Reader’s Digest and HGTV), dozens of local restaurants, captivating galleries and boutiques, and a rich cultural scene, Downtown York has something for everyone.

Seth and I grew up in the suburbs surrounding Downtown York and also called the city proper home for a few years, so when we were recently invited back by Downtown Inc., we jumped at the opportunity to rediscover this trendy city and share how cool our home is with the world (or at least our little corner of the internet). This city is packed to the brim with hidden gems waiting to be uncovered. Read on for our top 10 unmissable experiences in Downtown York, PA.

Getting to & Navigating York, Pennsylvania:

Downtown York is located in South Central Pennsylvania making it just under one hour from Baltimore, Maryland, about 90 minutes from Washington, DC, two hours from Philadelphia, and within a few hours drive from many other major Mid-Atlantic cities. York makes for a great road trip, but if you’d prefer to take public transportation to and from this destination, there is a centrally located Grayline Bus station right downtown.

Downtown York is primarily composed of three walkable neighborhoods: Market District, WeCo District, and Royal Square District. If you’re planning to stay within Downtown York itself, a car is unnecessary as the city is super walkable, but one could come in handy if you plan to do some additional exploring of the area.

Where to Stay in Downtown York:

York offers a variety of accommodations including Airbnbs and the newly renovated, historic Yorktowne Hotel, but if you’re a lover of unique stays like we are, the Grace Manor Bed and Breakfast stands out above all the rest. This property is Black Woman-owned, and centrally located in the WeCo (West of the Codorus) District of Downtown York. And when we say that the owner, Joanne, excels at both the bed and breakfast components of “BnB,” we mean it. Her daily breakfasts are composed of a 3-course Southern-influenced meal each morning, and her themed suites are beautifully designed. We stayed in the French Suite (pictured below) and found it to be the perfect homebase for a weekend in Downtown York.

Discover Downtown York, PA: 10 Hidden Gems and Unmissable Spots

Celebrate First Friday

Downtown York is truly a year-round destination, but no matter when you visit, we recommend planning your trip over the first weekend of the month. Each First Friday, over 70 restaurants, shops, art galleries, and small businesses keep their doors open late and welcome the community into their spaces with special events. You can expect special deals, interactive activities, live music, and in the warmer months, the city barricades main streets and small local businesses set-up stands on the sidewalks for pedestrians to browse and shop freely.

Thrift Shop

York Emporium: If you’re a book lover, you’ll want to check out York Emporium (pictured below). They have a massive second hand book collection as well as a wide variety of other curiosities for sale. This shop also offers lots of reading nooks that invite you to stay awhile and enjoy your new (to you) finds. They also host folk/blues jam sessions in their bookstacks every Sunday!

My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe: This upscale consignment shop is a must-visit when in the Market District. They always have a great selection, and also offer a really cool “counterfeit prevention destroy and shop program” through which they destroy fake designer pieces in exchange for a $10 store credit. This program is the only one of it’s kind in York, and helps get fake pieces (that are often tied to child labor, drug trafficking, etc.) off the streets locally.

Revolt Style Studio: This boutique promotes sustainability in every aspect of their business model. They carry curated wearable vintage finds as well as some vintage home goods, and periodically host a regional vintage vendor event called 717 Vintage Fest!

Molly’s Follies Located on the corner of King and Duke Streets, this charming boutique offers unique furniture, curated home goods, and hand-painted pieces that are upcycled and remade.

Immerse Yourself in Local Art

Mural Hunt: The area between King, Queen, Princess, and Duke Streets makes up York’s recently revitalized Royal Square neighborhood and can be viewed as an arts district within the city. Resulting from a collaboration between local organizations and artists, over a dozen colorful murals have been painted on the walls of buildings in the area, and they are definitely worth a look. More information about the murals as well as a route for a self-guided tour can be found here.

Gallery Hop: York is home to a thriving art scene, and has over a dozen galleries to be explored. We loved checking out Steph Holmes‘ nature-inspired gallery and Ophelia’s Making Agency. Both are located in the WeCo District and host open houses regularly. Creative York’s galleries are also definitely worth checking out. They host a variety of classes in their space, including a date night pottery class.

Get Creative

Learn a New Skill Like Soap Making: Sunrise Soap Company is not only the best smelling place in Downtown York, it’s also the perfect place to unleash your creativity. At their Creation Station, you can create your own custom-scented bath and body products. We saw lots of kiddos while we were there, but we found this unique hands-on experience to be perfect for makers of any age.

Take a Painting Class: We took a nature-inspired painting class with local artist Steph Holmes and had the best time. She has a beautiful studio in the WeCo District of Downtown York and hosts both adults only (BYOB) and family friendly classes. This was our first-ever painting class, so we weren’t super confident in our skills, but Steph provided plenty of guidance, made us feel like naturals, and we both walked away with pieces that we love! Check out Steph’s upcoming class schedule here.

Listen to Live Music

Downtown York offers something for every type of music lover. Whether you want to rock out, catch an intimate folk show, snag tickets for a nationally touring band, or listen to a local band at Market, there is no shortage of live music to enjoy.

Skid Row Garage is York’s only punk music venue of its kind. It has a grungy(in the best way) underground feel and hosts punk bands from across the country. 

King George Speakeasy: Located under Tutoni’s Restaurant, this modern speakeasy offers elevated cocktails in an intimate lounge setting. Space is first come, first served, so be sure to get there early on nights with live entertainment to ensure you get a seat, and check their performance calendar to plan your visit!

Appell Center for the Performing Arts: This historic theater presents nationally touring performers and films as well as local preforming artists and they even host free events for the community. I (Aleah) saw my first off-Broadway show (Cats!) here with my family, so the Appell Center will always hold a special place in my heart.

Take a Stroll Through Market:

Central Market and Penn Market are two of Pennsylvania’s oldest markets as well as two of the oldest continuously operating markets in the entire United States. They’re also both housed in beautiful, historic buildings and boast a variety of stalls offering fresh produce, artisanal goods, and mouthwatering ready-to-eat treats. Whether you’re looking for farm-fresh ingredients, a delicious meal, or unique handmade crafts, Market is the place to go!

Get Your Game On

Timeline Arcade is an ideal spot for an affordable date night in Downtown York as this enormous arcade offers unlimited play for $10/hr. They have hundreds of both vintage & modern games– from pool, to pinball, to Pacman and everything in between. Different sections are even set up to mirror the decade of the games you’re playing. And if you somehow aren’t sold yet, they’re BYOB. We recommend stopping into Holy Hound Taproom, grabbing a can of your favorite local craft beer, and then heading across the street to the arcade for loads of fun!

Hit the Trail

The Heritage Rail Trail that is! This stone trail is 10-feet wide, ADA accessible, and designed for hiking, bicycling, running, horseback riding, as well as cross country skiing and snow shoeing in the colder months. It extends more than twenty-one miles and connects Downtown York PA to Maryland’s Torrey C. Brown Trail to the south and John Rudy County Park to the north.

We recommend starting at the Colonial Courthouse (pictured below) and making your way south along the Codorus Creek. If you’re up for a longer ride (12 miles roundtrip), make your way to Howard Tunnel (pictured above), which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts the title of being the oldest continually operational railway tunnel in the world.

Museum Hop

A visit to Downtown York, PA is a ticket to history buff heaven. This city is home to a half dozen museums and countless historic sites that chronical history from the American Revolution, Civil War, Industrial Revolution, and everything in between.

The York County History Center offers visitors access to five different sites: The Historical Society Museum, Library/Archives; Colonial Complex; Fire Museum; Bonham House; and Agricultural and Industrial Museum.

Located on an authenticated site of the Underground Railroad, the Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum highlights the life of William C. Goodridge, a former enslaved person turned successful business man who risked everything to help others escape slavery in the mid-1800s. Note: Tours must be scheduled in advance; check their website for more information and to plan your visit.

Savor the Flavors of the Chesapeake Bay

Downtown York may seem miles away from the salty breeze of the Chesapeake Bay, however, this vibrant city offers a culinary experience that brings the flavors of the Chesapeake directly to your plate. From fresh seafood to Old Bay seasoning, Downtown York has no shortage of delectable delights inspired by the Chesapeake Bay. Read on for some of our favorite orders…

Crab Pretzel: This mouthwatering appetizer features a warm soft pretzel topped with creamy crab dip and melted cheddar cheese. It’s the perfect combination of salty, savory, and satisfying. You won’t go wrong at Granfalloons Tavern or White Rose Bar & Grill.

Crab Cakes: Handsome Cab (they also serve delicious crab deviled eggs), White Rose Bar & Grill, and Roosevelt Tavern all serve delicious Maryland jumbo lump crabcakes.

Crab Dip: Several Downtown York Restaurants offer creamy, hot crab dip with varying degrees of Old Bay and different presentations. We recommend the versions found at Mudhook Brewing Co. (served with tortilla chips or fried pita bread for dipping), White Rose Bar & Grill (spicy, and served in a bread bowl with garlic toast), and Granfalloons Tavern (served in a bread bowl).

Old Bay Chicken Wings: Speaking of Old Bay, the wings at Revival Social Club featuring the star Chesapeake seasoning are 10/10.

Crabby Potatoes: Head to Fig & Barrel for their loaded crab potato tots that are smothered in house made crab dip & cheddar cheese and then melted in their wood fired oven. They’re always delicious and half-off during happy hour! White Rose Bar & Grill‘s Eastern Shore fries are equally delicious, and topped with their famous crab dip, cheddar-jack cheese, and crab meat.

Oyster Po’ Boy: For a taste of the bayou with a Chesapeake twist, order the Oyster Po’ Boy at Rockfish Public House. Really, if you want all of the above/the best selection of seafood in Downtown York, head to Rockfish Public House.

Seafood Soup: The shrimp and corn chowder at Skillet2Plate Soul Bistro is to die for! They also serve both a lobster bisque and crab soup that we’re dying to try!

Chicken Chesapeake: Find the best in town at White Rose Bar & Grill, and if steak is more your thing, they also serve a delicious filet and crab entree.

Mushrooms Chesapeake: This uniquely delicious appetizer can be found at Roosevelt Tavern and consists of sautéed baby bella mushrooms, jumbo lump crab cake, and lobster cream. So yummy!

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If we didn’t already make it abundantly clear, Downtown York, PA, is a destination that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. So whether you’re a history buff, art lover, or foodie, you have to add this historically edgy city to your travel list.