Sight & Sound Theatres Lancaster
Large-scale live productions of Bible stories in a theater built for spectacle, with a stage that reaches into the audience, live animals and sets the size of a barn. The signature night out in Lancaster County.
Pennsylvania
Lancaster & Amish Country
Lancaster County is where Pennsylvania Dutch farmland, one of the oldest public markets in America and a surprisingly lively small city sit within a half hour of each other.
Buggies share the back roads of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse with tour buses and cyclists, Central Market has been feeding Lancaster for generations, and Lititz, Ephrata and Strasburg each add their own streetscape of brick, rail and pretzels. This guide covers the headline experiences, from Amish farm and craft tours and a family-style meal to Sight & Sound Theatres, Dutch Wonderland, Landis Valley and the toy-train museums, then adds Lancaster city walks, food and brewery tours, President Buchanan's Wheatland and the Ephrata Cloister. It also helps you choose a bed, from the converted Cork Factory Hotel to resort and downtown options.
Don't miss
Sight & Sound Theatres Lancaster
Large-scale live productions of Bible stories in a theater built for spectacle, with a stage that reaches into the audience, live animals and sets the size of a barn. The signature night out in Lancaster County.
The Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm
A structured introduction to Amish life on Route 340: a theater film, a guided visit to a farmhouse and schoolhouse, and an optional bus tour through the backroads. The best first stop for understanding what you are about to see.
Dutch Wonderland
A castle-themed amusement park built for families with young children: gentle rides, a water play area, shows and a fall event with costumes and trick-or-treat stations.
Lancaster Central Market
One of the oldest continuously operating public markets in America, in a Romanesque Revival hall on Penn Square. Farm produce, cheese, pretzels, whoopie pies and a good lunch.
Things to do in Lancaster & Amish Country
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm
A structured introduction to Amish life on Route 340: a theater film, a guided visit to a farmhouse and schoolhouse, and an optional bus tour through the backroads. The best first stop for understanding what you are about to see.
Premium Amish Country Tour with Amish Farm and House
A guided bus tour of Lancaster County farmland that includes admission to the Amish Farm and House, a restored 1805 homestead. A well-rounded half-day for visitors without a car.
Authentic Tour & Meal with the Amish
A small-group experience that pairs a guided look at Amish life with a home-cooked meal in an Amish setting. The closest most visitors get to the table.
Amish Craftsmen Experience
A hosted look at the trades behind the quilts, furniture and baked goods that fill the roadside stands. Meet the people who make things the slow way.
Intercourse to Lititz Self-Guided Driving Tour
A GPS-triggered audio drive that links the county's best-known villages at your own pace. Cheap, flexible and well suited to travelers who prefer to stop where they like.
Dutch Wonderland
A castle-themed amusement park built for families with young children: gentle rides, a water play area, shows and a fall event with costumes and trick-or-treat stations.
Lancaster Central Market
One of the oldest continuously operating public markets in America, in a Romanesque Revival hall on Penn Square. Farm produce, cheese, pretzels, whoopie pies and a good lunch.
Historic Lancaster Walking Tour with Breakfast
A guided walk through the oldest parts of Lancaster city, paired with breakfast. Colonial taverns, courthouse square and the story of a one-day capital.
Ghost Tour of Lancaster
An evening walk through the historic center with tales of taverns, battles, fires and unexplained noises. Atmospheric, light on gore and good for groups.
Sweet & Savory Tour of Lancaster City
A walking tasting tour of downtown Lancaster that moves between bakeries, kitchens and cafes. A good way to taste the new city beyond the pretzels.
Guided Brewery Walking Tour in Lancaster City
A guided walk between downtown taprooms that mixes craft beer with local history. A grown-up evening in a city that is better known for pretzels.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Cork Factory Hotel
Lancaster City
A former cork factory turned boutique-style hotel in Lancaster city, with brick-and-timber character and an easy run to Central Market, Penn Square and the city's restaurants.
Check rates →Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
Penn Square / Downtown
The full-service hotel on Penn Square, beside the convention center and a block from Central Market. The most central address in Lancaster.
Check rates →Residence Inn by Marriott Lancaster
Lancaster Area
An all-suite stay with kitchens and room to spread out, aimed at families and longer visits. Practical, quiet and well placed for the county.
Check rates →Wyndham Lancaster Resort & Convention Center
Lincoln Highway East
A sprawling resort on Lincoln Highway East with a golf course, pools and conference space, close to Dutch Wonderland and the Strasburg attractions.
Check rates →DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Lancaster
Route 30 Corridor
A Hilton resort-style hotel on the county's main road, with pools, on-site dining and the brand's welcome cookie. A comfortable family base within reach of the farms.
Check rates →Hilton Garden Inn Lancaster
Lancaster Area
A dependable mid-range Hilton with a restaurant, fitness room and straightforward rooms. A practical base for travelers who value consistency over character.
Check rates →Lancaster & Amish Country guides
Lancaster in Three Days: Farms, Market and Small Towns
A three-day plan that gives Amish country, the city and the small towns of Lititz and Strasburg each a proper day, with the sequencing tips that save time.
Visiting Amish Country Respectfully: A First-Timer's Guide
How to see Lancaster County's Amish and Mennonite communities without intruding: etiquette, photography, Sunday rules, driving around buggies and the best ways to learn.
Eating and Drinking in Lancaster: Markets, Farm Tables and Taprooms
Where Lancaster eats: Central Market, family-style farm meals, pretzels and whoopie pies, plus the city's newer kitchens and craft breweries.
The Best Time to Visit Lancaster County: Season by Season
What each season looks like in Amish country and Lancaster city, when the crowds peak and which months suit farms, markets, theaters and families.
Lancaster with Kids: Trains, Pretzels, Castles and Animals
A family guide to Lancaster County: a castle park, model railroads, a pretzel bakery, living-history farms and the practical tips that keep children happy.
Lancaster on a Budget: Free Sights, Cheap Eats and Smart Choices
How to see Lancaster County for less: low-cost tours, free markets and sights, where to save on hotels and which splurges are worth it.
