The Top 9 Things to Do in Saratoga Springs, New York (2024)

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Attend an Event at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Saratoga Springs has a strong arts and culture scene, and a large part of that is due to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The center is the summer home of the New York City Ballet, and it also hosts performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Opera Saratoga, and concerts by Live Nation. The center also hosts annual events such as the popular Saratoga Food and Wine Festival, a weekend of events showcasing the best in the country’s culinary scene and celebrity appearances, live music, and special events. SPAC's four venues—ranging from a small, intimate space to the 25,000-seat amphitheater—are located within Saratoga Spa State Park.

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Tour the Town's Many Museums

In a city with such a rich history and thriving arts and culture scene, you’d expect it also to have some top-notch museums to educate about these significant aspects of its past and present—and it does. You’ve got your choice of the National Museum of Dance, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the New York State Military Museum, the Saratoga Springs History Museum, and a few art galleries.

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Taste the Mineral Springs

The natural mineral springs have been a primary draw to the area since the 14th century, when they were used for their health and healing properties. And these bubbly watering holes can be found throughout Saratoga Spa State Park and in Congress Park downtown. The state park offers tours, both guided and self-guided, of the springs (stop in at the visitors center to pick a map of the springs’ locations—there are 12 in the park), and bring along a cup or water bottle to sip from them as you find them. You’ll notice that each one tastes different—that’s natural. While some are refreshing, others can have an off-putting taste to some people, so consider bringing your own full water bottle to rinse as you go, or just find the following spring! If you’re in the downtown area, Congress Park is also home to four different mineral springs that are marked.

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Stroll Through Downtown

Broadway, the main street running through downtown Saratoga Springs, has a small-town charm with larger city appeal—in other words, it offers plenty to see and do, minus the crowds and noise that come with a larger city. Bookstores, boutique clothing shops, souvenir shops, antique stores, restaurants, cafes, bars, and more all line the mile-long main stretch of Broadway and the side streets that peel off of it. Spend a morning grabbing a coffee and breakfast at Mrs. London’s Bakery, then head to Congress Park for a mid-morning stroll before hitting some of the shops along Broadway mid-day.

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Hit the Racetrack

The Saratoga Race Track is likely the strongest association travelers have with the city. It hosted the city’s first thoroughbred horse race in 1863, and 5,000 people traveled to watch. Due to the success of this first meet, the Saratoga Racing Association was founded, and 125 acres of land became the site of the Saratoga Race Course.

Still a popular attraction today, almost one million people travel to the track each summer to watch and bet on horse races. Races are typically held several days a week for seven weeks out of the summer (usually mid-July through Labor Day). To attend one of the races, you can purchase season tickets during the spring or buy individual tickets online ahead of time or day of at the gates.

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Relax at the Roosevelt Baths

The Roosevelt Baths & Spa, located inside the park, are a popular way to experience hydrotherapy treatments with the natural mineral springs. The spa offers several treatment options, including massage, facials, and body scrubs, and guests have the opportunity to book a standalone mineral soak or as an add-on before their treatment. The mineral water is sourced from the springs, and it’s mixed with warm freshwater to reach an optimal temperature (about 97 to 100 degrees F).

More than just a famous spa, Roosevelt Baths are also an essential piece of the city’s history. In the early 1900s, local gas companies were depleting the springs to use the carbonation for gas, so a reservation was established to protect the springs, and two bathhouses—the Roosevelt and the Lincoln bathhouses (the latter is no longer an operational bathhouse)—were built under that protection in 1935.

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Explore Saratoga Spa State Park

Many of the already mentioned attractions are located within this state park, but the park is also worth visiting. A must-do is a tour of the park’s 12 natural mineral springs (a self-guided tour with a map is available)—take along a water bottle so that you can taste each one—not only because these are unique to the area, but also because walking to find each one will also allow you to explore a lot of the park. On your walk through the park, other attractions you’ll likely see include the Roosevelt Baths, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, two golf courses, running trails, and the Victoria pool. The park is also popular in the winter since it offers more than 12 miles of cross-country skiing trails and ice skating and snowshoeing areas.

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Walk Through Congress Park

Saratoga Spa State Park might get most of the attention as the site of the museums, springs, and performing arts center, but downtown’s Congress Park is also worth a visit. There, you’ll find four more natural mineral springs that are marked (so bring a cup or water bottle again, or you can use your hands); the Canfield Casino (it’s no longer in use for gambling, but it was designated a national historic landmark and is home to the Saratoga Springs History Museum); a still-operational wooden carousel built in 1911 (permanently in the park since 2002); and a World War I memorial.

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Grab a Drink

Saratoga Springs is home to several wineries and breweries, so spend a day touring a few. For breweries, check out Druthers Brewing Company (located right downtown on Broadway), Artisanal Brew Works, or the aptly named Racing City Brewing Company. Or spend the day hitting a few local wineries, like the Saratoga Winery and Tasting Room or Oliva Vineyards. These are just the ones located within the city, and you’ll find several more in the surrounding region.