Where to stay in Troy
River Street brownstones in Downtown Troy New York
Downtown Troy has 2 hotels plus around 25 rentals at $130-$200, and it may be the region's best small-city walking base.
Who it suits
Troy is 9 miles north of Albany and often outshines it for a weekend. The Downtown blocks between Monument Square and the Approach have some of the best-preserved 19th-century commercial architecture in America, plus the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market (Saturdays year-round), Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, The Ruck, Sweet Sue's, and enough restaurants for a full weekend. The Hilton Garden Inn Troy sits right on the river; boutique rentals fill the surrounding blocks. Book here for a food-focused weekend, an RPI parents' event, or an EMPAC show.
Who it doesn’t suit
Troy is not Albany — plan a 15-minute drive or a 30-minute #22 CDTA bus ride to reach Downtown Albany, the Capitol, or Empire State Plaza. Skip Troy if your business is with state agencies, if you have MVP Arena tickets, or if you need an early Albany airport flight (25 minutes away). Troy also empties on Sunday nights, so a Sunday-Monday stay will feel dead.
Before you book
The questions people ask about Downtown Albany, answered with this month’s numbers.
Troy has a better walking-scale dining scene; Downtown Albany has the Capitol, the museums, and the shows. Pick Troy if you want to eat well and wander, Albany if you want the big-city sights.
Free on-street after 6 p.m. and on Sundays; metered otherwise. The city garage on State Street is cheap. Much easier than Downtown Albany.
