Troy
Cooler than Albany. Troy's downtown is Victorian brick, Saturday farmers market, RPI students, and Albany's real weekend destination.
19th-century brick buildings along River Street in downtown Troy
Why people stay in Troy
Troy sits on the east bank of the Hudson, about 10 miles north of downtown Albany. It's a city of 51,000 that peaked in the 1890s as an iron and collar manufacturing center, went into deep decline, and has been genuinely coming back for the last 15 years. Downtown Troy has the best preserved 19th-century commercial streetscape in the Northeast — three blocks of River Street and Broadway are essentially a museum you can eat inside.
The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market on Saturday mornings (year-round, indoor in winter) is the best market in the region, no argument. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is here, which brings in a younger crowd. Restaurants and cocktail bars are better than Albany's, and the vibe on a Friday night is more urban and more alive. Suits couples, foodies, arts travelers. Skip only if you specifically need to be in Albany city — otherwise Troy is a serious contender for your base.
Small boutique hotel inventory in downtown Troy — the Hilton Garden Inn near Congress Street ($129-190) and the Franklin Terrace boutique inn ($150-220) are the two obvious picks, both within walking distance of River Street. Airbnbs in the loft buildings above River Street run $140-210 and are honestly the best experience if you can get one. Avoid stays in South Troy or Lansingburgh unless you have a specific reason — the walk back at night isn’t pleasant.
What to see
Hotels in Troy
Getting around Troy
CDTA bus 22 or 85 runs from downtown Albany to downtown Troy in about 25 minutes for $1.50. Frequent daytime service. From Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak, Uber is $18 or bus 214 in about 40 minutes. From the airport, cab is $28 or drive 20 minutes on I-87 and Route 7. Inside downtown Troy, everything is walkable within four blocks. Street parking is metered until 6pm and free evenings.
Questions about Troy
For food, drinks and walking-around atmosphere, Troy is better. For state government sights, museums and the Plaza, Albany. Best answer: stay in Troy and drive 15 minutes into Albany for one day of Capitol/Plaza/museums.
Every Saturday, year-round. May through October it's outdoors on River Street, 9am-2pm. November through April it's indoors at the Atrium (Broadway and Third), 9am-2pm. Free admission. Get there by 10am for parking and full selection.
