Paine Historical Society at 983 North Avenue

New Rochelle is a city of 79,000 people (2019) in Westchester County, New York. It is the home of Iona College.

Understand

New Rochelle was founded by Huguenot refugees from persecution in France and named after La Rochelle. Huguenot Street is today one of the main streets in the city, and the fleur de lis is the city's symbol; you can see colorful plastic fleur de lis sculptures on several streets in Downtown New Rochelle. The city is only a little beyond the northeasternmost reaches of the Bronx and reachable from there by bus, car and commuter train, but it has its own character. It is an ethnically diverse city with many private houses, low-rise brick buildings, some pretty churches, classic mid-19th-century to Art Deco commercial and office buildings Downtown, the neo-Gothic buildings of the former College of New Rochelle and some secondary schools, an increasing number of modern high-rises, upscale cafes and inexpensive shops and taquerias.

Get in

By train

New Rochelle is a stop on the New Haven Line of Metro-North between Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, New York City and Stamford. Travel time from Grand Central Terminal is approximately 35 minutes. Additionally, Amtrak serves the city via its Northeast Regional trains between Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Richmond. 1 New Rochelle station is at 1 Penn Central Railroad, next to downtown.

By car

The New England Thruway (I-95) traverses the city. Main Street, which is not a limited-access highway, is US Route 1.

By bus

A number of Bee Line Westchester County bus routes connect other towns in Westchester County and places in the Bronx such as the ends of the 2, 5 and 6 subway lines with New Rochelle, and if you are transferring from or to the subway or another Bee Line or New York City Transit bus, you can use your MetroCard and get a free transfer. However, the Bee Line buses often run only every hour or half hour, and actual bus arrival times are often as much as 15-20 minutes behind schedule but can also be ahead of schedule.

Get around

Taxis are not too expensive if you need them, but while some wait near the train station, you may have trouble hailing them on the street. Uber and Lyft are also available.

Some of the Bee Line buses can be useful for local travel if they happen to arrive at a convenient time.

Much of the city is walkable.

See

Carrie Chapman Catt House

• 1 Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 15 Shea Place (at Centre Ave), ☏ +1 914-632 - 3700, 15shea@optonline.net. This sizable Catholic church is a historic neo-Gothic building, completed in 1897, with a tall spire that can be seen for some distance. Outside the front of the church is a statue of Jesus with his hands upraised to bless passersby. Inside the church are fine stained glass windows. In the yard to the right of the front doors is a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes. (updated May 2021)
• 2 Davenport Park. (updated Aug 2017)
• 3 Iona College, 715 North Ave. This private, Catholic college has a beautiful 45 acres (18 hectares) suburban campus. (updated May 2021)
• 4 Thomas Paine Cottage Museum, 20 Sicard Ave, ☏ +1 914-633-1776. Th Sa Su 10AM-5PM. Admission $5. (updated Aug 2017)
• 5 Trinity Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, 311 Huguenot St (at Division St), ☏ +1-914-632-5368. This medium-sized church and the adjoining Parish House are quite pleasant neo-Gothic buildings, and they are very close to the train station, so it's quite worthwhile to walk past them if you are traveling on foot from the station. If you can get inside, you will have a chance to see beautiful stained glass windows in the very pretty sanctuary. The church is usually open only on Wednesdays, Sundays and church holidays. (updated Nov 2017)

Do

• 1 Glen Island Park (drawbridge at Pelham Rd & Weyman Ave), ☏ +1 914-813-6720. Daily 8AM–dusk. 130 acres (53 hectares) island on the Sound, with beach, picnic areas, boat launch, playgrounds, garden, and leafy walkways. Cannons, sculptures, and castles make for interesting exploration. Admission requires Westchester residency. Parking: $5 with Park Pass, $10 without Park Pass; beach fees: TBD. (updated May 2021)

Buy

• 1 Squiggy's Dugout, 237 Main St, ☏ +1 914-636-7585, squiggysdugout@gmail.com. M Tu Th 11AM–5PM, W F 11AM–7PM, Sa Su 11AM–4PM. Exemplary comic and card retailer. Owner (used to?) teach appraisal classes at New Rochelle Library. (updated Apr 2021)

Eat

Leland Castle, on the campus of the former College of New Rochelle

• Juicy Chicken Peruvian Rotisserie Bar and Grill, 6 Division St, ☏ +1 914-278-9820. (updated May 2021)

Drink

• 1 R Cafe & Tea Boutique, 302 Huguenot St (between Division St and Centre Ave), ☏ +1 914-358-1841. 7AM-6PM daily. Serious coffee, very tasty tea and pastries from Balthazar Bakery 2½ blocks from the train station. The atmosphere is relaxing and they play nice Latin music on their sound system. They will ice any kind of tea for you. The rooibos is excellent. Pastries $1.45-6.00; tea $8.00/pot; coffee $1.50-5:50 except for large quantities of coffee for brewing at home. All teas $4.50/cup to go. (updated Apr 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Residence Inn, 35 LeCount Place (downtown area), ☏ +1 914 636-7888. Check-in: Noon, check-out: 3PM. All rooms are suites, with kitchen and living room area. Walk through the garage to the grocery store next door. The largest suite has two bedrooms and can sleep six. Free breakfast buffet on top floor each morning, and free supper or snacks on some evenings. $189 and up. (updated Aug 2017)

Go next

New York City or nearby Long Island Sound towns in Westchester County like Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Rye.

Routes through New Rochelle

Philadelphia ← New York City ←	SW  NE	→ Stamford → New Haven
New Haven ← Larchmont ←	N  S	→ Bronx → Manhattan
New Haven ← Larchmont ←	N  S	→ Bronx → Manhattan
New Haven ← Scarsdale ←	N  S	→ Eastchester → New York City
New York City ← Pelham ←	SW  NE	→ Larchmont → Stamford