Most people know that the legendary 1969 Woodstock concert was held 60 miles away in Bethel. What most people don’t know is that Woodstock itself is definitely worth a road trip.
From one end of the tiny downtown to the other, the vibe is unmistakable with great places to visit, historic sites to see and many cool restaurants and cafes to enjoy.
Here is a starting list of places to check out when visiting Woodstock, a historic Catskills village in Ulster County:
The inside of the quirky and cozy Hotel Dylan on Maverick Road in Woodstock, New York, on May 7, 2015. Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.comStay at a hotel named “Dylan”
What a great place to “set camp” when visiting the village! The Hotel Dylan (what a great name) is retro, funky, modern, eclectic, delicious and a very special place to visit and stay (much like the village itself). Indoor fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, a heated saltwater pool and so much more. All modern amenities, as well as retro ones, too! In fact, grab a vintage board game and a classic rock vinyl record album to take back to your room and enjoy (turntable provided). The on-site Santa Fe Restaurant is one of the best in the Hudson Valley. If you are looking for Bohemian sophistication, then the Hotel Dylan has a room waiting for you in Woodstock! (Factoid: Bob Dylan lived in Woodstock for several years in the mid-1960s.)
Address: 320 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Karma Triyana Dharmachakra is a Buddhist temple near Woodstock, New Yor. David Lassman | dlassman@syracuse.comSYRKarma Triyana Dharmachakra
A fascinating addition to any visit to Woodstock. Karma Triyana Dharmachakra is a Tibetan monastery perched on top of a Meads Mountain overlooking the village. Guests are welcome to explore the buildings and grounds of this enchanting place. The towering golden Buddha in the temple’s Shrine Room is worth the visit by itself. Here, surrounded by the gold-gilt accessories, burning candles, incense and colorful tapestries, you are invited to take off your shoes, pick a pillow and rest a while and enjoy this contemplative haven high above the hurly-burly of the village below. Officially, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra is the host temple, which serves as the North American seat of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu lineage. There are restrooms, a gift shop and a religious bookstore on-site. This is a must-see for a first-time Woodstock visitor.
Address: 335 Meads Mountain Road, Woodstock
Visit an art gallery and a sculpture gallery all in one place
The Elena Zang Gallery features art from a multitude of local, national and international artists, including paintings, sculpture, pottery, photographs and multimedia artists. Her gallery is in a beautifully light, modern and open building with windows that invite in the natural landscape surrounding it. The grounds include a sculpture garden with as many as 30 different pieces on display at any time.
Address: 3671 Route 212, Shady (3 miles west of Woodstock)
Bread Alone, a beloved bakery in Woodstock, New York, as pictured on April 18, 2015. David Lassman | dlassman@syracuse.comHave a sweet treat at the best bakery in the Catskills
Bread Alone is a legendary bakery. Known far and wide for their breads, this bakery (which has several locations in the Catskills) attracts workers, students, locals and more than one celebrity to their bake shop/restaurant. They have been open in Woodstock for more than two decades and they have an outside patio café to enjoy your coffee, sweets, bread or sandwiches while gazing at the village.
Address: 22 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock
Enjoy a picker’s paradise at a top U.S. flea market
If you have the “picker’s itch” and feel a need to come home with a one-of-a-kind treasure to remember your visit, you can do no better than a stop at Mower’s Weekend Flea Market. Located right off the business district, the flea market has been operating for more than 50 years. It is 2 acres packed with oddities, hand-crafted items, antiques, bizarre unknowns, art, household goods, clothing and almost everything else. In 2017, Fodor’s Travel named Mower’s Flea Market as one of the top 10 in the United States! Open Saturday and Sunday.
Address: 11 Maple Lane, Woodstock
Taco Juan’s and The Golden Notebook are two iconic stops in Woodstock, New York. The shops are pictured on Tinker Street on Aug. 3, 2024. Samantha House | shouse@syracuse.comSamantha House | shouse@syracuse.comBuy a page turner at the Golden Notebook
This is one of the truly great independent bookstores in Upstate New York. Located in the heart of the village, the Golden Notebook first opened its doors more than 50 years ago. Wide selection of genres and a busy schedule of noted author appearances and signings. Among the notables that have appeared at the small bookstore are several Pulitzer Prize-winning authors! The shop is noted for its children’s book selections and for its comfortable, easy-going atmosphere, as well as for its helpful and knowledgeable staff.
Address: 29 Tinker St., Woodstock
Grab a slice at a top Catskill Mountain pizzeria and bar
You can find one of the best slices in the Catskills right here. The Catskill Mountain Pizza Company is famous for its wide menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, seafood, pasta and more. Plus, folks come here for pizza, too! And a full bar! The pizza toppings seem endless: pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, shrimp, grilled chicken, salami, bacon and others. And as for vegetables, you can choose from more than 25 toppings for your pie. Opened in 1998, they have indoor and outdoor seating. A real winner in Woodstock!
Address: 51 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock
A shopper browses Woodstock souvenirs outside a store on Tinker Street on August 14, 2019, in Woodstock, New York. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesBuy a tie-dyed T-shirt on Tinker Street
This is the main business street in the village. If you can’t catch your Woodstock vibe here, well, look around. Maybe you left it at home. Books, hippie posters, 1970s/80s vinyl, head shops, coffee shops, jewelry and craft vendors, incense stores and enough tie-dyed T-shirts to make you think you’re back in college. This is one of the most fun streets in the Catskills to browse and shop at.
Address: Tinker Street Business District, Woodstock
The village green is abloom with summer plants on Aug. 3, 2024, in Woodstock, New York. Samantha House | shouse@syracuse.comSamantha House | shouse@syracuse.comTake in the view from the village green
Right in the center of the village, you will find a classic Upstate New York village green. With benches to rest on, you can watch it all as the buzz of Woodstock swirls around you in a 360-degree carnival of colors and sounds. Get ready to set your toes a-tappin’ as you encounter a drumline beating out the rhythms of the day in the center of the green. Most of the village events happen here, and you are just minutes from walking to almost every point in the downtown business district. Grab a bagel and a coffee, find a bench and have a classic Woodstock morning here on the green.
Address: Tinker Street and Old Forge Road, Woodstock
See a concert at the nationally famous Bearsville Theater
The Bearsville Theater is the entertainment hub of Woodstock. A small live theater venue as well as a recording studio, the theater is acclaimed as a music industry icon. It has a robust lineup of live performances. The theater and recording studios are located on a 16-acre campus in Woodstock. Among the famous acts that have recorded here are Patti Smith, Ringo Starr, R.E.M., Phish, Meat Loaf, and Ozzy Osbourne. Before the show, visit The Lounge for craft beers and curated cocktails.
Address: 291 Tinker St., Woodstock
“Hippies always welcome,” reads a sign on a bench outside of a shop on Tinker Street in quirky Woodstock, New York, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. (Photo by Michael P. Farrell/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)Albany Times Union via Getty Ima
Colorful Woodstock souvenirs are on display outside at a store on Tinker Street on Aug. 14, 2019, in Woodstock, New York. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images