Fairfield & Beyond

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Limitless Possibilities

Imagine a perfect college town. Now put it close to the beach and about an hour train ride from New York City. That’s what you’ll experience when you visit Fairfield University’s main campus in Fairfield, Connecticut, and our Fairfield Bellarmine campus located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Both locations offer picturesque New England views, are easy to navigate on foot, are close to public transportation access, and offer so many activities and attractions that you won’t run out of things to do.

Fairfield’s main and Bellarmine campuses are located in a region with the largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the United States, giving our students premier access to an unlimited number of internship and employment opportunities at some of the top organizations in the country. We’re a community of well-educated and business-minded professionals who think big, have high standards, and know a great value when we see it.

Voted the #1 County for Young Professionals in Connecticut by Niche (2023), Fairfield and Bridgeport feature miles of shoreline, bustling downtowns, and a vibrant array of restaurants and stores. Fairfield County is an ideal location to work, live, learn, and play.

#1

County for Young Professionals in Connecticut

— Niche

#1

Healthiest County in Connecticut

— Niche

#1

Best County to Live in Connecticut

— Niche

Top 50

Safest College Towns in America

— Safewise

Top 100

Best Places to Live in the U.S.

— Money Magazine

From City to Shoreline at a Moment’s Notice

Fairfield University students have the best of both worlds. Both of our Fairfield County campuses are minutes from the beautiful beaches of Long Island Sound and only about an hour train ride from the heart of Manhattan. That means you’re just about 60 minutes away from the largest metropolitan area in the country and the premier U.S. destination for dining, shopping, entertainment, and culture. And if you’re looking for a change of pace, beaches, marinas, lakes, and ponds are minutes away from each campus.

No matter which direction you head from campus, adventure isn’t far behind. With convenient access from I-95, the Merritt Parkway, Metro-North, and Amtrak, getting to a Fairfield campus is a breeze, and getting out to experience the grandeur of the Northeast is even easier. In addition to being 60 miles north of New York City, our campuses are just two hours and 30 minutes south of Boston, three hours from the historic center of Philadelphia, and five hours from the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.

Distance to Trains

N.Y.C. / New Haven (Metro North) – 1 mile
Washington D.C. / Boston (Amtrak) – 5 miles

Distance to International Airports

LaGuardia (NYC) – 49 miles
JFK (NYC) – 60 miles
Newark Liberty (NJ) – 71 miles
Bradley (CT) – 73 miles

Distance to Ferry

Bridgeport (CT) to Port Jefferson (NY) – 5 miles

Adventure at Every Corner

What To Do

Fairfield has no shortage of things to do or places to discover. Our charming town center is a bustling half-mile stretch anchored by the Fairfield Public Library, the Fairfield University Bookstore, and a mix of large retailers and local shops. With five performing arts venues, 170 acres of parks, two museums, a zoo, an aquarium, and a sports complex all within 15 minutes of campus, it’s nearly impossible to run out of things to do.

Stags’ Top Picks:

  • Fairfield Beach
  • Fairfield Theater Company
  • Fairfield University Bookstore
  • Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
  • Lake Mohegan
  • Maritime Aquarium
  • SportsPlex@Fairfield
  • Total Mortgage Arena
  • Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum
  • Barnum Museum
  • The Bijou Theatre
  • Captain’s Cove Seaport
  • Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
  • Downtown Cabaret Theatre
  • Fairfield Museum and History Center
  • Fairfield Rock Climbing
  • Fairfield University Art Museum
  • The Klein Memorial Auditorium
  • Lake Mohegan
  • The Pequot Library
  • Seaside Park
  • Sherwood Island State Park
  • The Stress Factory Comedy Club
  • Westport Country Playhouse
  • Westport Shopping Center

Where To Eat

From elegant dining and authentic ethnic cuisine to family favorites and local gems, Fairfield’s vibrant restaurant scene has the cure for any craving. Whether you’re grabbing a quick slice before class, treating your relatives during Alumni and Family Weekend, or celebrating “Taco Tuesday” with your roommates, Fairfield has more than 80 restaurants and mouth-watering options to choose from.

Stags’ Top Picks:

  • 55 Wine Bar & Wood Grille
  • Archie Moore’s
  • Aurora’s
  • Bar Taco
  • Barcelona Wine Bar
  • Bodega Taco Bar
  • Bonda Restaurant
  • Brick Walk Tavern
  • Chef’s Table
  • The Chelsea
  • Craft 260
  • Fin
  • Fire Engine Pizza Company
  • Flipside Burgers
  • Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill
  • Gruel Britannia
  • Hub and Spoke
  • Joseph’s Steakhouse
  • Lilac House
  • Little Barn
  • Little Goose Café
  • Little Kitchen
  • Local Kitchen & Beer Bar
  • Martel Bistro & Bar
  • Mecha Noodle Bar
  • Quattro Pazzi Café
  • Ola Latin Kitchen
  • Old Post Tavern
  • Pepe’s Pizza
  • Playa Bowls
  • Ralph n’ Rich’s
  • Rio Bravo
  • Sakura
  • Spotted Horse Tavern
  • The Tasty Yolk
  • The Whelk
  • White’s Diner

Where to Stay

Whether you’re looking for a cozy seaside inn, an iconic roadside motel, or a boutique luxury hotel, Fairfield has an outstanding collection of places for Stag families to stay whether they’re in town for a campus visit, Move-in Day, Alumni and Family Weekend, or Commencement.

Stags’ Top Picks:

Community Commitment

Central Hub

Local Involvement

Cultural Enrichment

Economic Contributions

Honoring our Jesuit mission to serve as “men and women for others,” Fairfield University understands the importance of being a part of and giving back to our local community. That’s why we established our 23,500 square-foot University Bookstore right in the heart of downtown Fairfield. A staple of Post Road, the bookstore serves a wide range of audiences through in-person events, author talks, children’s activities, a large selection of books and literature, and a variety of merchandise to inspire Stag spirit.

Our University is also a well-known partner in many town celebrations and traditions, including The Colony Grill ‘Hot Oil’ 5K, Fairfield Restaurant Week, Santa’s Arrival, numerous Downtown Shop and Stroll events, Small Business Saturday, and more. We also work closely with the Fairfield Museum and History Center, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield Economic and Community Development Office, and Tourism Board to ensure that our students have exciting opportunities to learn and play both on and off campus.

We are also proud to serve as a major economic driver for the town of Fairfield. According to a recent study conducted by the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, Fairfield University contributes more than $1 billion to the local economy each year. In fact, the total direct spending by the University and our employees, students, and visitors topped $630 million this past year, with more than $100 million contributed by our employees alone.

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