Free tours
Pennsylvania State Capitol
The 1906 Capitol is the city's showpiece: a 272-foot dome, a marble rotunda, and free guided tours every half hour on weekdays.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
The capital city on the Susquehanna. Where to go, what's on this season, and how to get things done, all in one place and checked against official sources.
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What are you looking for?
Must-seePhoto: Kumar Appaiah · CC BY-SA 2.0 
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Photo: Reading Tom from Reading, UK · CC BY 2.0 
Photo: Pubdog · Public domain 
Photo: Hmich176 · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Photo: Concord · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Harrisburg essentials
If you only have a day, these are the places locals send visitors first.
Family favorite
City Island
A 63-acre island park in the middle of the Susquehanna with minor-league baseball, mini golf, a small beach, and a paddle-wheel riverboat.
Museum
National Civil War Museum
Tells the story of the war from both sides, with thousands of artifacts, on a hilltop in Reservoir Park.
Food
Broad Street Market
Operating since the 1860s. The 1863 Stone Building is open Wednesday through Saturday while the fire-damaged brick building is rebuilt.
Day out
Hersheypark
About 15 miles east: coasters, ZooAmerica, and the free Chocolate World tour ride. Halloween and Christmas seasons run into January.
Nature
Wildwood Park
229 acres of wetlands, a 90-acre shallow lake, six miles of trails, and a mile of boardwalk, just north of the city.
Coming up
Full events calendar →What's on next
Sep122026
Hersheypark Halloween
Sep 12 – Nov 1, 2026 (select days)
Where: Hersheypark, Hershey
Fall rides, trick-or-treat trails, and haunted attractions after dark on fall weekends.
Oct162026
3rd in the Burg
Friday, Oct 16, 2026 · 6–9 p.m. (every third Friday)
Where: Galleries & venues citywide
A free monthly art walk: galleries, shops, and venues open late with music and openings. The Susquehanna Art Museum is free and open until 9.
Nov142026
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027 (select days; daily from Dec 18; closed Dec 25)
Where: Hersheypark, Hershey
Holiday lights, rides, and seasonal treats.
Jan92027
Pennsylvania Farm Show
Jan 9–16, 2027
Where: PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, 2300 N. Cameron St.
The nation's largest indoor agricultural exposition. Free admission, famous milkshakes, and a 1,000-pound butter sculpture.
At a glance
Pennsylvania's capital, on the river
Harrisburg has been Pennsylvania's capital since 1812. It sits on the east bank of the Susquehanna, roughly halfway between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with Cumberland County's West Shore suburbs across the water.
The city itself is compact, about 50,000 people, but the metro area is several times that size. State government, healthcare, and logistics are the big employers. For visitors, the draws are the Capitol, the riverfront, the Farm Show every January, and Hershey, Gettysburg, and Lancaster within an hour's drive.
50,099
Residents (2020 Census)
1812
Capital of PA since
Dauphin
County seat of
717
Area code
For residents
Get something fixed or find help
The numbers and links people search for most, confirmed against the city's own pages.
Pothole or streetlight?
311 / 717-255-3040Dial 311 inside city limits, or use the city's 311 helpdesk. State routes go to PennDOT.
Police, non-emergency
717-558-6900Noise, suspicious activity, or a report that isn't an emergency. For emergencies, always call 911.
Trash & recycling
717-412-4320Collected weekly by city Public Works in five zones. Look up your day with Recycle Coach.
Post offices
Six USPS locations with Harrisburg addresses, plus ZIP codes and online USPS tools.
Gallery
Photo: Acroteion · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Photo: Penndyl · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Photo: Penndyl · CC0 
Photo: Penndyl · CC0 
Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Photo: Rputnick · CC BY-SA 4.0
Around the city
Quick answers
People also ask
What county is Harrisburg, PA in?
Dauphin County. Harrisburg is the county seat.
Is the State Museum of Pennsylvania open?
No. The building is closed for a multi-year renovation, expected to last into early 2029. The National Civil War Museum and Pennsylvania National Fire Museum are open.
How far is Hershey from Harrisburg?
About 15 miles east of downtown. See our Hershey guide.
What is the non-emergency police number in Harrisburg?
717-558-6900 (Dauphin County dispatch). For emergencies, call 911.