In the city · Main Street · ~7 min from downtown
Anchor Bar
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Where the Buffalo wing was born, by most accounts. Go once for the story and the photo.
Dinner (46)
In the city · Allentown · ~6 min from downtown
Beacon Grille
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Barbecue-forward menu with globe-trotting specials on Allen Street.
In the city · Old First Ward · ~9 min from downtown
Buffalo Deep Dish
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Detroit, Chicago and tavern-style pies. Go early. They sell out.
In the city · Hertel · ~17 min from downtown
Buffalo Tikka House
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Fragrant curries and fresh naan on Hertel. A local critic's favorite Indian spot in the city.
In the city · Elmwood (north) · ~16 min from downtown
Cafe Bar Moriarty
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Butcher-shop café with a celebrated boeuf on weck. Daytime only, short hours, so check before you go.
In the city · Seneca Street · ~6 min from downtown
Chef's
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Red-sauce institution near KeyBank Center. Wearing the bib for spaghetti parm is a rite of passage.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~13 min from downtown
Cole's
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Dark wood, burgers and a deep beer list a block from Delaware Park. An Elmwood institution.
In the city · Allentown · ~6 min from downtown
Fat Bob's Smokehouse
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Barbecue and a long beer list in a laid-back Allentown smokehouse.
In the city · Allentown · ~6 min from downtown
Gabriel's Gate
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Log-cabin tavern in Allentown with some of the most-recommended wings in the city.
In the city · Delaware Ave · ~15 min from downtown
Hutch's
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Steaks, seafood and a buzzy dining room. A dependable splurge.
In the city · South Buffalo · ~19 min from downtown
Imperial Pizza
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
South Buffalo's famous pepperoni cups and wings. Grab a pie and drive to the lake.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~13 min from downtown
Jack Rabbit
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Funky, music-filled Elmwood spot with comfort food, a patio, and a good weekend brunch.
In the city · Hertel · ~18 min from downtown
Kostas
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Family-run Greek on Hertel. Big plates, small bill.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~10 min from downtown
Kuni's
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Small, beloved sushi spot just off Elmwood. Locals have been going for years.
In the city · West Side · ~9 min from downtown
La Nova
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
West Side pizza-and-wings institution. Casual, fast, and very Buffalo.
In the city · University Heights · ~12 min from downtown
Lou Lou
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Mediterranean newcomer on Main Street in University Heights.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~12 min from downtown
Mira
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Mediterranean plates built for sharing on Elmwood. Order a spread and split everything.
In the city · Allentown · ~6 min from downtown
Mother's
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Dim, tucked-away dining room on Virginia Place, known for serving late into the night.
In the city · Downtown · ~4 min from downtown
Old City Pizza
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Neapolitan pies and handmade pasta on Pearl Street, new in 2026.
In the city · North Buffalo · ~12 min from downtown
Oliver's
Dinner · An evening$$$$
White-tablecloth classic on Delaware Avenue for anniversaries, proposals and big news.
In the city · Downtown · ~4 min from downtown
Pinoy Boi
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Buffalo's only Filipino kitchen, inside the International House food hall on Main. Lechon, sisig, and ube everything.
In the city · Downtown · ~4 min from downtown
Quenelle
Dinner · An evening$$$$
French bistro in the old Rue Franklin space. Escargot without the dress code, and a garden room when the weather cooperates.
In the city · Hertel · ~18 min from downtown
Ristorante Lombardo
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Refined regional Italian at the quiet end of Hertel. Long dinners encouraged.
In the city · West Side · ~9 min from downtown
Southern Junction
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Texas-style barbecue on Connecticut Street with a big patio for warm nights.
In the city · Larkinville · ~8 min from downtown
Swan Street Diner
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Restored vintage dining car in Larkinville. Make it a breakfast date.
In the city · Delaware Ave · ~8 min from downtown
Tempo
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Upscale Italian in a stately Delaware Avenue house. Dress up a little.
In the city · Black Rock · ~15 min from downtown
The Dapper Goose
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Chef-driven seasonal menu and a serious cocktail list. One of the most-recommended date-night tables in the city.
In the city · West Side · ~9 min from downtown
The Left Bank
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Candlelit West Side bistro that has been a Buffalo date-night standby for decades.
Inner ring · Kenmore · ~13 min from downtown
Black Iron Bystro
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Intimate Kenmore dining room with creative cocktails and good music. Open later in the week.
Inner ring · Amherst · ~18 min from downtown
Duff's Famous Wings
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Wing-war contender on Sheridan. The menu warns that medium-hot is very hot. Believe it.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~16 min from downtown
Emperor Dumplings
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Dim sum spot that local critics single out for its roast duck.
Inner ring · Amherst · ~19 min from downtown
Lilyhouse
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Fine-dining bistro that opened in 2026 inside the renovated Buffalo Marriott Niagara.
Inner ring · West Seneca · ~15 min from downtown
Schwabl's
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Beef on weck carved to order since 1837. Classic, unhurried, and very Buffalo.
Inner ring · Williamsville · ~23 min from downtown
Share Kitchen & Bar Room
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Upscale shared plates in a polished room on Main Street.
Inner ring · Snyder · ~15 min from downtown
Siena
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Snyder Italian with a loyal following. The lobster and clam stuffed shells get the buzz.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~15 min from downtown
Ted's Hot Dogs
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Charcoal-grilled hot dogs and loganberry since 1927. Get the hot sauce.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~32 min from downtown
Bar-Bill Tavern
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Wing lovers' pilgrimage. Wings and beef on weck in a small, always-packed tavern.
Short drive · Lewiston · ~35 min from downtown
Carmelo's
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Intimate regional Italian with a seasonal menu and a pretty patio.
Short drive · Hamburg · ~18 min from downtown
Lucia's on the Lake
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Lakefront Italian with Lake Erie views. Time it for sunset.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~27 min from downtown
Parkway Prime Steakhouse
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Steakhouse a short walk from the falls. Dinner, then the illumination.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~32 min from downtown
Pizza Florian
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Artisan pizza and wine in the village.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~33 min from downtown
Rick's on Main
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Candlelit Main Street dining room for a bigger night out in East Aurora.
Road trip · Medina · ~54 min from downtown
Harvest at Bent's Opera House
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Tasting menu inside a restored 1860s opera house. Worth the drive for an anniversary.
Road trip · Olcott · ~51 min from downtown
Olcott Lobster Co.
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Lobster rolls by Lake Ontario. Walk the pier at sunset after.
Road trip · Crystal Beach, ON · ~35 min from downtown
Rizzo's House of Parm
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Homemade Italian in a small Crystal Beach restaurant. Reservations strongly recommended.
Road trip · Ellicottville · ~68 min from downtown
West Rose
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Grange Group restaurant with gorgeous interiors in Ellicottville.
Sweets & coffee (10)
In the city · North Buffalo · ~12 min from downtown
Anderson's Frozen Custard
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Local frozen custard and roast beef stand. Get the flavor of the day.
In the city · Black Rock · ~15 min from downtown
Barrel + Brine
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Fermentation shop on Chandler Street. Pickles, krauts and kombucha for the curious couple.
In the city · University Heights · ~13 min from downtown
Parkside Candy
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
1920s ice cream parlor with an ornate interior. Buy a bag of sponge candy to share.
In the city · Hertel · ~18 min from downtown
Raha Coffee House
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Yemeni coffee and Arabic desserts on Hertel, with a second spot on Abbott Road.
In the city · West Side · ~9 min from downtown
Remedy House
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Polished neighborhood café on Rhode Island Street. A low-pressure first-date coffee.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~19 min from downtown
Mississippi Mudds & Old Man River
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Riverside summer stands with hot dogs, ice cream and Niagara River sunsets.
Inner ring · Williamsville · ~19 min from downtown
Sweet Jenny's
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Ice cream and handmade chocolates in Williamsville village.
Short drive · Hamburg · ~26 min from downtown
Antoinette's Sweets
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Sponge candy and chocolates. Build a box to take home.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~32 min from downtown
Elm Street Bakery
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Bakery-café with house-roasted coffee. Scones and a slow morning.
Short drive · Lockport · ~35 min from downtown
Lake Effect Ice Cream
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Inventive small-batch ice cream. Worth the drive on its own.
Shows & music (20)
In the city · Downtown · ~4 min from downtown
Asbury Hall at Babeville
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Concerts inside a converted Gothic church. Acoustic shows here are something else.
In the city · Sahlen Field · ~4 min from downtown
Bisons game
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Triple-A baseball downtown. Cheap seats, fireworks nights, and plenty of time to talk.
In the city · Cobblestone District · ~6 min from downtown
Buffalo Iron Works
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Live-music venue and big bar near KeyBank Center.
In the city · Symphony Circle · ~7 min from downtown
Buffalo Philharmonic at Kleinhans
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
The BPO in an acoustically celebrated Saarinen-designed hall.
In the city · Michigan Ave · ~6 min from downtown
Colored Musicians Club
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Historic jazz club and museum dating to 1917. Catch a jam session upstairs.
In the city · Downtown · ~4 min from downtown
Helium Comedy Club
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Touring headliners in a small room. Laughing together is the closest thing to a first-date cheat code.
In the city · Theatre District · ~5 min from downtown
Irish Classical Theatre
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Theatre-in-the-round on Main Street. Intimate, and good for talking about it after.
In the city · Hertel · ~18 min from downtown
North Park Theatre
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Restored 1920 movie palace on Hertel showing new releases and classics.
In the city · Allentown · ~7 min from downtown
PAUSA Art House
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Tiny jazz-and-wine listening room near Kleinhans. It feels like a private concert. Book ahead.
In the city · KeyBank Center · ~6 min from downtown
Sabres game
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Hockey at KeyBank Center, then walk over to Canalside or the Cobblestone District.
In the city · Delaware Park · ~14 min from downtown
Shakespeare in Delaware Park
Shows & music · An eveningFree
Free outdoor Shakespeare all summer. Bring a blanket and a picnic, and arrive early for a good spot on the hill.
In the city · Theatre District · ~5 min from downtown
Shea's Buffalo Theatre
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
1926 movie palace hosting Broadway tours. Get there early and look up at the ceiling.
In the city · Black Rock · ~15 min from downtown
Sportsmen's Tavern
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Country, Americana and blues almost every night in a no-frills roadhouse.
In the city · Main Street · ~6 min from downtown
Town Ballroom
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Mid-size concert hall on Main. Check the calendar and buy early.
Inner ring · Amherst · ~17 min from downtown
The Screening Room
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Tiny independent cinema showing classics and cult favorites.
Short drive · Lewiston · ~34 min from downtown
Artpark
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Summer concerts on the lawn above the Niagara Gorge.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~32 min from downtown
Aurora Theatre
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Small-town movie house on Main Street. Dinner around the corner, then a film.
Short drive · Orchard Park · ~20 min from downtown
Bills game
Shows & music · Half a day$$$$
Tailgate, then watch the Bills. Dress in layers. Then more layers.
Short drive · North Tonawanda · ~23 min from downtown
Riviera Theatre
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
1926 theatre with a Mighty Wurlitzer organ, hosting concerts, films and shows.
Short drive · Lockport · ~32 min from downtown
Transit Drive-In
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Double features on five screens from your own front seat. Open roughly April to November.
Activities (10)
In the city · Waterfront · ~5 min from downtown
Buffalo CycleBoats
Activities · About 2 hours$$$$
Pedal-powered pontoon cruise around the harbor. Best with another couple or two.
In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
Buffalo Heritage Carousel
Activities · About 2 hours$$$$
A restored 1924 carousel built in North Tonawanda, now spinning at Canalside on solar power.
In the city · Ganson Street · ~8 min from downtown
Buffalo RiverWorks
Activities · An evening$$$$
Silos painted like a six-pack, with a brewery, a rink, climbing and river views in one place.
In the city · Delaware Park · ~16 min from downtown
Buffalo Zoo
Activities · About 2 hours$$$$
One of the oldest zoos in the country. Watch for adults-only evening events.
In the city · Parkside · ~13 min from downtown
Lock & Key Escape Room
Activities · About 2 hours$$$$
Themed escape rooms near Delaware Park. Find out how well you two communicate under pressure.
In the city · Downtown · ~4 min from downtown
Spare Lanes
Activities · About 2 hours$$$$
Boutique bowling inside the Aloft at 500 Pearl. Pairs well with the rooftop upstairs in summer.
Inner ring · Cheektowaga · ~14 min from downtown
5 Wits
Activities · About 2 hours$$$$
Live-action adventure rooms with puzzles and theatrical sets at the Galleria.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~32 min from downtown
Vidler's 5 & 10
Activities · About 2 hours$$$$
Four connected storefronts stuffed with 75,000 items, wooden floors and a 10¢ popcorn machine.
Road trip · Ellicottville · ~70 min from downtown
Holiday Valley
Activities · All day$$$$
WNY's biggest ski resort, plus a tube park for the non-skiers.
Road trip · Glenwood · ~37 min from downtown
Kissing Bridge
Activities · An evening$$$$
The closest real skiing to Buffalo, with night skiing under the lights.
Arts & culture (21)
In the city · Allentown · ~6 min from downtown
Allentown First Fridays
Arts & culture · An eveningFree
Galleries stay open late on the first Friday of each month. Wander and gallery-hop.
In the city · South Park · ~19 min from downtown
Botanical Gardens
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Victorian glass conservatory full of palms and orchids. A warm, green escape in January.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~14 min from downtown
Buffalo AKG Art Museum
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
World-class modern art in a striking glass-and-stone campus, with a café for the debrief.
In the city · Delaware Park · ~15 min from downtown
Buffalo History Museum
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
The last building from the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, full of Buffalo stories. The Japanese Garden is out back.
In the city · East Side · ~11 min from downtown
Buffalo Museum of Science
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Hands-on exhibits for grown-up kids. Check the calendar for after-hours events.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~14 min from downtown
Burchfield Penney Art Center
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Western New York artists and Charles Burchfield's dreamy watercolors, across the street from the AKG.
In the city · Broadway-Fillmore · ~11 min from downtown
Central Terminal
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Art Deco rail station under restoration. Watch for tours and events in the grand concourse.
In the city · Niagara Square · ~3 min from downtown
City Hall Observation Deck
Arts & culture · About 2 hoursFree
Ride up through an Art Deco landmark for free views from the top. Weekday daytime hours only.
In the city · Downtown · ~3 min from downtown
Explore Buffalo tours
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Architecture tours on foot, by bike and by kayak. Buffalo is an architecture town, and these prove it.
In the city · Parkside · ~16 min from downtown
Martin House
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Guided tours of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie-style masterpiece. Book ahead.
In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
Naval & Military Park
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Climb through a destroyer, a cruiser and a submarine on the waterfront.
In the city · Old First Ward · ~9 min from downtown
Silo City
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Rewilded grain-elevator campus with art, events and guided tours. Finish with drinks at duende.
In the city · Delaware Ave · ~7 min from downtown
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
The mansion where TR took the oath in 1901. Interactive and more fun than it sounds.
In the city · Buffalo State · ~14 min from downtown
Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Public star shows under the dome at Buffalo State. Cheap, dark, and quietly romantic.
Inner ring · Lackawanna · ~12 min from downtown
Our Lady of Victory Basilica
Arts & culture · About 2 hoursFree
Jaw-dropping marble basilica across from the Botanical Gardens. Free to step in, quietly.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~29 min from downtown
Aquarium of Niagara
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Sea lions, penguins and a quiet hour near the falls.
Short drive · Lockport · ~36 min from downtown
Flight of Five Locks
Arts & culture · About 2 hoursFree
Watch boats lift through the historic canal locks. Free and oddly mesmerizing.
Short drive · Derby · ~30 min from downtown
Graycliff
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Frank Lloyd Wright's summer house on the bluffs above Lake Erie.
Short drive · North Tonawanda · ~24 min from downtown
Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Where America's carousels were built. Ride a vintage one together.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~33 min from downtown
Roycroft Campus
Arts & culture · About 2 hoursFree
Preserved Arts and Crafts movement campus with artisan shops and history around every corner.
Road trip · Youngstown · ~44 min from downtown
Old Fort Niagara
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
18th-century fort where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. Stay for the lake view.
Outdoors (38)
In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
BFLO Harbor Kayak
Outdoors · Half a day$$$$
Paddle the Buffalo River past the grain elevators. Book a sunset tour.
In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
Buffalo Boat Tours
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Harbor and Niagara River cruises from Canalside. Look for sunset and concert sailings.
In the city · Outer Harbor · ~12 min from downtown
Buffalo Harbor State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Marina boardwalk and lakefront lawns. Bring a blanket and takeout.
In the city · Waterfront · ~5 min from downtown
Canalside
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Waterfront boardwalks, free concerts and events, and the visitor center at the new Chandlery.
In the city · Delaware Park · ~14 min from downtown
Delaware Park & Hoyt Lake
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Olmsted's big park. Loop the lake, find the Japanese Garden, and visit the Rose Garden in June.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~11 min from downtown
Elmwood Village stroll
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Boutiques, Talking Leaves bookstore and patios from Bidwell to Forest. Window-shop and talk.
In the city · Waterfront · ~5 min from downtown
Erie Basin Marina
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Free observation tower, flower gardens and a front-row seat for the Lake Erie sunset.
In the city · Delaware Ave · ~13 min from downtown
Forest Lawn
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
A 269-acre garden cemetery full of sculpture and ponds. Look for Wright's Blue Sky Mausoleum.
In the city · North Buffalo · ~18 min from downtown
Hertel Avenue stroll
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Little Italy turned eclectic main street: coffee, bookshops, bars and the North Park Theatre.
In the city · Outer Harbor · ~8 min from downtown
Outer Harbor & Wilkeson Pointe
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Lakefront trails, beach chairs and one of the best sunset spots in the city.
In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
Queen City Bike Ferry
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Summer ferry from Canalside to the Outer Harbor. Bring bikes and ride the lakefront trails.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~13 min from downtown
Richardson Olmsted Campus
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Walk the grounds beneath H.H. Richardson's twin towers, one of Buffalo's most striking buildings.
In the city · Erie Basin Marina · ~5 min from downtown
Spirit of Buffalo
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Tall-ship sunset sails on Lake Erie. A real anniversary move.
In the city · South Buffalo · ~13 min from downtown
Tifft Nature Preserve
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
264 acres of trails and boardwalks minutes from downtown. Snowshoe it in winter.
Inner ring · Amherst · ~21 min from downtown
Amherst State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Wooded trails along Ellicott Creek. Quiet, flat, and pretty in fresh snow.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~20 min from downtown
Ellicott Creek Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Island picnic spots and paths along the creek. Pack sandwiches.
Inner ring · Williamsville · ~20 min from downtown
Glen Park & Glen Falls
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
A waterfall in the middle of Williamsville village. Short walk, big payoff.
Inner ring · Depew · ~19 min from downtown
Reinstein Woods
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
State nature preserve with ponds, old forest and guided walks. Snowshoe programs in winter.
Inner ring · Blasdell · ~16 min from downtown
Woodlawn Beach State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Sandy Lake Erie beach with the skyline to the north. Sunset here is unreal.
Short drive · Grand Island · ~15 min from downtown
Beaver Island State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Niagara River beach and trails in summer, sledding and cross-country skiing in winter.
Short drive · Grand Island · ~28 min from downtown
Buckhorn Island State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Marsh boardwalks and birding at the island's quiet northern tip.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~28 min from downtown
Cave of the Winds
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Ponchos on. Wooden decks lead right to the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
Short drive · Orchard Park · ~28 min from downtown
Chestnut Ridge Park
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
Legendary sledding hill with a skyline view, plus the trail to Eternal Flame Falls.
Short drive · Orchard Park · ~30 min from downtown
Eternal Flame Falls
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
A natural gas flame burning behind a waterfall. The trail is steep and muddy, so wear real shoes.
Short drive · Brant · ~37 min from downtown
Evangola State Park
Outdoors · Half a day$$$$
Crescent beach on Lake Erie below shale cliffs. Quieter than the city beaches.
Short drive · North Tonawanda · ~25 min from downtown
Gratwick Riverside Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Riverfront park with a long walking path and summer concerts.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~30 min from downtown
Knox Farm State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Rolling meadows and old estate trails. Cross-country ski it when it snows.
Short drive · Lewiston · ~35 min from downtown
Lewiston village
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Walkable Center Street with cafés and galleries, and a landing on the Niagara River.
Short drive · Lockport · ~36 min from downtown
Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Ride up and down through the canal locks on a two-hour cruise.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~28 min from downtown
Maid of the Mist
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
The classic boat ride into the roar and mist of the falls.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~28 min from downtown
Niagara Falls State Park
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
America's oldest state park. Go after dark for the illuminated falls. Free to walk, but parking costs extra.
Short drive · Hamburg · ~18 min from downtown
Penn Dixie Fossil Park
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Dig for 380-million-year-old trilobites, and look for their stargazing nights.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~31 min from downtown
Whirlpool State Park
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
Stairs down into the Niagara Gorge. The rapids up close are wild.
Road trip · North Java · ~49 min from downtown
Beaver Meadow Audubon
Outdoors · An evening$$$$
Dark-sky stargazing nights and quiet trails far from the city glow.
Road trip · Ashford Hollow · ~58 min from downtown
Griffis Sculpture Park
Outdoors · Half a day$$$$
Giant metal sculptures scattered across 400-plus acres of woods and meadows.
Road trip · Castile · ~74 min from downtown
Letchworth State Park
Outdoors · All day$$$$
The "Grand Canyon of the East": three big waterfalls and miles of gorge-rim trail. Peak foliage is unreal.
Road trip · Olcott · ~51 min from downtown
Olcott Beach
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
Lake Ontario beach town with an antique carousel park and a lighthouse pier.
Road trip · Gowanda · ~49 min from downtown
Zoar Valley
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
Deep shale gorge hiking along Cattaraugus Creek. Serious trails, huge payoff.
Seasonal (11)
In the city · Broadway-Fillmore · ~9 min from downtown
Broadway Market
Seasonal · About 2 hours$$$$
Buffalo's Polish market. Busiest before Easter, but Potts Deli serves pierogi and kielbasa year-round.
In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
Ice at Canalside
Seasonal · About 2 hours$$$$
Skate the replica canal, or try ice bikes, ice bumper cars and curling lanes. Rentable igloos seat up to eight.
In the city · Larkinville · ~8 min from downtown
Larkin Square
Seasonal · An evening$$$$
Food Truck Tuesdays and live music on the square all summer.
In the city · Downtown · ~6 min from downtown
The Yard at Perry
Seasonal · An evening$$$$
Open-air summer night market downtown, Wednesday through Sunday.
Inner ring · West Seneca · ~17 min from downtown
Mayer Brothers Cider Mill
Seasonal · About 2 hours$$$$
Fresh cider and warm donuts. A five-minute fall tradition.
Short drive · Hamburg · ~25 min from downtown
Erie County Fair
Seasonal · Half a day$$$$
Every August: midway rides, fair food and grandstand concerts.
Short drive · Clarence · ~28 min from downtown
Great Pumpkin Farm
Seasonal · Half a day$$$$
Fall festival with pumpkins, a corn maze and plenty of photo ops.
Short drive · North Tonawanda · ~22 min from downtown
North Tonawanda City Market
Seasonal · About 2 hoursFree
Saturday market with farm stands and ready-to-eat bites like vada pav.
Road trip · Gasport · ~43 min from downtown
Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards
Seasonal · Half a day$$$$
Pick-your-own fruit, cider, wine and a brewery on a farm the same family has worked since 1894.
Road trip · Burt · ~49 min from downtown
Murphy Orchards
Seasonal · Half a day$$$$
Pick-your-own orchard on a farm with Underground Railroad history.
Road trip · Niagara Falls, ON · ~43 min from downtown
Winter Festival of Lights
Seasonal · An eveningFree
Millions of holiday lights along the Canadian side of the falls. Bring a thermos.
Getaways (5)
Road trip · Chautauqua · ~86 min from downtown
Chautauqua Institution
Getaways · All day$$$$
Summer arts colony on Chautauqua Lake: lectures, opera, concerts and porch-sitting.
Road trip · Ellicottville · ~68 min from downtown
Ellicottville village
Getaways · All day$$$$
Ski-town Main Street with fireplaces, breweries and boutiques. Stay the night.
Road trip · Letchworth · ~74 min from downtown
Glen Iris Inn
Getaways · All day$$$$
Historic inn overlooking Middle Falls inside Letchworth. Dinner, then stay the night.
Road trip · Lily Dale · ~68 min from downtown
Lily Dale
Getaways · Half a day$$$$
Spiritualist community with summer readings and lakeside strolls. Bring an open mind.
Road trip · Ontario · ~59 min from downtown
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Getaways · All day$$$$
Wine country, the Shaw Festival and a flower-box main street just across the border.
Make it a whole night
Stack dinner, something to do and dessert. The planner estimates drive time, timing and cost for two, and adds it all to your calendar.
More occasions
By town & neighborhood
- Buffalo
- Elmwood Village & Delaware Park
- Allentown
- Downtown & Canalside
- Hertel & North Buffalo
- Old First Ward, Larkinville & South Buffalo
- West Side & Black Rock
- Amherst, Williamsville & Northtowns
- Hamburg, Orchard Park & Southtowns
- East Aurora
- Grand Island & the Tonawandas
- Niagara Falls & Lewiston
- Lockport & Niagara wine country
- Ellicottville & ski country
- Letchworth, Chautauqua & beyond
- Across the border