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19 things to do
The largest city in New York State's Niagara Frontier, Buffalo is a city full of surprises. Though Buffalo is sometimes the butt of jokes about chicken wings, its long-suffering sports teams, and the mountains of snow under which it is supposedly buried each winter, those in the know tell a different story: one of vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods with strong community spirit – and the sunniest summers in Northeastern United States. Buffalo is New York State's second-largest city, with (as of 2020) a population of 278,000 in the city proper and 1.1 million in the metropolitan area. Buffalo is the cultural and economic center of the Western New York region. Once an industrial powerhouse, the city suffered the effects of deindustrialization in the 20th century and developed a reputation as a stagnant working-class city. Buffalo's economy turned around in the early 21st century with the arrival of cleaner, high-tech industries and services, yet the city retains a palpable sense of its history as an important industrial center, wit…
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Quick facts
Popular tours and experiences
Best of Buffalo Double Decker Bus Tour
US$38.00
Private Transfer from Buffalo Intl, Airport (BUF) to Niagara Falls Canada
US$91.37
History Ride: The Best of Buffalo by Bike
US$66.22
Niagara Falls US and CAN Sides In-Depth Tour Incl Buffalo Pickup
US$164.00
Private Arrival Transfer: Buffalo Niagara Airport to Niagara Falls, Ontario
US$95.00
Climate
Typical temperatures through the year
Dates to know
Columbus Day
2026-10-12
Columbus Day
2026-10-12
Indigenous Peoples' Day
2026-10-12
Veterans Day
2026-11-11
Thanksgiving Day
2026-11-26
Buffalo History Museum
See
Has by far the most extensive collection of artifacts relevant to the history of Buffalo and Western New York from pre-C…
25 Nottingham Ct
Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, W until 8PM, Su noon-5PM, Resource Center by appointment during business hours, Research Library W-Sa 1PM-5PM
+1 716-873-9644
$7, seniors and students 13-21 $5, children 7-12 $2, members and children under 7 free. Research Library $7, free to members
Lower Lakes Marine Historical Society Museum
See
The shipping industry was greatly important to Buffalo's economy in earlier times, and the Lower Lakes Marine Historical…
66 Erie St.
Th & Sa 10AM-3PM and by appointment
+1 716-849-0914
Free
Colored Musicians' Club Museum
See
Easily the most storied jazz club in the city, founded in 1918. The club continues to function as a venue for live jazz,…
145 Broadway
W-Sa 11AM-4PM or by appointment
+1 716-855-9383
$10; discounted tickets for children, senior citizens, teachers, and active military
Nash House Museum
See
Once the home of Rev. Dr. J. Edward Nash, who was a personal friend of such luminaries of black history as Booker T. Was…
36 Nash St
Th Sa 11:30AM-4PM and by appointment
+1 716-856-4490
$10
Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum
See
Exhibits antique cars and automotive memorabilia, especially Pierce-Arrows, the luxury sedans produced in Buffalo in the…
263 Michigan Ave.
Th-Sa 11AM-4PM
+1 716-853-0084
$10, seniors $8, children $5, guided tour $15
Buffalo Fire Historical Society Museum
See
This modest-sized building houses an extensive collection of antique fire trucks and other artifacts, as well as histori…
1850 William St
Sa 10AM-4PM and by appointment
+1 716-892-8400
Donation
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
See
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery boasts one of the premier collections of modern and contemporary art in the nation, with t…
1285 Elmwood Ave.
Daily 10AM-5PM (F until 10PM)
+1 716-882-8700
$12, seniors/students $8, children 6-12 $5, free for children 5 and under, museum members, active military, and on first Friday of each month; $5 parking fee ($3 for museum members)
Burchfield Penney Art Center
See
The mission of the Burchfield Penney Art Center is to showcase the unique culture of Buffalo and Western New York and th…
1300 Elmwood Ave.
+1 716-878-6011
Buffalo Religious Arts Center
See
Located at the former St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in the heart of historic Black Rock, the mission of the B…
157 East St.
By appointment
+1 716-481-2350
$10, students $5, members free
Delaware Park
See
With an area of 234 acres (93 ha), Delaware Park is the central node in Buffalo's park system and one of the largest and…
North end of Lincoln Pkwy., behind Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Dawn to dusk
+1 716-838-1429
South Park
See
South Park resembles Delaware Park in miniature: a large lake in the middle, a small Meadow that's now the site of the 9…
West side of South Park Ave. between Nason Pkwy. and former B&O Railroad tracks
Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens
See
Founded in 1898 and arranged carefully in Victorian style with over 1,500 varieties of plants. The lovely Victorian cons…
2655 South Park Ave.
Daily 10AM-5PM
+1 716-827-1584
$7, seniors and students $6, 12 and under $4, members and children under 3 free
LaSalle Park
See
This 89-acre (36 ha) park along Buffalo's waterfront has a plethora of amenities — baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a s…
South side of Porter Ave. between I-190 and lake shore
Canalside
See
A 20-acre (8 ha) park home to the Commercial Slip, once the western end of the mighty Erie Canal, on the side of which a…
+1 716-856-3150
Bird Island Pier
See
Built in 1822 as a buffer between the Erie Canal and the rough waters of the Niagara River, it was once a lively place o…
access from Broderick Park
Riverside Park
See
This 39-acre (16 ha) park features facilities for every outdoor activity imaginable: baseball diamonds, football and soc…
West side of Tonawanda St. between Vulcan St. and Crowley Ave.
Gallagher Beach
See
For many decades an "unofficial" swimming hole for South Buffalo residents, Gallagher Beach is one of Buffalo Harbor Sta…
1515 Fuhrmann Blvd.
+1 716-852-2356
Free
Tifft Nature Preserve
See
264 acres (106 ha) of greenery that serves as an important wetland habitat for native wildlife such as beaver, fox, turt…
1200 Fuhrmann Blvd.
W-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM
+1 716-825-6397
Donation
Times Beach Nature Preserve
See
Times Beach Nature Preserve is situated on former industrial land that has been reclaimed and cleaned of pollutants. The…
2 Fuhrmann Blvd
Free
