The Top Things to Do in Buffalo, New York: Come Explore NY State's 2nd Largest City!

There are so many fun things to do in Buffalo, NY! It’s an exciting place to be these days, and revitalization efforts from recent years are paying dividends while new projects and efforts abound. Great food, a one-of-a-kind sports culture, unique accommodation options, bountiful breweries, and many, many neighbourhoods that are worth exploring in-depth.

I’ve been going to Buffalo since I was a kid, and it’s a place where I never seem to run out of things to do. Especially these days, there’s always a recently reopened (or newly opened) museum to visit, a restaurant that’s popped up in a burgeoning neighbourhood, an area that I need to revisit and stroll around, or even some live music or a festival that’s on while I plan to be there.

I recently visited Buffalo again to tackle some spots I hadn’t been to, largely so that I could write the most helpful article for those looking to potentially visit Buffalo. If you plan your trip with some intention, and ensure you’ve actually got a healthy mixture of fun things to do and activities that makes this city what it is, I don’t see how you won’t have a fantastic visit.

I’ve mentioned this in some of my other writing about Buffalo, but I do feel as if it’s a city that’s criminally underrated in terms of all that’s on offer for someone visiting the city. Let me double click on the impactful experiences I had, so you can build out a Buffalo itinerary that works perfectly for you.

A Bit More About Buffalo, NY

Buffalo is the second largest city in New York State after, you guessed it, New York City. Buffalo is situated at the head of the Niagara River in Erie County, and that means it’s rather close to Old Fort Niagara in the United States, the country of Canada, and most specifically Niagara Falls.

For any fans of American geography, Buffalo is the de facto economic centre between Boston and Cleveland. It was in the early 19th century that Buffalo really started to put itself on the map as a major stop on the Erie Canal. In fact, a lot of people don’t know that for a period of time, Buffalo was the world’s largest grain port (hence all the silos).

Eventually the canal was superseded by the railroads, but Buffalo was quick to adopt its role as a railway hub as well. The city then doubled down on manufacturing, but de-industrialization arrived before too long and affected the city’s economic prospects.

Buffalo, however, is not a city that just rolls over. They’ve poured money into tourism and a number of other industries to ensure that they're moving ever forwards, and to ensure that it’s a city that people need to take notice of once again. I’ve personally seen a lot of positive change since I first visited some 20 years ago now, and I’m always looking for my next excuse to come on down.

Being a die-hard Bills fan sure helps ensure that excuse is never too far from hand!

Where to Stay in Buffalo, NY

It’s always worth staying at a unique property whenever you travel. Some of my favourite travel experiences with Bri have involved including memorable accommodations that tell a story into our trips together.

Wherever I can, I try to stay at unique properties. Properties that tell their own story. This is most definitely the case with InnBuffalo Off Elmwood. It’s located in the Elmwood Village neighbourhood of Buffalo. It’s a property that was once known as the “Hewitt Mansion,” and it was originally built in 1898.

After falling into disrepair for a few years, its owners have revived it to a state that feels true to the heritage of the house. It definitely feels like a home away from home, and booking a stay at this unique inn will most certainly be a standout experience on your trip to Buffalo.

Some other excellent accommodations to look into when you plan a trip to Buffalo are Reikart House and The Westin Buffalo. The Westin is in the centre of downtown Buffalo and closer to the shores of Lake Erie, and is conveniently located to so many corners of the city. The Reikart House is a little more northeast in the city, and is closer to some of the city’s beautiful parks, nature trails and the Buffalo Museum of Science.

What to Do in Buffalo, NY

The following list of things to do in Buffalo is in no particular order, so just scroll and see what catches your eye, and I’ll make sure I clearly let you know why each spot was included on the list.

Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House

In my humble opinion, a visit to the Martin House needs to be on every Buffalo itinerary. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright is arguably one of the most famous architects in all of the United States. Many people don’t realize that The Martin House ranks right alongside Fallingwater and The Guggenheim in terms of Wright’s most remarkable work.

However, it’s not just the structure itself, it’s also what the team has done here to make this place come alive. The Visitor Centre offers a great, tech-savvy welcome, and that’s typically followed by one of their tours that are truly exceptional.

There are six or so locations to visit on the property throughout your visit, but much of your time will likely be spent in the Darwin D. Martin House itself, which is about 15,000 square feet in size.

It’s a place where I’m not even remotely scared to overhype it, because if you’re at all intrigued with architecture (or history, for that matter), you’re going to be wowed.

If museums and galleries are your forte, I’ve got a full list of Buffalo’s best museums and galleries.

Set Eyes on Buffalo City Hall, An Art Deco Masterpiece

I learned for certain in Chicago that I couldn’t resist the allure of Art Deco style architecture, and Buffalo City Hall is no different.

It was completed in 1931, and the nearly 400 foot tall (and 32 story) building is still one of the largest and tallest municipal buildings in the US. It’s also one of the tallest buildings in Western New York to this day.

In 1999, it was rightfully placed on the National Register of Historic Places alongside other places that are historically significant or are noted for their historic value and deemed worthy of preservation.

It was built for the equivalent of around $110 million dollars in today’s money (about 6.85 million in 1931), and that makes it one of the most expensive city halls in America, so it’s certainly worth setting eyes on it while you’re visiting Buffalo.

Check Out Duende at Silo City

Duende is a very unique bar and live music venue that’s located in Buffalo’s Silo City neighbourhood. They’ve got an array of delicious snacks and food on offer, some handcrafted cocktails, and a whole lot more going on, but the vibe comes from the location.

Duende was actually constructed from materials salvaged from the old grain silos that surround it. It’s really like nowhere else that I’ve been, which is why I wrote a full feature on Duende at Silo City!

Head on Down to Buffalo Riverworks

On our way to Buffalo Riverworks, we stopped at Wonder Coffeehouse which is right beside the Riverworks. Their angle is making a wild assortment of things featuring house-made liege waffles, and they’re well worth trying before heading on over (they’ve got great coffee, too).

The Riverworks is essentially an all-in-one recreation park. At the forefront of it all is adventure. There’s kayaking, paddle-boarding, rock climbing, a ropes course, a ferris wheel, and my personal favourite, zip-lining. The reason that I thought the zip-lining was particularly worth it is because the silos are part of the adventure. You’re quite literally flying across these urban adventure park in and out of silos, and it’s epic. I created a Reel on Instagram all about it if you’re keen to see what it’s like in action.

There’s also a restaurant or two here, and a brewery, and about a dozen other things, so I’m going to guess there’s pretty much always something going on here, regardless of season (for example - in the summer, there’s rollerskating, in the winter, there’s ice-skating)

Spend Some Time in Elmwood Village

Elmwood Village is a neighbourhood that’s located in the central part of the city. It’s known for its independent shops, coffeehouses, restaurants and pubs, as well as displays of public art to be enjoyed by passersby.

It almost feels like a city within a city in some ways.

We spent some time walking along the tree-lined boulevards and in the rather picturesque Delaware Park before taking the time to walk up Elmwood’s main drag. The Jack Rabbit or The Beer Keep is a nice place to nab a pint if you’re feeling thirsty, but if you’re looking for something on the sweet side, you should definitely not pass up the chance to eat some Buffalo Sponge Toffee at Watson’s.

For dinner, I’d recommend going for some Japanese at Kuni’s or heading to High Violet (which kind of looks like an upscale speakeasy) for dinner and drinks.

Check Out the Street Art on Hertel Avenue

To make the best use of our time down on Hertel Avenue, we actually took part in the Hertel Avenue Murals Walking Tour with Explore Buffalo.

This ended up being quite helpful because the street art wasn’t just on Hertel, but also in the surrounding alleyways, on the back of buildings and, well, pretty much everywhere it could be.

Hertel Avenue was once one of Buffalo’s favourite shopping and nightlife districts, but for some time during de-industrialization, it struggled. Now, there are once again restaurants popping up, and a general positive feeling, which may just be a byproduct of the area’s remarkable revitalization through art.

My favourite piece was done by artist Eduardo Kobra and can be found at 1188 Hertel Avenue. It’s of Mark Twain and John T. Lewis sitting beside each other. I also loved the Buffalo Map (1297 Hertel), but there’s no shortage of great, photogenic pieces around here. Both are pictured just above.

Feast on Some Wings

You knew this was coming, right? The good news is that wings is Buffalo really do live up to the hype. I ate at a few spots, and I talked to a few people, and there wasn’t actually a ton of consensus. I do still have to come back and put in more work, but my favourite spot at this moment has to be Gabriel’s Gate.

I’d encourage you to check out Visit Buffalo Niagara’s Wing Trail, though. You can search using filters such as “hot,” “saucy,” “classic,” and “unusual.”

For a quick glance, here are the spots that are included on the list in alphabetical order:

Anchor Bar
Bar-Bill Tavern
Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub
Cole’s
Doc Sullivan’s
Duff’s Famous Wings (they’ve got a few Toronto locations as well, and I love their wings)
Elmo’s Bar and Restaurant
Gabriel’s Gate
Gene McCarthy’s
Glen Park Tavern
Lenox Grill
Mammoser’s Tavern& Restaurant
Nine-Eleven Tavern
O’ Neill’s Stadium inn

Get Your Sports Fix in a Sports Loving City

The Bills are something closer to a religion in Buffalo than a sports team and I, for one, love it. I’ve always used sports as a way to ingratiate myself with new places and people (I supported the soccer club Beşiktaş J.K. when I lived in Istanbul, for example), and sports are an amazing way to get the pulse of a city.

You’ve got the Bills and all that tailgating and passion that goes along with that, an up-and-coming Sabres team in the NHL, the Bandits when it comes to lacrosse, the AAA Buffalo Bisons who you know I adore as a massive Toronto Blue Jays fan (since they’re our farm team), as well as the Beauts in the NWHL.

They love their sports here, and having gone to many Bills and Sabres games, I can say it’s good fun.

Explore Canalside

Canalside is an exciting area to visit largely because it’s clearly in big time revitalization mode, and there’s fairly eclectic mix of activities that you take part in.

We kicked things off with a spin around the Buffalo Heritage Carousel (surprisingly fun, by the way, even as an adult), then made our way towards the Canalside Longshed and the not-to-be-missed Buffalo Naval & Military Park.

Canalside, historically, was a vitally important transportation and industrial hub, but the neighbourhood is now all about appreciating the waterfront, and has shifted, through redevelopment, towards tourism and providing a new spots for folks from Buffalo to come and appreciate.

Take a Stroll Through Delaware Park-Front Park

It’s worth knowing that Buffalo’s park system happens to be the oldest coordinated system of public parks and parkways in the United States. I enjoyed having that context when exploring places like Delaware Park.

Delaware Park is in the National Register of Historic Places and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the same people responsible for designing Central Park in New York City. It spans 1,154 acres, encompassing Delaware Park and Front Park and features diverse landscapes, including meadows, lakes, and tree-lined paths, and is such a nice natural escape within the city.

The park is also home to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo History Museum, and Hoyt Lake. Adding to its historical scope, a few short blocks away from the park is where William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, was assassinated at the Pan-American Expo in the Temple of Music.

Visit the Buffalo AKG Art Museum

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum, also known as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, is a cultural gem in Western New York. The museum's mission is to inspire and educate visitors to appreciate art, and it offers a diverse range of exhibitions, programs, and educational initiatives.

It was established in 1862, and is home to an extensive collection of fine art, with works by artists like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Jackson Pollock. It recently underwent a lengthy expansion and restoration process, and has reopened its doors to offer visitors an incredible museum to come to during any time of year.

Walk Through Forest Lawn Cemetery

Although it might sound a little grim, visiting cemeteries in the United States in cities like Buffalo is a historical experience in its own right.

The Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo (not to be confused with the one in L.A.) was established in the 1850’s, and covers 269 acres. It’s listed as a National Historic Site in the country.

It is the final resting place for notable figures like United States President Millard Fillmore, First Lady Abigail Fillmore, musician Rick James, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, and inventors Lawrence Dale Bell and Willis Carrier.

Visit the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site commemorates the date of September 6, 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 26th President of the United States.

The site is located in the same place where this ceremony took place, following the assassination of President William McKinley. It's a preserved historic landmark, offering visitors insights into American history, politics, and the presidency. Exhibits, artifacts, and guided tours shed light on Roosevelt's life and the nation's changing political landscape at the time.

Check out the Buffalo History Museum

The Buffalo History Museum is a great museum to go to if you’d like to learn more about the rich history of the Buffalo region.

It was opened in 1862, and it holds an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and exhibits that showcase the area's past. Buffalo was, after all, home to the most millionaires of any country in the world during its heyday at the turn of the century, given its location for shipping goods throughout the country that travelled from the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The museum covers various aspects of Buffalo’s history, including Indigenous heritage, the Erie Canal, industrial development, and significant events like the Pan-American Expo.

Take in a Performance at Buffalo State Performing Arts Center

The Buffalo State Performing Arts Center (PAC) is a state-of-the-art venue at Buffalo State College. It hosts a wide variety of performances in the disciplines of music, dance, theater, and visual arts.

You should definitely check out their performance schedule while you’re in town to see if you can catch a show!

What Else Should You Consider When You Visit Buffalo?

As you can likely already see, there’s quite a bit to do and see in Buffalo. Here are a few other ideas that may be worth considering.

There are nearly 50 craft breweries in Buffalo. If you can, make a point of visiting a neighbourhood, then popping into the local brewery for the area. Big Ditch Brewing in particular was a great spot to grab lunch and a flight.
If you’re into the food truck scene, you’ll want to pop by Food Truck Tuesday at Larkin Square. Basically, once a week, food trucks from across the region flood one area, and it leads to quite a diverse offering of food!
If you’re aching for a little colour, or perhaps just a little something different, consider popping by the Buffalo and Erie Botanical Gardens. It’s actually one of the more popular things to do in Buffalo, and attracts well over 125,000 visitors annually.
I didn’t get a chance to visit this time around (well, I suppose I’ll have to come on back), but I’ve heard incredible things about the Pierce-Arrow Museum, which focuses on Buffalo’s transportation history. Similarly, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum was in temporarily close while I was there for restoration (scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2023), but that will be on my list for when I return next.
If you’ve got some extra time, I’d make a point of visiting the Five Points Neighbourhood. There are some neat shops, plenty of street art and quirkiness to appreciate, plus the absolutely delicious Five Points Bakery & Toast Cafe. If you can, get some breakfast there! It’s not large by any means, but I enjoyed having visited.

Well, I hope that I hope that this serves you well in your travels to Buffalo. As it’s heir apparent at this point, there really are a ton of things to do in Buffalo, and there’s something here for everyone. I, for one, plan to continue to visit Buffalo, to update this article, and to create new content to help people explore the ever underrated Queen City.

We want to humbly thank Visit Buffalo Niagara for hosting us as media. All opinions are completely our own.

If you appreciated this article, you’ll love our newsletter, as well as our Facebook group! Feel free to join, all are welcome.