- Buffalo was one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. per capita in the early 1900s due to its role as a major port and industrial hub.
- The city was the first in North America to use widespread electric street lighting, earning the nickname 'The City of Light'.
- Buffalo is home to a unique regional culinary tradition that includes beef on weck sandwiches and chicken wings served with blue cheese instead of ranch.
- The Olmsted Park System in Buffalo is one of the oldest in the country, designed by the same landscape architect responsible for New York City's Central Park.
- Buffalo was the site of the assassination of President William McKinley at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition.
About Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is a significant industrial and architectural hub located at the head of the Niagara River. Its skyline is defined by a unique collection of turn-of-the-century grain elevators and masterworks by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright at the Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House. Visitors can experience the city's maritime history at the Buffalo Naval Park or explore extensive green spaces like Delaware Park. The region serves as a primary gateway to Canada via the Peace Bridge, linking the American Midwest to Southern Ontario.
Highlights of Buffalo, New York
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Museums
Explore the Prairie School architectural style at this UNESCO World Heritage-listed residence.
Museums
Tour retired naval vessels, including the USS The Sullivans, anchored on the waterfront.
Museums
View a world-class collection of modern and contemporary art in a campus expanded by OMA.
Parks
Walk the sprawling landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, which serves as the city's green heart.
Places of interest
Cross this international span to witness sweeping views of the Niagara River and harbor.
Museums
Examine extensive exhibits on regional natural history and interactive science displays.
Venues
Experience a performance inside one of the most ornate and well-preserved historic theaters in the country.
Parks
Visit the historic Victorian-style glass conservatory surrounded by extensive seasonal gardens.
Top things to do in Buffalo, New York
The 121 highest-rated places in Buffalo, New York, ranked by travellers.
1
Amusement parks
Six Flags Darien Lake is a prominent amusement park located in Corfu, New York, featuring over 40 rides including the Ri...
2
Venues
Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, serves as the home field for the Buffalo Bills, a professional NFL franchise...
3
Venues
KeyBank Center is the premier multi-purpose indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, serving as the home ice for the NHL's Buff...
4
Parks
Delaware Park is the flagship component of Buffalo’s Olmsted Parks System, originally designed in the 1870s by landscape...
5
Zoos
Founded in 1875, the Buffalo Zoo is the third-oldest zoological park in the United States. Located within Delaware Park,...
6
Venues
Shea's Buffalo Theatre is a restored 1926 movie palace located in Buffalo's Theatre District that currently hosts Broadw...
7
Places of interest
The Peace Bridge is an international steel arch bridge spanning the Niagara River, directly connecting Buffalo, New York...
8
Parks
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is a historic horticultural institution featuring a tri-domed glass conser...
9
Museums
The Buffalo Naval & Military Park is the largest inland naval park in the United States, situated on the waterfront of L...
10
Museums
The Buffalo Museum of Science is housed in a historic building designed by E.B. Green and Sons, opened in 1929. The muse...
11
Parks
Niawanda Park is a primary riverfront destination located along the Niagara River in Tonawanda, New York. It serves as a...
12
Places of interest
Eternal Flame Falls is a tiered waterfall located within the Shale Creek Preserve in Chestnut Ridge Park. A natural gas...
13
Museums
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum, formerly known as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, houses one of the oldest public art collect...
14
Museums
The Martin House is a masterwork of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School architecture, built between 1903 and 1905 for bu...
15
Parks
Stiglmeier Park is a 300-acre municipal park located in Cheektowaga, New York, serving as the town's largest recreationa...
16
Parks
Martin Luther King Jr. Park is a 56-acre historic greenspace in Buffalo designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Va...
17
Parks
Knox Farm State Park is a 633-acre former country estate that features a mix of formal gardens, rolling pastures, and ha...
18
Beaches and ponds
Erie Basin Marina is a municipal waterfront complex located on Buffalo’s Inner Harbor, featuring landscaped gardens, a p...
19
Parks
Evangola State Park is a 733-acre recreational area located on the shores of Lake Erie in Erie County, New York. The par...
20
Temples
Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica is a monumental Roman Catholic minor basilica located in Lackawanna, New...
21
Parks
Chestnut Ridge Park is a 1,213-acre park located in Orchard Park, New York, serving as the largest park in the Erie Coun...
22
Historical places
Old Fort Erie is a living history museum situated at the site of Canada's bloodiest battlefield from the War of 1812. Th...
23
Parks
The Japanese Garden in Buffalo is a meticulously designed landscape situated within Delaware Park, adjacent to the Buffa...
24
Zoos
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is a 10,800-acre protected area located in the Great Lakes Plain of western New York....
25
Parks
Darien Lakes State Park spans 1,845 acres of glaciated terrain characterized by rolling hills, woodlands, and ravines. T...
26
Parks
Veterans Memorial Park is situated along the Niagara River in Tonawanda, New York, serving as a primary recreational hub...
27
Historical places
The Buffalo Central Terminal is a massive Art Deco railway complex completed in 1929, designed by architects Fellheimer...
28
Amusement parks
Sky Zone Buffalo is an indoor trampoline park located in Cheektowaga, New York, featuring wall-to-wall trampoline courts...
29
Museums
The Burchfield Penney Art Center is the only museum in the world exclusively dedicated to the art and artists of Western...
30
Historical places
Graycliff is a summer estate designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Isabelle R. Martin, constructed between 1926 and 1931 on...
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Buffalo, New York on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Buffalo, New York
June through September, as the city experiences pleasant lake-breeze temperatures and hosts numerous outdoor festivals after the heavy winter snowfall.
3 days, providing sufficient time to tour architectural landmarks, waterfront museums, and the nearby Niagara Falls region.
A rental car is recommended for regional travel, while the city center features a free-to-ride above-ground Metro Rail segment along Main Street.
Elmwood Village offers a walkable urban experience with boutiques and restaurants, while the Allentown district is favored for its historic architecture and nightlife.
Mid-range; lodging and dining costs are generally lower than in major coastal metropolitan areas.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 121 curated attractions in and around Buffalo, New York, ranked by traveller ratings.
Six Flags Darien Lake is the highest-rated place to visit in Buffalo, New York right now.
The largest category is parks, with 41 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toronto, Montreal, North Vancouver (city).
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Other cities ranked by number of curated places.