NEWSLETTER
Want to see one of the world's finest collections of modern and contemporary art and get sprayed by waterfalls all in one day? Take a weekend trip to Buffalo, which was named one of the 50 best places to travel in 2024. Niagara Falls' dramatic cascades are spectacular in any season and Buffalo’s night scene is just as vibrant as its art. As a perfect complement to seeing this natural wonder, you can take in some of the best that Buffalo has to offer, from world-class art and architecture to entertainment and food—even if you’ve only got a weekend.
Originally published 01/09/2016 | Updated 12/12/2025
FRIDAY
3 pm: Settle in
Book your stay at the award-winning Buffalo Marriott at LECOM HARBORCENTER. This hotel is in a prime location, connected by a walking bridge to KeyBank Center, home to the Buffalo Sabres, and just steps away from Canalside and other popular attractions. Intuitively designed hotel rooms and suites include local artwork, platform beds, spa-inspired bathrooms and waterfront views.
4 pm: Explore Elmwood
Start your weekend off by exploring one of Buffalo’s most charming neighborhoods, Elmwood Village, home to more than 200 locally-owned and -operated retail stores and galleries along a beautiful tree-lined street. Find your new favorite read at Talking Leaves...Books. Stop into Watson’s Chocolate for the region’s famed sponge candy. Peruse all things plants at Put a Plant On It. And find all kinds of artisan goods, decor, and more at Thin Ice. Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a drink and a bite at whichever restaurant most piqued your interest during your stroll.
7 pm: Catch a Show at Shea’s
Celebrating its centennial in 2026, Shea’s Performing Arts Center is a campus of three theaters in downtown Buffalo, comprising Shea’s Smith Theatre, Shea’s 710 Theatre, and the historic crown jewel, Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. You can enjoy varying styles of performing arts at all three theaters, from touring Broadway shows to headline comedians, musicians, dancers, international collaborations, free movie series, and more.
6 pm: (Seasonally) Set Sail on a Sunset Cruise
Sail back in time aboard the Spirit of Buffalo, a classic 73-foot topsail schooner, and discover the breathtaking beauty of Lake Erie sunsets from the water on a relaxing two-hour cruise.
SATURDAY
9 am: Breakfast at Betty's
Housed in a historic building on the edge of the eclectic Allentown neighborhood, Betty's is one of Buffalo's most beloved spots for breakfast. There you can enjoy simple, fresh, creative fare in a cheerful dining room. Popular brunch dishes include chilaquiles casserole, smoked salmon benedict, and shrimp & grits.
10 am: Appreciate the Arts
Credit: @kcalnyc on Instagram
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is a must-see for even the casual art lover. It’s considered to be an outstanding center of modern and contemporary art whose collection is among the world's top international surveys of 20th-century painting and sculpture. Since its inception as the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy in 1862, the museum has been dedicated to acquiring, exhibiting, and preserving works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Matisse, Gauguin, Pollock, Warhol, and numerous other luminaries. Now through March 2, 2026, check out the immersive installation, One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama, featuring two of her renowned Infinity Mirror Rooms.
12 pm: The Place to be for Lunch
The Place is a nostalgic reflection of Buffalo’s past, offering both the classic ambiance and old time charm that Buffalonians have come to love since the original bar-restaurant opened decades ago. During warmer weather, dine al fresco on the airy porch.Try out a popular menu item like the beef on weck, flynnie thinnie, Buffalo chicken sandwich, or Maine lobster roll.
1 pm: Tours with Theodore
Credit: @montynation502 on Instagram
Tour the interactive exhibits at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site/Wilcox Mansion, an integral place in America’s history. Step into the moment when Teddy Roosevelt became America's youngest president following the shocking assassination of President William McKinley in 1901. With a combination of restored rooms and immersive exhibits, you'll feel as if you’re part of the events of that fateful September.
3 pm: Chills & Thrills at Canalside
From November to March, hit the ice at the outdoor skating rink, Ice at Canalside. Lace up your skates or try out one of their exclusive ice bumper cars. Outside of the winter season, there are plenty of activities in the sunshine including kayaking, ping pong, walking the boardwalk, playing in the sand area, and lounging in Buffalo's famous "Sunset Chairs". You can also check out the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. With ships like the Destroyer USS The Sullivans and submarine USS Croaker, the naval cove is rich in military history.
6:30 pm: Wing It
No visit to Buffalo would be complete without some Buffalo Wings (or as Buffalonians simply call them, wings)—try the Nine-Eleven Tavern, or Buffalo-style pizza (a cheese-laden hybrid of Chicago’s deep dish and New York’s thin crust) at one of the original Buffalo pizzerias like Bocce Club Pizza, a local staple since 1946.
SUNDAY
10 am: Fall for the Falls
Credit: @julitmart on Instagram
Start your day by heading 30 minutes north to Niagara Falls State Park, a joy in all seasons and a frosted wonderland in winter, where waters flow into the frozen river, forming glistening layers of ice. Experience the Cave of Winds and travel down into the Niagara Gorge for an up close view of the falls, or explore the roar on a Maid of the Mist Boat Tour to the basin of the Falls (May - November). If you stick around until dusk, the Falls are illuminated in a rainbow of color and you can even catch a fireworks display on certain nights.
12 pm: Lunch with a View
When you’re hungry for lunch, make your way to the Red Coach Inn, an AAA Three Diamond Restaurant, and ask for a seat by the cozy fireplace or on the patio surrounded by gardens and a koi pond, depending on the season. Overlooking the majestic Upper Rapids and just 500 yards from the brink of Niagara Falls, this English Tudor-style gem has a warm country ambiance that's been welcoming guests since 1923.
2 pm: Swim Under the Sea
Last but not least, head to the Aquarium of Niagara, which has more than 1,500 aquatic animals. Sharks, piranhas, sea lions, sea horses, a giant Pacific octopus, and a colony of Peruvian penguins all reside within its walls. Enhance your experience with a penguin or seal encounter!
GETTING THERE
By plane: Buffalo Niagara International Airport: 15 minutes
By train: Travel Amtrak direct from Chicago, Toronto, Albany, and New York City. The three stations in the Buffalo-Niagara region include Exchange Street (BFX), Buffalo Depew (BUF) and Niagara Falls station (NFL). Taxi service is available upon arrival at Depew and Niagara Falls stations. And the Exchange Street station is walking distance from downtown Buffalo and Canalside attractions!
By bus: Greyhound to Buffalo
By car:
From Toronto: 1 hour and 45 minutes
From Cleveland: 3 hours
From Albany: 4 hours and 30 minutes
From NYC: 6 hours
From Montreal: 6 hours and 15 minutes