Darwin D. Martin House Complex
Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie-style masterwork in a leafy Buffalo neighborhood, a restored estate of connected buildings, pergola and conservatory, with art-glass windows that are the stuff of architecture textbooks.
New York
Buffalo
Buffalo is the comeback city of the Great Lakes: the birthplace of the Buffalo wing, home to one of the finest Frank Lloyd Wright houses in America, a waterfront built where the Erie Canal once ended, and a park system laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted.
This guide books the city properly, from the Darwin D. Martin House and Graycliff to wing and neighborhood food tours, Canalside and the Naval Park, plus Bills and Sabres game days, and pairs them with hotels from landmark towers to easy suburban bases. Niagara Falls has its own destination page on this site.
Don't miss
Darwin D. Martin House Complex
Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie-style masterwork in a leafy Buffalo neighborhood, a restored estate of connected buildings, pergola and conservatory, with art-glass windows that are the stuff of architecture textbooks.
Canalside
The restored waterfront at the end of the Erie Canal, with event lawns, kayaks and pedal boats in summer, ice skating in winter, and the naval park, museums and sports arena all close by.
Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
A destroyer, a guided-missile cruiser and a submarine tied up in the harbor. You can climb aboard USS The Sullivans, USS Little Rock and USS Croaker at the largest inland naval park in the country.
Buffalo AKG Art Museum
Formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, one of America's great collections of modern and contemporary art, in a Greek Revival temple joined to striking new galleries beside Delaware Park.
Things to do in Buffalo
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Graycliff, Frank Lloyd Wright Summer Estate
The Martin family's summer home on a bluff above Lake Erie, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the late 1920s. A smaller, more relaxed counterpart to the Martin House, with lake views and a restored landscape.
Canalside
The restored waterfront at the end of the Erie Canal, with event lawns, kayaks and pedal boats in summer, ice skating in winter, and the naval park, museums and sports arena all close by.
1-4 hoursDetails →
Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
A destroyer, a guided-missile cruiser and a submarine tied up in the harbor. You can climb aboard USS The Sullivans, USS Little Rock and USS Croaker at the largest inland naval park in the country.
Buffalo AKG Art Museum
Formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, one of America's great collections of modern and contemporary art, in a Greek Revival temple joined to striking new galleries beside Delaware Park.
The Wing Ride: Chicken Wing History Food Tour
A guided journey through the story of the Buffalo wing, with tastings of the city's signature dish and the local history that turned a late-night snack into a national obsession.
Anchor Bar
The tavern where the Buffalo wing is said to have been born in 1964. Order a plate, with celery and blue cheese, at one of the most famous bar stools in American food.
Elmwood Village Food and Drink Tour
A walking tasting tour through Elmwood Village, Buffalo's favorite neighborhood for independent restaurants, cafes, shops and leafy streets of grand old houses.
Larkinville Food and Drink Tour
Taste your way through Larkinville, the revived factory district where the old Larkin Soap Company buildings now host restaurants, breweries, offices and a lively public square.
Electric District Food and Drink Tour
A downtown tasting walk through the heart of old Buffalo, passing landmark buildings of the Gilded Age and the Pan-American Exposition era while sampling local restaurants.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
The Delaware Avenue mansion where Theodore Roosevelt took the presidential oath in 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley, now a museum of the Pan-American Exposition and that fateful week.
History Ride: The Best of Buffalo by Bike
A guided bike ride through Buffalo's greatest hits, from grand architecture and Olmsted parks to neighborhoods, with stories of the city's boom years and its renaissance.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
The Richardson Hotel
Richardson Olmsted Campus / Elmwood-Allentown edge
A landmark stay inside the restored towers of H.H. Richardson's Buffalo State Hospital, set in grounds laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted. Previously operated as Hotel Henry.
Check rates →Curtiss Hotel
Downtown / Theater District
A boutique downtown hotel in a restored early-twentieth-century office building, with design-forward rooms, local touches and an easy walk to the Theater District and Canalside.
Check rates →Hotel at the Lafayette
Lafayette Square / Downtown
A French Renaissance-style landmark from 1904 designed by Louise Bethune, one of the first professional women architects in the United States, restored as a downtown hotel on Lafayette Square.
Check rates →Courtyard Buffalo Downtown Canalside
Canalside / Downtown
A reliable Marriott-brand hotel at the foot of downtown, a short walk from Canalside, the Naval Park and KeyBank Center. Ideal for hockey weekends and families.
Check rates →Hampton Inn and Suites Buffalo Downtown
Downtown
A comfortable midrange downtown option with the Hampton brand's usual free breakfast and suite choices, handy for walking to the waterfront, theaters and restaurants.
Check rates →Buffalo Marriott Niagara
Amherst / North Buffalo
A full-service suburban Marriott in Amherst, near the University at Buffalo and the airport, with easy parking and a convenient base for Niagara Falls trips.
Check rates →Courtyard by Marriott Buffalo Amherst University
Amherst / University at Buffalo
A convenient Courtyard hotel in Amherst near the University at Buffalo, with Marriott reliability, free parking in most cases and easy highway access.
Check rates →Hampton Inn Buffalo Williamsville
Williamsville / Eastern Suburbs
A budget-friendly suburban Hampton in Williamsville, close to the airport and shopping, with breakfast, easy parking and a straightforward drive into the city.
Check rates →Buffalo guides
Buffalo in Three Days: Wright, Wings and the Waterfront
A practical three-day itinerary that groups Buffalo's architecture, food, waterfront and parks by area, with booking tips and a rainy-day backup.
Eating and Drinking in Buffalo: Wings, Beef on Weck and Beyond
A guide to Buffalo's signature foods, from the original wings to beef on weck, sponge candy and craft beer, with tips on where and how to eat like a local.
The Best Time to Visit Buffalo: Seasons, Snow and Festivals
Month-by-month and season-by-season advice for Buffalo, including the truth about snow, the best summer weeks, fall football and what is open in winter.
Buffalo Architecture: Wright, Sullivan, Richardson and Olmsted
A guide to Buffalo's extraordinary buildings and landscapes, from Frank Lloyd Wright's houses and Louis Sullivan's skyscraper to Art Deco City Hall and Olmsted's parks.
Where to Stay in Buffalo: Downtown, Elmwood and the Suburbs
How to choose a Buffalo base by area and budget, from walkable downtown hotels and historic landmarks to suburban hotels with easy parking.
Day Trips from Buffalo: Niagara, East Aurora, Letchworth and More
The best excursions from Buffalo, including the Roycroft campus in East Aurora, Letchworth State Park and options across the border, with driving times and planning tips.
