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Opening hours, parking, permits and step-free access change by season. Confirm your needs with the official destination; a map pin is not an entrance.
Coastal town · Lake Erie
Buffalo
The eastern end of Lake Erie, where grain-elevator heritage meets a renewed waterfront.
Photo: Reading Tom from Reading, UK · CC BY 2.0
Autumnal skyline view from Erie Basin Marina, Buffalo, New York, October 2012.jpg by Reading Tom from Reading, UK · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.
On the coast
About Buffalo
Buffalo's waterfront links the history of Great Lakes shipping with the Erie Canal story. Canalside and the Outer Harbor offer different experiences: one urban and active, the other more open and park-oriented. Add architectural neighborhoods and regional food stops for a city visit that goes beyond a quick Niagara detour.
Live · Buffalo
What's going on right now.
Weather, alerts, the water, the sky and local headlines, gathered from official sources as you read.
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Visiting Buffalo
Best time
June to October for Canalside, harbor cruises and patio season; winter brings outdoor skating at Canalside for hardy visitors.
Time needed
1–2 days
Best months
January: off-season
February: off-season
March: off-season
April: off-season
May: off-season
June: best
July: best
August: best
September: best
October: best
November: off-season
December: off-season
Don't miss
Top things to do in Buffalo.
- Board the warships of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, moored on the waterfront beside Canalside.
- Tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House, a Prairie-style landmark, on a guided visit booked in advance.
- Take a harbor cruise or guided kayak trip past the towering grain elevators along the Buffalo River.
- Taste chicken wings and beef on weck, two Buffalo originals, in the city that made them famous.
Know before you go
Tips for visiting Buffalo.
- Niagara Falls is about a half-hour drive north; bring a passport or other accepted document if you plan to view the falls from Canada.
- Olmsted-designed parkways link Delaware Park, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and the Martin House — a car or bike makes them easy to combine.
- Lake-effect snow can arrive suddenly from late fall into winter; check road conditions before driving the Southtowns.
Loading the map. The links and itinerary below are always available.
Approximate town center (GeoNames 5110629); not an attraction entrance.
Black-and-white basemap by OpenStreetMap. Great Lakes highlighted in color. Hold Ctrl (or Command) while scrolling to zoom. Use two fingers on touch screens.
Lake outlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Town centers: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation. Selecting Live ships loads an external VesselFinder map for this area. Privacy details.Good to know
Questions about Buffalo
- Where is Buffalo?
- Buffalo is on the Lake Erie shore of New York. It is roughly 27 miles in a straight line from Niagara-on-the-Lake.
- What are the top things to do in Buffalo?
- Board the warships of the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, moored on the waterfront beside Canalside. Tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House, a Prairie-style landmark, on a guided visit booked in advance. Take a harbor cruise or guided kayak trip past the towering grain elevators along the Buffalo River.
- When is the best time to visit Buffalo?
- June to October for Canalside, harbor cruises and patio season; winter brings outdoor skating at Canalside for hardy visitors.
- How much time do you need in Buffalo?
- Allow 1–2 days to explore Buffalo.
Travel well
Make it a good visit.
Give the shoreline time.
Leave room for weather delays and a quieter side trail. Stay on marked paths, respect closures and support the local communities that make the coast special.
Travel thoughtfullyLook beyond the air forecast.
Waves and water temperatures can tell a very different story. Use marine forecasts and local beach advisories before any water activity.
Official weather resourcesNearby
More places to visit near Buffalo.
Approximate straight-line distance between representative pins—not driving distance, a ferry route or an access recommendation.
About 27 miles · Ontario
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A Genesee River city with a Lake Ontario shoreline at Charlotte.
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Put this place on a longer route.
4-6 days
Lake Erie Southern Shore Road Trip
Ohio's island region, Cleveland's waterfront, Pennsylvania beaches and Buffalo's harbor history.
View the itinerary