Things to Do in Buffalo (2025)

Buffalo’s flagship art museum reopened after a $230 million transformation, with new spaces by OMA and a dazzling canopy by Olafur Eliasson. Featured by Time and praised by major art critics, it anchors the city’s creative momentum and community programming.

Wright called this Prairie masterpiece his “opus.” Docent-led tours reveal intricate art glass, restored landscape, and the pergola–conservatory axis. Highlighted by Architectural Digest and Condé Nast Traveler, it’s a definitive Buffalo experience for design lovers.

A beloved incubator where immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs share food and craft from around the world. Celebrated by Bon Appetit and recognized by New York State, the expanded Niagara Street space hums with community events and flavor-packed counters.

A Native-owned gallery championing contemporary Indigenous artists, with exhibitions that resonate nationally. Profiled by arts reporters and Visit Buffalo Niagara, K Art brings vital new voices to the city’s cultural core in a handsome historic space.

In Black Rock, this fiercely local room is where Americana, roots, jazz, and touring lifers meet Buffalo’s most loyal listeners. With an active 2025 calendar and nods from local travel editors, it’s the city’s beating live‑music heart.

Cruise past Elevator Alley’s grain giants while guides connect the Erie Canal, industry, and today’s revival. Recommended by regional travel outlets, these narrated boat tours make Buffalo’s waterfront story vivid and surprisingly moving.

A bar, kitchen, and creative hangout tucked among monumental grain elevators. Covered by national outlets exploring Buffalo’s reimagined industrial landscape, Duende pairs local art and music with serious atmosphere—best at golden hour.

A 1920 neighborhood movie palace restored in loving detail, from Raphael Beck murals to a glowing marquee. The Buffalo News chronicled its revival; today, repertory runs and the fan-favorite Studio Ghibli Chalk Fest keep it lively and local.

Paddle right through Buffalo’s industrial canyons; the 2025 season is on. Featured by local tourism editors, this independent outfitter makes it easy to kayak from Mutual Riverfront Park toward Canalside or the Tifft nature corridor.

Founded in 1975, this artist-led nonprofit spans exhibitions, adventurous music, film, and literature. Its 2025 lineup underscores five decades of risk-taking and support for boundary-pushing artists rooted in Buffalo’s creative community.

The nation’s largest inland naval park opens March–November, inviting visitors aboard a cruiser, destroyer, and submarine. Official updates and regional press confirm an active 2025 season—pair a tour with a Canalside stroll.

A free weekday-noon tour inside one of America’s great Art Deco city halls, led by expert local docents. Listed by Visit Buffalo Niagara and I Love NY, it’s an eye-opening hour of history and skyline views.