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City in New York, United States
Photo: John Marino from Pittsburgh, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Syracuse is a city in Central New York. With a population of 149,000 in city proper and 662,000 in its metro area (2020), Syracuse is the fifth largest city in the state of New York, and the third largest in Upstate New York.
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Houses 11,000 works of American art, with an excellent permanent collection of ceramics, in a building designed by architect I.M. Pei.
The canal no longer passes through downtown Syracuse, but this museum celebrates its history. Features the last standing weighlock on the canal, a replica of an old canal freighter, and a number of historical exhibits.
The MoST
A kid-friendly science museum and learning center, equipped with an interactive rock-climbing wall, geologic cave, flight simulator, and a giant, multi-level indoor playhouse, among other exhibits. Also includes a domed IMAX theater and planetarium.
Permanent and temporary exhibits on local history.
Heritage center describing the history of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Native Americans from Central New York.
Small museum featuring exhibits and artifacts on Syracuse's historical salt industry.
Small gallery exhibiting the work of artists creating art promoting social justice and activism.
An artistic and cultural center promoting artists of the African Diaspora. Run by Syracuse University's College of Arts & Sciences.
Two glacial lakes, offering kayak rentals and swimming during the summer, surrounded by upland forest, an 18-hole golf course, cabins and campsites, nature trails, and 15 mi of cross-country ski trails & snowshoeing in the winter.
Canalway Trail for biking, walking and jogging. Although the historic waterway's route through the city was long ago filled in, access points exist in the neighboring Towns of Camillus in the west and DeWitt in the east.
Contains 9 mi of winding trails for year-round usage, more than 200 species of birds, over 800 varieties of plants, and a glacial lake – a migratory stop for thousands of Canada geese.
A waterside park offering 4 vehicle-free trails along the Onondaga Lake shore, a boat launch and marina, skate park, playground, dog park, the Salt Museum (see above), boat and bicycle rental, and archery.
at Burnet Park
A small but well-populated zoo at the top of a hill in Burnet Park with everything from reindeer, lions, tigers, penguins, and a herd of Asian elephants to sand cats, flamingos, peacocks, and fossas. Fast food and souvenir shop in main building.
A nature park encircling a glacial lake. Offers 5 hiking trails – including one with a ledge overlook – and guided nature walks.
Opened in 1928, this extravagant Roaring Twenties-era performing arts theater hosts many live musical & theatrical productions throughout the year. Offers nearly 3,000 seats surrounded with golden decor.
Arts center displaying year-round theatrical productions.
Professional theater hosting plays and musicals.
Musicians from the Syracuse Symphony, a half-century-old ensemble bankrupted in 2011, formed Symphoria, Syracuse's musician-led symphony orchestra. Offers more than 50 annual concerts in the Crouse-Hinds Theater and throughout the local community.
One of the most popular live music venues in the city.
formerly the Lakeview Amphitheater
Outdoor venue hosting big-name acts. Near the New York State Fairgrounds (see below).
The city's highest-profile sports institutions are the teams representing Syracuse University in seven men's sports and 11 women's sports. The Orange, members of the Atlantic Coast Conference along with 14 other schools in the eastern half of the country, are perennial national powers in men's basketball and men's lacrosse, and also have a rich football tradition. The main athletic facilities are all on campus, with the best-known being the JMA Wireless Dome (historically Carrier Dome), home to the football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. The Dome, seating over 49,000 for football and lacrosse and over 33,000 for basketball, is by far the largest domed stadium on a U.S. university campus, and the world's largest facility by capacity regularly used for basketball.
Lacrosse, soccer, basketball and football for Syracuse University.
Syracuse's minor league baseball team, the AAA team for the New York Mets. You can see from all seats in the house!
AHL minor league hockey team is the highest affiliate of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.
Sports teams of Le Moyne College, one of the newest members of Division I. This small Jesuit school in the adjacent suburb of DeWitt started a transition from Division II in July 2023 as the newest member of the Northeast Conference. Unlike the Orange, the Dolphins don't play football; their signature sport during their D-II days was lacrosse. Still, if you want to see Division I sports without the costs of seeing the Orange, here's your chance.
It was founded by an honored local journalist, Nancy Duffy. The parade has been celebrating St. Patrick's Day since the early 1980s.
A festival with several streets of booths containing samples of menu items from the variety of restaurants in the Syracuse area, held in downtown.
Hosted at the Onondaga Community College campus.
One of the largest of its kind in Central New York, the occasion celebrates African American history and culture.
Dancing, music, food and shopping are the order of the day. Enjoy the food, music and dancing outside and then wander inside to find the shops, pastries and coffee. Guided tours, lectures, displays and a visual tour of the Greek Islands can also be found inside.
An annual festival of Middle-Eastern food, music, and culture.
Claiming to be one of the largest car shows on the East Coast, this massive car show held at the New York State Fairgrounds features thousands of antique cars, hot rods, motorcycles, race cars and just about anything else with wheels and a motor. Common events held each year are the tractor pull, burnout competitions and music concerts.
Live performance of one of Shakespeare's plays.
Celtic and Scottish music, dancing, demonstrations, exhibits, and athletics.
The oldest state fair in the U.S., and still one of the largest, with over a million annual visitors. Dozens of free concerts from national touring acts populate the 13-day schedule, along with the expected midway rides, art exhibits, and livestock competitions. State agriculture is on display in the form of the annual butter sculpture, 25-cent cups of milk, and demonstration booths for everything from honey bees to hand-tooled wood work. During the fair, Amtrak adds a stop right outside the fair's gates, making it easy to get to from Buffalo, Rochester, or Albany even without a car.
The biggest deli sandwiches around and a friendly mom and pop feel have created an almost cult following to this little sandwich shop.
Heid's is known for two things: long lines and the hot dogs that are responsible for those long lines. Ordering is simple: anything that isn't a hot dog or a coney gets ordered first after you get in the door, including their delicious grilled cheeses and super-thick milk shakes; at the end, once you get to the cash register, you simply order how many hot dogs and coneys you'd like. If the retro-style of the restaurant isn't to your liking, you can always cross the street and sit by Onondaga Lake.
Don't be fooled by the name - this is a kitsch pseudo-Irish-themed bar with a leprechaun door next to the regular door. It holds an appeal for all ages. This place has a full menu as well as a bar. It is known for its participation in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities. If you are in Syracuse on St. Patrick’s Day be sure to come here and try the green beer. It is in the Tipperary Hill neighborhood near the only inverted street light in the country with the green light at the top and red at the bottom.
This is the original Dinosaur Bar-B-Que restaurant. This restaurant is famous for its BBQ sauce and pulled pork sandwiches. Despite its popularity this restaurant maintains a certain small time charm. This is also a popular place for Blues concerts.
Food hall featuring international fare from a variety of local vendors.
In the historic Courier Building next to City Hall. It offers Maine caught seafood.
This unique and interesting restaurant routinely hosts funk music performances and serves high quality waffle and topping combinations as well as coffee and tea drinks.
Great Thai food in a formal but not snobbish atmosphere. Pad Thai is fantastic as is the green curry.
Nice and original Italian food, great wine list, and friendly service. Can be a bit expensive but worth every cent.
Industrial-chic restaurant and cocktail lounge with fresh renditions of classic seafood preparations and raw bar.
A common hangout place for students at Syracuse University, usually not quite as hectic as some of the other bars near campus, this place has more of a relaxed sit down atmosphere.
All vegan cafe.
Budget priced motel.
Located in the Armory Square retail district.
Comp breakfast.
Located in the Armory Square retail district.
Hotel Syracuse
Gym.
Extended stay hotel.
Off NSU Thruway I-90. Free shuttle to local restaurants. In-suite kitchend. WiFi and breakfast included.
Independent music shop, used and new, with CD players to listen to any open album for as long as you want. Movie selection on second floor. Open late.
Camera supplies.
Bx 350.
Franklin St., Walton St., Clinton St., A collection of shops and restaurants in the heart of downtown Syracuse near the Museum of Science and Technology (the MOST).
Carousel Center
The largest shopping mall in the Central New York Area, its former Carousel Center name came from the restored fully functional carousel that is its center piece in the food court. Has department stores, restaurants, arcades, and movie theaters.
Antiques and local crafts are sold at this open air market behind the Everson Museum of art in Downtown Syracuse.
By bus
Intercity buses stop at William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center, see "By train" above.
By plane
By car
Travel from the four cardinal directions is served by two Interstate highways.
On foot
You can walk to most of the destinations in downtown Syracuse from a parking lot or the Centro bus terminal.
By bicycle
Most of the downtown area is relatively flat, but keep in mind that the Syracuse University area has many steep hills and the residential areas surrounding downtown have quite a few hills as well.
By bus
The Centro Bus System provides a fair alternative to driving to most locations, with a fare of $2 within Syracuse and additional fares to outlying suburbs, such as to Auburn for $4 and to Oswego for…
By taxi
There are several taxi services listed in the Syracuse phone book that you can choose from.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Syracuse · International · SYR
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