Buffalo sits on Lake Erie's eastern shore at the western edge of New York State — a mid-size city with a specific food history, deep sports loyalty, and a cluster of architectural landmarks that most visitors drive past on the way to Niagara Falls.
This guide covers three distinct draws across Buffalo and the immediately adjacent city of Lackawanna (5 miles south), where Our Lady of Victory Basilica is worth the detour on its own.
Jump to: Buffalo · Lackawanna · Planning Notes · Also worth visiting
Buffalo
KeyBank Center & Canalside (Buffalo Entertainment District) Must-see
Erie County · Buffalo
KeyBank Center is a 19,070-seat arena on the Buffalo waterfront, home of the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team, and a major touring concert venue. The adjacent Canalside district covers 7 acres at the restored Erie Canal terminus — with outdoor ice skating in winter (the largest outdoor skating surface in New York State), live concerts and festivals in summer, and food and drink programming year-round.
The Buffalo Naval Park (free to walk the exterior) is 100 feet away with a WWII-era guided missile cruiser and destroyer open for tours. The Canalside ice rink opens in November and runs through February. The waterfront area is 5 minutes from the downtown hotel district on foot.
Anchor Bar (Birthplace of Buffalo Wings, 1964) Must-see
Erie County · Buffalo
1047 Main Street in downtown Buffalo — the exact corner where Teressa Bellissimo fried a batch of chicken wings and tossed them in cayenne-butter sauce on October 30, 1964, for her son Dominic and his friends. A New York State historic marker outside the front door marks the invention. The restaurant still operates at the original address.
The original recipe is available; wings come in medium, hot, and extra hot. Order the combination plate for the full range. Buffalo wing culture is intensely local — Duff's Famous Wings (multiple locations), La Nova Pizzeria, and Bar-Bill Tavern are the spots locals send each other to, but the birthplace is at Anchor Bar. Expect a tourist-heavy crowd on summer weekends.
Lackawanna
Our Lady of Victory Basilica (Lackawanna) Must-see
Erie County · Lackawanna
Completed in 1926 and elevated to minor basilica status the same year by Pope Pius XI — the first minor basilica east of the Mississippi River. The Italian Baroque building was designed by Cram and Ferguson and funded entirely through the fundraising efforts of Father Nelson Baker, who led the parish and adjacent orphanage and hospital complex for 50 years. The dome interior is lined with detailed mosaics; the bronze entrance trellis and twin towers make it visible from Route 5 approaching from Buffalo.
The basilica is free to enter and is 5 miles south of downtown Buffalo on Ridge Road in Lackawanna. Masses run daily. The Father Baker National Shrine adjacent to the basilica documents Baker's work with orphans and the poor — he is under investigation for beatification by the Vatican. Allow 45 minutes inside.
Planning Notes
Where to stay: Downtown Buffalo hotels are 5–10 minutes from Canalside and KeyBank Center on foot. The Elmwood Village neighborhood (3 miles northeast of downtown) has more independent restaurants and bars. Niagara Falls is 20 miles north — staying in Niagara Falls city and driving to Buffalo for the day is an alternative for visitors doing both.
Book ahead: Sabres games sell out for rivalry matchups — buy tickets on the team's official site. Major concerts at KeyBank Center sell out quickly. Anchor Bar and Canalside are walk-in. Our Lady of Victory Basilica is open daily without reservations.
Getting around: A car is required for Lackawanna. Downtown Buffalo and Canalside are walkable from each other. Buffalo has an NFTA light rail (Metro Rail) running from the waterfront to the University at Buffalo campus — 3 stops cover the core downtown area and are free within the Central Business District.
