Finger Lakes wine & waterfalls loop
3–5 daysA relaxed circuit of New York's premier wine country, linking gorge hikes, lakeside wineries and a couple of upstate cities. Easy to run from either Rochester or Ithaca.
Things to Do in New York 4 guides
Why visit New YorkOne state gives you the world's most famous skyline, wine-country gorges, and a wilderness bigger than most national parks.
New York is far more than the city that shares its name: beyond the skyline lie the vineyards and gorges of the Finger Lakes, the six-million-acre wilderness of the Adirondacks, the thundering cataract at Niagara and a chain of historic cities strung across the state's north. Use this hub to plan your trip: browse our upstate city guides below, or read on for the regions, seasons and road trips that tie them together.
- Known for
- NYC, Niagara Falls & the Finger Lakes
- Best for
- Cities, waterfalls, wine & wilderness
- Capital
- Albany
- Largest city
- New York City
- Main gateway
- New York (JFK)
- Time zone
- Eastern (ET)
Trip planner Plan your trip to New York
Best time to visit — season by season
Spring
Mar–May
Snowmelt sends the Finger Lakes gorges and Niagara Falls roaring at full volume, and the upstate cities thaw into the 50s and 60s°F. Early spring stays raw and muddy in the mountains, but late May is glorious for waterfalls and blossom.
Summer
Jun–Aug
Peak season statewide: warm, humid days perfect for the Adirondack lakes, Long Island beaches and Finger Lakes wine trails. The city can be hot and sticky, so many New Yorkers head upstate to the water.
Fall
Sep–Nov
Arguably the best window. The Adirondacks, Catskills and Finger Lakes blaze with some of the country's finest autumn colour, harvest fills the wineries and apple orchards, and crisp, clear days are ideal for hiking and driving the back roads.
Winter
Dec–Feb
Cold and snowy across the north, where lake-effect snow buries Buffalo, Syracuse and the Tug Hill, and Lake Placid turns into a ski and skating hub. New York City sparkles at the holidays; the Finger Lakes and Adirondacks go quiet and frozen.
Regions of New York
- New York City & Long Island
The downstate metropolis and its coast — the five boroughs with Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and Broadway, trailing east into the beaches, vineyards and Hamptons villages of Long Island.
- The Hudson Valley & Catskills
The scenic river corridor north of the city, where Hudson Valley towns, historic estates and hiking meet the forested Catskill Mountains — a classic weekend escape of leaf-peeping, farm tables and waterfalls.
- Capital-Saratoga
The state's seat of government around Albany, paired with genteel Saratoga Springs — mineral spas, thoroughbred racing and the gateway between the Hudson Valley and the Adirondacks to the north.
- The Adirondacks
A six-million-acre park of peaks, lakes and forest bigger than Yellowstone — Lake Placid and Lake George anchor the hiking, paddling and skiing, with the High Peaks at its wild heart.
- The Finger Lakes & Central New York
Long glacial lakes lined with wineries and plunging gorges — Ithaca and its Cornell campus, Watkins Glen, Corning's glass museum and the cities of Rochester and Syracuse on the region's edges.
- Western New York & Niagara
The state's far west, where Niagara Falls draws the crowds, Buffalo's architecture and wings anchor the city scene, and Letchworth State Park carves its 'Grand Canyon of the East'.
Getting around
New York is really two travel experiences. In and around New York City, you don't need — or want — a car: the subway, commuter rail and walkable neighbourhoods do the work, and Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley are reachable by train. Upstate is the opposite: the Finger Lakes wineries, Adirondack trailheads, Niagara Falls and the historic cities we cover are spread across a large state and thinly linked by transit, so a rental car is essential once you leave the metro. Most international visitors fly into JFK or Newark, while Albany, Rochester and Syracuse airports put you closer to the upstate action. Winter driving in the snowbelt demands care.
The highlights New York's signature sights & road trips
Signature New York at a glance
- Niagara Falls One of the world's most famous waterfalls, thundering over the border at the state's western edge — boat rides to the base and a floodlit night show.
- Adirondack Park Six million acres of peaks, lakes and forest — hike the High Peaks, paddle the chain of lakes, and use Lake Placid or Lake George as a basecamp.
- Finger Lakes wine country Cool-climate wineries and plunging waterfalls ringing the long glacial lakes, with Watkins Glen State Park's gorge trail the scenic centrepiece. Basecamp: Ithaca
- New York City icons The Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building and Broadway — the downstate metropolis that anchors any first visit to the state.
- Letchworth State Park The 'Grand Canyon of the East' — the Genesee River carves three big waterfalls through a forested gorge in the state's western reaches.
- Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown The sport's national shrine in a picture-perfect village on Otsego Lake, in the countryside between the Catskills and the Finger Lakes.
Suggested routes
Upstate cities & the Adirondacks
~1 weekA northern run pairing the historic Erie Canal cities with the wilderness and spa towns beyond, from the capital up into the mountains.
Map of New York Cities in New York
States near New York
New York travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit New York?
It depends on where you're headed. Autumn (September to November) is the standout for upstate, when the Adirondacks, Catskills and Finger Lakes turn brilliant colours and the harvest fills the wineries. Summer is best for the lakes and Long Island beaches, spring sends the waterfalls and Niagara roaring, and winter is magical in New York City at the holidays and on the Lake Placid slopes.
How many days do you need in New York?
New York City alone rewards three to four days. To pair the city with an upstate region — the Finger Lakes wine country, the Hudson Valley or the Adirondacks — plan on a week or more, since the drive from the city to Niagara Falls is roughly seven hours across a very large state. Focusing on a single upstate loop, such as the Finger Lakes, works well in three to five days.
Do you need a car in New York?
It depends on the trip. In New York City you're better off without one — the subway, trains and walking cover everything, and parking is expensive. Upstate is the opposite: the Finger Lakes wineries, Adirondack trailheads, Niagara Falls and the cities we cover are spread out and thinly served by transit, so a rental car is essential once you leave the metro area.
What is New York best known for?
New York City — its skyline, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Broadway — is the headline draw. But the state is also famous for Niagara Falls, the wineries and waterfalls of the Finger Lakes, the vast Adirondack wilderness, and cultural landmarks like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Corning Museum of Glass.
Is upstate New York worth visiting?
Very much so. Upstate holds some of the state's best scenery: the gorges and vineyards of the Finger Lakes around Ithaca, the George Eastman Museum and lakeshore in Rochester, the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, and Niagara Falls in the far west. It's a completely different trip from the city — outdoorsy, small-town and scenic — and the drives between regions are part of the appeal.
How far is Niagara Falls from New York City?
Niagara Falls sits at the western edge of the state, roughly 400 miles and about seven hours' drive from New York City — a reminder of how large New York really is. Most visitors reach the falls by flying into Buffalo or making it part of a wider upstate road trip through the Finger Lakes rather than a day trip from the city.
What are the best wineries and wine regions in New York?
The Finger Lakes is New York's premier wine country, with dozens of vineyards ringing Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka lakes and a reputation for cool-climate Riesling. Long Island's North Fork is the other major region, closer to New York City, while the Hudson Valley has a scattering of historic wineries. Ithaca and the towns along the lakes make natural bases for a Finger Lakes wine trail.
What outdoor activities is New York known for?
New York is a surprisingly outdoorsy state. The Adirondacks offer hiking the High Peaks, paddling and winter skiing around Lake Placid; the Finger Lakes are laced with gorge trails and waterfalls at Watkins Glen and Letchworth; and the Catskills and Hudson Valley have classic hikes within reach of the city. Add Niagara Falls and Long Island's beaches, and there's outdoor variety in every corner.