Downtown Rochester Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Genesee River\'s High Falls featuring a city and street scenes as well as a couple
Memorial Art Gallery which includes art, heritage elements and interior views
Downtown Rochester
Downtown Rochester showing a fountain
Memorial Art Gallery showing signage and wild flowers
This lively downtown is full of opportunities for recreation and relaxation and is the best place to connect with the unique history of the city.

Downtown Rochester, cut through by the Genesee River, is the heart of this upstate New York city. Filled with museums, parks and historic sites, it’s the perfect place to understand this fascinating region. Walk through exhibits, splash in park fountains or sit on a rooftop and watch the Genesee River’s High Falls crash into the river below.

Follow the Heritage Trail, a 1.25-mile (2-kilometer) path, marked with granite or blue paint and winding through the city’s downtown. It stops at a number of historically significant spots from Rochester’s industrial past as well as sites commemorating the activism of local heroes Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony.

Cross the Pont de Rennes Bridge. This pedestrian suspension bridge traverses the cliffs over which the waterfall splashes, bathing everything in a cool mist, the perfect refresher on a hot summer day.

Wander through old industrial neighborhoods on the way to Susan B. Anthony House, once the famous suffragette’s home and the place from which she launched her first attempt to vote.

Go back over the bridge and visit The Strong National Museum of Play, an enormous multi-level museum and amusement park featuring a miniature Wegmans supermarket, pinball arcade and immense toy collections.

Emerge into nearby Manhattan Square Park and Ice Rink. Glide across the ice or relax in the shady garden in summer.

Play with fossils or watch a star show at nearby Rochester Museum and Science Center, learning all about the Great Lakes region.

Downtown Rochester straddles the banks of the Genesee River, upstream from Lake Ontario. Drive here in 90 minutes from Niagara Falls or 3.5 hours from Albany, New York. Train service is available to New York City and other regional destinations including Canada. Downtown Rochester has an extensive bus service and is quite walkable.

There’s no better way to spend your last night in Downtown Rochester than at a free or close-to-free concert at Eastman School of Music, one of the country’s top music schools.


Popular places to visit


Our pick of the best Downtown Rochester Hotel Deals

Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester Downtown
Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester Downtown
2.5 out of 5
101 South Union Street, Rochester, NY
The price is AU$291 per night from 1 Jan to 2 Jan
AU$291
includes taxes & fees
1 Jan - 2 Jan 2025
Stay at this hotel in Rochester. Enjoy free parking, a free airport shuttle, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (301 reviews)
"Clean, modern hotel with up to date facilities. Loved the complimentary breakfast, pool, and gym."

Reviewed on 28 Nov. 2024

Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester Downtown
Hyatt Regency Rochester
Hyatt Regency Rochester
3.5 out of 5
125 East Main Street, Rochester, NY
The price is AU$206 per night from 1 Jan to 2 Jan
AU$206
includes taxes & fees
1 Jan - 2 Jan 2025
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Rochester. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,006 reviews)
"Smooth check in with friendly staff!"

Reviewed on 1 Dec. 2024

Hyatt Regency Rochester
Hilton Garden Inn Rochester Downtown, NY
Hilton Garden Inn Rochester Downtown, NY
3 out of 5
155 E Main St, Rochester, NY
The price is AU$229 per night from 22 Dec to 23 Dec
AU$229
includes taxes & fees
22 Dec - 23 Dec
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Rochester. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (696 reviews)
"Location perfect"

Reviewed on 16 Nov. 2024

Hilton Garden Inn Rochester Downtown, NY
Inn on Broadway
Inn on Broadway
3.5 out of 5
26 Broadway, Rochester, NY
The price is AU$243 per night from 2 Jan to 3 Jan
AU$243
includes taxes & fees
2 Jan - 3 Jan 2025
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Rochester. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (581 reviews)

Reviewed on 26 Nov. 2024

Inn on Broadway
School 31 Lofts at Colors Studios
School 31 Lofts at Colors Studios
2.5 out of 5
208 Goodman St N, Rochester, NY
The price is AU$290 per night from 17 Dec to 18 Dec
AU$290
includes taxes & fees
17 Dec - 18 Dec
Stay at this hotel in Rochester. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and private spa tubs. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (427 reviews)
"Very comfortable relaxing and peaceful. I enjoyed my stay"

Reviewed on 30 Nov. 2024

School 31 Lofts at Colors Studios
The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa - DoubleTree by Hilton
The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa - DoubleTree by Hilton
4 out of 5
550 East Ave, Rochester, NY
The price is AU$298 per night from 16 Dec to 17 Dec
AU$298
includes taxes & fees
16 Dec - 17 Dec
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Rochester. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (753 reviews)
"Great place, staff very friendly. Most comfortable bed. I wish I would have had more time to check out the restaurants. Definitely would stay again."

Reviewed on 5 Nov. 2024

The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa - DoubleTree by Hilton
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Downtown Rochester

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Rochester Central Business District

While visiting Rochester Central Business District, you might make a stop by sights like Genesee River and Blue Cross Arena.

Rochester Central Business District
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South Wedge

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in South Wedge and surrounding area, you can visit Strong and Blue Cross Arena.

South Wedge
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Monroe Village

Monroe Village might not have many top sights, but Strong and Manhattan Square Park and Ice Rink are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Monroe Village
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Marketview Heights

When in Marketview Heights, you can plan a visit to Main Street Armory and Rochester Auditorium Theater, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Marketview Heights
Memorial Art Gallery featuring heritage elements, interior views and art

Neighborhood of the Arts

You'll enjoy the museums and live music in Neighborhood of the Arts. You might want to make time for a stop at Main Street Armory or Rochester Auditorium Theater.

Neighborhood of the Arts
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Highland Park

If you're spending some time in Highland Park, Highland Park and Frederick Douglass Statue are top sights worth seeing.

Highland Park

Downtown Rochester Travel Guide

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