Ithaca & Finger Lakes

A college town at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes; "Ithaca is Gorges," ringed by waterfall-filled gorges and lakeside wineries.

Ithaca, in central New York State, is the seat of Tompkins County and sits at the southern end of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region, about 370 km from New York City and 90 km from Syracuse. Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, this town of around 30,000 has a strong college-town feel, and its slogan, "Ithaca is Gorges," sums up its biggest draw: glacier-carved shale gorges surround the town, with more than 150 waterfalls within a 10-mile radius. Sightseeing falls into three areas: first, downtown and the Cornell campus, including the clock tower, the Arts Quad, Ithaca Falls, Cascadilla Gorge and the pedestrian Commons; second, the state parks on the outskirts—Taughannock Falls, Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls, three gorge-and-waterfall parks each 15–20 minutes' drive away; third, day trips around the Finger Lakes: about 40 minutes west to Watkins Glen at the southern end of Seneca Lake, then southwest to the Corning Museum of Glass; north along both shores of Cayuga Lake runs the wine trail, and at the lake's northern end are the Montezuma wetlands and Seneca Falls. The best season is Jun–Oct: in summer the falls run full and you can swim in the plunge pools, while Sep–Oct brings fall foliage and the grape harvest at their finest; winters are cold and snowy, and most gorge trails close from Nov to May. Ithaca has a small airport (ITH), but most visitors come by long-distance bus from New York City (about 4.5–5 hours) or drive; sights are spread out, so a rental car is strongly recommended. Plan on 2–3 days: one for campus and town, one for the state park waterfalls, and one for Watkins Glen and the wineries. Gorge stone steps are slippery, so wear shoes with good grip, and never drink and drive after wine tasting.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries