Rochester is the cultural and economic hub of the Finger Lakes region. The city is home to museums, theaters, historic neighborhoods, parks, professional sports teams, and a growing food and beverage scene. A day in Rochester might include time at a museum, a walk through one of the city’s parks, a visit to High Falls or the Lake Ontario shoreline, and an evening performance, festival, or sporting event.
Plan Your Day Trip in the City of Rochester
Breakfast
Begin your day in the East End with a satisfying breakfast at Jim’s on Main, Jines, The Mad Hatter, or Locals Only. On market days, the Rochester Public Market offers another option for breakfast or a light snack, with vendors serving coffee, baked goods, doughnuts, chai, and other grab-and-go fare.
Morning
Choose one of Rochester’s museums to spend a few hours. The Strong National Museum of Play focuses on play and interactive exhibits. The Rochester Museum & Science Center explores science and technology. The George Eastman Museum centers on photography and film history, while the Memorial Art Gallery presents art from around the world. Each museum has a gift shop, and nearby businesses such as Parkleigh and Craft Company No. 6 offer additional opportunities to browse books, gifts, artwork, and locally made goods. Or stop into Stacy K Floral, home to Winter Swan Coffee.
Lunch
On Monroe Avenue, there are many places to grab lunch, including Dogtown, Han Noodle Bar, Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food, and Aladdin’s Natural Eatery. After lunch, take some time to browse the shops at Archimage and Aaron’s Alley.
Afternoon
Drive up to Cobb’s Hill Reservoir for a view of the Rochester skyline from above the treetops. Afterward, continue exploring the Pinnacle Range with a walk through Highland Park or Mount Hope Cemetery. As you head north through the city, stop at High Falls and the adjacent Genesee Brew House, where exhibits, a restaurant, and a rooftop observation area provide views of High Falls and the surrounding gorge. Take time to explore Seneca Park Zoo, and if the seasonal ZooTram is operating, hop on for a ride back to your car. Alternatively, Rochester is home to numerous craft breweries that offer another way to explore the city. Other Rochester breweries include Rohrbach, Three Heads, Strangebird, Iron Tug, Sager-Stoneyard Pub, and Nine Maidens.
Dinner
Drive to Charlotte and choose from Hose 22 Firehouse Grill, California Rollin’ II, Mr. Dominic’s, Windjammers, or Whiskey’s Upper Deck for dinner by Lake Ontario.
Evening
Enjoy a sunset stroll along the pier with an Abbott’s Frozen Custard. Alternatively, plan your night around a live performance at the West Herr Auditorium Theatre, Geva Theatre, Blackfriars Theatre, or the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at Eastman Theatre. You could also catch a movie at The Little Theatre or Dryden Theatre, attend a show at Comedy at The Carlson, attend a Red Wings baseball game, bowl at Radio Social, or watch an Amerks hockey game.
Signature Events
George Eastman Museum Dutch Connection
February
Dutch Connection fills the George Eastman Museum with tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowering bulbs. The indoor display brings color to the mansion and conservatory during the middle of winter.
Rochester Polar Plunge
February
Polar Plunge draws participants and spectators to Ontario Beach Park for a winter fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics New York. It is one of several activities held during the Lakeside Winter Celebration.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March
St. Patrick’s Day Parade brings marching bands, community groups, dancers, and spectators to downtown Rochester. The parade travels along East Avenue and Main Street, with celebrations continuing at restaurants and gathering places throughout the city.
Rochester Lilac Festival
May
Rochester Lilac Festival celebrates the city’s floral heritage with free concerts, art, food, races, and other events in Highland Park. Visitors can explore hundreds of varieties of lilacs within the park’s historic collection.
Rochester International Jazz Festival
June
Rochester International Jazz Festival brings musicians from around the world to Rochester for nine days of performances. In addition to ticketed concerts, the festival offers free performances on outdoor stages throughout downtown.
Corn Hill Arts Festival
July
Corn Hill Arts Festival fills Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhood with hundreds of artists, live music, food vendors, and family activities.
Clothesline Art Festival
September
Clothesline Festival transforms the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery with artists, craftspeople, live entertainment, and food vendors. Admission includes access to the museum.
Rochester Fringe Festival
September
Rochester Fringe Festival presents free and ticketed performances at venues throughout the city. Theater, dance, music, comedy, visual art, circus, and multidisciplinary productions range from established performers to experimental work.
ROC the Riverway Weekend
early October
ROC the Riverway Weekend celebrates the Genesee River with guided hikes, bike rides, paddles, tours, educational programs, and other activities along the river corridor. Many activities are free, although some require advance registration or a ticket.
Holidays at the George Eastman Museum
November
Holidays at the George Eastman Museum fills the historic mansion with gingerbread displays, decorated wreaths, tabletop trees, and seasonal decorations. Holiday films and other programs take place at the Dryden Theatre.
Roc Holiday Village
December
Roc Holiday Village transforms Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in downtown Rochester with ice skating, shopping, entertainment, seasonal food and drinks, and visits with Santa throughout December.
Holidays at the Rochester Public Market
December
Holidays at the Rochester Public Market features vendors selling Christmas trees, wreaths, decorations, specialty foods, and handcrafted gifts. Selected weekends may also include music, carriage rides, and visits with Santa.
Holiday Show at Lamberton Conservatory
December
Lamberton Conservatory Holiday Show fills the conservatory with seasonal plants, decorations, and lights. Selected evening hours allow visitors to see the displays after dark.
High Falls State Park
Construction of the new High Falls State Park in Rochester, NY, is slated to begin in 2026. While the park may not be complete until the early 2030s, sections will open in phases so that we can enjoy the space as soon as possible. Follow the updates at highfallsstateparkny.com
Learn more in the High Falls State Park Design Workshop Final Report, 8/26/24 (pdf), produced by the Community Design Center of Rochester in collaboration with Greentopia. Greentopia designed the High Falls New York State Park logo.
Contact Information
Abbott’s Frozen Custard 4791 Lake Ave., (585) 865-7400, abbottscustard.com
Aaron’s Alley 662 Monroe Ave., (585) 244-5044, aaronsalleyroc.com
Aladdin’s Natural Eatery 646 Monroe Ave., (585) 442-5000, eataladdins.com
Archimage 668 Monroe Ave., (585) 271-2789, archimagestore.com
Blackfriars Theatre 795 E. Main St., (585) 454-1260, blackfriars.org
Blue Cross Arena (Rochester Americans) 1 War Memorial Square, (585) 454-5335 bluecrossarena.com, amerks.com
California Rollin’ II 1000 N. River St., Suite 123, (585) 271-8920, californiarollin.com
Cobb’s Hill Reservoir Reservoir Road, cityofrochester.gov
Comedy @ the Carlson 50 Carlson Road, (585) 426-6339, carlsoncomedy.com
Craft Company No. 6 785 University Ave., (585) 473-3413, craftcompany.com
Dogtown 691 Monroe Ave., (585) 271-6620, dogtownhots.com
Eastman Theatre (Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra) 60 Gibbs St., (585) 454-2100, rpo.org
ESL Ballpark (Rochester Red Wings) 1 Morrie Silver Way, (585) 454-1001, redwingsbaseball.com
Genesee Brew House 25 Cataract St., (585) 263-9200, geneseebeer.com
George Eastman Museum and Dryden Theatre 900 East Ave., (585) 327-4800, eastman.org
Geva Theatre 75 Woodbury Blvd., (585) 232-4382, gevatheatre.org
Han Noodle Bar 600 Monroe Ave., (585) 242-7333, hannoodlebar.com
Highland Park 180 Reservoir Ave., (585) 753-7275, monroecounty.gov
Hose 22 Firehouse Grill 56 Stutson St., (585) 621-2200, hose22.com
Iron Tug Brewing 371 Park Ave., (585) 738-5606, irontugbrewing.com
Jim’s on Main 785 E. Main St., (585) 442-4172, jimsonmain.com
Jines 658 Park Ave., (585) 461-1280, jinesrestaurant.com
The Little Theatre 240 East Ave., (585) 258-0400, thelittle.org
Locals Only 311 Alexander St., (585) 537-7566, localsonly311.com
The Mad Hatter 176 S. Goodman St., (585) 545-4985 madhatterrestaurantandbakery.com
Memorial Art Gallery 500 University Ave., (585) 276-8900, mag.rochester.edu
Mount Hope Cemetery 1133 Mount Hope Ave., fomh.org
Mr. Dominic’s at the Lake 4699 Lake Ave., (585) 730-5444, mrdominics.com
Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food 642 Monroe Ave., (585) 978-7210, nenosmexican.com
Nine Maidens Brewing 1344 University Ave., Suite 140, (585) 434-3030 ninemaidensbrewing.com
Parkleigh 215 Park Ave., (585) 244-4842, parkleigh.com
Radio Social 20 Carlson Road, (585) 244-1484, radio-social.com
Rochester Museum & Science Center 657 East Ave., (585) 271-4320, rmsc.org
Rochester Public Market 280 N. Union St., (585) 428-6907, cityofrochester.gov
Rohrbach Brewing Company 97 Railroad St., (585) 546-8020, rohrbachs.com
Sager-Stoneyard Pub 46 Sager Drive, Suite E, (585) 417-5404, sagerbeerworks.com
Seneca Park Zoo 2222 St. Paul St., (585) 336-7200, senecaparkzoo.org
Stacy K Floral / Winter Swan Coffee 43 Russell St., (585) 244-1414, stacykfloral.com winterswancoffee.com
Strangebird 62 Marshall St., (585) 505-8700, strangebirdbeer.com
The Strong National Museum of Play 1 Manhattan Square Drive, (585) 263-2700, museumofplay.org
Three Heads Brewing 186 Atlantic Ave., (585) 244-1224, threeheadsbrewing.com
West Herr Auditorium Theatre 885 E. Main St., (585) 222-5000, rbtl.org
Whiskey’s Upper Deck 1000 N. River St., 2nd Floor, Suite 203, (585) 287-5433 whiskeysupperdeck.com
More About Rochester, NY
Rochester, New York, is a vibrant and diverse city in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. With a population of over 200,000, it is the fourth-largest city in the state and home to several world-renowned institutions and attractions.
Rochester was recently included in a list of 23 of the best places you should travel to in the US in 2023 by Insider. Specifically, they note that Rochester “deserves a spot on this list because the city will host the 2023 PGA Championship” May 15 – 21, 2023, at Oak Hill Country Club. In 2023, the Strong National Museum of Play will also complete its 90,000-square-foot expansion.
One of Rochester’s most widely known attractions is the Strong National Museum of Play, which houses a collection of more than 100,000 toys and games and an interactive children’s museum. The museum is a must-see for families and is a great way to learn about the history of play and entertainment.
Rochester is also home to the University of Rochester, a prestigious institution that offers a wide range of academic programs and research opportunities, and Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf.
In addition to its educational and cultural institutions, Rochester is an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The city is surrounded by beautiful parks and green spaces, including the Genesee Riverway Trail, which offers miles of hiking and biking paths. The nearby Finger Lakes region is also popular for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Rochester’s thriving arts and culture scene is another reason to visit. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the oldest orchestras in the country, performs regularly at the Eastman Theater, and the city is home to many galleries, theaters, and performance spaces.
Overall, Rochester is a vibrant and exciting city with something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or outdoor activities, Rochester always has something to see and do.
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What does your ideal day in the city of Rochester include?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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