Things to do in Syracuse, splurging
Art, serious dinners, and cocktails across a city worth knowing better.
This is Syracuse for people who eat and drink with intent: a Pei museum in the morning, a long Italian dinner at night, and a cocktail bar within walking distance of both. Day two leaves town for Skaneateles, with lunch at the Sherwood Inn and an afternoon by the lake, before the east side's best tables on day three.
Day 1: Downtown, Art and a Long Dinner
The I.M. Pei building anchors the morning, the Erie Canal fills the afternoon, and Abbiocco closes things out over pasta worth planning your trip around.
- 9:30 AM
Collegetown Bagels
Bagel shop on Marshall Street by the university; a bagel sandwich and a coffee to go.
Map - 10:30 AM
Everson Museum of Art
I.M. Pei's first museum, a sculptural concrete building with a deep American ceramics collection.
Map - 12:30 PM
- 2:30 PM
Erie Canal Museum
Set in the 1850 Weighlock Building, the last of its kind; climb aboard the full-size canal boat inside.
Map - 7:30 PM
Abbiocco by A Mano
The Fiacchi family's Italian trattoria on South Warren; handmade pasta and a long, slow dinner.
Map - 9:30 PM
The York
The York is a downtown cocktail bar steps from dinner, solid late-night drink to close out the evening well before midnight.
Map
Day 2: A lake day in Skaneateles
A morning on the pier at Clift Park, lunch at the Sherwood Inn, an afternoon at Mirbeau's spa, then dinner at Rosalie's Cucina.
- 10:00 AM
Clift Park
Walk out on the village pier for the long view down Skaneateles Lake, then browse East Genesee Street.
Map - 12:30 PM
The Sherwood Inn
1807 stagecoach inn facing the lake; take a window table for lunch and a glass of Finger Lakes riesling.
Map - 2:30 PM
Mirbeau Inn & Spa
Book a massage, then the steam room and a walk round the Monet-style water garden and its bridge.
Map - 6:30 PM
Rosalie's Cucina
Tuscan dining room next to Mirbeau; house-made pasta and bread from its own bakery. Wednesday to Sunday; book.
Map
Day 3: East Side: Korean, Parks, Italian
Chorong House at lunch, Thornden Park to decompress, then Delmonico's for a classic red-sauce splurge to finish the trip.
- 12:30 PM
Chorong House
Korean home cooking near the university; bibimbap in a hot stone bowl and a spread of banchan.
Map - 2:30 PM
Thornden Park
Hilltop park by the university with an amphitheatre and the E.M. Mills rose garden.
Map - 7:30 PM
Delmonico's Syracuse
Regional Italian steakhouse on Erie Boulevard; big plates of red-sauce classics and steaks.
Map - 9:30 PM
Tully's Good Times Erie Blvd.
Local sports-bar chain next to dinner; chicken tenders and a beer if the night isn't over.
Map
Make Syracuse your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Neapolis Archaeological Park: a few days ahead
- Teatro dei Pupi: a few days ahead
- Teatro Greco: weeks ahead
- Cavagrande del Cassibile: a few days ahead
- Rifugio Sapienza: a few days ahead
- Noto: a few days ahead
Skip these
- The Ortigia ZTL limited traffic zone fines drivers months later via rental companies. Do not drive in unless your hotel registered your plate.
- Piazza Duomo cafe terraces for a full meal. Pay for coffee and the view, eat dinner two streets away.
- Lungomare waterfront restaurants with photo menus and touts are the island's weakest kitchens.
- Archimedes Tomb and Tecnoparco style minor attractions are thin filler. A day trip only visit is the commonest mistake.
The full Syracuse travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around