Syracuse

Understand

Because of its proximity to Lake Ontario, Syracuse is the rainiest city in the US, if you count the number of days in which at least a tiny bit of precipitation falls. However, many of these are just short showers, and it doesn't add up to an unusual amount of water total. Still, if you're there longer than a couple of days, you are almost guaranteed to encounter some rain in this famously cloudy and wet city. Even during the drier parts of the year, you should check the weather forecast a few days before your arrival there, so you can see whether you need a rain jacket, an umbrella, or something more significant. During the winter, you should expect snow, sometimes in very large quantities. The "lake effect" means that large amounts of snow gets dumped on Syracuse. If you'll be driving in the snow, prepare in advance to have chains or snow tires.

Getting there

By train

1 William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center, 131 NBT Bank Parkway (just north of downtown). The city's central rail and long-distance bus hub. (updated Oct 2023) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Dec 2020) Routes stopping at Syracuse: Empire Service operating twice daily between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City including stops in Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Maple Leaf operating daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and Niagara Falls (New York) include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls (Ontario). Stops between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City are the same as those made by the Empire Service. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States. Lake Shore Limited operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer). The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City. Stops between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer) include South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and Boston include Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and New York City include Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, and Croton-on-Hudson.

By bus Intercity buses stop at William F. Walsh Re

Getting around

By car A car is probably the best way to get around Syracuse, especially if you are going to places away from downtown. Thanks to its many Interstate highways (I-90, I-81, I-481, and I-690), nearly everywhere in the Syracuse area can be reached within a 20-minute drive. Make sure you have a map and pay attention to the street signs. There are some streets in the downtown area that go from being two-way to one-way, which is not always clear on a map.

On foot You can walk to most of the destinations in downtown Syracuse from a parking lot or the Centro bus terminal.

By bicycle Most of the downtown area is relatively flat, but keep in mind that the Syracuse University area has many steep hills and the residential areas surrounding downtown have quite a few hills as well. What some people will do is catch a ride on the bus downtown, placing their bike on the bike rack on the front of the bus and then use their bike once they reach downtown, thus avoiding the steep hills. E-bike rentals are available throughout the downtown area via Sync Bike Share.

By bus The Centro Bus System provides a fair alternative to driving to most locations, with a fare of $2 within Syracuse and additional fares to outlying suburbs, such as to Auburn for $4 and to Oswego for $5. Buses can come sporadically, especially if you plan to ride the bus outside of Downtown Syracuse, so check the bus schedule online in advance. If you have to transfer to another bus, be sure to ask the bus driver for a transfer card so that you don't get stuck paying double fares for the same trip. Centro offers discounts for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and children. The buses are accessible to people with disabilities and the bus drivers are instructed to let a person with a physical disability on before letting other passengers on.

3 Centro Transit Hub, 599 S. Salina St. Information booth open M–F 6AM–6PM, Sa 8AM–5PM, closed Su. The central hub for all Centro bus routes, located right in Dow

See

Up-to-date information about happenings in Syracuse can most easily be found in online calendars, though the weekly Eagle Newspapers, and Syracuse's only major print newspaper, The Post-Standard, publish upcoming events in the Central New York area. Online calendars of upcoming events are offered by local media groups:

Visit Syracuse WSYR Events Syracuse New Times Calendar WRVO Public Media Community Calendar

Museums 1 Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St, ☏ +1 315-474-6064, fax: +1 315-474-6943, [email protected]. Su W F noon–5PM, Th noon–8PM, Sa 10AM–5PM, closed M Tu; open noon–8PM on the first Friday of every month. Houses 11,000 works of American art, with an excellent permanent collection of ceramics, in a building designed by architect I.M. Pei. Adults $8, seniors/students $6, free for children ages 12 and under, pay-what-you-wish every Wednesday. (updated Aug 2019) 2 Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd E, ☏ +1 315-471-0593, fax: +1 315-471-7220, [email protected]. M–Sa 10AM–5PM, Su 10AM–3PM. The canal no longer passes through downtown Syracuse, but this museum celebrates its history. Features the last standing weighlock on the canal, a replica of an old canal freighter, and a number of historical exhibits. Free; suggested donation $5. (updated Aug 2019) 3 Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (The MoST), 500 S Franklin St, ☏ +1 315-425-9068. W–Su 10AM–5PM, closed M Tu. A kid-friendly science museum and learning center, equipped with an interactive rock-climbing wall, geologic cave, flight simulator, and a giant, multi-level indoor playhouse, among other exhibits. Also includes a domed IMAX theater and planetarium. Exhibits only: $12 adults, $10 seniors/children (ages 2-11); Exhibits & IMAX: $17 adults, $15 seniors/children; free for children under 2. (updated Aug 2019) 4 Onondaga Historical Museum, 321 Montgomery St, ☏ +1 315-428-1864, fax: +1 315-471-2133. W–F 10AM–4PM, Sa Su 11AM–4PM, closed M Tu. Permanent and temporary exh

Do

Live theater and music 1 Landmark Theatre, 362 S Salina St, ☏ +1 315-475-7979. Box office M–F 10AM–5PM, closes at 4PM in summer. Open