KAYAK - Rochester, New York Travel Guide

Rochester Travel

Nearby Cities

8 mi Henrietta Hotels
9 mi Pittsford Hotels

Rochester Airports

Rochester Vacations

Rochester was originally known as "The Young Lion of the West", which makes no sense, and then as the "Flour City" because by 1838, it was the largest flour-producing city in the country. There are lots of romantic, luxurious Bed and Breakfast Inns to stay at for that touch of home away from home, as well as the hotels. If nothing else, Rochester has some fun as well as interesting museums to explore in and around the area including the Victorian Doll Museum, the Strong National Museum of Play, the George Eastman Museum, the Corning Museum, and hey, there’s always room for the Jell-O Museum. Other places of interest include the Genesee Country Village and Museum, and the Rochester Museum and Science Center, as well as the Seneca Park Zoo.

Popular Rochester Hotels

Quality Inn Rochester Airport
1273 Chili Avenue

Comfort Inn West
1501 West Ridge Road

Strathallan Hotel
550 East Avenue

Staybridge Suites Rochester University
1000 Genesee Street

Radisson Rochester Riverside
120 east main street. (Downtown)

East Avenue Inn Downtown
384 East Avenue

View more Rochester hotel info »«

Top rated attractions in Rochester

1.	Strong National Museum of Play There is still one more fun place that should not be missed and that is the Strong National Museum of Play with its wide-ranging collection of activities and exhibits including the National Toy Hall of Fame, Reading Adventureland, and Sesame Street, as well as Rainbow Reef, a one thousand gallon saltwater aquarium, and Dancing Wings, an indoor butterfly garden, both of which are great hits with nature lovers. There is also an ice cream fountain and food court on hand. « hide
2.	Corning Museum of Glass Located twenty miles southwest of Rochester, the Corning Museum presents the functionality of glass through enjoyable, informative, and detailed exhibits that chronicle the history and various aspects of Corning glassware. There are also demonstrations given that provide a further understanding of the skill and techniques that are required in this industry. « hide
3.	Seneca Park Zoo Everybody loves a zoo and Rochester has one to offer in the form of the Seneca Park Zoo located north of Route 104 and featuring over three hundred animals including elephants, kangaroos, wolves, orangutans, and tigers along with a fabulous exhibit that allows visitors an underwater observation of polar bears, penguins, and sea lions. Various special events and educational options are also featured. « hide
4.	George Eastman House The George Eastman House is the mansion of former photography mogul George Eastman, which also houses the International Museum of Photography and Film. Exhibits provide visitors with an insightful glimpse into the life and career of Eastman as well as various aspects of photography and related issues. Also featured are a tearoom, gift shop, and garden tour. « hide
5.	Jell-O Museum & Gallery The Jell-O Museum & Gallery is the place where “America’s Most Famous Dessert” had its illustrious beginnings back in 1897. The museum, which is only a half hour’s drive from Rochester, serves up a time-honored slice of Americana that is both entertaining and educational in the historic Leroy House. Exhibits include Jell-O memorabilia from both the present and past. « hide
6.	Genesee Country Village & Museum The Genesee Country Village & Museum is a charming, restored and operational eighteen hundred era village and museum that is located twenty miles southwest of Rochester, which features several building including a log cabin, homes, farmhouse, shops, and restaurants with artisans that are garbed in period attire. « hide
7.	Rochester Museum and Science Center The Rochester Museum and Science Center is a three-tiered facility that offers something for the whole family and promotes educational interest in science and technology through the use of interactive exhibits. Exhibits feature aspects of science that are unique to Rochester along with broader topics in the nature center and planetarium. « hide
8.	Victorian Doll Museum The Victorian Doll Museum is the culmination of a childhood hobby by curator Linda Greenfield that has grown into a fantastic collection of over three thousand dolls dating from the mid-nineteenth century to present day. An audio tour lends a wonderful insight to the history of the ever popular industry of doll collecting and the “doll hospital” is a heart warming addition that gives visitors a chance to watch how damaged and aging dolls are restored. The on-site gift shop sells unique mementos of the visit. « hide
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Top rated restaurants in Rochester

1.	Conesus Inn The Conesus Inn offers a view of Lake Conesus along with a menu that features various options but focusing primarily on steak with prime rib, New York strip, and filet mignon served in generous portions along with an extensive wine list. « hide	6.	Tapas One Seventy Seven Tapas One Seventy Seven is a trendy establishment that takes Spanish tapas (small appetizers) to a whole new level. Menu items vary each day but always offer a variety of appetizer-like dishes like pan-seared trout, five-cheese tortellini, and lobster crisp, just to name a few. « hide
2.	Jeremiah’s Tavern Jeremiah’s Tavern is a popular bar and grill with fast, friendly service and a menu that features items like their renowned wings that range from mild to mind-blowing hot, as well as a Friday Fish Fry that features a nine-ounce haddock filet with special beer batter, fried in peanut oil. The bar also offers twenty different beers on tap along with a number of bottle beers. « hide	7.	Charlie’s Frog Pond Charlie’s Frog Pond is known for the best Eggs Benedict in the city along with its tasty pasta and burgers and interesting specials like Calamari and Duck Quesadillas featured on Wednesday's and Friday's. « hide
3.	Grill 175 Grill 175 features a variety of American dishes along with thirteen thousand bottles of wine, one thousand of which are all different. Servers have been extensively trained to offer suggestions on complimenting wines that go with the meals. Business dressy attire suggested « hide	8.	Horizons Restaurant Horizons Restaurant serves up an elegant breakfast, lunch and dinner with an International menu that features sea bass and rack of lamb along with steaks and other seafood specialties. Friday night also features a seafood extravaganza not to be missed. « hide
4.	Mario’s Via Abruzzi Mario’s Via Abruzzi is a bit of Italy in New York featuring a menu with appetizers that include Grilled Calamari, Roasted Portobello Caps, Coconut Shrimp, and Seafood Sampler; and entrees that include Steak Diane, Grilled Lobster, Salmon Filet, Steak Capistrano, Grilled Veal Liver, and much more. « hide	9.	Charlie Brown's Charlie Browns features breakfast served all day in this family oriented restaurant that locals consider to be the best breakfast and lunch place in the city. Home-style selections include over thirty different kinds of omelets. « hide
5.	Portabello Ristorante Portabello Ristorante offers a relaxed atmosphere with Italian music in the back ground, setting the ambience for some fine northern Italian dining including everything from homemade bread to pastas and sautéed meats, topped off with and extensive wine list. « hide	10.	Tapas One Seventy Seven Lounge Tapas One Seventy Seven Lounge features a relaxing atmosphere, Spanish tapas, an extensive wine list, and an interesting martini menu to go with the live entertainment and special events provided throughout the month including the ever popular DJ Luna as well as salsa night. Menu items vary from day-to-day and feature a variety of appetizer-like dishes. « hide

Rochester Insider tips

Winter in Rochester

Those tourists visiting Rochester during the winter months of November thru March should be prepared for a very frosty time. Snow squalls and lake effect snow can blow up a storm practically without warning dumping a ton of the fluffy white stuff on the area and making for some pretty hazardous driving conditions. Needless to say, it can also get very, very cold. Visitors who are driving need to do so very carefully when this happens, dress warmly in layers, and keep emergency supplies in the trunk of the car like blankets, flashlights, batteries, water, and food. Also always keep cell phones charged up for emergencies. « hide

Crime in Rochester

It would seem that there are very few places in America that aren’t affected with the blight of crime and Rochester, unfortunately, is no exception. Visitors should use the same precautions they would in a much larger city. Some of the areas to avoid are Clifford Street, Avenues A, B, C, and D, the north side of the city just north of the inner loop where FIGHT village is located, a very dangerous housing project, as well as outside the Cornhill neighborhood, where two more housing projects are located, East Avenue, and finally the high falls district. « hide

Rochester nightlife

Bug Jar

The Bug Jar welcomes its guests into a colorful world with floors that swirl with bold colors and walls teaming with the works of local artists. Drink specials and live entertainment are featured nightly with both national and local musical talent. Be sure to check out the room that has all of the furniture arranged on the ceiling. « hide

Cheap Rochester Flights

These are the cheapest* flights to Rochester found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours. Use the links to see if you can get a better flight deal.

From Rs. 13057 Flights Atlanta (ATL) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 11882 Flights Charlotte (CLT) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 11982 Flights Tampa (TPA) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 7478 Flights New York (NYC) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 6878 Flights Baltimore (BWI) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 17748 Flights Los Angeles (LAX) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 11957 Flights Boston (BOS) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 10478 Flights Orlando (MCO) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 15657 Flights Minneapolis (MSP) - Rochester (ROC)
From Rs. 7478 Flights New York (JFK) - Rochester (ROC)