2025's 8 Best Small Towns To Visit In New York
While most visitors flock to New York for the glitz of the Big Apple, there is an entirely different side of the Empire State waiting to be discovered. With as much flair and energy as the skyscrapers and bustling avenues of New York City, the best small towns to visit in New York have an abundance of history and natural beauty that will make you want to see more. Whether you are exploring the tranquil waters of the Finger Lakes or wandering through artistic mountain hamlets, New York’s small towns offer unforgettable experiences and historic allure for those curious to take a journey through the scenic, cultural, and quirky corners of New York’s countryside.
Ithaca
Set along the shores of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is more than a college town: it is a wonderland of gorges, waterfalls, and vibrant cultures that many newcomers will adore and admire. Among the many awesome natural landmarks to seek out in Ithaca is the Cascadilla Gorge Trail, where a scenic stone path weaves past cascading falls right in the heart of town. Just beyond, Robert H. Treman State Park offers dramatic cliffside views and refreshing swimming holes beneath towering waterfalls. A visit to Taughannock Falls State Park will lead travelers to one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Rockies, plunging 215 feet into a plummet pluming with mist, sprays, and fog. Last but not least is the Buttermilk Falls State Park, where the perennial woodlands of New York remain unchanged and undaunted within distance to the concrete jungles of New York City. The town’s charm is further enhanced by its lively arts scene and local eateries, many of which are supported by the nearby Cornell University and Ithaca College communities. With cozy lodgings like The Hotel Ithaca or the eco-conscious Canopy by Hilton Ithaca Downtown, Ithaca is a perfect home base for exploring this enchanting corner of the Finger Lakes.
Bethel
Bethel may seem like a sleepy Catskills town, but it once roared with the voices of a generation during the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival. The original concert grounds now house the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a live performance venue and museum celebrating peace, music, and the counterculture movement that so resisted the violence of the Vietnam War. Inside the Museum at Bethel Woods, visitors can dive into multimedia exhibits about the singers like the Grateful Dead, the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Janis Joplin, who sought to change the world through music. For modern-day music lovers, the annual Mountain Jam Festival carries the spirit of Woodstock forward each summer with indie, rock, and folk artists. Just outside town, nature trails and vistas of the Catskill Mountains provide quiet moments for reflection. Should you wish to stay a little longer in Bethel, you can spend your nights in style at luxurious lodgings like Kenoza Hall, the Gedney House, or the Resorts World Catskills, each offering a different slice of Bethel hospitality.
Woodstock
Though it did not host the legendary festival, Woodstock has long been a cultural haven for artists, musicians, and spiritual seekers. It is located around 58 miles away from Bethel, the true location of the Woodstock Festival. Amidst the towering heights of the Catskill Mountains, this bohemian town invites exploration into serene and splendid areas like the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery open for meditation sessions and tours. For panoramic views, the hike up Overlook Mountain rewards travelers with superb and splendid scenery of the Catskill Mountains, as well as the eerie ruins of an abandoned hotel. Outdoor enthusiasts will also love Indian Head Wilderness, a rugged area filled with dense forest, creeks, and wildlife. The tranquil Ashokan Reservoir and trails within Kaaterskill Wild Forest offer even more quiet moments of connection with nature. As for accommodations, stylish boutique inns like Woodstock Way, The Inn on the Millstream, and Hotel Dylan create relaxing accommodations infused with the town’s artsy, laidback vibe.
Saratoga Springs
A town infused with American Revolutionary War history and Victorian elegance, Saratoga Springs effortlessly shines as one of the best towns in New York with its peaceful atmosphere and captivating attractions. Visitors at the Saratoga Springs History Museum will learn much about the town’s storied past, including Saratoga Springs’ role in the pivotal 1777 Battle of Saratoga. For a spooky side of history, one can explore the Canfield Casino, said to be one of New York’s most haunted landmarks and a former hotspot for Gilded Age elites. When it comes to leisure and lethargy, the soothing mineral springs of the Saratoga Spa State Park bubble in an area brimming with classical architecture and peaceful walking trails. Nearby, Saratoga Lake offers kayaking and lakeside picnicking, while the Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area provides a peaceful habitat for local flora and fauna. After a day of exploring, you can enjoy refined comfort at the Adelphi Hotel, the Saratoga Casino Hotel, or the Embassy Suites by Hilton after a long day of adventure.
Watkins Glen
Famous for its waterfalls and racing legacy, Watkins Glen is a stunning small town near the Finger Lakes where one can savor adventure and beauty in New York’s countryside. One of the best spots to go gallivanting and sauntering in the outdoors is the Watkins Glen State Park, where visitors can hike through a gorge carved by glacial forces and admire 19 cascading waterfalls within two miles. For a wilder side of the region, you can explore the sprawling Sugar Hill State Forest or the serene Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, both excellent locales for hiking and wildlife spotting. Racing fans will be thrilled at Watkins Glen International, a legendary racetrack that has hosted Formula One, NASCAR, and IMSA SportsCar events, earning both the site and the town the nickname “The Glen.” Amazingly enough, you can sip local vintages along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail for those of you who delight in the taste of wine and other liquors in New York. When all is said and done, you can unwind in one of Watkins Glen’s comfortable abodes, such as the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, the Lakeside Resort, or The Hotel Laurel at Seneca.
Sleepy Hollow
In a town of foggy trails, folkloric horsemen, and legends of a grand vanishing, the mystical village of Sleepy Hollow captures the imagination like few places can. This riverside town, immortalized in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, leans into its eerie reputation with whimsy and wonder, as travelers can admire the dramatic Headless Horseman Sculpture located in the heart of town. The brave and the bold can go wandering through Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Irving himself rests among towering oaks and mossy stones. Those with a desire to see the artistic nuance and natural splendor of Sleepy Hollow can journey into the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, with miles of peaceful trails on what was once the estate of David Rockefeller. Just nearby, you can also tour the elegant Kykuit, a former Rockefeller mansion filled with 20th-century art, antiques, and stunning views over the Hudson Valley. For a peaceful night free of ghostly gallops, you can rest safe and sound at either the Sleepy Hollow Hotel & Conference Center, the Hotel Nyack, or the Sheraton Tarrytown Hotel.
Auburn
Situated on the northern tip of Owasco Lake, Auburn is a shining and shimmering little town in the Finger Lakes with deep historical roots and a strong sense of community and camaraderie. Most notably, it is the chosen hometown of Harriet Tubman, whose legacy in the Underground Railroad is honored at the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, a moving tribute to her life as a freedom fighter and humanitarian during the American Civil War. Another beloved and visited site is the Seward House Museum, the former residence of Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of State, William H. Seward, whose foresight led to the purchase of Alaska. Innovation also finds a place in Auburn at the Cayuga Museum of History and Art, home to the Case Research Lab, where sound-on-film technology revolutionized cinema. Whether you are into activism, politics, or science, Auburn is definitely “the loveliest village in the plain, where health and plenty cheered the laboring swain,” as the poet Oliver Goldsmith said in “The Deserted Village.” Many will definitely come to adore this amazing New York town after booking a room in places like the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn, the Inn at the Finger Lakes, or the Holiday Inn Auburn-Finger Lakes Region.
Lake Placid
As the Adirondack Mountains cradle this lush and gorgeous lakeside town known as Lake Placid, travelers will come to marvel at this beautiful haven in the outdoors for both its modern scenery and its recent history. Twice the town played host for the Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980), and visitors can learn more about Lake Placid’s Olympic history at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, where you can relive the "Miracle on Ice" and explore the town’s sporting legacy. The landscape around town continues to invite and encourage adventurers to go sojourning through the verdant regions of the famed 46 High Peaks, each offering challenging ascents and jaw-dropping views. For adrenaline seekers, Whiteface Mountain delivers world-class skiing, snowboarding, and gondola rides with sweeping panoramas. You should also seek out the Lake Tear of the Clouds, the highest source of the Hudson River, located in the heart of the High Peaks Wilderness. Anyone interested in spending their days and nights in this alpine retreat can seek out lodgings at places like the Haus on Mirror Lake, the Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa, or Warner’s Camp.
From bohemian Woodstock to historic Auburn, 2025’s best small towns to visit in New York are as scrumptiously inviting and energetically fulfilling as the Big Apple of New York City. Each town, from mythic Sleepy Hollow to waterfall-rich Watkins Glen, radiates a compelling and gravitating sense of community and awesomeness that many newcomers cannot help but be attracted to. Here, revolutionary battlefields coexist with art centers, and haunted manors share space with Buddhist monasteries. Whether you are in search of historic landmarks or taking in the outdoor splendors of this metropolitan state, the best small towns to visit in New York are beloved and beautiful destinations to see outside the majestic skyscrapers of New York City.
