9 Best Lakeside Towns in the Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes region of New York is home to some of the best lakeside towns anywhere. With 11 Finger Lakes in the state, the small towns along these lakes provide visitors and potential residents with the perfect blend of scenery and recreation. Whether you are searching to spend time in a peaceful small town, such as Aurora or Hammondsport, or want to experience the more bustling, larger Finger Lakes towns like Ithaca or Seneca Falls, these nine Finger Lakes towns have plenty to offer and are just waiting for you to discover them.

Aurora

The small town of Aurora lies along the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake in Cayuga County. The village of Aurora, covering about 0.92 square miles and featuring no stoplights, is home to the Aurora Village-Wells College Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A quaint village surrounded by farmland, Aurora presents much more than history to those willing to explore its charms. Residents have access to the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90), and some of them commute to nearby cities, such as Ithaca and Syracuse.

Travel & Leisure magazine voted Aurora America's Best Small Spa and Wellness Town of 2023, with good reason. The Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa include several historic buildings spread across a large lakeside property, each offering its own distinct character, along with a central spa facility. Wine lovers should know that Cayuga Lake is home to numerous wineries, as part of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. You can take a winery boat tour from the Aurora Inns, which ferries visitors to three wineries on the shores of Cayuga Lake. One of the wineries, Thirsty Owl, includes a bistro serving food from May through November.

Aurora consists of more than just inns and wineries, however. Its townspeople enjoy a tight-knit community, including expansive recreational areas such as Aurora Village Park downtown. Cayuga Lake can be directly accessed through the Wells College Dock for those who own boats. Town events such as the Father-Daughter Dance in June help to bring community members together.

Geneva

Geneva, on Seneca Lake's northern end, is often referred to as the "Gateway to the Finger Lakes." The town is often the entry point for those visiting the region. Seneca Lake, the largest and deepest of the Finger Lakes and the Lake Trout Capital of the World, can be accessed at a number of places in Geneva, including Seneca Lake State Park. Here, visitors and residents can enjoy a swimming beach, boat launches, and walking trails.

Being a popular and central Finger Lakes destination, Geneva caters to tourists, with at least 10 hotels and bed and breakfasts in town, including Belhurst Castle and Winery. This inn features eateries, a winery and craft beer area with tastings available, and a spa and salon.

The town of Geneva also satisfies its residents. It is known for promoting sustainable living, supplying residents with 100% New York renewable energy. During the summertime, the town closes off part of its downtown area on weekend nights to encourage residents and visitors to partake in outdoor dining at its 32 restaurants covering four blocks. One participating restaurant is Kindred Fare, serving American food along with craft cocktails, beer, and ciders. Additionally, the town sponsors Geneva Night Out the first Friday of each month. This free event, attracting residents and visitors, highlights local arts and culture in the town.

Seneca Falls

While not technically lakeside, Seneca Falls is just 3 miles from the water and sits between two Finger Lakes, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake. Residents can directly access Seneca Lake through the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, a 12-mile-long canal connecting the Erie Canal with the Finger Lakes. Self-skippered boat companies and tour boats are available to shuttle visitors and residents from Seneca Falls through the canal to the lake.

One of the most popular attractions among residents and visitors in Seneca Falls is Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, occupying almost 9,900 acres along the canal. It provides a sanctuary for migratory birds and also a place where hunters can hunt deer and waterfowl. Boating and fishing are permitted at May's Point in the refuge. Each June, townsfolk and visitors enjoy the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Canal Fest.

Seneca Falls hosts approximately 16 accommodation choices for visitors, such as The Historic Gould Hotel Seneca Falls. This historic boutique hotel in the downtown area has 48 guest rooms and suites. The town, and visitors, come together each December for the It's A Wonderful Life Festival honoring the classic film. While the film was not shot in Seneca Falls, the town was the inspiration for the film's fictional quintessential small town, Bedford Falls.

Watkins Glen

Sitting at the southern end of Seneca Lake, the small town of Watkins Glen is one that, upon seeing for the first time, inspires visitors to want to become permanent residents. The village retains a communal feel, with its welcoming, revitalized downtown area containing homey eateries like Blue Pointe Grille as well as the Watkins Glen Post Office and Watkins Glen Public Library.

Visitors have more than 30 choices of accommodations, including the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, with expansive rooms and indoor and outdoor dining on the lake. Watkins Glen State Park is one of the town's most popular attractions for both townspeople and visitors, offering a variety of trails and spectacular views, as well as a swimming pool and camping area.

Each September on the first Friday after Labor Day, Watkins Glen holds its Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival. It celebrates the motor racing heritage of the town and includes car shows, food, and activities for all ages. Townsfolk and visitors alike enjoy this annual communal event.

Skaneateles

Just southwest of Syracuse, at the northern end of Skaneateles Lake, is the town of Skaneateles. It has been called the "Jewel of the Finger Lakes," and is named after the Iroquois word for "long lake." (Skaneateles Lake is 16 miles long and said to be one of the cleanest, clearest lakes in the country). Life in Skaneateles supplies opportunities for outdoor recreation on land and in water year-round. The camaraderie of the town shines through in events such as the Witches Walk each Halloween, in which costumed townspeople walk the downtown streets, frequenting businesses and restaurants in their festive garb.

The Antique and Classic Boat Show in Skaneateles is another annual event, taking place each July, that draws townsfolk and over 10,000 visitors from all over to admire restored boats and watch the boat parade on the lake. Visitors have many lodging choices when they come to Skaneateles, including The Sherwood Inn, a historic lakeside inn with dining on site.

The Charlie Major Nature Trail, a favorite of visitors and residents, runs for about 0.75 miles along what was once the Skaneateles Short Line Railroad. Today, it provides beautiful, peaceful vistas and areas for picnicking along Skaneateles Creek.

Canandaigua

The county seat of Ontario County, the town of Canandaigua sits at the northwest end of Canandaigua Lake, about 40 minutes southeast of Rochester. Its name is Native American for "the chosen spot," which helps to explain why many people have chosen this small town as a vacation destination or to live full-time. The historic town is filled with locally-owned shops such as Renaissance Goodie II Shoppe in the pedestrian-friendly downtown area.

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park sits on 50 acres in Canandaigua and combines a Queen Anne Victorian-style mansion with beautiful formal gardens. It is open seasonally May through October and is a favorite stop for townsfolk and visitors alike. The Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail features several wineries located along and near Canandaigua Lake, offering tastings and scenic vineyard views. Those who have visited Canandaigua recommend staying at The Lake House on Canandaigua, an inn right on the lake. Its amenities include a full-service spa and summer boating activities on the lake.

Ithaca

The college town of Ithaca sits at the southern end of Cayuga Lake. Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, Ithaca is known as the "gorges" city, surrounded by numerous waterfalls and scenic gorges throughout the town. Residents are particularly proud of Downtown Ithaca Commons, a four-block pedestrian mall closed to vehicle traffic. More than 100 shops and restaurants fill the downtown area, which is centrally located in Ithaca.

CNN named Ithaca America's Best Town to Visit in 2025, in part for the gorgeous waterfalls and many trails in town. Triphammer Falls, a 55-foot waterfall on the campus of Cornell University, is one such attraction. Of course, there's also Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes, where fishing and boating are popular pastimes. Many enjoy driving the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, an 87-mile trek around the lake and through its villages and towns, with gorgeous scenery all around.

Lodging options abound in Ithaca and include the Argos Inn right in the downtown area. In addition to 13 spacious rooms, a bar and lounge is also on site. This is the ideal accommodation for those who want to stay in the heart of Ithaca during their visit, perhaps to learn more about a town to which they are considering moving full-time.

Hammondsport

Hammondsport, at the southern tip of Keuka Lake, is a small hamlet known as the "heart of the New York wine country." More than 10 wineries are in the immediate village and surrounding area. Wine aficionados may wish to visit the town's Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum, the first wine museum in the United States, according to the Finger Lakes website; it's also part of the Bully Hill Vineyards. Memorabilia from the wine-making industry and the history of wine-making can be discovered here.

Boating enthusiasts should check out the Finger Lakes Boating Museum in Hammondsport, displaying how recreational and commercial boating has impacted the Finger Lakes region. The Keuka Lakeside Inn sits on Keuka Lake and provides guests with 17 rooms as well as the opportunity to boat, fish, or partake in watersports.

Hammondsport's community comes together every September at the Wings & Wheels Event. This unique festival, which draws residents and visitors from all over, combines a vintage car show with seaplane competitions. It, along with other events in town helps to foster a sense of neighborliness among residents of Hammondsport.

Trumansburg

About 8 miles north of Ithaca, the town of Trumansburg has direct access to Cayuga Lake via Taughannock Falls State Park. Residents and visitors enjoy seeing Taughannock Falls, one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains, here. Swimming and boating in Cayuga Lake is as popular in the summer as is skiing on park trails during the winter.

Trumansburg's downtown section features a 2.5-mile historic walking trail that takes you past early 1800s buildings now housing cafes, shops, and restaurants such as Little Venice Trumansburg. Sixteen Elm Heritage Hotel, also in the downtown area, was built in 1921 and offers five spacious rooms for guests.

So, while Trumansburg is not precisely lakeside (it's fewer than 3 miles to the water), it certainly is a lake town culturally. The Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, held each July in Trumansburg, is a special town event. World-renowned performers such as Del McCoury Band and The Byrne Brothers have been invited to perform, and camping is permitted on-site. This festival is anxiously awaited by townspeople and visitors from near and far each year.

Plan Your Getaway to the Finger Lakes

These nine extraordinary Finger Lakes villages are filled with history, art, culture, the beauty of nature, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Whether you are planning a vacation to a town such as Watkins Glen, checking out colleges in Ithaca, or are contemplating a permanent move to Geneva, you will find that these towns in the Finger Lakes have something for everyone. Explore the beauty and simple grandeur found within each of these Finger Lakes towns.