Our campus overlooks the City of Syracuse in the heart of New York state. Discover amazing restaurants, historic architecture, nature and wildlife, the Finger Lakes, the Great Lakes and much more.
Syracuse experiences all four seasons, providing year-round activities and entertainment. Whether exploring performance venues and sporting events or enjoying outdoor spaces and wildlife centers, the area offers activities and cultural experiences for everyone.
Syracuse thrives as a regional entertainment hub, boasting museums, art galleries, performance venues and an array of annual events. Some favorites among our students are cultural and music festivals like Taste of Syracuse, Winterfest, Polish Fest, Greek Fest, NY State Blues Fest, the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival and the Great New York State Fair.
Syracuse has a diverse culinary scene with global flavors. Neighborhoods offer tastes from Poland, Greece, Thailand, Mexico and beyond. Syracuse also has the Salt City Market, which serves as a cultural hub, showcasing dishes from around the world, including Ethiopian, Jamaican, Middle Eastern, Southern soul foods and more.
Syracuse is home to the eighth largest mall in America, Destiny USA, that sports familiar storefronts and a wing of discount outlet stores. If you step off campus or take a short trip downtown, you’ll find a wide variety of local boutiques and shops. Close to campus, you’ll also find supermarkets, small grocers and international food markets.
More than 170 parks and natural areas surround Syracuse. For those who want to escape into nature, the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park is just a two-hour drive northeast, and the Catskill Mountains are less than two hours southeast. And throughout the region, residents can enjoy outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, ice skating, swimming, apple picking, rafting, biking, camping and horseback riding.
The Oncenter and Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
No matter the season, my friends and I are always doing stuff outdoors. Some of my best memories at Syracuse have been made skiing at Song Mountain, hiking at Green Lakes and having picnics in Thornden Park.
Outdoor Activities Organized by Syracuse University
Barnes Center at The Arch offers exciting ways for students, faculty and staff to enjoy outdoor recreation activities in all seasons. Discover outdoor adventure trips, the ski and snowshoe center, tennis and golf and more.
Day Trips
Whether it’s swimming in the gorges in Ithaca, exploring the lakeside shops in Skaneateles, visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, or going to Niagara Falls, Syracuse is surrounded by vibrant towns and tourist destinations that are perfect for a day trip.
Getting Around
There are many ways to get out and explore Syracuse. Many of the spots popular with students—including parks, restaurants and shops—are just a short walk or bike ride away from campus.
The campus shuttle has direct routes to Destiny USA, Tops Supermarket, Target and the downtown area.
Taxis and major rideshare companies operate in and around the city.
Other transportation resources can be found through Parking and Transportation Services.
