# Essential Ithaca Travel Guide: What to See & Do

**Discover Ithaca, New York: Waterfalls, Culture, and Finger Lakes Charm**

Ithaca, New York, is a distinctive Finger Lakes city where university life, cultural energy, and dramatic natural scenery come together. Set above Cayuga Lake, Ithaca has a relaxed atmosphere shaped by Cornell University, Ithaca College, independent businesses, and a long tradition of social activism.

## Explore Ithaca’s History and Cultural Character

The city’s name recalls the Greek island associated with Homer’s *Odyssey*, while its deeper history reaches back to the Haudenosaunee, including the Cayuga people. After the American Revolution, the area was opened to new settlement. Ithaca later grew through trade in salt and gypsum.

The city’s history also includes several unusual cultural milestones, from early filmmaking to the creation of the ice cream sundae and the Ithaca Kitty toy.

## See Ithaca’s Waterfalls and Natural Scenery

For many travelers, the most memorable things to do in Ithaca involve the city’s close relationship with nature. Waterfalls and wooded gorges appear near the urban center, particularly along Cascadilla Gorge. This landscape inspired Ithaca’s well-known slogan: “Ithaca is Gorges.”

Cornell University adds another dimension to the city’s scenery. Its hilltop campus combines Gothic, Victorian, Neoclassical, and modern architecture with museums, gardens, scenic overlooks, and the striking Fall Creek Suspension Bridge.

## Experience Downtown Ithaca

Downtown offers a lively counterpoint to the surrounding natural landscape. The pedestrian Ithaca Commons hosts performances, festivals, and local events, creating a central gathering place for the community.

Restaurant Row reflects Ithaca’s international and farm-focused food culture. Moosewood Restaurant is especially associated with the city’s influential vegetarian dining scene. Historic venues such as the State Theatre and Clinton House add further character to the downtown area.

## What to See in Ithaca

For anyone wondering what to see in Ithaca, the city offers a distinctive combination of academic culture, community spirit, regional history, and accessible wilderness. From waterfalls and wooded gorges to university architecture, cultural venues, and a lively downtown, Ithaca brings together many of the experiences that define the Finger Lakes region.

## Walk Ithaca with Neywo

Neywo turns Ithaca into a self-guided audio tour. Stories arrive as you reach the place they belong to, and the route reshapes when you wander off it.

## More in New York

- [New York](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/new-york/new-york.md)
- [Rochester](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/new-york/rochester.md)
- [Saratoga Springs](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/new-york/saratoga-springs.md)
- [Sleepy Hollow](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/new-york/sleepy-hollow.md)
- [Syracuse](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/new-york/syracuse.md)
- [Albany](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/new-york/albany.md)
- [Buffalo, New York](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/new-york/buffalo-new-york.md)

## Elsewhere in United States

- [Asheville](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/asheville.md) — North Carolina
- [Beaufort, North Carolina](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/beaufort-north-carolina.md) — North Carolina
- [Black Mountain](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/black-mountain.md) — North Carolina
- [Charlotte](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/charlotte.md) — North Carolina
- [Greensboro](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/greensboro.md) — North Carolina
- [Hendersonville](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/hendersonville.md) — North Carolina
- [Raleigh](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/raleigh.md) — North Carolina
- [Wilmington, North Carolina](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/wilmington-north-carolina.md) — North Carolina
- [Wilson](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/north-carolina/wilson.md) — North Carolina
- [Akron](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/ohio/akron.md) — Ohio
- [Cincinnati](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/ohio/cincinnati.md) — Ohio
- [Cleveland](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/ohio/cleveland.md) — Ohio

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