Nine New York towns worth visiting
Explore nine charming and underrated towns in New York, each with unique history, natural beauty, and local attractions. From the serene Adirondacks to the vibrant Finger Lakes, discover what makes these locales special.
While many people outside of the state know New York for its bustling city, New Yorkers know the state’s beauty also comes from its many small towns.
WorldAtlas recently selected New York’s most idyllic small towns you should visit this year, each picked for their rich history, natural beauty and variety of things to do.
Here’s everything you need to know about New York’s most idyllic small towns.
Montauk
Location: the east end of Long Island
Estimated 2025 population: 4,571 people
Natural sights to see:
- Camp Hero State Park, which not only offers hiking and scenic views, but is located on a former military base
- Ditch Plains Beach, located on the furthest southeast end of Long Island and is a popular spot for surfing
- Montauk Point State Park, which boasts a variety of amenities, from paddle boarding and fishing to snowshoeing and cross country skiing
Places to visit:
- Montauk Point Lighthouse, a National Historic Landmark and the state’s oldest lighthouse
- Eothen, Andy Warhol’s former estate
- The Edward F. Albee Foundation, a residency for artists and writers
Popular dining:
- Harvest on Fort Pond, known for its outdoor garden seating
- Montauk Brewing Co., which offers outdoor seating and is dog friendly
Greenport
Location: Long Island’s North Fork
Estimated 2025 population: 2,537 people
Natural sights to see:
- 67 Steps Beach, a peaceful beach that is close to town
- Shelter Island, a small island you can only travel to by ferry
Places to visit:
- Greenport Carousel, an antique carousel originally built over 100 years ago
- East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation, which offers boat cruise tours to Bug Lighthouse
- Olana State Historic Site, a museum that was previously painter Frederic Edwin Church’s estate
Popular dining:
- Kontokosta Winery, where you can sample their award-winning authentic wines
- Claudio’s Waterfront, which has fresh seafood and live music
Cold Spring
Location: the Hudson Valley region, across the Hudson River from West Point
Estimated 2025 population: 1,997 people
Natural sights to see:
- Breakneck Ridge, a challenging hike with worthwhile views
- West Point Foundry Preserve, where you can hike past the Foundry Brook
Places to visit:
- Bannerman Castle, an abandoned military warehouse located on Pollepel Island
Popular dining:
- Riverview Restaurant, a Cold Spring staple that has been open four decades
- Brasserie Le Bouchon, a French bistro that is vegetarian-friendly
Beacon
Location: the Hudson Valley region, across the Hudson River from Newburgh
Estimated 2025 population: 15,493 people
Natural sights to see:
- Mount Beacon Park, where you can hike Mount Beacon and the South Mount Beacon fire tower for views of different spots across the state, like New York City and Albany
Places to visit:
- Dia:Beacon, an art museum that was previously a Nabisco box-printing factory
- The Madam Brett Homestead Museum, the oldest house in Dutchess County and honors Beacon’s first European settler
- Beacon’s Main Street, which is filled with a variety of restaurants and shops
Popular dining:
- Beacon Falls Cafe, a cozy eatery right on Main Street
- Red Pepper Diner, which serves a combination of Sri Lankan and American cuisine
Lake George
Location: the southern Adirondack region
Estimated 2025 population: 1,003 people
Natural sights to see:
- Prospect Mountain Trail, where you can get views of the Adirondacks at Prospect Mountain’s summit
- Shepard Park, which has a beach and an amphitheater
Places to visit:
- Fort William Henry, a museum and hotel that was a British fort during the French and Indian War
- Lake George Steamboat Company, which has been in business since 1817
Popular dining:
- Adirondack Winery, known for their local vintages
- Charlie’s Bar & Kitchen, a steakhouse and cafe open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Ticonderoga
Location: the Adirondack region, south of Lake Champlain
Estimated 2025 population: 3,403 people
Natural sights to see:
- La Chute River Trail, a walking trail with scenic views, including the La Chute Falls
- Cook Mountain Preserve, which has three hiking trails
- Mount Defiance, an 840-foot tall mountain that is part of Fort Ticonderoga
Places to visit:
- Fort Ticonderoga, a museum and historic site that was a French fort in the French and Indian War
- The Ticonderoga Heritage Museum, located in the Ticonderoga Pulp and Paper Company’s historic building, which was built in 1888
Popular dining:
- Hot Biscuit Diner, a full service restaurant with country style cooking
- Paper & Pencil, a farm to table restaurant that supports local farms
Skaneateles
Location: eastern part of the Finger Lakes region
Estimated 2025 population: 2,503 people
Natural sights to see:
- Skaneateles Lake, which has events all year-round, including boat cruise tours in the summer
- Lakeside parks, which include Clift Park, Thayer Park and Shotwell
- Carpenter Falls, a 90-foot tall waterfall
Places to visit:
- Skaneateles Historic District, with buildings and homes from the 19th century
- Skaneateles Historical Society, which preserves local history through initiatives like the Museum at The Creamery
Popular dining:
- Blue Water Grill, a restaurant and bar on the lake that’s known for its sushi
- Rosalie’s Cucina, an Italian restaurant that has been in Skaneateles for over two decades
Corning
Location: New York’s Southern Tier, just over an hour west of Binghamton
Estimated 2025 population: 10,629 people
Natural sights to see:
- Chemung River, which is a popular spot for paddleboarders
Places to visit:
- The Corning Museum of Glass, where visitors can sign up to make glass with experienced glassworkers
- The Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate that showcases American art
- Centerway Square, a popular spot in Corning’s Gaffer District
Popular dining:
- The Cellar, which has both a casual bar and an upscale dining space
- Three Birds Restaurant, which displays art from local painters, sculptures and glassblowers
Hammondsport
Location: New York’s Southern Tier, near the southern end of Keuka Lake
Estimated 2025 population: 578 people
Natural sights to see:
- Keuka Lake State Park, which offers boat tours, winery cruises and brewery cruises
- Depot Park, which has a swimming area and a boat launch
Places to visit:
- The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, which honors the Hammondsport native who launched the first working seaplane and designed motorcycles
- Pulteney Square, Corning’s Historic District that has lots of options for shopping and dining
- Patina, a popular antique store
Popular dining:
- Keuka Lake Vineyards, one of six wineries on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail
- Timber Stone Grill, which uses local ingredients to make pizzas, grain bowls, pastas and more
Medina
Location: Western New York, an hour away from Rochester and Buffalo
Estimated 2025 population: 5,837 people
Natural sights to see:
- Medina Falls, a 40-foot waterfall
- Old Orchard Creek, which runs under the Erie Canal
Places to visit:
- The Culvert Tunnel, the only tunnel that allows you to drive under the Erie Canal
- Bent’s Opera House, a 19th century opera house that is now a hotel
- The Medina Railroad Museum, which features the state’s largest toy train museum
Popular dining:
- Zambistro, a Medina staple for its seasonal menu
- Rudy’s Diner, which has been family-owned for three generations
Ellicottville
Location: Western New York, about an hour south of Buffalo
Estimated 2025 population: 284 people
Natural sights to see:
- Nannen Arboretum, where you can immerse yourself in the outdoors by walking along the Nature Trail
Places to visit:
- Holiday Valley Resort, a vacation spot that offers skiing and tubing in the winter and golfing and ziplining in the summer
- Griffis Sculpture Park, known for its annual fall NIGHT LIGHTS festival
Popular dining:
- Ellicottville Brewing Company, a micro-brewery that has won multiple International World Beer Championship Awards
- Katy’s Cafe, a breakfast and lunch spot with a full service coffee bar and a custom cake design business