Overview
Ithaca is a compact college town at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, offering the only Ivy League experience that combines Land Grant and state-sponsored university status. The city is surrounded by dramatic gorges and waterfalls carved by public works projects in the 1930s, featuring stone staircases and bridges.
Museums · Nature · Trekking
Before you go
Accommodation
Book well ahead for graduation, parents' weekend, and freshman move-in. Budget $100-150/night minimum downtown.
Food
Exceptional diversity for city size. Budget options in Collegetown. Famous Moosewood vegetarian restaurant downtown.
Money
USD. Credit cards accepted widely. The Ithaca Hour local currency is no longer in circulation.
Transport
TCAT buses run frequently and late. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) widely available. Car useful for reaching state parks and wineries.
Weather
Summer best for weather, fall best for foliage. First snow can hit Halloween. Winters are cold with significant cloud cover.