Buffalo Niagara International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Buffalo Airport is 15-20 minutes by car from downtown, between Cheektowaga and Williamsville: anyone with a dawn flight or who prefers a free shuttle will find several affordable properties right there. For everyone else, downtown is almost always worth it, especially along Delaware Avenue, where the city's theaters and historic buildings are concentrated, a few minutes' walk from the Theater District. Anyone heading to a game or a concert at the KeyBank Center, or wanting the Canalside waterfront, finds the most convenient option right there, just steps from the arena and the Buffalo Metro Rail.

Airport area (Cheektowaga and Williamsville)

Airport area · A few minutes by car from the terminal, with a free airport shuttle at both properties; downtown Buffalo is another 15-20 minutes by car.

Best for: Anyone with a dawn flight or a short stopover who prefers a free shuttle to a taxi into downtown.

Pros

Free airport shuttle included at both properties
Lower prices than the downtown areas

Cons

An area of highway interchanges and shopping centers, with little to do in the evening
You need the shuttle or a car to reach downtown and Canalside

Recommended hotels in this area

Comfort Inn & Suites Buffalo Airport: Right across from the terminal along I-90, with a round-the-clock free airport shuttle and a hot breakfast included.
Best Western Buffalo Inn & Suites: In Williamsville, a few minutes from the airport, with breakfast included and individually decorated rooms.

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Delaware Avenue and the Theater District

City centre · 15-20 minutes by car or taxi from the airport (about 13 km); there's no direct bus, so you'll need a taxi, a rideshare, or the Metro Rail from downtown.

Best for: Anyone who wants the theaters, the historic buildings of Delaware Avenue, and downtown restaurants within walking distance.

Pros

Historic theaters and buildings of Delaware Avenue within walking distance
A range of price points, from business hotels to luxury boutiques

Cons

Parking is almost always paid
The area is quieter on Sundays outside of show nights

Recommended hotels in this area

The Westin Buffalo: On Delaware Avenue, a few minutes' walk from the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center and Shea's Buffalo Theatre.
Hotel at the Lafayette, Trademark Collection by Wyndham: A 1904 building designed by the first American woman architect, with an on-site brewery and a Metro Rail station just steps away.
The Mansion on Delaware Avenue: A period mansion on Delaware Avenue with a round-the-clock butler service and a free shuttle downtown, with cooked-to-order breakfast included.

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Canalside

Neighbourhood · 15-20 minutes by car or taxi from the airport; a Buffalo Metro Rail station is just steps from both properties.

Best for: Anyone attending a game or a concert at the KeyBank Center, or who prefers the canalside waterfront to the buzz of Delaware Avenue.

Pros

A few minutes' walk from the KeyBank Center and the Canalside waterfront
Direct connection to the Metro Rail, handy for the rest of downtown

Cons

An event-driven area: busier and pricier on game nights
Fewer independent shops and restaurants than Delaware Avenue

Recommended hotels in this area

Buffalo Marriott at LECOM HARBORCENTER: Connected by a pedestrian walkway to the KeyBank Center, on the Canalside waterfront, with a panoramic rooftop restaurant.
Courtyard by Marriott Buffalo Downtown/Canalside: Right on Canalside, a 4-minute walk from the KeyBank Center and just steps from the Buffalo Metro Rail.

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