Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Buffalo River History Tours

    4.9 (36 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Buffalo River History Tours Photos

    More like Buffalo River History Tours

    Recommended Reviews - Buffalo River History Tours

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ferris wheel

    Had a wonderful sunset cruise. Great ride, great crew and informative history of the area. Highly recommend.

    I failed to only take videos so here's a photo of my parents and I enjoying this tour.
    Steven M.

    My parents were visiting Buffalo over the weekend and when I decided to give them a little tour of the Canalside area all they really cared about was the signs for the boat tours......needless to say the next day we found ourselves buying tickets and going on a little tour of the Erie Canal. The boat itself was pretty cool and had two layers which featured 2 washrooms and a full bar downstairs. Upstairs (which is where everyone wanted to actually sit) was completely open and allowed us to actually see what the tour guide was actually talking about. I found the tour super interesting and actually learned a ton while on it. Traveling down Lake Erie and learning more about all the great abandon Silo's that line the river and make up Silo City was a super cool experience. I also loved just learning more about the city I currently call home. My parents had an absolute blast here as well and couldn't be happier with the end result Overall, I had an absolute blast on my tour and kind of want to do more in the future. The tour guide we had did an excellent job and the ginger ale down below was a treat as well. If you like learning about the city around you I highly recommend coming to Canalside and giving these guys a chance to take you around.

    Nefize T.

    Really enjoyed our time with this 90 min historical tour of the buffalo river and the canal. We also went up to lake Erie across Canada. Beautiful view of Buffalo skyline from the tour. I learned about the silo city, grain elevators, bridges and the history of the place. Definitely recommended. Worth every cent. I wish it was longer. I will have to do the lake Erie tour another time.

    Inside the Silos
    Eric M.

    This was an excellent, informative Silo City tour. The tour was 2hrs long, one hour on the river (30 min each way) and one hour touring the silos. We received so much information about the history of Buffalo and the silo's. I thought I knew a lot, but our guide (Don?) was awesome. If you want to get a close up view (inside and out) of these beautiful historical giants, this is the tour for you. You can buy drinks (cash) aboard the boat as you cruise along the river. Yes, there is also a bathroom on the boat if you happen to need it during your tour. Well worth the time and cost.

    Tim C.

    This was a great ride and a wonderful way to kill a couple hours. I am someone that knows a fair amount of history about the area and I was surprised at how much I learned. There is an upper and lower deck so you can decided how much sun you want to get. If you stay up top they will provide you with some sunscreen if you need or want it. There are also snacks and drink available on the boat. All in all an A+ experience on our visit.

    Vicky B.

    Great way to learn more about Buffalo, for both visitors and locals alike! I went on the Buffalo River Tour which is 90 minutes long and accompanied by a narrator. This tour is entirely on the boat (unlike the silo tour where you actually get off the boat and get to go in the silos). Our narrator covered everything we passed along the river (mostly bridges and silos- lots of them!) and kept it interesting too! I've lived in Buffalo almost my whole life and hadn't known or seen 75% of what she covered. The tour goes down past River Works, past the 1st Ward, and passes Silo City. Beside explaining the structures, the tour is also full of stories, scenic views, some wildlife, and lots of rowers and friendly boaters. There is also a cash bar with beer, wine, and mixed drinks on board, as well as a bathroom in the back of the boat. They also have throw blankets, as it gets a little chilly with the wind.

    Amanda T.

    Had a fantastic time on this boat tour! Went up to Buffalo to visit friends for the weekend and figured this would be a fun activity to do while there. We accidentally were a bit late getting there and the staff was so nice, nice enough to call us to make sure we got there to catch the boat! (NYC would never, they would just take your $ and run), on top of the staff being great the boat was filled with a great bar, the drink menu was fun and had a variety of drinks at nice prices! We got a mojito & vodka pink lemonade to start, and a lime white claw and cran vodka which were all so great! We also were the last on the boat but somehow got the best seats, on the engine in the back haha, pro tip! You get the best views from the back and plenty of sun on a nice day. We had such a fantastic time! The views were incredible and it was fun waving to kayakers passing nearby. 100% recommend for your trip to Buffalo! Whether you're into the history aspect of it, or just want a nice way to spend the day with beautiful weather you cannot go wrong

    Buffalo skyline from boat

    See all

    Photo of Dave D.
    200
    501
    3733

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tony S.
    2
    46
    65

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ann T.
    0
    12
    4

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vicky B.
    270
    1447
    3410

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    The team did an absolutely great job and we learned so much about the history of Buffalo. Would highly recommend to anyone

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B K.
    0
    1
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sal L.
    0
    11
    12

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    What a fabulous experience. Thank you Kelly, Mike, and Rick for the best tour ever. It was a great way to experience Canalside!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Great tour on a beautiful day. The tour guide was amazing. Wonderful experience. Parking is a little tricky but we'll worth the trip.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Buffalo River History Tours

    Review Highlights - Buffalo River History Tours

    I learned about the silo city, grain elevators, bridges and the history of the place.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Spirit Of Buffalo

    Spirit Of Buffalo

    4.5(37 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Spirit of Buffalo is docked at Canalside, right next to the warships. Tickets can be bought online…read moreor at the booth (buying in person saves the processing fee). They offer a history tour, tiki boat ride, and a sailboat ride--just note the each sailing requires at least eight people to sail. They will cancel the door if they do not have eight people so call the J before to see how many people are booked on your sailing. I did the sunset sail, and it was fantastic. Tickets were $42 ($54 with a cocktail). There's a full bar and light snacks on board, plus a restroom. The sail lasted about two hours. There were only 25 guests onboard. This made the boat feel spacious and relaxed. The views were stunning--sunset over the Buffalo skyline, sailing past the Peace Bridge, and city lights on the way back. The crew was friendly and fun, and the captain went out of his way to chat and even raise the Bills flag for photos. Pro tip: bring a jacket or blanket, it gets chilly! I think it would be a great idea if they sold inexpensive blankets with the ship name on them for $10-$15. People would've bought them because it was cold and They would also make a great souvenir.

    What a smooth and lovely sail along Lake Erie, you could sit where you wanted and move around for…read moregreat photo ops. It wasn't that crowded we each had our own space to chat or sit and reflect and enjoy the scenery. The price was good and for 2 hours worth it. Drinks were offered and served for purchase. You can pay a little more and get drinks included. There's a downstairs and bathroom on board as well. I would recommend bringing a jacket or blanket in the fall temps.

    Photos
    Spirit Of Buffalo
    Spirit Of Buffalo
    Spirit Of Buffalo

    See all

    Buffalo Boat Tours - Canalside Buffalo NY.  BIG KAHUNA.

    Buffalo Boat Tours

    4.0(7 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Having 3 tour boats available at the perfect location at Canalside by the Navy ships is really…read morecool. Buffalo is stepping up !! There's a few little shops on the boardwalk, a history, museum, and a restaurant. There's also Explore & More children's play museum. And- the historical Erie Canal western terminus from 1825 at Canalside.

    This is our second trip with this establishment this season. The first, on the white two-story boat…read moreand most recently, the tiki boat. Both times we had Captain Dave, a tall gentleman with salt and pepper hair. He spoke rudely to a handful of customers and both of his bartenders. The first time we assumed he was having an off day, but seeing this attitude a second time on a different boat was shocking and disappointing. Perhaps the customers and bartenders were rude to him first, but regardless, it was inappropriate for others to witness. He also mentions at the start of the ride that there is no vaping onboard, which we found to be more than reasonable. However, my wife and I saw HIM vaping while driving the boat?! Additionally, we felt as if the drinks were overtly overpriced -- 2 oz well liquor for $12 is insane! No bar I have been to in the Buffalo area charges that much for a well cocktail. However, we did feel as if the price of the tour itself was reasonable. The music was also not to our liking, but we understand it is challenging to accommodate everyone. But, it would have been nice to suggest a song or two. Unfortunately, a few of our friends have has similar experiences.... We wished we had a better experience, but as it stands now, we will not return nor recommend this place to others.

    Photos
    Buffalo Boat Tours - History boat lower deck

    History boat lower deck

    Buffalo Boat Tours - Taken from the history boat tour

    Taken from the history boat tour

    Buffalo Boat Tours - Harbor Queen

    See all

    Harbor Queen

    Buffalo Harbor Cruises

    Buffalo Harbor Cruises

    3.2(23 reviews)
    0.4 miLasalle Park/Waterfront

    They apparently had big group on the upstairs. Lots of people drinking (at 10:45am) They only had…read moregroup tables up there & they were mostly filled up, so I decided to go to the lower desk where it was quiet & there was a nice breeze. Enjoyed the tour around the harbor , but the person speaking about the history was on the upper deck & they had no speakers on the lower deck, so I missed most of the history.

    This is our third 4th of July cruise and the worst by far. At least plan the cruise so we can see…read moresome professional fireworks other than the ones in the "hood" as your dj kept saying. That was so unprofessional and derogatory to the people that live there. I understand that the city of Buffalo didn't have fireworks but there were a lot of municipalities north and south that did. Don't park us in front of LaSalle Park for an hour looking at the pitch black lake. As for the DJ, find someone else because he couldn't read the room. No one was dancing because he wasn't any good. Most of the people were over 40. How about some rock and roll ? I also don't think a DJ should be drinking alcohol while he is working. Maybe he would have been more appropriate in what came out of his mouth. I have enjoyed the 4th cruises but not tonight and wish I could ask for a refund. I would have had a better time watching the fireworks right from my neighborhood in the "hood."

    Photos
    Buffalo Harbor Cruises - Shot of the Miss Buffalo from the water!

    Shot of the Miss Buffalo from the water!

    Buffalo Harbor Cruises - Going through the lock on the Erie Canal

    Going through the lock on the Erie Canal

    Buffalo Harbor Cruises - Happy 4th!

    See all

    Happy 4th!

    Buffalo CycleBoats

    Buffalo CycleBoats

    4.4(21 reviews)
    0.6 miSouth Buffalo

    It was nice ! We were celebrating a birthday with friends and relatives. We had fun on a beautiful…read moreevening on the water! It was nice to see the old Buffalo grain elevators and to think of the glory day of the past! The staff were fun too! It is a fun and different way to celebrate with a group of friends and family!

    I recently went on these boats as part of a team building afternoon with my company. I will admit,…read morethe reason I did not try this sooner was because of the expense, and the inability to fill a boat with friends who want to pedal away and hang out on the water! We went out on a gray day, and we knew the rain was coming, but we were prepared. We dressed appropriately, and the captain and first mate explained that we would need to turn back if we saw lightning, for safety. That was totally OK, and we all understood. The crew was friendly and incredibly professional. People tend to forget that boats are serious vessels, and you can easily drown, and need to know the safety procedures. They got that out of the way quickly, but we were fully informed of all the safety procedures and protocols (including the lightning warning). We spent an hour heading out to the lake, had a bluetooth hookup so one of us could DJ while we floated away. The center part has 2 deep coolers where you can load up ice, drinks, etc. You can bring whatever snacks and drinks you want! We had a wonderful time chatting, pedaling, drinking and noshing. We were caught in the rain but thanks to the roof we didn't notice! We all stayed totally dry while on the boat (we did get a little soaked running form the boat to our cars, but that's to be expected!). There are port a potty's at the launch site so you can feel at ease that there is a bathroom. There is a large sign to tell you where to go when you arrive at the parking lot. There is a sunshade and picnic tables while you wait. You have to park in the apartment complex lot, and you just head towards the water- it's not hard to find, but use your GPS if you are unsure. It was a really nice adventure, a great team building event, a unique experience, and definitely something to try this summer!

    Photos
    Buffalo CycleBoats
    Buffalo CycleBoats - BYOSH - Bring Your Own Sailor Hat

    BYOSH - Bring Your Own Sailor Hat

    Buffalo CycleBoats - Cheers.. our boat is BYO Food and Beverages!

    See all

    Cheers.. our boat is BYO Food and Beverages!

    Buffalo River History Tours - historicaltours - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...