Downtown for Kids: Free Family Walking Tour

Think your kids are too young to appreciate downtown Buffalo? Think again! Explore Buffalo’s Downtown for Kids Walking Tour is a free, 60-minute adventure that makes the heart of the city come alive for young explorers and for the grown-ups tagging along.

Your Explore Buffalo guide will lead your family through the streets of one of America’s most architecturally rich downtowns, telling the stories behind the buildings in ways kids can truly understand and remember. The tour begins at Seneca One the tallest building in Buffalo a jaw-dropping first stop that immediately signals this is no ordinary walk. Along the way, families step inside the magnificent Ellicott Square Building and learn about St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral and Buffalo’s first skyscraper, the Guaranty Building. Ornate details, soaring ceilings, and hidden symbols around every corner will have kids looking up, looking closer, and asking all the right questions

Downtown for Kids tours are FREE for the 2026 Tour Season due to the generous support of our Give716 Education Program Donors and sponsored by Highmark. It is a kids and family-focused tour, geared towards children aged 8-14. All guests must be registered and parents are required to be with their children. Space is limited to 15 guests.

The maximum number of tickets that can be booked for Buffalo Downtown Highlights for Families public tours is 8 tickets. For groups of 8+ people, including school groups and summer camp groups, please call our office at (716) 245-3032.

This tour meets outside of the West Entrance of Seneca One, at 1 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY 14203. There is metered street parking available on Seneca Street and other nearby streets, as well as paid parking lots available near Seneca One.

Adults without children will not be accepted for this tour, and are encouraged to join us on one of our many other downtown tours.

Tour Procedures & Policies: 

• Reservations are required for all tours, including for Explorer Pass members. Walk-ups without reservations cannot be accommodated. Tours are generally limited to a maximum of 15 people per group. 
  • Reservations close two hours before the tour’s scheduled start time (for example, reservations close at 8am for a 10am tour). 
  • The Explore Buffalo docent for your tour will have a list of tour reservations for their tour; you do not need to print or bring any tour confirmation. 
• Accessibility: This tour is stroller friendly as well as 100% handicapped accessible. Please contact us at explore@explorebuffalo.org or (716) 245-3032 if you plan to attend this tour and will require accommodations or if you have questions about accessibility. 
• Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Tours generally proceed rain or shine. In the event of weather that requires a tour cancellation, we will contact registered tour guests in advance of the tour. 
• See our FAQs page for our refund policy and answers to other questions.
• By confirming your reservation for any Explore Buffalo tour, you acknowledge and accept Explore Buffalo’s tour policies.