FAQs on Visiting Dunkirk, NY

Read some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Dunkirk, NY below.

  • What are some top things to do in Dunkirk, NY?

    Located on Lake Erie, Dunkirk delivers small city charm, endless outdoor recreation opportunities, unique shops, tasty bites, and family-friendly events. 

    Get to the waterfront for some summer fun. Take a dip in Lake Erie at lifeguarded beaches in Point Gratiot and Wright Park. Hike or bike Point Gratiot's trails and observe dozens of bird species. Admire and explore the Dunkirk Lighthouse, Park and Veterans Museum, and climb to the observation level for a stunning Lake Erie view. 

    Visit City Pier Park in Dunkirk Harbor to fish from the shore, launch your boat or kayak, shop, dine or enjoy live entertainment during the summer, headlined by the Thursday night Music on the Pier series. The Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace has seven shops and restaurants along a 160-foot-long covered boardwalk with indoor and outdoor seating.

  • What are the best places to dine in Dunkirk, NY?

    The seasonal Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace has seven shops and restaurants along a 160-foot-long covered boardwalk with indoor and outdoor seating. Browse the shops for unique gifts and enjoy the eateries, all the while taking in the scenic Chadwick Bay and beautiful Dunkirk Pier.

    Boardwalk Marketplace restaurants include:

    • Campi's Pizza: Freshly made pizzas, subs, fried dough, fish fries, calzones and more.
    • House of Birria: Latin Cuisine - tacos, burritos, empanadas, loaded nachos/fries, drinks.
    • Sydney's Sweet Treats: Cupcakes, cookies, and desserts made for all events and occasions.
    • Off The Hook: Cozy seafood restaurant and bar.
    • Spike Dailey's Irish Pub: An Irish pub serving food and drinks.

    Also check out Central Station Restaurant, an American diner that offers quality scratch cooking in a casual setting. It is open seven days a week, serving breakfast, lunch, and Friday fish fry. 

  • What are some day trip options for visitors staying in Dunkirk, NY?

    After exploring beaches, parks, the pier and boardwalk on Lake Erie, visitors to Dunkirk, NY may enjoy several day trip options within an easy drive.

    • Tour wineries, breweries and distilleries:
      • Lake Erie Wine Country, a 50-mile wine trail featuring 23 wineries, stretches from Chautauqua County into Pennsylvania. Many wineries are located just a short drive from Dunkirk. Nearby breweries and distilleries include Southern Tier Brewing and Distilling in Lakewood, and Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing in Westfield. Other breweries include Wicked Warren's in Jamestown and Big Inlet Brewing in Mayville, among others.
    • Fish Steelhead Alley and four more lakes:
      • Once you've caught your fill of fish from Lake Erie, check out its tributaries, known as Steelhead Alley. From October to April, thousands of rainbow trout called steelhead ascend Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Canadaway, and 18-Mile Creeks on their mission to spawn. For the sportsman, excellent fly-fishing opportunities await.
      • Go fishing on inland lakes including Chautauqua, Findley, Cassadaga and Bear Lakes. Chautauqua Lake, ranked #21 Best Bass Lake in the Northeast by Bassmaster (June 2023), offers exceptional fishing for walleye, bass, muskellunge and several species of panfish. Findley Lake’s abundant beds of aquatic vegetation provide angling for a variety of sportfish and panfish, while the three interconnected lakes of Cassadaga provide angling for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge and panfish. The smallest of the County’s inland lakes, known as a kettle lake, Bear Lake's shoreline is predominantly wetland, providing excellent habitat for bass and other predator and prey fish.
    • Check out Sunset Bay:
      • Take a short drive to Sunset Bay for a day of summer fun. Sunset Bay Beach Club features 5 acres of clean, sandy, life-guarded Lake Erie beach. The Sunset Bay beach area has volleyball courts, waterfront restaurants, beach bars, a video game arcade, ice cream shop, T-shirt shop and deli.
    • Visit Chautauqua Institution:
      • The pre-eminent expression of lifelong learning in the United States, Chautauqua Institution comes alive each summer with a unique mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities. Over the course of nine weeks, more than 100,000 people visit Chautauqua and participate in programs, classes and community events for all ages — all within the beautiful setting of a historic lakeside village.
      • You can visit Chautauqua Institution year-round. A gate pass is only required during the nine-week summer season. The gates are open the rest of the year, and admission is free. Locations such as the Book Store, Library, and Post Office are open year-round. Some hotels and vacation rentals are open year-round, and some restaurants and shops at Chautauqua Institution are open outside of the summer season.
    • Enjoy a round of golf:
      • Some of the best public golf courses in western New York are located in Chautauqua County, including more than a dozen options for visitors to enjoy. Located just across the street from Chautauqua Institution, the Chautauqua Golf Club is one of only two 36-hole courses between Cleveland and Rochester. Additionally, the Golf Learning Center at Chautauqua Golf Club provides instruction and practice holes. The Upper Golf Course at Peek’n Peak Resort near Findley Lake has superior ratings from Golf Digest - 4 1/2 stars. Peek'n Peak has hosted several PGA Tour events.
    • Embark on summer or winter adventures at Peek'n Peak Resort:
      • Summer: In addition to Peek'n Peak's Upper Golf Course, try the exciting Peak Mountain Adventures activities, including the Aerial Adventure Ropes Course, Giant Zipline, and more. Peek’n Putt mini golf is also open in the summer, and guests can admire the ski slopes and surrounding countryside with a scenic chairlift ride. Try out two brand-new professional Sand Volleyball courts, a Paintball Arena, and Cornhole Courts.
      • Winter: The Peak is the best place to learn to ski or snowboard or simply improve on your existing skills, whether you are a first-timer or seasoned on the slopes. The resort is home to 26 slopes serviced by 8 chairlifts, as well as Terrain Parks, Snow Tubing, Lunar Lights Nighttime Tubing, and a renowned Snowsports School and Peek’n Kids lesson programs.
    • Visit the city of Jamestown:
      • Explore some of the best cultural attractions and museums in western New York in Jamestown. From comedy to history, nature and entertainment, you will find a combination of learning and fun that makes for a perfect overnight trip or weekend getaway.
        • Visit the National Comedy Center and Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Museum for a day of laughter.
        • Discover the life and legacy of Robert H. Jackson – Supreme Court Justice, Chief U.S. Prosecutor at Nuremberg, and Chautauqua County native – at the Robert H. Jackson Center.
        • Learn about what makes Jamestown great at the Fenton History Center. Housed in the 1863 mansion of New York State's 22nd Governor, Reuben E. Fenton, the museum features numerous exhibitions including Made in Jamestown: How Furniture Built a City, Lucille Ball: Not the Girl Next Door, the Military Room, the Lookout Tower, and many others.
        • Visit the Roger Tory Peterson Institute to explore a beautiful museum with nature art exhibitions, walk 2.5 miles of trails on a 27-acre preserve, and discover the largest collection of Roger Tory Peterson’s original artwork, films, slides and papers. Peterson, the premier artist-naturalist of his time, connected people with nature as never before. The father of the modern field guide, Peterson’s artwork offered a way for readers to discover the beauty and wonder of nature.
  • What events are held annually in Dunkirk, NY?

    Some of the top annual events in the city of Dunkirk, NY include:

    Music on the Pier Summer Concert Series: Held on Thursday evenings during the summer, Music on the Pier brings a variety of musical styles and acts to the Dunkirk Pier. Each week features a new theme. The Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace shops and restaurants open to welcome visitors. The Pier hosts food trucks and a beverage tent during the weekly concert series. 

    Dunkirk Walleye Festival: The fastest-growing fishing tournament in Western New York, the Dunkirk Walleye Festival features fishing tournaments, vendors and live music in June.

    Music at the Point Sunset Series: These concerts take place Wednesday nights during the summer at Point Gratiot Park.

    Fourth of July Celebration at Memorial Park: Visit the beautiful Lake Erie waterfront in Dunkirk for live music, vendors and a spectacular fireworks display.

    Chautauqua County Fair: Each July, the Chautauqua County Fair brings farming, food and fun to Dunkirk with midway rides, grandstand events, animal exhibits, and more.

    America's Grape Country Craft Beverage Festival: Held at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk each August, the festival includes wineries, distilleries and breweries from across New York and Pennsylvania. Attendees can enjoy live music, a classic car show and specialty food, lifestyle and craft vendors.

    More top annual events in Dunkirk include: the Juneteenth Celebration at Memorial Park, the Dunkirk Beach Bash at Wright Park, and the Christmas on Central Holiday Extravaganza and Parade. 

    Dunkirk festivals and events are added to tourchautauqua.com/events as dates and times are announced.

    VIEW ALL EVENTS

  • What outdoor activities can I enjoy in Dunkirk, NY?

    Visitors flock to the Lake Erie waterfront in Dunkirk to enjoy activities on and off the water.

    Take a dip in Lake Erie at lifeguarded beaches in Point Gratiot and Wright Park. Hike or bike Point Gratiot's trails and observe dozens of bird species. Admire and explore the Dunkirk Lighthouse, Park and Veterans Museum, and climb to the observation level for a stunning Lake Erie view.

    Visit City Pier Park in Dunkirk Harbor to fish from the shore, launch your boat or kayak, shop, dine or enjoy live entertainment during the summer, headlined by the Thursday night Music on the Pier series. The Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace has seven shops and restaurants along a 160-foot-long covered boardwalk with indoor and outdoor seating.

  • When is the best time of year to visit Dunkirk, NY?

    The best time of year to visit Dunkirk, NY depends on your specific interests.

    Dunkirk enjoys the most visitors during the summer season, when activity on Lake Erie and the waterfront reaches its peak. 

    Summer fun in Dunkirk features:

    Winter, spring and fall trips to Dunkirk can offer discounted lodging options. Attractions such as the Dunkirk Lighthouse, Park and Veterans Museum are open from May through October.  Take in an amazing view of Lake Erie from the Lighthouse Observation Deck, and enjoy brilliant fall foliage.

     

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