Things to do in Cincinnati
Late spring and early fall bring warm, comfortable days, riverfront festivals, and peak patio season; summers are hot and humid while winters are cold with occasional snow.
Best months: May, June, September, October
What is worth your time in Cincinnati
American Sign MuseumDo not miss
A glowing warehouse of vintage neon and roadside signs, the largest public collection of its kind and an unforgettable photo experience.
Museum · 1.9 hr4.8
Cincinnati Art MuseumDo not miss
A free encyclopedic collection spanning 6,000 years, from antiquities to Cincinnati's own painters, set in a grand hilltop building in Eden Park.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.8
Smale Riverfront ParkDo not miss
A playful Ohio River park with a carousel, swinging benches, interactive fountains, and a labyrinth, linking the ballpark to the Roebling bridge.
Park · 1.4 hr4.8
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union TerminalDo not miss
A stunning 1933 Art Deco train station now housing natural history, science, history museums, and an Omnimax theater under a vast painted rotunda.
Museum · 4 hr4.7
Eden ParkDo not miss
A leafy hilltop park with the art museum, conservatory, a mirror lake, and overlooks across the Ohio River valley to Kentucky.
Park · 1.8 hr4.7
Findlay MarketDo not miss
Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market, a bustling Over-the-Rhine hall of butchers, bakers, ethnic food stalls, and weekend street vendors.
Market · 1.8 hr4.7
Krohn ConservatoryDo not miss
A 1933 glasshouse in Eden Park with a rainforest, desert, and orchid rooms plus a famous spring butterfly show.
Park · 1.1 hr4.7
National Underground Railroad Freedom CenterDo not miss
A powerful riverfront museum on the fight against slavery, telling the story of the Underground Railroad that crossed the Ohio River here.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.7
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical GardenDo not miss
One of the nation's oldest and most acclaimed zoos, home to hippos, big cats, and award-winning gardens that bloom across the seasons.
Activity · 4 hr4.6
Over-the-RhineDo not miss
One of America's largest historic districts, a dense, restored neighborhood of Italianate buildings, breweries, indie shops, and the city's best dining.
Neighborhood · 3 hr
Cincinnati Music Hall
A magnificent 1878 High Victorian Gothic hall home to the symphony, opera, and ballet, with a richly restored interior worth a tour.
Architecture · 2 hr4.9
Holy Cross-Immaculata Church
A landmark 1859 hilltop church crowning Mount Adams, reached by the Good Friday praying-the-steps tradition and rewarding climbers with river views.
Historic Site · 45 min4.9
Ault Park
A grand formal pavilion, cascading gardens, and hilltop views make this east-side park a favorite for a relaxed afternoon stroll.
Park · 1.4 hr4.8
Cincinnati Nature Center
Over a thousand acres of forest, ponds, and meadows with miles of trails and a treehouse, a peaceful escape east of the city.
Nature · 2.3 hr4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- The riverfront ties together: Smale Riverfront Park, the Purple People Bridge, and Newport on the Levee are all walkable across the Ohio River into Kentucky.
- Over-the-Rhine is the dining and nightlife heart of the city; stick to the busy blocks around Vine Street and Washington Park after dark.
- Eat the local specialties: Cincinnati chili over spaghetti (a three-way), goetta for breakfast, and a scoop of Graeter's ice cream.
- Top museums cluster at Union Terminal and along the river, so pair a museum-heavy downtown day with a green day around Eden Park and Mount Adams.
- Summer afternoons turn hot and humid, so carry water for the zoo, parks, and Kings Island and save indoor museums for the peak heat.