Things to do in Detroit
Late spring through early fall brings warm days, a lively riverfront, patio season, and the full Belle Isle and Eastern Market experience. Greenfield Village and Ford Piquette run their main seasons in these months, while winters are cold and snowy with the action moving indoors to museums and theaters.
Best months: May, June, September, October
What is worth your time in Detroit
Anna Scripps Whitcomb ConservatoryDo not miss
A glittering 1904 glass-domed conservatory on Belle Isle filled with palms, orchids, cacti, and a tranquil lily pond.
Nature · 1.1 hr4.8
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American HistoryDo not miss
The world's largest museum dedicated to the African American experience, centered on the powerful And Still We Rise core exhibition.
Museum · 2.8 hr4.8
Detroit Institute of ArtsDo not miss
One of America's great art museums, anchored by Diego Rivera's monumental Detroit Industry murals and a sweeping global collection.
Museum · 3 hr4.8
Greenfield VillageDo not miss
An 80-acre open-air museum in Dearborn with historic homes, working trades, a Model T ride, and the Wright Brothers' and Edison's relocated buildings.
Historic Site · 5.5 hr4.8
The Henry Ford Museum of American InnovationDo not miss
A vast Dearborn collection of American innovation, from the Rosa Parks bus and presidential limousines to historic locomotives and the Wright cycle shop.
Museum · 5.5 hr4.8
Belle Isle ParkDo not miss
A 982-acre island park in the Detroit River with skyline views, a conservatory, an aquarium, beaches, and grand Olmsted-designed grounds.
Park · 3.5 hr4.7
Detroit RiverwalkDo not miss
An award-winning riverfront promenade with parks, plazas, and pavilions stretching along the Detroit River with Canada in clear view.
Scenic Route · 1.8 hr4.7
Guardian BuildingDo not miss
A dazzling 1929 Art Deco tower nicknamed the Cathedral of Finance, with a tiled, mosaic-and-marble lobby that is among the finest in the country.
Architecture · 53 min4.7
Motown MuseumDo not miss
Step inside Hitsville U.S.A., the modest house where Berry Gordy built the Motown sound, and stand in the legendary Studio A.
Museum · 1.9 hr4.7
Eastern MarketDo not miss
A sprawling century-old public market with Saturday produce sheds, specialty food shops, and one of the country's best collections of building-scale murals.
Market · 2.3 hr
Detroit Historical Museum
Free galleries tracing Detroit's story, from the cobblestone Streets of Old Detroit to the auto industry and Motown.
Museum · 1.9 hr4.8
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
The 1904 factory where the Model T was born, now a hands-on museum of early Ford history and vintage automobiles.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.8
Michigan Central Station
The grand 1913 Beaux-Arts depot, long an icon of Detroit's decline and now a stunningly restored innovation hub in Corktown.
Architecture · 1.4 hr4.8
Monument to Joe Louis
The striking suspended bronze fist honoring boxing legend and Detroit hero Joe Louis, known simply as The Fist.
Landmark · 23 min4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- The marquee auto-history sites, The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, are in Dearborn about 25 minutes from downtown, so give each its own block of time and plan the drive.
- Downtown, Midtown, Corktown, and the riverfront are the core zones; the QLine streetcar and People Mover loop link downtown and Midtown, but a car is best for Dearborn and Belle Isle.
- Belle Isle is a state park, so you need a Michigan Recreation Passport or a daily vehicle pass to drive on.
- Eat the local classics: Detroit-style square pizza, a coney dog with chili and onions, and a Better Made chip, ideally around Eastern Market on a Saturday.
- Many top museums close on Mondays and some, like Belle Isle Aquarium, open only Friday through Sunday, so check days before you go.