Are you looking for a fun weekend getaway?! Then you definitely have to put Cincinnati on your list. It was ranked one of the top twenty fun cities in America by Foders. It has also topped the charts as one of the Best Foodie Cities in America, Best Cities for Beer Drinkers, Best Cities for Artists, and Best Sports Cities.
I lived in Cincinnati for thirteen years, from nine years old until I graduated from college. I consider it a true blessing to have spent my adolescent years in Cincy, and it’s always a pleasure to go back and visit. The city has a thriving art scene, delicious restaurants, cool neighborhoods, great museums, and much more.
After reading this article, you’ll have enough information and resources to build the perfect Cincinnati itinerary for your next trip. It will include information on how to get to Cincinnati, accommodations, things to do, restaurants, and transportation.
Getting To Cincinnati
You can get to Cincinnati by plane, car, bus, or train.
By Car
More than 60% of the U.S. population is less than a half-day car ride from Cincinnati. Interstates I-75, I-71, and I-74 link Cincinnati to the rest of the country. If you find yourself in Lexington, Louisville, Indianapolis, or Columbus and want to make a trip to Cincy, the drive is around two hours.
By Plane
You will likely fly into Luken Airport (LUK) if you fly private. Otherwise, the closest airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). It has over 150 daily departures with nonstop service to over 50 domestic and international destinations. The airport consistently receives the Skytrax World Airport Award for the Best Regional Airport in North America.
By Train
Amtrak’s Cardinal Line stops in Cincinnati three days a week via its New York to Chicago route. The Amtrack is located inside Union Terminal in the western downtown Cincinnati area.
By Bus
The Greyhound Bus offers the largest intercity bus service for the city.
Accommodations in Cincinnati
From budget to luxury, romantic, new, boutique to chains, there is no shortage of places to lay your head in Cincinnati. To learn more about your many options, click here. You’ll be able to select the type of hotel that you want, and it will provide a list of options. Below is information on the hotel that we stayed at during our recent stay.
We stayed at the beautiful Lytle Park Hotel, Autograph Collection, and it exceeded all of our expectations. From the moment we stepped foot inside, we were greeted with an enchanting aroma that permeated throughout the entire property. The hotel’s attention to detail in maintaining a fresh and pleasant scent truly enhanced the overall experience. The on-site restaurant, Subito, specializes in Italian dishes with a modern flair, and the stunning rooftop bar features craft cocktails and light bites. In addition, the hotel provides a house car service, making it incredibly convenient to explore nearby attractions. This hotel was a gem!
Activities in Cincinnati
Art Scene
Cincinnati was named one of the top 20 most vibrant arts regions, and it is one of only thirteen cities in the U.S. with professional companies in all the arts – ballet, opera, symphony, theater, and fine & contemporary art museums. Moreover, there are 200 murals throughout the city. It’s so good that even Sarah Jessica Parker sings its praises.
Contemporary Arts Center: It offers FREE admission and started in 1939; the museum is one of the first modern art museums in the nation. The mission of the Contemporary Arts Center is to bring art and the creative process to all people through exhibitions, performances, and experiences that open minds.
Cincinnati Art Museum: The museum features a diverse, encyclopedic art collection of more than 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years.
The Cincinnati Opera: It’s the second oldest opera company in the nation. The only older one is The Met in New York City. Check the website to see what is currently showing at this award-winning opera.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra: With a nearly 130-year history, the CSO attracts the best artists, musicians, and conductors from around the world to Cincinnati.
Public Art: With over 200 murals throughout the city, a simple walk down one of the historic streets can sometimes feel like a colorful art gallery. You can download the mural and installations map to explore the murals of Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton, Walnut Hills, and East Walnut Hills on your own.
Taft Museum of Art: This 200-year-old house holds a marvelous collection that spans the Middle Ages through the 19th century. It is considered one of the most unique art museums in America and holds National Historic Landmark status for both its historic house and Duncanson murals.
Festivals in Cincinnati
Cincinnati has festivals year-round, from cultural celebrations to food, art, and concerts. During our trip, we went to the Asian Food Fest and tried Cambodian food for the first time. Some of the largest festivals are the Cincinnati Music Festival (CMF), Blink, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati and Taste of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Music Festival (CMF): One of the largest Black music festivals in the country, attracting over 90K people per year. This year the exciting lineup features Al Green, Snoop Dogg, Jill Scott, Babyface, Jodeci, and many more. The dates are July 20-23, 2023. To use our discount code and save $10 per ticket, call 513-924-0900, which accepts all major credit cards and is open from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. The code is TCWT23.
Blink: One of the largest light, art, and projection-mapping events in the nation, featuring large-scale installations, murals, urban art scapes, media light, and interactive art. The next festival will take place in 2024, and the dates are still to be determined. However, it’s typically in October
Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati: Established in 1976, this event has grown to be America’s largest Oktoberfest. Parts of downtown are transformed into a colorful Bavarian village serving up German-style food, beer, and entertainment. Hundreds of thousands of people attend every year to enjoy the sounds, sights, and tastes! This year it will take place September 14-17, 2023.
The Taste of Cincinnati: One of the nation’s largest free culinary arts festivals, this Cincinnati tradition started in 1979 and is one of the nation’s largest free culinary arts festivals. It features over 65 restaurants, food trucks, and Findlay Market vendors, along with several stages of live entertainment. This typically takes place at the end of May each year.
Other Attractions
Cincinnati Zoo: The Cincinnati Zoo is the second oldest in the country and is considered one of the best. If you are an animal lover, you definitely want to add visiting the zoo to your itinerary. P.S. It is home to the world-famous hippo, Fiona!
Findlay Market: Established back in 1855, Findlay Market holds the distinction of being Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market, a true testament to its enduring charm. This beloved Cincinnati institution remains open from Tuesday to Sunday, all year round, providing a bustling hub where over 40 indoor vendors offer a delightful array of meat, fish, poultry, produce, flowers, cheese, deli items, and an enticing variety of ethnic foods.
Fountain Square: This downtown restaurant and entertainment hub is a great place for snacks, dining, ice skating in the winter, or an afternoon stroll year-round.
Cultural Museums
The Underground Railroad Freedom Center: I highly recommend this museum. It shares stories of freedom’s heroes from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times. It features an Implicit Bias Lab and permanent and traveling exhibits. It is recommended that you spend at least three hours here. We only had two hours here, and it wasn’t enough, but still glad that we went and saw what we could in that time frame.
The Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center: The museum uses interactive experiences and artifacts to tell the history of the Holocaust. Here you will experience stories of perseverance, courage, loss, redemption, and new life told by local Holocaust survivors. The knowledge gained here will inspire you to be a brave upstander.
Food and Drinks
Cincinnati is known for its chili, and you should absolutely have some during your trip! But being a foodie scene, you’ll have options for much more! Below are some recommendations from current residents.
Restaurants
Skyline Chili or Gold Star Chili: popular chains to try the famous Cincinnati chili
Taste of Belgium: Traditional Belgian recipes with a twist and American classics Belgianized.
Lou Vino Cincy: where big wines and small plates unite
The Eagle OTR: Best known for its house-brined and dredged fried chicken and Southern sides
EoKitchen: Influenced by Asian cuisines from around the world while prioritizing using the highest quality local ingredients.
Jefferson Social: Prides itself on having the “comfort and familiarity of a neighborhood gathering place while providing excellent service, an upbeat atmosphere, and expertly crafted cocktails and food.
The Filson: An elevated sports bar that brings together sports fans, happy hour hunters, and concertgoers for savory bar bites and Midwestern charm
Soul Secrets LLC: Soul food restaurant in OTR
Ambar India Restaurant: Voted the best Indian Restaurant in Cincy in 2023. It’s been a while since I’ve been, but this place set the standard for Indian food for me back in the day, and in all my travels, no place has yet to top it.
Local Bakeries
Busken Bakery: Established in 1928 and serves cakes, pies, donuts etc. My go-tos here are the glazed (best ever) and the maple long john.
Bon Bonerie: Beautiful and delicious pastries of every type. Go here if you want to impress someone with a pretty treat. Established in 1983
Servatii Pastry: A German-style bakery with real ingredients and authentic recipes. Established in 1963.
Drinks & Music
Revel OTR: Specializes in handcrafted small-batch wines using a process that originated in Italy.
Nostalgia OTR: Voted Best Win Bar with intimate live music lounge + chic decor. Black+Woman owned
Cinema OTR: Featuring the best of R&B, hip-hop, and film
Cincinnati Amusement Parks
Kings Island: I had a blast every time I went to Kings Island as a kid and young adult! This 364-acre amusement and water park has the best rides, food, and live entertainment.
Coney Island: This family-friendly water park features 70 interactive water play stations and the world’s largest erupting hydro storm.
Sports in Cincinnati
Cincinnati has an MLB, MLS, and NFL team. The region is also home to several NCAA Division 1 basketball teams. So if you like watching sports, you’ll have plenty to choose from in the Queen City.
Cincinnati Reds (MLS)
FC Cincinnati (MLS)
Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
NCAA Division 1 Teams in the Region: University of Cincinnati Bearcats, Northern Kentucky University Norse, Xavier University Musketeers, Miami University RedHawks.
Transportation
It’s quite possible to spend an entire weekend in the Over the Rhine (OTR) and downtown area. If most of your activities are in these areas, you won’t need a car. The OTR area has a streetcar, and you can use the Cincy Red Bike (Cincinnati’s Bike Share Program) to get around. Of course, there are also ride shares like Uber and Lyft that you can use.
If you are going to explore other areas of the city, then I recommend getting a rental car.
Notable Neighborhoods
Over The Rhine (OTR): Trending arts scene, cool events, and many restaurant and bar options. This neighborhood is a must on your trip.
Walnut Hills + Clifton: Here, you’ll find the city’s two largest universities, the best international foods, and an indie theatre.
Hyde Park + Mt. Adams: Unique and historic neighborhoods
Conclusion
All in all, Cincinnati is a great place to live, work and visit. It offers an extraordinary blend of experiences that cater to every taste and budget. The city’s culinary landscape is a food lover’s paradise, with a diverse range of flavors and dining options that never fail to tantalize the taste buds. Beyond the delicious cuisine, Cincinnati boasts a thriving and vibrant art scene where creativity flourishes in galleries, museums, and street art. Nature enthusiasts will also find solace in the city’s abundance of scenic trails and green spaces, providing a refreshing retreat from urban life.
What sets Cincinnati apart is its affordability; nearly all goods and services here cost below the national average. This makes it easier to indulge in exceptional food, be immersed in the art and culture, and connect with nature, all without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re seeking a gourmet adventure, artistic inspiration, outdoor exploration, or simply an affordable getaway, Cincinnati delivers on all fronts, making it an ideal destination for a memorable and fulfilling experience!
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