Cincinnati
A hilly city on the Ohio River, built by German brewers, whose Over-the-Rhine district lines up one of the largest ensembles of 19th-century buildings in the United States. An 1867 suspension bridge leads to Kentucky, and the river that once separated the free states from the slave states is the subject of a freedom museum facing the water.
By PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ views on Google MapsBy PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ Maps views
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Cincinnati · Photo Eyes2Soul Eyes2Soul / Pexels
Things to do in Cincinnati in 4 days
Day 1
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Ohio's oldest public market still in operation, opened in 1855 in a cast-iron and glass hall, where more than 50 traders sell meats, cheeses, pastries, international dishes and local goetta.
💡 Come on a Saturday or Sunday morning for the atmosphere of the farmers' market, or on a weekday to shop without the crowds. The market is closed on Mondays; it opens from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Price: free entry.
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The German immigrants' district, one of the largest urban historic districts in the country, with hundreds of Italianate brick buildings now home to the city's best restaurants, bars and breweries.
💡 Walk along Vine Street and Main Street, then book a tour of the brewery tunnels to understand the district before Prohibition. The free Connector streetcar links Over-the-Rhine to downtown and the riverfront. Price: free to stroll.
Ohio Redevelopment Projects - ODSA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Day 2
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Union Terminal, the 1933 Art Deco station, whose vast half-dome rotunda framed by Winold Reiss mosaics houses museums of city history, natural history and a children's museum.
💡 Take time to look up in the rotunda, which is free, before going into the museums. The ticket covers all three museums; the cinema and the Holocaust centre are sold separately. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price: about $25, about €22, for adults; parking $6, about €5.
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A museum on the banks of the Ohio telling the story of the Underground Railroad, centred on a log slave pen from the 1830s rebuilt inside the building, with terraces facing Kentucky.
💡 The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and opens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, last entry at 4.30 p.m. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, tickets are cheaper. Price: $21.50, about €18, for adults; $18.50, about €16, for ages 3 to 12.
MamaGeek at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Day 3
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The blue suspension bridge of 1867 linking Cincinnati to Covington, Kentucky, once the world's longest suspension bridge and forerunner of the Brooklyn Bridge, crossed on foot in about ten minutes.
💡 Cross at sunset, then have dinner in Covington, in MainStrasse Village or in the bars of Roebling Point, where the bridge comes out on the Kentucky side. Price: free.
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A hilltop park with the finest views over the loop of the Ohio, home to a free art museum ranging from ancient Egypt to Van Gogh and the 1933 Krohn Conservatory.
💡 The art museum is closed on Mondays, opens from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, and its car park is free. Finish with a drink in Mount Adams below. Price: free museum, except for some temporary exhibitions.
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Day 4
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The country's second-oldest zoo, opened in 1875, known for breeding endangered species and for Fiona, the hippo born prematurely in 2017, among gardens of several thousand plant species.
💡 The price varies daily depending on expected crowds: buy online and aim for a weekday, which is much cheaper. Arrive at opening time to see Fiona and the hippos of Hippo Cove before the crowds. Price: $11-28, about €9-24, for adults depending on the date.
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Hundreds of American signs in a former warehouse, from 19th-century painted boards to Route 66 motel neon, with a recreated indoor street and a working neon workshop behind glass.
💡 Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come on a Saturday for the neon demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., or at the weekend for the guided tours at noon and 2 p.m., with no booking needed. Price: $20, about €17, for adults; $15, about €13, from age 65; free for under-12s.
Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)"Book" (hotels) and "via GetYourGuide" (activities) are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide). Prices, times and distances are approximate.
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Good to know before you go
🍽️ Must-try food
Burgers and barbecue
brisket and ribs cooked low and slow, done differently in every state.
Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl
the classic lunch on the San Francisco waterfront.
Mexican food
tacos from a truck in Los Angeles, a Mission burrito in San Francisco.
Pancakes and weekend brunch
a national habit, generous to the point of excess.
Craft beer, and California wine from Napa and Sonoma.
Dishes to look for in the good places: Cincinnati.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Tipping is not optional: add 15 to 20% in restaurants and bars.
- Prices on menus and in shops exclude sales tax, which is added at the till.
- Do not plan more than four or five hours of driving a day: the distances are larger than they look on the map.
- Never travel without health insurance. A night in hospital can cost thousands of dollars.
- In summer, do not hike down into the Grand Canyon in the heat of the day: the climb back out is where people get into trouble.
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The little details that make all the difference once you're there.
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📄 See the full guide: Cincinnati, detailed month-by-month weather, budget, what to avoid and FAQ.