23 Best Things to Do in Cincinnati (By a Local)

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As a born-and-raised local, I’m excited to share the absolute best things to do in Cincinnati!  

In this guide, I cover Queen City activities for every interest and budget. Visit free urban parks, engage in an evening of culture, or visit Cincinnati’s iconic breweries.

I also share ideas for sports fans, history buffs, families, and anyone seeking unique experiences! There are so many cool spots in Cincinnati to explore. And if you need accommodations, see my guide to where to stay in Cincinnati.

23 Best Things to Do in Cincinnati

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

See animals from around the globe at the nation’s second-oldest zoo.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 281-4700 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $13-$28 adults, $8-$22 children | 👉 Buy Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Tickets

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, located in Avondale, is home to one of Ohio’s greatest assortments of animals. Expect to see red pandas, pythons, parakeets, and more. There are also thousands of imported and local plants.

There are many interactive experiences like the Conservation Carousel, Safari Train, and 4-D Theater. You can attend an educational talk and see a live feeding as well.

The Cincinnati Zoo is heavily focused on conservation efforts. Because of this, you can see many endangered animals living here. Many endangered species have successfully been bred at the Cincinnati Zoo, too. The California sea lion is one example. The zoo has also been home to the last members of species now extinct.

Great American Ball Park

Cheer on the nation’s first professional baseball team.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 765-7000 | Website | Hours: Gates open 90 minutes before games begin | Entrance: $60-$460 (depending on seats) | 👉 Book a Ball Park Tour with Hall of Fame & Museum Entry

The Great American Ball Park gives you the chance to enjoy a day of classic baseball fun. Home to the Cincinnati Reds, this is a great place for baseball fans. Close to the city center, you can also see the banks of the Ohio River from here.

Whenever the Cincinnati Reds hit a home run, you get to see a blast of fireworks and celebrate with the locals! If you’re a really big baseball fan, I recommend taking this Great American Ball Park tour. It includes entry to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum, too.

Despite the vintage vibe of the ballpark, the stadium is full of modern amenities. These include high-tech scoreboards, restaurants, bars, and more.

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum

Learn everything there is to know about the Cincinnati Reds.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 765-7923 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily, times vary on game days | Entrance: $15 adults, $13 seniors & students, free for ages 12 and under | 👉  Buy a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum Ticket

You can still enjoy some of Cincinnati’s sports history even if you visit during baseball’s off-season. The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum is adjacent to the Great American Ball Park. It allows you to learn all about the rich history of this baseball team and its players.

This museum brings baseball alive with memorabilia, displays, and exhibits. Check out MVP awards of players such as Joe Morgan, World Series trophies, and much more. There’s also a guided tour that allows you to visit the press box, sit in the dugout, and go up to the home plate!

Visit the batting cages and playground in the TriHealth Family Zone, then enjoy a cold beer at the sports bar when you get thirsty!

👉 Fun Cincinnati Facts: Cincinnati, OH is home to the oldest major league baseball team in the country. It also has an MLS soccer team (FC Cincinnati) and an NFL team (Cincinnati Bengals) that has made an amazing comeback in recent years.

Findlay Market

Experience the market scene in Cincinnati, Ohio.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 665-4839 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm Tue-Fri, 8 am – 6 pm Sat, 10 am – 4 pm Sun, Closed Mon | Entrance: Free ($3/per hour parking) | 👉 Book a Findlay Market Tour with Tastings

Findlay Market is an open-air market in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood that has dozens of food stalls and local vendors, outside and inside. It’s one of the oldest public markets in Ohio, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For many locals, visiting is a weekly tradition. The main attraction is the food. You can find tons of produce, meats, seafood, cheeses, desserts, wines, and more. I recommend taking this guided food tour so you can sample the best bites.

You can also see all sorts of crafts, including jewelry and paintings by local artists, as well as cookware by local stonemasons. On warm days, you can enjoy street performers and a beer garden.

Fountain Square

Enjoy fun things in the heart of the city.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 621-4400 | Website | Hours: 24/7 (event & business hours vary) | Entrance: Free

Many see Fountain Square as the heart and soul of downtown Cincinnati. You’ll find some of the city’s best entertainment on the stretch between Walnut Street and Vine Street. Wonderful shops and restaurants dot the area, and Fountain Square itself is home to many fantastic events and programs. Best of all, most of these events are free!

If you’re here in the winter, you can enjoy stunning decorations and the Winter Wonder Lights pop-up market. Not to mention, there’s an ice rink! When it’s warm, you can get refreshments from local food trucks and enjoy live music outdoors.

Cincinnati Art Museum

Learn about art from every time and place in human history.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 721-2787 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Tue, Wed, Fri-Sun; 11 am – 8 pm Thu; Closed Mon | Entrance: Free

The Cincinnati Art Museum in the Eden Park neighborhood is where you can enjoy ancient paintings and sculptures alongside pop culture exhibits and showcases of jewelry. This museum also recognizes the work of talented locals.

Art lovers will want to come here more than once, as there are over 73,000 pieces that represent more than six millennia in the world of art. There are also fun special events, including Art After Dark once a month and performance art demonstrations that will astound you.

Children and families will enjoy the Rosenthal Education Center. This is home to an interactive art area where families can make art themselves.

📚 Related Reading: The Cincinnati Art Museum is in one of the safest areas in Cincinnati. Take a look at my guide to safety in Cincinnati if you’re interested in learning more.

Newport Aquarium

Immerse yourself in an underwater world.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 406-3474 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon, 9 am – 5 pm Tues-Thurs, 9 am – 7 pm Fri, 9 am – 8 pm Sat & Sun | Entrance: $25.99-$40.99 adults, $14.99-$31.99 children

Don’t miss a visit to the Newport Aquarium, located just across the river in Newport, Kentucky. Here, you can see thousands of majestic sea creatures swimming around in millions of gallons of water. Sharks, jellyfish, colorful fish, coral reefs — it’s all here!

Walk through underwater tunnels and gaze at the sea creatures swimming above and next to you. You’ll be astonished by the diversity alone, as there are about 650 species living here and more than 16,000 animals in total.

There are many special events at the Newport Aquarium, including Mermaid’s Cove in the summer and Scuba Santa close to the holidays. If you can’t come during those times, there’s a penguin parade every day!

American Sign Museum

See all the signs and learn what’s behind them.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 541-6366 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Wed-Sun, Closed Mon & Tue | Entrance: $20 adults, $10 youth, Free for children 12 and under

The American Sign Museum is about 10 minutes north of downtown Cincinnati. It’s one one of the top places to see in Ohio!

See old-fashioned signs from centuries ago, vintage movie billboards, and modern neon signs throughout the museum’s 20,000 square feet. 

You can also learn all about the history of signage in America, and how it influenced the development of society. The museum covers how these signs are made, too.

Parks & Nature

Smale Riverfront Park

Walk past landmarks of the city center with the Ohio River as a backdrop.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 352-6180 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily | Entrance: Free

Smale Riverfront Park spans 45 acres, stretching from the Great American Ball Park (home of the Cincinnati Reds) to Paul Brown Stadium (home of the Cincinnati Bengals).

It’s located at one end of the Cincinnati Riverwalk, otherwise known as the Ohio River Trail. This pathway allows you to see multiple downtown Cincinnati landmarks and a few in Northern Kentucky.

Smale Riverfront Park is home to many acres of landscaped gardens, water play areas, a playground, and tons of picnic space. You can sit on a bench swing facing the river, enjoy the vintage Carol Ann’s Carousel, or try out the foot piano. Many Cincinnati festivals take place here.

👉 Pro Tip: At the other end of the Cincinnati Riverwalk is the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. You can walk across it into Kentucky. See not only amazing panoramic views of the Ohio River but the unique construction of the bridge itself.

Mt. Airy Forest

Explore the largest, lushest forest in the city!

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 357-2604 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free

Mount Airy Forest covers nearly 1,500 acres and is one of the biggest recreational parks in Ohio. It’s a great place to go if you want a break from the busy city atmosphere.

There are tons of fun things to do here, including hiking and biking trails for people of all fitness levels. There’s also a disc golf course.

If you are traveling with your dog, you can let them blow off steam in the dog park. You can also have a picnic under a spacious pavilion, go horseback riding on the trails, and climb up into a wooden treehouse.

Eden Park

Escape downtown Cincinnati and get lost in nature.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 357-2604 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free

Eden Park is the place to go if you want to take a break from the noise of the city. It is truly a green oasis.

Eden Park is located right on the Ohio River, between Mount Adams and Walnut Hills. Home to lovely gazebos and pavilions, the park is a great place to picnic or enjoy quiet walking paths. There is a 172-foot tall historic water tower, a magnolia garden with places to play chess, and the serene Mirror Lake.

This is also home to the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, consisting of two theaters where you can see many amazing plays and musicals.

Krohn Conservatory

Lose yourself in flora from all over the world.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 421-4086 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 8 pm daily | Entrance: $12 adults, $8 for ages 5-17, Free ages 4 and under

Eden Park is also home to Krohn Conservatory. Here, you can bask in the beauty of the public indoor garden with over 3,500 radiant plant species. 

These include cacao trees and vanilla vines, from which chocolate and vanilla are harvested. There are also citrus fruits, dwarf bananas, kumquats, and other edible items. These end up being delectable parts of Cincinnati cuisine.

Additionally, there are tons of flowers, including an orchid display. Its desert garden features succulent plants, such as cacti.

There is also a large waterfall surrounded by palm trees and ferns, in addition to goldfish ponds. Many exhibits rotate throughout the year, such as the annual butterfly show. 

Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum

Pay respects to many famous individuals while enjoying nature.

 📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 681-7526 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 6 pm daily | Entrance: Free

The Spring Grove Cemetery is a beautiful outdoor space, with multiple walking paths. It is home to over 700 acres of tree groves, hills, gardens, lakes, and ponds.

This is the largest cemetery in Ohio. The Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum have been recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Many public events take place here throughout the year.

This place is well known for the imposing gothic tombs, statues, and mausoleums of some of the more elaborate memorials. Many famous people are buried here. These include politicians, scientists, athletes, artists, and Civil War generals.

Sawyer Point Park and Yeatman’s Cove

Hang out by the Ohio River and see a concert.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 352-6180 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily | Entrance: Free

Sawyer Point Park and Yeatman’s Cove are side-by-side parks on the shores of the Ohio River. Both Cincinnati parks stretch for about a mile along the riverfront.

Here, you can enjoy beautiful waterfront views and lots of activity spaces. There are places to play volleyball and tennis, as well as concession stands, picnic tables, and performance pavilions.

Sawyer Point is home to an outdoor amphitheater where you can see live events, including concerts. The Serpentine Wall is also here, which is a wall of large concrete stairs that curve like the coils of a snake. There’s also a giant statue of Cincinnatus. Either of these would be a great backdrop for a selfie!

Museums & Culture

Cincinnati Museum Center

Explore different worlds of knowledge in a distinctive half-dome building.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 287-7000 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $19.50 adults, $12.50 children (for an all-museum package) | 👉 Book a Cincinnati History & Sightseeing Bus Tour

The Cincinnati Museum Center of Queensgate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s home to the Union Terminal train station. It also houses the Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, and Duke Energy Children’s Museum.

The Museum of Natural History & Science is home to “The Cave,” a simulation of a limestone cave modeled after the Mammoth Cave. “The Ice Age” lets you explore glaciers that once consumed the Ohio Valley.

The Cincinnati History Museum will teach you all about Queen City and take you back to the days of steam engines, trains, and steamboats! The Duke Energy Children’s Museum is a must-visit for families with kids. Hands-on, interactive exhibits encourage creative exploration and make learning fun!

Contemporary Arts Center

Learn to look at and appreciate art in a whole new way.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 345-8400 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wed, 10 am – 7 pm Thu-Fri, 10 am – 4 pm Sat & Sun, Closed Mon – Tues | Entrance: $12 General Admission

The Contemporary Arts Center is one of Cincinnati’s oldest non-profit arts organizations. It’s been around since 1939 and is located in downtown Cincinnati. The gallery is full of interactive experiences.

The Contemporary Arts Center is known for its amazing, constantly changing exhibitions. You can see paintings, sculptures, unique architecture, memorable performance art, and astounding photography.

There’s also the Unmuseum, a unique hands-on area that allows you to learn about contemporary art in a completely different way.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Spend a day honoring the past and present victims of slavery.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 333-7500 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wed-Sun, Closed Mon & Tue | Entrance: $16.50+, adults, $11.50+ for ages 3-12

At the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, you can view powerful stories, texts, pictures, and relics from the times of slavery in the United States. It is located on the banks of the Ohio River, which separated the free northern states from the southern slave states.

Perhaps the most poignant part of this museum is the “slave pen,” a small building used to cram dozens of enslaved people inside as they were forced to be auctioned off. Visiting this museum is an emotional yet eye-opening educational experience.

Taft Museum of Art

Experience an expanse of both history and art in one short visit.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 241-0343 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wed-Mon, Closed Tue | Entrance: $15 adults, free for kids 17 and under; Free for all Sun & Mon

The Taft Museum of Art in downtown Cincinnati is a must-visit if you’re an art-lover. It houses an amazing permanent collection and rotating exhibits from local and international artists.

You can find fine art from all over the Americas and Europe here. This includes the works of Gainsborough and Rembrandt and one of the highest quality gothic ivory sculptures in the country.

This fantastic art museum is a National Historic Landmark. The building was once the house of the brother of former US President William Howard Taft. The rooms of this historic house also contain masterpieces and artifacts that were owned by the Tafts.

Cincinnati Music Hall

Experience the best performance art Cincinnati has to offer.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 744-3344 | Website | Hours: Varies by event | Entrance: $70 – 170 (depending on event), Building Tours $20 per person

Cincinnati Music Hall is located in Washington Park in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Music Hall was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1975. 

The building itself, a beautiful Victorian piece of architecture, is a daunting sight, especially at night. Many have reported that it is haunted! If the paranormal excites you, consider going on the Queen City is Haunted Tour, which includes a stop at Cincinnati Music Hall.

In addition to going on a ghost hunt, you can witness world-class performances. Watch the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, and Cincinnati Ballet!

👉 Pro Tip: In addition to being home to Music Hall, Washington Park is an iconic spot in Cincinnati. It’s packed with things to do. These include diverse local pop-up shops, an outdoor beer garden, free concerts, and theater productions, and much more!

Cool & Unusual

Cincinnati Dinner Train

Travel back in time while traveling through present-day Cincinnati.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 791-7245 | Website | Hours: 6 pm on Saturdays year-round except for Jan & Feb | Entrance: $120 per person ages 12+ (under 12 not permitted)

The Cincinnati Dinner Train is a unique activity for anyone who likes a vintage vibe. This train is composed of three dining cars reminiscent of trains from the 1940s.

The dinner train departs from the Green Sales Company’s rear parking lot and rolls through the downtown Cincinnati area, all the way to the Riverfront. It comes back to Oakley after three hours.

The cars accommodate up to 180 people, all of whom can enjoy the luxury of the surroundings. You can eat your four-course dinner while sitting in windowsill booths. The experience offers delicious food choices (chicken with white wine sauce, prime ribs, etc.), in addition to cocktails. 

The interior surroundings are classic and elegant. Riding the Cincinnati Dinner Train allows you to enjoy some of Cincinnati’s best scenery, in style.

American Legacy Tours

Choose a tour to give you a fresh perspective on this great city.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (859) 951-8560 | Website | Hours: Tour times vary | Entrance: Vary by tour | 👉 Sample Beer on a Hidden Brewery Caverns Tour

American Legacy Tours is an organization that hosts several guided tours in the greater Cincinnati area. Through these tours, you can gain a deeper understanding of Cincinnati’s heritage and history.

The Queen City Underground Tour is one of the most popular options. It’ll take you through the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and even go underground to show you a tunnel that’s well over 100 years old.

Paranormal enthusiasts will enjoy the Queen City Haunted Tour. There are so many other options worth looking into as well.

Cincinnati Observatory

Stare into worlds beyond and learn about outer space.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 321-5186 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 3 pm Tue & Thu | Entrance: $10, adults, $5, children

The Cincinnati Observatory atop Mount Lookout is the oldest professional observatory in Ohio. The building, which has been preserved to retain its classic look, has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. The Cincinnati Observatory refers to itself as the “birthplace of American astronomy.”

However, the commitment to a vintage appearance doesn’t stop the observatory from looking into the future. It heavily promotes the study of 21st-century astronomy.

If you visit, you can tour the building, look through the fascinating displays of moon rocks, and watch presentations. Use the gigantic telescope during the day for solar viewing or at night for stargazing.

Food & Drink

Skyline Chili

Enjoy the quintessential Cincinnati food.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (513) 221-2142 | Website | Hours: Vary based on location, generally open 8 am – 9 pm

Skyline Chili is a staple in Cincinnati. There are many chili parlors in the city, but Skyline is the most famous.

This chili is distinct from say, Texas chili, which is essentially a meat stew. “Cincinnati chili,” specifically Skyline chili, has a signature flavor with infusions of nutmeg, cinnamon, and chocolate. It’s served over spaghetti with beans and/or onions if you choose.

The above location information is for the oldest-standing Skyline Chili, which opened in 1966. However, there are Skyline Chili locations all over the city.

👉 Get your free printable Cincinnati packing list here!

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Enjoy exploring the Queen City! Read my guide to the best day trips from Cincinnati, next.

(Featured Image Credit: George Wirt / Shutterstock)