Detroit

Understand

Downtown Detroit is unique: an International Riverfront, ornate buildings, sculptures, fountains, the nation's second largest theater district, and one of the nation's largest collection of pre-depression era skyscrapers. Two major traffic circles along Woodward Avenue surround Campus Martius Park and Grand Circus Park, both gathering points. The city has ample parking much of it in garages. Many historic buildings have been converted into loft apartments, and new businesses have opened in the Central Business District. Downtown Detroit features the Renaissance Center, including the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere, the Detroit Marriott. Many restaurants emanate from the Renaissance Center, Greektown, the arts and theatre district, and stadium area. Joining the eastern, riverfront parks, the city has the 982-acre (3.9 km²) Belle Isle Park with the large James Scott Memorial Fountain, historic conservatory, gardens, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and spectacular views of the city skyline. Visitors may reserve a public dock downtown at the Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor. Great Lakes Cruises are also available. Shorter pleasure trips provided by Diamond Jack's River Tours and The Detroit Princess Riverboat. Surrounding neighborhoods such as Corktown, home to Detroit's early Irish population, New Center, Midtown, and Eastern Market (the nation's largest open-air market), are experiencing a revival. Detroit has a rich architectural heritage, such as the restored historic Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel, the Guardian and Fisher buildings with exquisitely ornate interiors and exteriors, the Detroit Institute of Arts (top five museums in the country) to name a few. In 2005, Detroit's architecture was heralded as some of America's finest; many of the city's architecturally significant buildings are listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as among America's most endangered landmarks. Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. to offer casino resorts. The three major casino resorts are MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown, and MotorCity. A fourth major casino is just across the river in Windsor, Canada. Detroit Metro Airport is one of the few to offer world class hotel and meeting facilities inside the terminal. The Renaissance Center and the Southfield Town Center are among the nation's finest mixed-use facilities for large conferences. Downtown Detroit serves as the cultural and entertainment hub of the metropolitan region, Windsor, Ontario, and even for Toledo, Ohio residents, many of whom work in metropolitan Detroit. While most of the region's attracti

Getting there

By plane

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

1 Detroit Metro Airport (DTW IATA) is in Romulus, about 20 minutes west of the city, at the junction between I-275 and I-94 with many nearby hotels. The airport is a major Delta hub and operational headquarters, so it offers direct flights to and from a surprising variety of cities, from Seattle to Osaka. The airport has been modernized and has six major runways. The easiest way to get to downtown Detroit is the Detroit Air Xpress bus, which provides direct service between downtown and Evans & McNamara terminals in 30-60 minutes. Tickets are $6 by reservation and $8 at the door. Travelers can also rent a car or take a taxi — standard cab fare to downtown is $45-50. Uber & Lyft are also popular options. You can also get to Detroit using the SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) bus system. In 2018, SMART began a frequent regional service called FAST (Frequent Affordable Safe Transit). Buses run 7 days a week on Gratiot, Woodward & Michigan Ave all day. FAST Michigan #261 picks up at the McNamara and North terminals every 30-40 minutes on weekdays and every 45-60 minutes on weekends. This bus follows Michigan Ave, making limited stops in Dearborn, Corktown, Rosa Parks Transit Center, Grand Circus Park and ends downtown Detroit on Larned. Route #125 Fort serves the airport every 60 minutes, beginning alternately at the McNamara and North terminals, and takes about 75 min to get downtown. This bus only reaches downtown on weekdays during peak hours. The fare is $2. Familiarize yourself with the route map and schedule before you try this–-it is more commonly used by workers at the airport than tourists. Airport Shuttle and Taxi services are available by reservation. Reservations 9AM-9PM, +1 313 759-7741. Rates from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to downtown Detroit are $49, plus a $10 airport fee charged by the airport to all licensed transportation providers picking up passengers at the airport.

Windsor International Airport 2 Windsor International Airport (YQG IATA) may be an alternative for those traveling to Detroit from a Canadian city. If renting a car from Windsor Airport, make sure the rental agency allows their cars to be taken into the United States.

By car

Several interstates converge in downtown Detroit. I-75/the Chrysler (north of Downtown)/the Fisher (south of Downtown) Freeway North/South runs from Toledo through downtown Detroit to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I-94/the Ford Freeway East/West runs from Chicago to Detroit and continues up to Sarnia. I-96

Getting around

As the historical center of the American automobile industry, with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler once having their main factories here, Detroit is unsurprisingly one of the world's most car-dependent cities. Detroit's street layout is truly unique, combining wheel-and-spoke, grid, and strip-farm (near the River) layouts. Six major spoke roads radiate out from downtown; they are, in clockwise order, Fort Street, Michigan Avenue, Grand River Avenue, Woodward Avenue, Gratiot Avenue, and Jefferson Avenue. Woodward Avenue runs northwest-southeast (more or less) and divides the northern half of Detroit into east and west; West Warren Street, for instance, becomes East Warren Street when it crosses Woodward. Smaller streets generally conform to a strict grid pattern, but the orientation of the grid and the size and shape of blocks frequently varies to fit better with the spoke roads. Downtown, the layout abandons the grid design, with the spoke roads converging in a confusing but oddly logical arrangement of diagonal, mostly one-way streets.

By car As Detroit spreads over a large area, it is difficult to be without a car. An extensive freeway system and ample parking make the region one of the most auto-friendly in North America. Detroit has one of America's most modern freeway systems. See the Michigan Department of Transportation website for a current listing of downtown road closures and construction projects. Downtown has a number of parking garages. Greektown Casino, in the downtown, has a free 13-floor parking garage. Visitors are welcome to pay to park at the Renaissance Center garage. There are plenty of pay-to-park garages, lots, and valet near the Greektown/stadium areas. Premium parking right next to the stadium is well worth the extra price and usually available during a game. Downtown has an ease of entry from the freeways that may surprise new visitors. Valet parking is available at four Renaissance Center locations, the main Winter Garden entrance along the Riverfront, the Jefferson Avenue lobby, Marriott hotel entrance west, and Seldom Blues entrance west. MGM Grand Detroit Casino (15 min walk to downtown) can serve as a good base since it offers free barrier-less multi-storey parking. Since it is hard to define who is a visitor or not, this seems a low-risk spot to save on parking. Detroit has an abundance of taxi, limo, and shuttle services. Car rental prices are reasonable. While MDOT has discontinued emphasis on the names of freeways, most locals still cling to their names. Make sure you have an atlas with the names as many roads cha

See

This is only a small list of some of the biggest attractions and even though they are listed here, their info is brief. Make sure to check out the district articles for more.

Architecture

Renaissance Center, also known as the Ren Cen, is a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers whose central tower is the tallest building in Michigan and the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere. Built in 1977, it has the world's largest rooftop restaurant that can be reached by a glass elevator ride. The headquarters of General Motors, it is on the Detroit International Riverfront. See: Downtown. Fisher Building is a historic Art-Deco building designed by Albert Kahn in 1928. It has been called Detroit's largest art object. See: Midtown-New Center. Guardian Building is a bold example of Art Deco architecture, including art moderne designs. The interior, decorated with mosaic and Pewabic and Rookwood tile, is a must-see. See: Downtown. Westin Book Cadillac Hotel is a renovated architectural gem built in 1928. See: Downtown. Wayne County Building is America's best surviving example of Roman Baroque architecture. See: Downtown. Urban exploration. Detroit is known for its enormous, impressive but decaying relics of American industry and wealth, and thus has much potential for urban exploration.

Historic neighborhoods Corktown is Detroit's oldest neighborhood. It was settled by Irish people from County Cork, hence the name Corktown. Many historic landmarks are found in the neighborhood, such as the Michigan Central Station and the remnants of Tiger Stadium. See: Southwest Side. Greektown is probably Detroit's most famous neighborhood. It has an endless number of Greek restaurants and is home to Greektown Casino. See: Downtown. Mexicantown is the fastest growing neighborhood in Detroit. It is famous for its Mexican cuisine, which is evidenced by its vast number of restaurants. See: Southwest Side. Palmer Woods is a private historic neighborhood in the city of Detroit west of Woodward Avenue and north of Palmer Park. See: West Side. Woodbridge is a historic district home to many architecturally significant houses, most of which are Victorian-style. The neighborhood was one of the few that were not affected by Detroit's decay a few decades back. See: Southwest Side.

Museums Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History holds the world's largest permanent exhibit on African American culture. See: Midtown-New Center. Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the most significant museums in the United States. It has an art collection worth more than one billion dol

Do

This is only a small list of some of the key activities and events to enjoy and even though they are listed here, their info is brief. Make sure to check out the district articles for more.

Casinos The three major casinos include, MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City and Greektown. Check for performances. Concerts, and more Detroit is the birthplace of American electro/techno music, with Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May all hailing from the area. Although other cities around the world have picked up Detroit's torch and carried it further in some ways, Detroit is still a great place to dance and see the masters at work. Cruise Ships, the Great Lakes Cruising Coalition. The Dock of Detroit receives major cruise lines on the Great Lakes. Adjacent to the Renaissance Center on Hart Plaza. Local tours include Diamond Jack's River Tours and Detroit Princess. Chartered tours are also available. Detroit's Night Life includes a multitude of clubs throughout the metropolitan area. Detroit's Vibrant, Underground Arts Scene Detroit is home to over 80 galleries, with artists hailing from around the world. Artists are attracted to Detroit due to its abundance of raw, under-utilized industrial space and its inspiring environment of pre-depression era buildings. Detroit's Music Scene The Detroit sound is the sound of the world. It is shaped by Detroit's unique past, its cultural diversity, its energy and its future. Some great musicians to come out of Detroit are Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Eminem. Detroit's public information campaign, "The World is Coming, Get in the Game" features an online tour of this music scene. Unlike some cities, there is no central entertainment district (Greektown only partially counts) and many up-and-coming groups play at venues scattered throughout the area. Theater See a performance, Detroit's theaters include the Fox Theater, Fisher Theater, Masonic Theater, Gem Theater & Century Club, Detroit Opera House, and Orchestral Hall.

Events North American International Auto Show: January 2026. Annual automotive gala featuring over 20+ attractions, events, and shows (date needs updating) Ford Fireworks: 23 June 2025. (date needs updating) America’s Thanksgiving Parade: 28 November 2024. Annual Parade down Woodward Avenue featuring floats and helium baloons of popular characters (date needs updating) Detroit Grand Prix: 30 May – 01 June 2025. Indycar race weekend held on the streets of downtown along the riverfront (date needs updating) Hydrofest: 23–25 August 2024. Hydoplane races on the Detroit River. (date needs upd

Buy

This is only a small list of shops and even though they are listed here, their info is brief. Make sure to check out the district articles for more.

1 Eastern Market, 2934 Russell St. M-Sa 7AM - 5PM. Historic Farmers Market. 2 John K. King Books, 901 W. Lafayette, ☏ +1 313-961-0622. One of the best used bookstores in America with over 500,000 books in stock. Pure Detroit. Detroit souvenirs. Stores inside the Renaissance Center, the Fisher Building, the Guardian Building, the Belle Island Aquarium, and the Strathmore. (updated Jun 2017) Riverfront Shops. Detroit. Inside the GM Renaissance Center Winter Garden.

Groceries and other basics Detroit does not really have a lot of retail options within the city and as a result most city residents tend to head to the suburbs to do any major shopping. Thankfully this has started to change somewhat with a few local independently owned supermarkets opening up and the opening of a Whole Foods Market in Midtown, two Aldi stores, and two Meijer stores means that Detroit no longer has the dubious distinction of being the largest city in the US without a chain grocery store. The major drug store chains such as CVS and Walgreens in addition to convenience stores such as 7-11 however do have a few locations scattered throughout the city.

Eat

Individual listings can be found in Detroit's district articles Detroit is home to many American classics including Sanders Hot Fudge, Little Caesars Pizza, Better Made Potato Chips, and Vernor's Ginger Ale. (Vernor's Ginger Ale shares the distinction as America's oldest soft drink with Hires Root Beer.) Detroit is famous for the ubiquitous Coney Island. The term refers to a hot dog with chili, mustard, and chopped fresh onions; the name also applies to restaurants that serve them. The two oldest are American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island, next door to each other in downtown Detroit. Coney Islands can be found all over the city. People in the suburbs get their fill from local chains such as National Coney Island and Leo's Coney Island. Detroit-style pizza is a delicious and crispy deep-dish pizza that you can't really find outside Michigan (with some exceptions). Not quite as thick as Chicago-style pizza, the buttery crust is worth seeking out. The Detroit classic is Buddy's Pizza, with locations throughout the metro Detroit area. Loui's Pizza in Hazel Park makes a fine example, as well. The dozens of Jets Pizzas in the area do it right and do it quickly. Explore Detroit's Greektown, with its Greek restaurants and shops surrounding the Greektown Casino. Detroit's Mexicantown is known for Mexican cuisine at restaurants such as Mexican Village, Evie's Tamales, El Zocalo and Xochimilco. Restaurants, bakeries, and shops are on Vernor Highway, on both the east and west sides of the Interstate 75 service drive. Hamtramck is famous for its Polish cuisine and bakeries. Choose to dine in elegance at one of Detroit's many fine restaurants a sample of which include the Coach Insignia atop the Renaissance Center Downtown, the Whitney House restaurant in Midtown, or the Opus One in the New Center.

Drink & nightlife

Vernor's Ginger Ale, created by Detroit pharmacist James Vernor, shares the distinction as America's oldest soft drink with Hires Root Beer. A local favorite, Detroiters pour Vernor's over ice cream (this drink is called a "Boston Cooler" in reference to Boston Blvd. in Detroit, not the city in Massachusetts). Also try Faygo soft drinks, another former Detroit based soft drink company. Detroiters enjoy Michigan Wines. A family of GM heritage, the Fisher family Coach Wines are served at the Coach Insignia Restaurant atop the GM Renaissance Center. The Detroit area also hosts a number of microbreweries.

Sleep

Individual listings can be found in Detroit's district articles With plenty of luxurious accommodations, the Detroit area includes many fine hotels to fit all types of needs. Whether it is the riverfront ambiance of the Renaissance Center Marriott, or the old-world elegance of the newly restored Westin Book-Cadillac. For a mix of the urban/suburban flair try the international style Westin Southfield-Detroit Hotel. Budget options are also available, including a hostel in North Corktown.

Go next

Michigan Although Detroit provides the majority of the region's visitor attractions, the Southeast Michigan area is large and diverse and contains a great wealth of hot spots and attractions that are also well worth visiting.

Ann Arbor - Home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor offers many attractions of a self-enclosed small city. A thriving downtown, lots of culture, and plenty of students. Canoeing is a favorite pastime on the Huron River, available through Metro parks near Ann Arbor. Additionally, the city boasts the number one rated Ann Arbor Street Art Fair which attracts over 500,000 attendees from across the nation each July. Enjoy the Beach at Kensington Metropark, or winter skiing at nearby Mt. Holly, and Brighton. Dearborn - Detroit's suburb to the Southwest and home of Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, has a leading attraction, The Henry Ford (the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village), a large historical and entertainment complex, and the Automotive Hall of Fame. Dearborn has the second largest Middle-Eastern population in the world, with mosques being a common sight and a wide selection of Middle-Eastern food and shopping. Detroit's public information campaign, "The World is Coming, Get in the Game" has created an online tour (see section "Do" for the link) of Dearborn's cultural scene. Flint - The home of the modern labor union movement in the U.S. While not as tourist-friendly as Ann Arbor, Flint has a great art scene for a city of its size and is much less pretentious. Grand Rapids - Michigan's second largest city. With a skyline filled with construction cranes, many believe Grand Rapids is Michigan's future. With a great, clean downtown area and the city's proximity to Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids is a grand experience waiting to happen. Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River - Waterfront activities and living are among the luxuries of the metropolitan Detroit area. Experience cruises and boating on beautiful Lake St. Clair. The St. Clair River connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Huron. In the quiet town of St. Clair, along the St. Clair River, dine at the Voyager Seafood restaurant at 525 South Riverside. Enjoy the charm of a small town lifestyle in a major metropolitan area in and around Lake St. Clair's Anchor Bay. Visitors to downtown Detroit may reserve a dock at William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. Or enjoy a Great Lakes cruise. Royal Oak - Home to the beautifully landscaped Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak is a gay friendly suburb outside of Detroit which boasts a classy night scene with exciting dining and a diverse avant-garde ba