Detroit

While many people still associate Detroit with cars and crime, the Motor City today is undergoing a long-awaited renaissance. The metropolis is filled with innovative restaurants, cool bars, and hip enclaves, and the influx of creative types from cities like New York and San Francisco shows no signs of abating. Detroit is still some way from its post-war glory days—it was once called the Paris of the Midwest—but everywhere you go you’ll be welcomed by resilient locals who love their hometown and are participating in its revival. And when you need to escape and relax in nature, the Great Lakes are at your doorstep.

Photo of the colorful lobby of The Shinola Hotel in Detroit

The Shinola Hotel in Detroit

Photo by Nicole Franzen

Overview

When’s the best time to go to Detroit?

Detroit is a city of extremes. Winters can be brutal if you’re not used to lake-effect snow or cold temperatures and summers are invariably hot and humid. Spring and fall are the best times to visit. The trees and flowers are in bloom in April and May and everyone has a pep in their step. September and October are great months as well: Locals go hiking or head to the cider mill to enjoy a donut and a drink as they take in the fall foliage.

How to get around Detroit

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) services the area and flights come from all over the country and world. While public transit does exist in the city, it’s not reliable. This is the Motor City, after all. If you don’t have an automobile, you’re out of luck: Detroit is expansive and getting anywhere takes time, so rent a car to explore. If you’re sticking to Downtown, the People Mover—a rapid transit railway—takes you to points of interest in a nearly three-mile radius. And it only costs 75c for a single ride.

Can’t miss things to do in Detroit

Nothing beats taking a stroll along the Detroit River on a warm June night. Detroit comes alive in the spring and summer and the Detroit International Riverfront, stretching from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle, is host to many festivals and events, such as the Detroit-Windsor International Freedom Festival and the Detroit Electronic Music Festival. Head over the Ambassador Bridge and stroll through Windsor, Ontario, considered by many locals to be an extension of the Motor City.

Food and drink to try in Detroit

If you want to eat it, Detroit’s got it. The city is teeming with nearly every type of cuisine you can think of: world-famous Coney Island hot dogs, stellar Hellenic eats in Greektown, trendy soul food, authentic Middle Eastern kibbeh that reminds you of your Syrian grandmother, and more. In recent years, the city has seen an uptick in farm-to-table restaurants as well as microbreweries. Restaurant prices are affordable so bring your empty belly and a small amount of cash.

Culture in Detroit

Just because Detroit is a solid factory town doesn’t mean there’s a dearth of culture. The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the great museums of the world, home to work by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Rodin, and Rivera. In fact, Diego Rivera, accompanied by Frida Kahlo, made the city his second home in the 1930s. You can see his colorful murals paying homage to the city’s industrial heritage all over town. The Henry Ford pays tribute to Detroit’s automobile history and the art deco Fox Theatre, a National Historic Landmark, plays host to concerts and plays. Don’t forget to pay your respects at the Motown Historical Museum, aka “Hitsville U.S.A.” This is where the Motown sound got its start.

For Families

Detroit is perfect for families. Hop into your rental car and head to one of the many museums for a bit of culture. The Michigan Science Center is a great spot to take the kiddos for an educational excursion. Metro Beach is a popular place for locals who want to soak in the sun on a clear summer’s day.

Local travel tips for Detroit

Detroiters, and Michiganders as a whole, are a friendly and fiercely proud bunch so don’t be surprised if someone says hi and asks what you think of their city. But there are a few tips you should follow to get the most out of your stay: If someone asks you where you’re from, they are genuinely curious and not trying to be rude. Strike up a conversation with strangers, whether a bartender or someone next to you on the People Mover. Detroiters are always happy to help a tourist since the city saw a dearth of visitors for many years. And don’t ever ask for a “soda.” It’s “pop” in these here parts.

Guide Editor

Read Before You Go
Create an art-filled fall with these exhibits that feature everything from contemporary Korean art to never-before-seen paintings from Basquiat.
Resources to help plan your trip
Forget what you may have read or heard in the news, Detroit is the place to visit if you want a vibrant urban scene. Urban gardens, the oldest farmers’ market in the U.S., galleries and boutiques, craft breweries, even a burgeoning bike scene—the Motor City has it all.
Due to the construction boom in Detroit, new hotels are popping up left and right and there’s something for everyone and every budget. From hipster-chic hotels to luxury icons to cozy inns, Detroit offers a variety of accommodations to suit any taste. Most properties are situated in Midtown, Downtown, Greektown, and Corktown, so you can rest assured you’ll be near all the action.
Detroit-style pizza, Coney Island hot dogs, and amazing Middle Eastern food are just three staples of the Detroit food scene. Here are some tops spots to try them.
From boutiques featuring artisanal wares, to one of the most historic open-air markets in the world, to a haven for bibliophiles, Detroit offers a wide range of shopping destinations for every person on your gift list. Stroll through miles of books at John K. King Used & Rare Books or look for that elusive vinyl reissue at Records for the People. You won’t be disappointed in the Motor City.
Craft cocktails are all the rage the world over and Detroit is no exception. Chic watering holes have been sprouting up all over town, from Downtown to Corktown to the city outskirts. Bartenders have made it their duty to create specialty drinks out of housemade or high-end spirits and customers have rejoiced. The jury is still out on who crafts the best drinks but you’ll have a fun time deciding your favorite in a city where drinking is a spectator sport.
Detroit is a city on the brink of rapid growth and change. No longer the butt of jokes, the Motor City is thriving, with a wealth of cultural, sporting, and culinary offerings. From the artistic wonders on display at the DIA, to the art deco beauty of the Fox Theatre, to cheering on the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, the city boasts a wealth of exciting activities for every age and interest.
New York and Washington D.C. may have more cultural institutions per square mile but Detroit has plenty to offer any visitor looking for something that’s not food-, drink-, or sports-related. Start the day at the Detroit Institute of Arts, a world-class museum that almost had to sell its paintings a few years back. Luckily, you can still enjoy your Rembrandts and Rodins in peace. Take in a play or an opera or learn about the stars. You’ll need more than a day to see the cultural sites here.
Handmade. Artisanal. Local. Whatever you choose to call it, more and more consumers are opting for locally made or locally sourced goods. Detroit is the mecca of manufacturing so it’s no wonder people here are opting to shop at smaller boutiques featuring local and/or meticulously crafted wares. Here are five can’t miss spots should you want to bring home a true Motor City souvenir.
From popular sports bars to swanky speakeasies, Detroit runs the gamut when it comes to drinking parlors. Wanna watch a Red Wings game? We’ve got you covered. Rather have an old-school cocktail made with high-end spirits? No problem. Wanna try a locally produced craft beer? We’ve got that, too. Detroit is an imbiber’s mecca, with many bars and watering holes within walking distance of cultural sites and hotels. Spend a night bar hopping the streets of Midtown or Downtown.
When you think of Detroit you often don’t think of natural sites and green spaces. Visions of factories spewing smoke come to mind, but Detroit is in Michigan: a state known for pristine beaches and lovely public land. While you might have to head further out of the city center to experience Michigan’s true natural beauty, Detroit and its surrounding areas do offer spots for reflection and relaxation. Here are our top five outdoor spaces in or near Detroit.
Sign up for our newsletter
Join more than a million of the world’s best travelers. Subscribe to the Daily Wander newsletter.