Top Things to Do in Detroit
Connect to this major metro's energy during rides on The People Mover, Pure Detroit’s free walking tours, Comerica Park's ball games or a stroll along the RiverWalk. Check out our tips on what to do, where to eat and where to stay.
What to do
Belle Isle The 900-plus acre state park in the Detroit River delivers a lineup of next-to-nature moments. Its free aquarium features more than 1,000 fish, and the nature center puts visitors close to fallow deer and other creatures. Also explore a marble lighthouse, beach and maritime museum. michigandnr.com
Campus Martius Park On downtown's Woodward Avenue, a green spot caters to picnics, skyscraper gazing and entertainment. campusmartiuspark.org
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Exhibits cover 3.2 million years of African and African-American history. A is for Africa introduces young visitors to the history and culture of Africa through 26 interactive stations. thewright.org
Cranbrook Educational Community In suburban Bloomfield Hills, this campus of buildings and institutions includes 40 acres of lovely gardens, plus an art museum with works by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. The campus is a National Historic Landmark. cranbrook.edu
Detroit Historical Museum The Streets of Old Detroit provides a look at life in the 1840s, 1870s and 1900s. Visitors can also create music tracks at the energetic Kid Rock Music Lab. detroithistorical.org
Detroit Institute of Arts The 66,000-piece collection, one of the nation's most significant, includes Diego Rivera's 1932–33 Detroit Industry murals. dia.org
Detroit International RiverWalk More than 3 miles of riverfront link parks, gardens and an amusement center. detroitriverfront.org
Detroit International RiverWalk
Eastern Market On Saturdays year-round, 225 vendors sell flowers, food and art. Seasonal Sunday and Tuesday markets feature crafts, demos and classes. easternmarket.com
Edsel and Eleanor Ford House Edsel Ford (the only child of Henry Ford) and his wife built this country manor in the 1920s. From its setting on Lake St. Clair to its artistic treasures, everything is first-class. Located in Grosse Pointe Shores, 15 miles northeast of Detroit. fordhouse.org
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Tour the 1904 building where the legendary Model T was created and first produced. fordpiquetteplant.org
The Henry Ford The pioneering automaker amassed an astonishing collection of Americana, including the bus that Rosa Parks rode and a camp bed used by George Washington. See the museum and adjoining historical village in Dearborn, 20 minutes from downtown Detroit. thehenryford.org
Midtown Hand-assembled watches at Shinola and vintage clothing at City Bird bolster Midtown's reputation for eclectic shops, but the neighborhood's museums of art, history and science also make it a cultural center. Refuel at Motor City Brewing Works with brick-oven pizzas and seasonal beers, or at Traffic Jam and Snug, a microbrewery, bakery, dairy and restaurant.
Motown Museum Explore label founder Berry Gordy's home recording studio, with original instruments. motownmuseum.org
Outdoor Adventure Center Get a taste of wildlife, camping, mountain biking and other adventures through exhibits and simulators created by the state's Department of Natural Resources. michigan.gov/oac
The People Mover It costs just 75 cents to ride the elevated light rail cars, which run in a loop and stop close to Comerica Park, Greektown and the RiverWalk. thepeoplemover.com
The People Mover
Sports Cheer on Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, or head to the $860 million Little Caesars Arena to see the National Hockey League's Red Wings or the National Basketball Association's Pistons. The National Football League's Lions play at Ford Field. tigers.com, nhl.com/redwings; nba.com/pistons; detroitlions.com
Comerica Park
Walking tours Free guided tours of the 1929 Art Deco Guardian Building, the 1928 Fisher Building and the GM Renaissance Center begin at Pure Detroit shops inside each location. puredetroit.com
Where to eat
Buddy's Pizza Locals have thronged to this former speakeasy for its signature Sicilian crust piled with fresh toppings and hand-grated cheese. buddyspizza.com
Cadieux Cafe Visit this former speakeasy for Belgian beer, mussel dinners and a round or two of a game you've probably never heard of: featherbowling, in which players roll 5-pound maple wood wheels down a clay lane toward a pigeon plume. cadieuxcafe.com
Gold Cash Gold Pickled-brined fried chicken, blackened jerk steak and other Southern-inspired food stars in a colorful reclaimed pawn shop near Corktown. goldcashgolddetroit.com
Grey Ghost Detroit Named for a rum-running pirate on the Detroit River, the Brush Park/Midtown spot delivers on cocktails with names like Monster Under the Bed (rum, kiwi, coconut). Pair your drinks with a cheeseburger. greyghostdetroit.com
La Lanterna Neopolitan-style pizza and classic Italian dishes draw a loyal following to this family-owned eatery in Capitol Park. daedoardo.net/lalanterna
Lady of the House A James Beard semifinalist last year for best new restaurant, this Corktown small-plate spot dishes modern American fare such as duck fettucine and beet soup. ladyofthehousedetroit.com
Lumen Detroit Dine on crab cakes, Michigan pork chops and burgers in a new glass-and-wood space overlooking Beacon Park. lumendetroit.com
Michael Symon's Roast The chef's restaurant in the Westin Book Cadillac promises paradise for meat-lovers. Come for dry-aged porterhouses larger than shoeboxes. roastdetroit.com
Pegasus Taverna After a dinner of Greek faves at this Greektown spot, walk to a game at Comerica Park or Ford Field. pegasustaverna.com
Prime and Proper Steakhouse Top-notch service enhances dry-aged steak, chops and seafood in a swanky space inside the 1912 Capitol Park Lofts building downtown. primeandproperdetroit.com
Rattlesnake Club Whether you get dinner or just cocktails, plan to sit on the patio along the river. rattlesnakedetroit.com
Selden Standard Three-time James Beard semifinalist Andy Hollyday specializes in small plates with surprising flavor combos, such as scallops with pomegranate seeds. Beers and wines from small producers round out the experience. seldenstandard.com
SheWolf Pastificio and Bar Contemporary Italian dishes (with pasta made from flour milled in-house) shine at the new Midtown restaurant. shewolfdetroit.com
Slows Bar BQ Mammoth sandwiches such as the Yardbird-smoked chicken with mushrooms, cheese and applewood bacon-make the Corktown spot popular. slowsbarbq.com
Slows Bar BQ
Toasted Oak Grill and Market In Novi's Baronette Hotel, the restaurant showcases regional foods by an award-winning chef. toastedoak.com
Where to stay
Aloft Detroit at The David Whitney A $92 million restoration preserved the 1915 building's four-story marble and terra-cotta lobby while creating 136 thoroughly contemporary hotel rooms. aloftdetroit.com
The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel Try The Henry Ford package: breakfast for two adults and two tickets to The Henry Ford. marriott.com
Detroit Foundation Hotel Vintage and modern touches blend to create a stellar experience at the former Detroit Fire Department Headquarters. The new-in-2017 boutique hotel boasts 100 rooms and the Apparatus Room restaurant. detroitfoundationhotel.com
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center The 70-story downtown hotel offers views of the city and beyond through floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows. marriott.com
El Moore Guests find rooftop urban cabins, light-filled main-floor rooms and budget-friendly lower-level quarters in a renovated 1898 Midtown apartment building. elmoore.com
Greektown Casino-Hotel This stylish hotel, connected to the casino, makes a great base from which to explore downtown. greektowncasino.com/hotel
The Inn on Ferry Street Four Victorian homes and two carriage houses hold 40 rooms in Midtown, steps from some of the city's best museums and restaurants. innonferrystreet.com
The Siren Hotel A $22 million renovation turned the decaying 1926 Wurlitzer Building into a 106-room boutique hotel. Relax in the Candy Bar lounge, where the pink decor and sparkling disco ball reflect the hotel's sexy appeal. thesirenhotel.com
The Shinola Hotel The Detroit-based company known for luxurious leather watches and bags, teamed with urban-revitalization master Bedrock to create a 129-room boutique hotel in Midtown. shinolahotel.com
The Westin Book Cadillac Though the exterior retains its Italian Renaissance styling, the guest rooms are modern. bookcadillacwestin.com
For information: Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau visitdetroit.com
Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce dearbornchamber.org