- Detroit is the only major city in the United States where you can look south to see Canada.
- The city's street layout is based on a radial plan inspired by Pierre Charles L'Enfant's design for Washington, D.C.
- Detroit possesses the largest collection of turn-of-the-century skyscrapers in the United States outside of New York City.
- The city is home to the oldest continually operating jazz club in the country, the Cliff Bell's.
- Detroit is designated as a UNESCO City of Design, the first city in the United States to receive this title.
About Detroit
Detroit is the industrial heart of the American Midwest, globally recognized for its profound influence on automotive manufacturing and popular music. The city seamlessly integrates its history with modern redevelopment, anchored by architectural landmarks like Michigan Central and the extensive urban green space of the Detroit Riverwalk. Cultural institutions such as the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History provide deep context to the region's complex heritage. Beyond its industrial legacy, the city features prominent entertainment hubs like Comerica Park and the Detroit Opera House.
Highlights of Detroit
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Venues
Home to the Detroit Tigers, this open-air stadium features a famous carousel and ferris wheel within the concourse.
Museums
This museum houses a vast collection of over 65,000 works, including Diego Rivera's iconic Detroit Industry Murals.
Parks
This central urban plaza transforms into a public beach in the summer and an ice skating rink during winter months.
Parks
This multi-mile stretch provides pedestrian pathways along the international border with sweeping views of the Detroit River.
Museums
The museum occupies the original Hitsville U.S.A. house where Berry Gordy founded the legendary Motown record label.
Museums
It is the largest institution of its kind, dedicated to documenting and celebrating the African American experience.
Historical places
This recently restored historic train station serves as a focal point for the city's tech and innovation initiatives.
Parks
A modern urban square that frequently hosts communal food trucks, concerts, and seasonal outdoor community activities.
Top things to do in Detroit
The 142 highest-rated places in Detroit, ranked by travellers.
1
Museums
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is an expansive indoor facility chronicling the evolution of American techn...
2
Venues
Comerica Park is an open-air baseball stadium located in downtown Detroit that serves as the home field for the MLB's De...
3
Museums
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) houses a collection of over 65,000 works spanning global history from ancient times...
4
Venues
Ford Field serves as the home stadium for the NFL's Detroit Lions, utilizing a unique design that integrates the histori...
5
Parks
Campus Martius Park serves as the central gathering place and geographic anchor of downtown Detroit. The 2.5-acre site f...
6
Museums
The Motown Museum, known as Hitsville U.S.A., is located in the former residence and recording studio of Berry Gordy Jr....
7
Parks
The Detroit Riverwalk is a 3.5-mile revitalized public space stretching along the international border of the Detroit Ri...
8
Museums
Greenfield Village is an 80-acre outdoor living history museum established by Henry Ford to preserve American architectu...
9
Venues
The Detroit Opera House, originally designed by C. Howard Crane as the Capitol Theatre, opened in 1922 and currently ser...
10
Museums
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History houses one of the largest permanent collections of artifacts do...
11
Venues
Sound Board Theater is a 2,400-seat multi-purpose performance venue integrated directly into the MotorCity Casino Hotel...
12
Places of interest
The Ambassador Bridge is a four-lane suspension bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. It serves...
13
Historical places
Michigan Central is a revitalized historic train station transformed into a technology and innovation campus. Originally...
14
Parks
The Windsor Sculpture Park is a five-kilometer open-air museum located along the Detroit River waterfront in Windsor, On...
15
Parks
Beacon Park is a 1.2-acre urban park in downtown Detroit, converted from a former parking lot into a community event spa...
16
Museums
The Michigan Science Center is a prominent interactive educational hub located in Detroit's Cultural Center. It features...
17
Venues
The Fisher Theatre is one of Detroit's oldest live theatre venues, located inside the ornate Fisher Building in the New...
18
Museums
The Detroit Historical Museum documents over 300 years of the city's development, focusing on its industrial, cultural,...
19
Museums
The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is the original assembly site for the Ford Model T, operating from 1904 to 1910. It is a...
20
Parks
Ford Field Park is a 15-acre community space located along the banks of the Rouge River in Dearborn, Michigan. The park...
21
Parks
The Dequindre Cut is a two-mile urban greenway constructed along a former subterranean railway line that connects the De...
22
Parks
Grand Circus Park is a historic 5-acre urban park in downtown Detroit, bisected by Woodward Avenue and divided into two...
23
Amusement parks
Midway Sports & Entertainment is a long-standing outdoor recreational facility located in Taylor, Michigan, specializing...
24
Temples
The Islamic Center of America is the largest mosque in North America by total square footage. The structure spans 120,00...
25
Temples
Masjid Alsalam is a prominent community center and place of worship located in Dearborn, Michigan. The facility function...
26
Historical places
Fair Lane is the former 1,300-acre Dearborn estate of automobile pioneer Henry Ford and his wife, Clara Ford, featuring...
27
Parks
Riverside Park is a 10-acre waterfront green space located along the Detroit River in the Hubbard-Richard neighborhood....
28
Historical places
Historic Fort Wayne is a 96-acre star-shaped fortification located along the Detroit River that served as a military ins...
29
Historical places
The Spirit of Detroit is a 26-foot-tall bronze sculpture created by artist Marshall Fredericks, installed in 1958 in fro...
30
Museums
The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is a non-collecting institution housed in a repurposed 22,000-square-foot...
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Detroit on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Detroit
Late spring to early autumn, specifically May through September, offers the most pleasant weather for exploring the riverfront and outdoor parks.
3-4 days to experience both the major museums and the revitalized downtown district.
A mix of walking in the downtown core, the QLINE streetcar for Woodward Avenue travel, and car rentals for accessing outlying neighborhoods.
Downtown and Midtown are the most convenient areas, offering immediate access to the QLINE, major sports venues, and museum districts.
Mid-range; while accommodation and dining prices vary, the city offers high value compared to coastal US metropolises.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 142 curated attractions in and around Detroit, ranked by traveller ratings.
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is the highest-rated place to visit in Detroit right now.
The largest category is temples, with 39 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toronto, Montreal, North Vancouver (city).
Explore more of Canada
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.