Everything You Need to Know About Detroit Tourism: A First-Time Visitor’s Guide

Interested in Detroit tourism? Detroit is one of the most exciting destinations in the United States! Click to learn everything you need to know.

Detroit tourism is booming of late with millions of travelers flocking to the Motor City year upon year.

The city’s a vibrant, progressive, and fascinating destination for tourists, offering a host of top-notch entertainment and dining options. That’s not the only attraction for visitors to this incredible city though.

Find out what all the fuss is about here.

Detroit Tourism Attractions

Some of the delights on offer in this exciting city include a thumping music scene, bustling craft beer culture, and Midwestern friendliness in spades. Detroit’s got so much going for it, it’s hard to know where to start.

Here’s how to make the most of your time when visiting Detroit:

Things to Eat in Detroit

Dining in Detroit offers a multitude of delights including the iconic Coney dogs, Detroit-style pizza, Zip Sauce, Boston Coolers, and double-baked rye bread.

You can snap up some of these eats at downtown restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops or catch a bite on the run from one of the city’s excellent food trucks.

Things to See in Detroit

Detroit has some amazing architecture just waiting for you to admire. Don’t miss the chance to glance at these iconic designs:

  • The world’s highest indoor waterfall at One Campus Martius
  • The famous art deco Guardian Building
  • The Z Parking structure bedecked with local art
  • The Detroit Masonic Temple’s Gothic design
  • Historic Detroit Library

Other amazing sights include the Renaissance Center and the views over downtown from the Parsons Street Orchestra Place Parking Deck.

No Detroit guide can omit a nod to the musical history of Motown. You can catch up with this lyrical past at the Motown Museum where Marvin Gaye recorded numerous hits in years gone by.

Other top museums in Detroit include:

  • Henry Ford’s former home
  • Pewabic Pottery
  • The Museum of African-American History
  • The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
  • The Detroit Historical Museum

A few minutes drive outside of downtown Detroit, you’ll come across Fort Wayne on West Jefferson Drive. Here you’ll dip your toes in military history while exploring the moats, tunnels, barracks, parade grounds, and buildings.

You can pop into the Detroit visitors bureau on W Fort Street for more information on historic attractions in the area.

Things to Do in Detroit

When you’re finished admiring the sights, you can get active in Detroit with a range of activities to suit your preferences.

You can shop up a storm at the Eastern Market, along historic Woodward Avenue, and in Corktown, famous for its vintage finds.

Take a bike and brew tour to sample some of the city’s best ales without fear of a DUI.

No Detroit travel guide can go without mention of Belle Island. This beautiful destination’s the ideal place to picnic and walk while admiring the views. You can also take a ride on the giant slide, hit the beach, or practice your swing at the golf range.

Some of the museums and other places of interest on Belle Island include:

  • Dossin Great Lakes Museum
  • Belle Island Aquarium
  • The Nancy Brown Peace Carillon
  • Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
  • James Scott Memorial Fountain
  • Nature Zoo

Catch a game of baseball at Comerica Park where you can also take a ride on the Ferris wheel located inside the stadium.

When the evening rolls around, party people can live it up at bars, speakeasies, dance clubs, and casinos all around town.

Day Trips from Detroit

If you ever feel the need to explore further afield, you’ll find plenty to pique your interest outside the city limits.

Just over an hour’s drive from Detroit, you’ll come across a Bavarian-style town with distinct romantic energy making it the ideal spot for a trip for two. Here you can take a ride on a riverboat or a horse-drawn carriage, sip on artisan ales, or go ziplining.

You can also take a three-hour trip to laze on one of the top 25 beaches in the world at Saugatuck or Silver Lake State Park.

Ann Arbor, about an hour away from Detroit, abounds with interesting things to do. You can go on a Fairy Door Hunt, visit the bustling market, or take a tour down the Huron River.

Fancy a spot of waterskiing, canoeing, kayaking, or boating? Take the one and a half hour trip to Sandusky Bay on the shores of Lake Erie.

Clearview Orchards is a drawcard for children with activities like apple picking from dwarf trees planted just for them. It’s also a great place to unwind in a tranquil atmosphere or stock up on farm-fresh preserves and fruit.

Getting Around Detroit

Detroit is infinitely walkable, with plenty of attractions to explore on foot. You’ll also find an excellent public transport system for your convenience as well as several rental options.

Whether you choose to take a taxi or hire a charter bus Detroit has it all when it comes to commuting convenience.

Where to Stay in Detroit

You’ll find every kind of accommodation in and around Detroit. You can even go camping at Sunset Point, Scout Hollow, or Windsor Park.

More conventional types of accommodation include hotels, motels, inns, apartments, and houses. Of course, there are plenty of Air BnB options too, including the chance to stay in a historic farmhouse just outside the city limits.

Experience More of the World

There are so many benefits to travel, it’s almost impossible to enumerate them in one place. Not only will it broaden your horizons, but it’s the best way to learn resourcefulness and improve your outlook on life.

So, let’s go exploring! Browse through my blog for examples of what to expect from the world. From Detroit tourism to African adventures, you’ll find it all here.