Downtown Detroit
While Detroit may have suffered a fall, when in 2013 its council filed for bankruptcy, the city is quick to be back on its feet. The revitalization of Downtown Detroit is where you can see the city rapidly transforming. Fashion and art are revived, historic buildings are being restored, and green spaces, restaurants, cafés and new urban areas are being created.
Detroit became one of the world’s wealthiest cities after the post-World War I auto industry boom. There is no better way to see this than in a walking, cycling or personalized guided tour of the city. See stunning art deco buildings including the Guardian Building, the Detroit Opera House and the Detroit Public Library. Admire the Fisher Building, a 441-foot (134-meter) tall building known as the Eiffel Tower of Detroit because of its stunning art deco architectural designs.
Art and history enthusiasts will find enough museums to fill several days’ worth of exploring. Admire old cars and model trains in the Detroit Historical Museum. At the Motown Museum, see where The Supremes and other famous Motown artists recorded their music. Visit the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History to see memorabilia, films and photographs celebrating the African-American legacy of freedom and justice. Watch an IMAX movie or learn about space at the Michigan Science Center. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts to see Vincent van Gogh’s important painting, Self Portrait, and Mexican artist Diego Rivera's most successful work, Detroit Industry, among others.
Dance the night away or see a live band in bars and nightclubs throughout the district. Have a cocktail and listen to some jazz at Cliff Bell’s, one of the oldest jazz clubs in Detroit.
Explore downtown’s river walks and gardens. See outdoor entertainment at Campus Martius Park or cross the MacArthur Bridge to enjoy natural parklands on Belle Island in the Detroit River.
While Detroit is best seen with a car, you can rent a bike or taxi or use the Detroit People Mover, an automated transit system. The Detroit Metro Airport is a 30-minute drive southwest of downtown.
