Detroit in 3 days

The Motor City reborn: Motown music, world-class art, riverfront revival and bold creative energy. Best time to visit: May-October (warm) & December for festive lights. Average daily budget: $110 to $240 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Downtown, The revitalised core of restored skyscrapers, Campus Martius, sports venues and the riverfront.

Morning: Visit the Motown Museum (Hitsville U.S.A.). Tour the studio where Motown's legendary sound was born, an essential music pilgrimage.

Afternoon: Explore Downtown, The revitalised core of restored skyscrapers, Campus Martius, sports venues and the riverfront.

Evening: Explore the Detroit Institute of Arts. One of America's great art museums, home to Diego Rivera's famous Detroit Industry murals.

Eat: Detroit-style deep-dish square pizza

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Midtown & Cultural Center, Home to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Motown Museum nearby, universities and a lively dining scene.

Morning: Walk the Riverfront and downtown. Stroll the revitalised RiverWalk and the restored heart of the Motor City.

Afternoon: Explore Midtown & Cultural Center, Home to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Motown Museum nearby, universities and a lively dining scene.

Evening: Wander Eastern Market. Browse the historic market sheds and the spectacular street-art murals around them.

Eat: Coney dogs with chili and onions

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Eastern Market, A historic public market district famous for its produce sheds and vast street-art murals.

Morning: See the Henry Ford in Dearborn. A vast museum and Greenfield Village showcasing American innovation, just outside the city.

Afternoon: Explore Eastern Market, A historic public market district famous for its produce sheds and vast street-art murals.

Evening: The whimsical Heidelberg Project outdoor art installation.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Diverse Middle Eastern food in Dearborn

Hidden gems

The whimsical Heidelberg Project outdoor art installation.
Coney dogs at the rival downtown institutions American and Lafayette.
The restored Michigan Central Station, a symbol of Detroit's comeback.
The Belle Isle park and aquarium on an island in the river.

Getting around

Downtown Detroit is increasingly walkable, and the free QLine streetcar runs along Woodward Avenue linking downtown with Midtown and the cultural district, while the elevated People Mover loops the core. For most visitors, though, a car or rideshare is helpful, as attractions spread across neighbourhoods and outlying sites like the Henry Ford in Dearborn are a short drive away. Detroit is a driving city, but the central districts can be enjoyed on foot and transit.

Safety

Detroit's main visitor areas, downtown, Midtown, Corktown, Greektown and the riverfront, are revitalised and generally safe, with normal big-city awareness advised, especially at night and away from the busy districts. As in any large city, stick to populated areas after dark, use rideshare between neighbourhoods, and keep valuables secure. The city's reputation lags its real progress, but standard urban precautions remain sensible.

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