Detroit Travelers Recommend

With three days in Detroit, you have plenty of time to learn about the city’s auto-manufacturing heyday and turbulent history and experience its cultural highlights, plus you can get out into the country and explore some of Michigan’s natural beauty. Here’s how to make the most of three days in Detroit.

Day 1: Explore Downtown Detroit

Spend your first morning getting to know the city on a walking or cycling tour of Downtown. Detroit was once an economic powerhouse, home to the booming auto industry and one of the wealthiest cities in the US. Reminders of its glorious past can still be seen throughout town, especially in the Downtown area, where some of the city’s most beautiful buildings have been renovated and reopened. Follow your guide to highlights such as the Guardian Building, the Westin Book Cadillac, and the Book Tower. In the afternoon, wander through the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the largest collections of fine arts in the country. Round off your day with evening entertainment at a jazz club, perhaps the historic Cliff Bell’s.

Day 2: Day Trip to Ann Arbor

Devote your second day to the nearby university town of Ann Arbor, exploring independently or on a half-day guided tour. Less than an hour’s drive from Detroit, this lively and prosperous town is home to the University of Michigan, established in 1812. It’s easy to spend a day here, especially when the weather is good, exploring the town’s many shops, cafés, and arts centers.  Wander the gardens at the Nichols Arboretum, visit the University of Michigan Museum, stroll by the Huron River (or even kayak on it if you like), and check out the attractive university campus. One of Ann Arbor’s landmarks is the beautiful Michigan Theater—catch a movie or a live show to check out the interior.

Day 3: Natural Highlights

With Detroit and Ann Arbor in your pocket, strike out on your third day into the Michigan countryside. If you’re up for a bit of a journey, make the trip out to Saugatuck, a small town bordering both little Kalamazoo Lake and enormous Lake Michigan. Ranked among the best beach towns in the US, it’s a glorious place to spend a summer day, on the shores of Lake Michigan or just north of town in picturesque Saugatuck Dunes State Park. If you’d rather stay closer to Detroit, spend the day at Belle Isle Park instead. On an island in the middle of the Detroit River and very close to Downtown, the park is home to such attractions as an aquarium, a nature center, a beach, and a golf range. 

Once among the country’s largest and wealthiest cities, Detroit, Michigan, today retains remnants of its glorious past in its architecture. With one day in Motor City, you can cover its walkable Downtown, take in some culture, and get a glimpse of the city’s heyday. Here’s how to spend 24 hours in Detroit.

Morning: Downtown Walking Tour

Detroit’s Downtown area contains some amazing examples of late-19th- and early 20th-century architecture: the Guardian Building, the Westin Book Cadillac, and the Book Tower are highlights. Some of these fell into disrepair after Detroit went bust but have been restored to their original glory. See these architectural treasures while learning about the city’s history on a walking tour or a bicycle tour, some of which include a ride on the People Mover, Detroit’s elevated railway.

Afternoon: Detroit Institute of Arts or Family Fun

Lovers of the fine arts shouldn’t miss the Detroit Institute of Arts. One of the finest and largest art galleries in the US, the museum has a collection of more than 65,000 works from all over the world, from ancient times to modern. A highlight are the huge Detroit Industry Murals by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, depicting the heyday of car manufacturing in the city. Alternatively, if you’re traveling with kids, consider a visit to SEA LIFE® Michigan or LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, both in Auburn Hills, north of central Detroit.

Night: Nightlife Sampler

Spend the evening discovering Detroit’s happening nightlife scene. Listen to live music at the legendary Fox Theater, catch some jazz at Cliff Bell’s, or design your own bar crawl in the Downtown area. If you’re visiting in summer, check out the city’s huge range of seasonal festivals, which celebrate everything from jazz and cars to food and culture; many continue into the evening.

With two days in Detroit, not only can you learn about Motor City’s heyday and take in its historical architecture, you can also make a day trip to the nearby college town of Ann Arbor. Here’s how to make the most of two days in Detroit.

Day 1: Explore Historic Detroit

Morning: During the first half of the 20th century, Detroit was the center of auto manufacturing in the US, and the wealth this created is still evident throughout the Downtown area. Start your Detroit visit with a guided walking or bicycle tour to learn all about the city’s history and see some of its most magnificent buildings, including the Guardian Building, the Westin Book Cadillac, and the Book Tower.

Afternoon: Art enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the biggest collections of art in the US. The huge Detroit Industry Murals by Mexican artist Diego Rivera are a highlight. Alternatively, if the weather is fine, spend the afternoon at Belle Isle Park. On an island in the middle of the Detroit River, the park has an aquarium, a beach, and a golf range, among other attractions.

Night: Experience Detroit’s vibrant nightlife scene by taking in some live jazz. See what’s on at famous Cliff Bell’s, historic Baker’s, or other Downtown venues.

Day 2: Day Trip to Ann Arbor

Morning: On your second day, take a day trip to the pleasant town of Ann Arbor, less than an hour’s drive from central Detroit and home to the University of Michigan. You can easily spend a whole day here, strolling around the attractive campus, stopping at shops and cafés, and grazing at the farmers market (if you’re in town on Wednesday or Saturday).

Afternoon: After lunch at a local restaurant, perhaps in the lively Kerrytown neighborhood, visit the University of Michigan’s Nichols Arboretum. Open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset and free to enter, the 123-acre (50-hectare) garden is easy to explore independently.

Night: If you’re in no hurry to return to Detroit, catch a movie or a show at the 1928 Michigan Theater, home to the Ann Arbor Symphony and a Barton organ that entertains the crowd prior to movies. Alternatively, top off your stay back in Detroit with dinner at a Downtown restaurant.