The Cincy Region is a hidden gem for explorers craving the unexpected. Blending Cincinnati, Ohio’s German heritage and urban vibrancy with Northern Kentucky’s Southern charm, the two-for-one destination offers quirky adventures from historic beer tunnels to secret speakeasies. World-class sports, vibrant street art, and urban outdoor escapes await just a bridge-walk apart. Whether discovering neon-lit nostalgia or carving your own path, Cincy is where trailblazers thrive.
Here are the top 10 only-in-Cincy experiences every visitor must do.
Walk Across the Roebling Bridge
The Roebling Bridge connects Cincinnati and Covington and was the world’s longest suspension bridge when it was completed in 1867. Designed by John A. Roebling, who later engineered the Brooklyn Bridge, it features an iconic blue color. Today, it remains a vital pedestrian and vehicular crossing, symbolizing Cincy’s rich history and architectural innovation.
Wander Over-the-Rhine
A 320-acre National Historic District, OTR has the nation’s largest collection of 19th-century Italianate architecture. Once home to Cincy’s German immigrants, its colorful buildings are now full of award-winning independent bars, restaurants and boutiques. The neighborhood is also a Hollywood hotspot where many movies are filmed using the historic buildings to portray old New York.
Uncover Hidden Beer Tunnels
Explore Cincy’s brewing heritage on a guided tour of 19th-century lagering tunnels, built by German-born beer barons, filled in and forgotten during Prohibition and now being rediscovered and reopened for public exploration. Afterward, grab a pint at one of 30+ local breweries or visit Ghost Baby, a beer-tunnel-turned-speakeasy with live jazz and classic cocktails.
See Iconic Street Art
Cincy boasts 300+ murals in its walkable urban core thanks to a local arts nonprofit as well as BLINK, the nation’s largest art, light and projection mapping festival. Don’t miss Clive, a 30-foot green alien sculpture in Northern Kentucky; create your own graffiti masterpiece at Scribble Park, an open-access space for street art enthusiasts; or snap a selfie in front of artist Tristan Eaton’s 18,000-square-foot mural paying tribute to music legends who got their start in Cincy, from Mamie Smith and Doris day to H-Bomb Ferguson and Bootsy Collins.
Take a Selfie at the American Sign Museum
Step into a glowing time capsule at this one-of-a-kind museum, where vintage neon signs illuminate the evolution of American advertising. From McDonald’s to Route 66 to Holiday Inn, these retro roadside signs are on display in a recreated “Main Street USA.” Visitors can even watch neon-bending demonstrations at an on-site shop preserving this electrifying art form.
Get a Boozy History Lesson on the Newport Gangster Tour
Newport, Ky. was the original Las Vegas. Learn about the infamous Prohibition-era bootleggers, gamblers and gangsters who created the first “Sin City” and lured in names like Frank Sinatra, along with organized crime. Discover George Remus, Cincy’s most famous mobster and inspiration for The Great Gatsby.
Get Your Passport Stamped on The B-Line
Northern Kentucky is an Official Gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and home of The B-Line®, a passport-guided tour consisting of 9 craft distilleries, 10 bourbon-centric restaurants and 9 bourbon bars, including Revival Vintage Bottle Shop, home to rare spirits 50+ years old. Sip history from pre-Prohibition to 1990s.
Try Cincinnati-Style Chili
Unlike typical Texas chili, Cincinnati-style chili is a thin Bolognese with Mediterranean spices and cinnamon served over spaghetti and topped with cheddar cheese. Order it at one of the region’s more than 200 chili parlors. Or try goetta, a pork-and-oat sausage from Cincy’s German immigrants. Sample it at Findlay Market — Ohio’s oldest public market — or celebrate at Goettafest, featuring the world’s only goetta vending machine.
Take a Tour of Vent Haven Ventriloquism Museum
Visit the world’s only museum dedicated to the art of ventriloquism. Located in the founder’s former home, Vent Haven opened as a museum in 1973 and features more than 1,000 ventriloquist dummies, as well as photos, scripts, memorabilia, playbills, posters and recordings.
Discover American History at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Sitting on the banks of the Ohio River — once the dividing line between the free states of the North and slave states of the South — this museum highlights the fight for freedom, from the Underground Railroad era to the civil rights movements to today. Exhibits educate visitors on the region’s critical role in American history.
With direct flights from Montreal and Toronto, it’s easy to plan your perfect getaway. Start your trip at visitcincy.com
