Detroit – the “Motor City” in beautiful Michigan, on the border with Canada. Most people think of Ford and the automotive industry when they think of the city. During my last visit, however, I saw that Detroit has flourished in the last few years and has transformed into a diverse and hip hotspot. In this article, I will give you helpful travel tips and also reveal the most beautiful places and sights in Detroit!
When is the best time to visit Detroit?
The best time to visit Detroit is from late spring to early fall. During this time it is warm and there are fewer rainy days. July to September are the sunniest months with summer temperatures and hardly any rainfall.
How many days should you plan for Detroit?
To discover the most beautiful sights in Detroit and perhaps even experience a baseball game of the famous Detroit Tigers, I recommend three nights in Detroit.
Hotel tip in Detroit:
During your trip to Detroit, I would recommend booking a hotel in downtown Detroit. This way, you can even reach many of the most beautiful sights on foot. We therefore opted for the → DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in Detroit Downtown. It is located in the renovated building of the historic Fort Shelby Hotel, which originally opened in 1918 and flourished with the rise of the Motor City until it unfortunately had to close in 1974 and stood empty for a long time. After some extensive renovations, it reopened in 2008 as the DoubleTree Suites.
The most beautiful sights in Detroit
Belle Isle
The most beautiful view over the Detroit River and downtown! Belle Isle is an island in the Detroit River, which can be easily reached by car or Uber/Lyft and is the locals’ favorite tip. The view over the Detroit skyline is simply beautiful! Especially at sunset, you’ll meet lots of locals here who bring blankets, meet up with friends, have picnics, barbecues and enjoy the park.
By the way, Belle Isle is located right on the US-Canadian border, which runs through the Detroit River. So you can see Canada just a few meters away from you 🙂
Belle Isle is also home to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. A botanical garden with a historic greenhouse built in the early 1900s and a water lily pond. The conservatory is very photogenic and especially worth a visit in spring and summer!
The Henry Ford – Museum & Greenfield village
The Henry Ford Museum
This is without a doubt an absolute must-see sight in Detroit. The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation began in the early 1900s as a personal collection of historical objects belonging to Henry Ford until the museum opened in 1929. Before our visit, I had the misconception that this museum was all about cars and the history of Henry Ford. However, what awaited us was incredibly exciting and surprising: the Henry Ford Museum is an impressive and interactive exhibition of inventions and machines that have shaped contemporary history and development from the beginning of industrialization to the present day.
One of my highlights was the American diner in the 60s style with an original McDonald’s neon sign where drinks and food such as sandwiches and delicious pies are served!
A visit to the Henry Ford Museum is a great experience for young and old alike and not to be missed in Detroit!
Das Greenfield Village
Especially on a sunny day, a visit to the Greenfield Village, right next to the Henry Ford Museum, is almost even better! Similar to the museum, here you also travel back in time to the late 19th and early 20th century – but you truly immerse in this world. The area is a huge open-air museum with an old railroad that runs through Greenfield Village, historic houses of famous American inventors that have been restored and rebuilt here and restaurants where you can try dishes from earlier times. Even the staff wear period clothing and ride through the village on old carriages. Another highlight is the ride in an original Model T from Ford. The first car that was mass-produced from 1902 and brought Henry Ford worldwide fame.
A visit at Greenfield Village truly feels like traveling back in time.
The third stage of the Henry Ford World of Experience is the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, which we unfortunately missed due to limited time. It is an insight into the ongoing and active production of modern Ford models that you won’t get anywhere else in the world. An insight behind the scenes, which is highly praised in the reviews of other travelers.
To experience the entire Henry Ford world with all three stages, you should plan at least one full day, as you need 2 – 3 hours to experience each experienc. I could have stayed even longer at Greenfield Village. Another alternative is to split the experience over two days.
All exhibitions are open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm, but the last Factory Tour starts at 3 pm.
Admission prices for The Henry Ford:
Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village: $60 per adult (Ride on the train and Model T can be added on site)
+ Additional Ford Rouge Factory Tour: 13 USD per adult
→ Tip: Book your tickets online in advance and get a 10% discount!
→ Book the best activities in Detroit here:
The Motown Museum
This is where famous singers such as Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and many more signed their first contracts and became international superstars.
The record label was founded in Detroit in 1959 and grew extremely quickly to become the most successful soul music label in the world until today.
Today, the first Motown Records building is a museum where time has stood still and the legacy of founder Berry Gordy Jr. lives on. Everything looks exactly as it did when the famous superstars were created here. Countless global hits were produced in the legendary Studio A, which is also part of the tour.
A visit to the museum is only possible during a tour, which is best booked in advance → online, as the spots are limited and sell out several days in advance.
P.S. The Motown Museum will be expanded in the next few years and a large modern theater will be added!
Detroit Institut of Arts
The → Detroit Institute of Arts is much more than just an art collection. We spontaneously decided to visit the musem as it suddenly started raining and I’m super happy about it! The DIA is undoubtedly one of the best sights in Detroit and is one of the top museums in the USA.
It houses works of art and artifacts from different parts of the world and eras of history. From Ancient Egypt, Native American art and the European Middle Ages to Impressionism and modern art. You won’t miss Van Gogh, Picasso and co. here… just like antique sarcophagi or old German knights’ armor. A super diverse collection!
The Detroit Institute of Arts is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and costs 18 USD admission per adult!
Detroit Tigers Stadium
The Detroit Tigers are the most famous sports team in Detroit! The striking baseball stadium Comerica Park is located in the middle of the city. Be sure to check online during your visit to see if the team happens to be playing in Detroit. Watching a baseball game in the USA is a real experience and the view from the stands over the skyline of downtown Detroit is unique!
Fox Theatre
Just a few steps away from the stadium is the iconic Fox Theatre, with its famous sign, which is particularly beautiful in the evening. The theater is already 100 years old and is still the most famous one in Detroit. You might even have time to catch a performance or a concert! We only admired the theater itself from the outside, but even this is worthwhile for a typical Detroit snapshot.
The Fisher Building
Typical of the Detroit skyline are Art Deco-style skyscrapers, which were built in the “Golden 20s”. One of these iconic buildings is the Fisher Building, which has been described as “Detroit’s largest art piece”. As you enter, it feels like you are traveling back in time 100 years and can picture the lavish events that took place here. Shows are still performed in the Fisher Theater today. But you should definitely stop by for the design of the entrance hall alone!
Detroit River Walk & Cruise
The River Walk is the perfect place to enjoy a sunny day and stroll along the river. Many locals go jogging here, ride their bikes or sit under a tree to read.
The best place to start your walk is from William G. Milliken State Park to Hart Plaza. There’s a good chance you’ll see the Detroit River Princess on your way. The popular cruises on the Detroit River up to Lake Saint Clair take place on this ship, which is full of faces. The sunset cruises are said to be particularly beautiful.
This is an activity that we unfortunately had to cancel due to bad weather, but which I highly recommend: A cruise on the river is offered by various providers on everything from large ships to small private boats.
Of course you can also eat great food in Detroit – here are my restaurant tips for Detroit:
- Monarch Club: 20s vibes and one of the best rooftop bars in Detroit! Be sure to stop by the Monarch Club at sunset and enjoy great cocktails and delicious bar bites.
- Takoi: My favorite restaurant in Detroit! We got the tip from a local. Great vibes and incredibly tasty Thai cuisine in a hip ambience. The restaurant is located just outside of downtown, so it’s best to take an Uber/Lyft. From the outside, the restaurant looks very inconspicuous and is hard to find – from the inside, it is guaranteed to surprise you. It’s best to book in advance – it’s very popular with the locals.
- Detroit style pizza: We ate the best classic Detroit pizza at Buddy’s! A real classic.
- Coney Island: Another Detroit must-try. At Coney Island you can get Detroit style hot dogs. There are two places competing for first place. Lafayette Coney Island & America Coney Island – funnily enough, they are right next to each other. So you can try them both and choose your personal winner!
- Whitney Restaurant: a historic mansion in Midtown with an elegant ambience reminiscent of Detroit’s heyday
- Bad Luck: a great speakeasy bar in Downtown
Monarch Club Rooftop Bar
Is Detroit safe?
I have been asked this question many times now. For this reason, in addition to the most beautiful sights in Detroit, I would also like to share my experiences on safety in Detroit with you:
The rise and fall of a metropolis
For a long time, Detroit was considered the most dangerous city in the USA. To understand this, you need to take a brief look back at Detroit’s history. In the early to mid-20th century, the Motor City was not only the center of the American automotive industry, but also one of the richest cities in the world, with around 2 million inhabitants!
After the oil crisis in the 1970s, more and more factories were gradually forced to close. People lost their jobs and moved out of the city. Those who stayed had little money. As a result, good residential areas in the suburbs slowly turned into poor neighborhoods where theft and crime were the order of the day. The population fell drastically to just 600,000 people, which means that even today downtown is often still very quiet.
What does Detroit look like today?
In the last 10 years, the city and its image have changed drastically, as the Motor City is increasingly transforming into an urban art and culture center with studios, street art centers and hip cafés.
We talked to many locals about this topic. For many, “Detroit is the best city to live in” and very safe. “Of course, there are still areas outside the city center that should be avoided” but this is true for every single city I have ever visited around the globe. We saw a lot of the city during our visit. There was no sign of violence or crime – instead we always felt safe. The locals are open and happy to share their city with visitors!
So don’t be put off by the scary stories and outdated headlines. Detroit has experienced a rebirth in the last 10 years and is still undergoing a transformation into a hip city for artists, music lovers and young people!
So you see – Detroit offers a lot to discover and exudes a very special charm and is currently undergoing a positive transformation into a hip hotspot in the USA. I hope this article with the most beautiful sights in Detroit will help you plan your own trip!
My map with the best sights in Detroit:
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