Things to do in  Detroit

Named the number one thing to do in Detroit by TripAdvisor reviewers, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is home to one of the largest and most significant art collections in the US. The DIA features more than 100 galleries that showcase 65,000 works, from prehistory to modern day, including Diego Rivera’s 1930sDetroit Industry Murals.

It may look modest from the outside, but the Motown Museum in downtown Detroit—known as Hitsville, USA—created a tidal wave of a legacy in the music industry whose impact is still felt today. Visitors can step inside legendary Studio A, the spot where songs like the Supremes’ “Stop in the Name of Love” and other chart-toppers were recorded.

Enter a world of creativity at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Michigan. Located in Auburn Hills, this interactive LEGO®-themed entertainment park offers the ultimate indoor adventure for kids and features attractions and activities including rides, games, build-and-play areas, workshops, and a 4D cinema.

Detroit’s Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation—part of the Henry Ford, the largest indoor and outdoor museum complex in the US—traces the Industrial Revolution and rise of the automobile in history. Notable artifacts include the chair where Abraham Lincoln sat when he was shot and the bus where Rosa Parks refused to yield her seat.

Greenfield Village is the 80-acre (32-hectare) outdoor portion of the Henry Ford, the largest indoor and outdoor museum complex in the United States. The sound and smell of the village steam train signals that you’re stepping back through 300 years of Detroit and American history, with more than 80 historic structures.

On the Detroit River, Belle Isle Park is a 985-acre (399-hectare) island with amazing views of Michigan and Canada. This state park has a network of walking trails snaking across the island, leading to beaches, historic sites, attractions, museums, and more. Though most attractions are open seasonally, Belle Isle Park is a year-round space for enjoying the riverside scenery.

This small park in the heart of downtown Detroit is a meeting place and hub for all kinds of activity. It features an ice rink and light displays in the winter, a sandy beach in the summer, and other seasonal and social events. Whenever you’re in town, stop by to see what’s happening in the park.

The Detroit Tigers bid farewell to their Corktown stadium and relocated to Comerica Park in 2000; since then, fans have celebrated the team’s American League pennants and Central Division championships. The ballpark also draws crowds for concerts, but no matter the event, it always offers great views of the Motor City’s skyline.

Learn about the Motor City’s automotive heritage at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, one of the world’s oldest surviving car factories, where the Model T was developed and assembled. At this National Historic Landmark, you can marvel at the collection of rare antique cars, see Henry Ford’s office and workshop (aka the Secret Experimental Room), and walk the original assembly floor.

Set along the Detroit Riverwalk in the heart of the city’s downtown, Hart Plaza is one of the most vibrant open-air cultural hubs in Detroit. The space and its futuristic Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain (known locally as Dodge Fountain) were designed by artist Isamu Noguchi in the 1970s, and its two open-air amphitheaters and wide square host festivals and performances for thousands of attendees each summer.

The beloved symbol of Motor City, The Spirit of Detroit is the most famous piece of public art in Detroit. Created by local artist Marshal Fredericks in 1958, this 26-foot (8-meter) bronze figure holds a gilded sphere symbolizing divinity in one hand and a family symbolizing human relationships in the other. At the time, it was said to be the largest bronze cast created since the Renaissance and remains one of the city’s most impressive sights today.

Paying tribute to legendary Detroit boxer Joe Louis, who defeated German opponent Max Schmeling in a symbolic American victory during World War II, the immense Monument to Joe Louis (The Fist) is one of Detroit’s most recognizable public works of art. This 24-foot (7.3-meter) arm with a fisted hand—suspended by a towering pyramidal frame—represents Louis’ power as both an athlete and a civil rights activist.

The Detroit Opera House (renamed from the Michigan Opera Theatre in 2022) is a historic venue showcasing productions ranging from classics such as La Traviata to new works such as The Central Park Five. The opera and dance seasons each offer a range of performances for the avid theatergoer and casual fan alike.

As the first and only museum in the United States dedicated to Arab American history, art, and culture, the Arab American National Museum (AANM) offers insight into a rich tapestry of culture. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this institution teaches visitors about the diverse experiences and contributions of Arab Americans throughout history.

The Motor City’s main library opened in its first location in 1865, and has vastly expanded since then. Today, this landmark is home to millions of books, as well as research collections and a dedicated kids’ area, and it’s worth a visit for the art and design alone.