Though not as well known as other cities with a large collection of 19th century architecture, Cincinnati has quite an impressive assortment of old buildings. Even if a shocking amount of it is quite shabby, parts of town will remind a visitor of large east coast cities like Boston or Brooklyn. Recently, with a renewed interest in the oldest parts of the city there are an increasing number of tours highlighting Cincinnati's glory days in the 19th century when it was one of the largest cities in the US. During some events like Oktoberfest or Bockfest additional tours are offered, such as those highlighting the cities strong brewing heritage, or even the rare venture down into the abandoned subway tunnels, inquire locally or read local blogs as these are not well advertised to people from out of town.
Queen City Underground Tours (Cincy Haus), 1281 Vine Street (Over-The-Rhine), ☎ (859) 951-8560, . Spring,Fall: Sa: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 2:30, and 3:30, Su: 11:30,2:00. Summer: M-Th 12:00 and 3:00PM Sat, Sun same as fall. A popular and expanding tour run by American Heritage Tours discussing the many buildings that once housed over 130 saloons, bars, beergardens and theaters on Vine Street in Over-The-Rhine's "Gateway Quarter" followed by a trip down into the network of tunnels underneath that at one point were used to age/store beer and even a hidden tomb. Also discussed is Cincinnati's corrupt political history in the 19th century under Boss Cox. $15. �
Architreks (Cincinnati-Walks), 342 West Fourth Street (Various starting points, check website for info), ☎ (513) 721-4506, . May-Oct. See website for dates and times. Tours run by the Cincinnati Preservation Association and the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati focusing on the architecture of older neighborhoods in the city and the rich history that comes along with them.$10-$15 adult $5 child. �
Cincinnati Heyday Walking Tour, 1801 Race Street, Findlay Market Biergarten (Over the Rhine), ☎ (513) 549-3220, . 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM Saturday's through December. 2.4 mile above ground tour following the path of the never finished Cincinnati subway that focuses on historical events in the area surrounding and including the construction of the abandoned tunnels. There is also a photo op outside of one of the tunnels.$15. �
Cincinnati Brewery District Lager Tours, 116 West Elder Street, Cincinnati, OH (Findlay Market Biergarten, Over the Rhine), ☎ (513) 604-9812, . May 21st-September 1pm Sat and Sun. Tours of the old breweries and the tunnels underneath them that once made Cincinnati one of the largest producers of beer in the United States. Tours are run by the Brewery District Community Redevelopment Corp.$15. �
Stratus Helicopters, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY 41071, . Th-Su 12-10pm Spring/Summer, 3-8pm Fall & Winter. Though technically located in Newport, this company provides various tours of scenic Cincinnati from the air in a helicopter. Included on the itinerary is a date night tour. Tours last anywhere from 10 mins to a few hours. �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Cincinnati
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Cincinnati - updated May 2024
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Cincinnati Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
