Cheap flights to Cincinnati

Quick summary

Identity

The Queen City, built on seven hills above the Ohio River

Founded in 1788 on the north bank of the Ohio River, Cincinnati earned its "Queen City" nickname from the explosive prosperity that turned it into one of the busiest river ports in the country during the 19th century. Its lesser-known nickname, "the City of Seven Hills", is a nod to Rome, and it still checks out today from lookout points in neighborhoods like Mount Adams, perched high above downtown and the river below.

The city in numbers. Cincinnati had about 309,000 residents at the 2020 census and a metro area of more than 2.2 million (Wikipedia EN), the largest in Ohio. It sits in the far southwest corner of the state, facing Kentucky, and much of the center can be covered on foot. It is a mid-sized city: calmer and generally easier on the wallet than the big coastal metropolises.

Not to be missed

The Roebling Suspension Bridge

When the first pedestrians crossed it on December 1, 1866, this suspension bridge linking Cincinnati to Covington, Kentucky, across the Ohio River was the longest in the world, with a main span of about 322 meters; it opened to traffic in 1867. Its designer, John A. Roebling, used it as a proving ground for the ideas he would later apply to his masterpiece, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Construction, begun in 1856, stirred real controversy: the bridge connected a slave state (Kentucky) to a free one (Ohio), and Kentucky slaveholders demanded compensation guarantees in case it made escapes easier.

How to see it. You can walk across in a few minutes. The riverbanks on both the Ohio and Covington sides give the best views of the deck and the skyline, especially around sunset when the cables light up.

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To discover

Over-the-Rhine and the skyline from the bridge

By the end of the 19th century, roughly three-quarters of the residents of this neighborhood north of downtown were of German origin, and the district gets its name from the Miami and Erie Canal, which German-speaking locals nicknamed their own little "Rhine" as they crossed it on the way to work. Today Over-the-Rhine is one of the largest intact 19th-century historic districts in the United States: Italianate brick buildings, Findlay Market, independent shops and a cluster of breweries built on the old lagering tunnels dug by German brewers.

Good to know. Over-the-Rhine is an easy walk from downtown, and the local streetcar links the two (see the transport section). Restaurants and bars are plentiful in the evening; as in any American city, keep an eye on your belongings and prefer busy streets when you head back late.

Museums

Union Terminal, art, history and memory

Opened on March 19, 1933 to replace five separate stations serving seven railroads, Union Terminal is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the United States, recognizable by its rotunda facade and the monumental mosaic murals inside depicting Cincinnati industry. Since 1990 it has housed the Cincinnati Museum Center, which brings several museums together under one roof, and it still serves Amtrak passengers.

Cincinnati Art Museum. Set in Eden Park, it holds collections spanning several millennia. According to Wikivoyage DE, general admission is free (special exhibitions may charge a fee, so check).

Taft Museum of Art and Contemporary Arts Center. The Taft, in a historic downtown house, shows old master paintings and decorative arts; the Contemporary Arts Center focuses on current art, with a modest admission fee.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. On the Ohio riverfront, this museum tells the story of slavery and the network that helped people reach freedom, a theme central to the history of a city facing a slave state.

Other stops. The American Sign Museum gathers vintage neon and illuminated signs, and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, opened in 1875, is the second-oldest zoo still operating in the United States. In winter or early spring some attractions run reduced hours (Wikivoyage ES), so check before you go.

Landmarks and neighborhoods

Music Hall, Mount Adams and Eden Park

Downtown is organized around Fountain Square and the river. Cincinnati Music Hall, a 19th-century concert hall that opened in 1878, helped earn the city the nickname "Paris of America"; it stands on the edge of Over-the-Rhine.

Mount Adams. Perched on one of the city's hills, this neighborhood of steep lanes offers some of the best views over downtown and the Ohio River.

Eden Park. A large hilltop park that is home to the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Krohn Conservatory, a greenhouse open all year, along with overlooks above the river.

The Banks. The lively riverfront between the Roebling Bridge and Great American Ball Park has bars, restaurants and gardens by the water.

Food

Chili, goetta, ice cream and beer: Cincinnati's table

Cincinnati chili is a dish locals defend and debate in equal measure: a Mediterranean-spiced chili, boiled rather than browned for a smooth texture, ladled over spaghetti and stacked according to precise house rules ("three-way" with shredded cheese, "four-way" with onions or red beans added). The Skyline Chili chain, founded in 1949 by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides, popularized it; according to Wikivoyage ES, the city has more chili restaurants per capita than any other US city. It also comes on a hot dog, as a "cheese coney" (Wikivoyage FR).

Findlay Market. Opened in 1852, it is Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market, with butchers, produce stalls and delis in the heart of Over-the-Rhine, ideal for a quick lunch.

Goetta and German heritage. Goetta, a sausage of pork and oats inherited from German immigrants, appears at breakfast in many restaurants; craft beer is everywhere, brewed in the old cellars of the district.

For dessert. Graeter's ice cream is the local pride (Wikivoyage DE); try it at one of its shops.

Sports

The Reds, the oldest professional baseball club in the country

Founded in 1869 as the Red Stockings, the Cincinnati Reds are widely credited as the first professional baseball team in the United States. They play at Great American Ball Park, on the Ohio River in The Banks. The baseball season runs from late March into the fall, and taking in a game is an easy way to experience the city like a local.

Cincinnati's airport

The main airport for your flight to Cincinnati

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Getting around

Buses, streetcar, bikes and cars in Cincinnati

Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Mount Adams and Clifton are easy to walk, but most other places are reached mainly by car (Wikivoyage DE). The Metro bus network charges zone fares of roughly $1.75 to $3 per ride (Wikivoyage EN and ES), and route 1 is a sightseeing line at $1.75.

Streetcar. The Cincinnati Bell Connector, running since 2016, links Findlay Market with the riverfront transit center via Over-the-Rhine and downtown. Wikivoyage says it has been free since October 2020, but fares may have changed, so check on arrival.

Bikes and shuttle. Cincy Red Bike sells a day pass for about $8 (Wikivoyage EN and ES), and the Southbank Shuttle crosses the river for about $1 a ride.

Parking. Generally cheap and plentiful according to Wikivoyage, with restrictions in some districts.

By car from Cincinnati. Louisville and Columbus are about 1.5 hours away, Indianapolis about 2 hours and Cleveland about 4 hours (Wikivoyage EN).

Budget

A mid-range budget, gentler than on the coasts

Cincinnati sits at the lower end of the mid-range for large US cities. Downtown is not dirt cheap, but several visits are free or inexpensive, led by the Cincinnati Art Museum, and parking is economical. As a rough guide, Wikivoyage DE puts a mid-range meal at about $20 to $35 per person and a mid-range hotel room at about $80 to $130, with noticeably higher prices at the newest downtown hotels.

What raises the bill. Ride-hailing at peak times, game nights or big events, and a rental car if you plan day trips. Public Wi-Fi at the library is free.

How to save. Lean on the free museums, the markets and the chili, and watch flights with an alert rather than comparing prices every day.

When to go

When to visit Cincinnati?

Rain falls year-round, about 1,150 mm a year (Wikipedia EN). For pleasant weather with everything open, late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable windows.

By length of stay

What to do in Cincinnati depending on how long you stay

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Cincinnati