Cheap flights to Detroit
Set your departure airport and your maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Detroit and alerts you the moment an opportunity matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Airport
DTW
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-5
Opportunities already detected to Detroit
Real flight examples spotted by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Identity
Motor City, between industrial heritage and comeback
Founded in 1701 by Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac as Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, after the strait (the "détroit") linking Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, Detroit became the car capital of the world thanks to Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. The decline of that industry was costly: from more than 1.8 million residents in the 1950s, the city fell to about 640,000 at the 2020 census, and it went bankrupt in 2013, the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history. Since then, former industrial buildings have been converted, downtown has come back to life and the cultural scene is very active.
A border city. The Detroit River separates the city from Canada: Windsor, Ontario, lies just across, and this is one of the few places in the United States where Canada is to the south. You cross by the Ambassador Bridge or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel (Wikipedia ES, Wikivoyage EN); bring your travel documents.
A sprawling city. Detroit covers a huge area: downtown, Midtown, Corktown and the riverfront are explored sector by sector, and a car or public transport links the farther neighbourhoods.
Getting to Detroit
DTW airport and distances
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
The airport is in Romulus, about 29 km (18 miles) south-west of downtown, roughly 20 minutes by car according to Wikivoyage EN (Wikipedia EN). It has two terminals, McNamara (Delta and its partners) and Evans (other airlines). From Europe, nonstop flights serve Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Rome or Istanbul, and seasonally Dublin, Munich or Reykjavik (Delta, Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines).
From the airport to downtown. Several buses link downtown: SMART route 261 to the Rosa Parks Transit Center, SMART FAST Michigan via Michigan Avenue and Dearborn, and the Detroit Air Xpress, nonstop on I-94 (Wikipedia EN, Wikivoyage EN). Taxis, shuttles and rental cars complete the offer; prices vary, so check before you book.
| Landmark | Distance or indicative time |
|---|---|
| Airport to downtown | about 29 km (18 miles), roughly 20 minutes by car |
| Detroit to Windsor (Canada) | just across the river, by bridge or tunnel |
| Detroit to Ann Arbor | about 45 miles (about 70 km) west |
| Detroit to Chicago | about 6 hours' drive on I-94 |
| Detroit to Toledo, Ohio | about an hour south on I-75 |
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To discover
The Renaissance Center and the Detroit skyline
Built between 1973 and 1981 by John Portman, the Renaissance Center is the city's vertical symbol: five linked towers, the tallest rising 220 metres, long home to General Motors' headquarters, a hotel and shops. It overlooks the Detroit River and shows Canada on the far bank. At its feet, the Detroit Riverwalk turns several kilometres of former industrial shoreline into a promenade.
By the water. The Riverwalk links downtown to Belle Isle and can be walked or cycled; it is the best way to enjoy the skyline, especially in the evening.
Belle Isle
The green island in the river
Linked to downtown by a bridge, Belle Isle is an island of about 4 km² (982 acres) in the middle of the Detroit River, laid out as a large public park with a zoo, a historic aquarium and a botanical garden. Locals love it for a stroll, with open views of the skyline on one side and Canada on the other.
Landmarks and districts
Michigan Central, Corktown and the immigrant neighbourhoods
Michigan Central Station. For decades the abandoned Corktown depot symbolised the city's decline: a Beaux-Arts station closed in 1988. Ford bought it in 2018 and restored it at the centre of a mobility campus; it reopened in June 2024.
Corktown and Midtown. Corktown, the oldest neighbourhood, and Midtown, around the DIA, the university and the Amtrak station, can be explored on foot or by QLine streetcar.
Greektown, Mexicantown and Hamtramck. Greektown with its Greek restaurants, Mexicantown along Vernor Highway, and Hamtramck, known for Polish food and bakeries, recall the waves of immigration that built the city (Wikivoyage EN).
Dearborn. To the south-west, the suburb of Dearborn is home to The Henry Ford complex.
Museums
Six museums to understand Detroit
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). One of the country's most important museums, with about 65,000 works spanning 5,000 years. Its heart is the Rivera Court, where Diego Rivera painted the "Detroit Industry" frescoes of the car factories in 1932-1933 (Wikipedia ES, Wikivoyage EN).
Motown Museum. Housed in the West Grand Boulevard house (Hitsville U.S.A.) where Berry Gordy launched the label in 1959, it keeps the original studios where hits by Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder were recorded. Book your visit ahead.
The Henry Ford, in Dearborn. The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village form a large complex on the history of American innovation (Wikivoyage EN).
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. According to Wikivoyage EN it holds the world's largest permanent exhibit on African American culture (Wikipedia ES lists it too).
Detroit Historical Museum and MOCAD. The first tells the story of the city and its industries; the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit hosts current art exhibitions (Wikivoyage EN).
Good to know. Hours and prices change with the season, so check before you go.
Food and drink
Coney dogs, Detroit-style pizza and markets
The coney dog. A hot dog covered in beanless chili, chopped onions and mustard. Despite the name, it was popularised by Greek restaurateurs in Detroit; American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island, neighbours downtown, have argued over who invented it for close to a century (Wikivoyage EN).
Detroit-style pizza. Baked in rectangular steel pans, it is known for a thick, crisp crust and cheese that caramelises at the edges. Buddy's is the classic address (Wikivoyage EN).
Eastern Market. The big historic market, open Monday to Saturday (7 am to 5 pm according to Wikivoyage EN), draws tens of thousands of people on Saturdays (Wikipedia ES). Arrive early.
Cuisines and drinks. Mexican restaurants in Mexicantown, Greek tables in Greektown, Polish bakeries in Hamtramck. As for drinks, Vernors, a ginger ale born in Detroit, is sometimes poured over vanilla ice cream (Wikivoyage EN).
Climate
Detroit climate, season by season
Spring
Cool in April, more pleasant from May on, when the Riverwalk and the markets come back to life.
Summer
Short but often hot and muggy: about 29 °C highs and 17 °C lows in July, with thunderstorms.
Autumn
Classic Midwest colours and mild temperatures; a great season to walk the city.
Winter
Markedly cold: about 0 °C highs and -7 to -9 °C lows in January, with snow from November to early April, around a metre a year (Wikipedia ES), and a biting wind.
Detroit has a humid continental climate with about 830 mm of precipitation a year (Wikipedia FR and DE). The best windows are May to September for waterfront walks, and September to October for autumn colours. Museum and music fans will enjoy it in winter too.
Getting around
Getting around Detroit
QLine and People Mover. The QLine is a 3.3-mile streetcar on Woodward Avenue with 12 stations, opened in May 2017; it serves Midtown, the DIA and the Amtrak station. The Detroit People Mover is an elevated automated loop of about 2.9 miles downtown (Wikipedia EN, Wikivoyage EN).
Buses and bikes. DDOT runs the city buses and SMART the regional ones; a bike-share system, MoGo, also exists (Wikivoyage EN). Check the official sites for fares.
By car. Useful for Dearborn, Hamtramck and outlying districts, but the core of downtown, the Riverwalk and Midtown work with the QLine and on foot.
Budget
A mid-range budget, and three days for the essentials
Detroit sits in the mid-range for a big American city: the Riverwalk and the markets cost next to nothing, while museums, downtown hotels and car travel weigh more. We do not publish exact prices because they change; the currency is the US dollar.
How many days?. Two days cover the DIA, the Riverwalk and a coney dog; three let you add Michigan Central, Belle Isle and the Motown Museum.
By length of stay
What to do in Detroit depending on your stay
The essentials
The Riverwalk and Renaissance Center, the Detroit Institute of Arts, then a coney dog downtown.
Go deeper
Michigan Central Station in Corktown, the Motown Museum and a Saturday morning at Eastern Market, then Belle Isle.
Great Lakes
Dearborn and The Henry Ford, Ann Arbor or Windsor across the river, or a wider Midwest loop.
In pictures
Detroit, the river and the skyline in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Detroit
What is Detroit's airport and how do I get downtown?
Detroit Metropolitan (DTW), in Romulus, about 29 km from downtown (roughly 20 minutes by car). Buses (SMART 261, FAST Michigan, Detroit Air Xpress), taxis and rental cars link downtown.
How much does a flight to Detroit usually cost?
The price mainly depends on your departure city, the period and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real price examples already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
How long is a flight to Detroit from Europe?
Typically 8 to 9 hours nonstop depending on your departure city.
When is the best time to visit Detroit?
May to September for the Riverwalk and Belle Isle, and September to October for autumn colours. Winter is cold (highs around 0 °C in January) with snow.
What is Motown?
A label and musical style founded in Detroit in 1959 that blended pop and soul and launched artists such as Diana Ross and the Supremes or Marvin Gaye; the Motown Museum occupies the original studios.
Which museums should I visit in Detroit?
The Detroit Institute of Arts with its Diego Rivera frescoes, the Motown Museum, the Charles H. Wright Museum, the Detroit Historical Museum, MOCAD, and The Henry Ford in Dearborn.
What should I eat in Detroit?
A coney dog at American Coney Island or Lafayette Coney Island, Detroit-style pizza, Eastern Market, and the cuisines of Greektown, Mexicantown and Hamtramck.
How do I get around Detroit?
By the QLine on Woodward Avenue, the People Mover downtown, DDOT and SMART buses, by bike or on foot downtown. A car helps for outlying districts.
What should I see first in Detroit if I only have two days?
The Riverwalk and Renaissance Center, the Detroit Institute of Arts, then Michigan Central Station or the Motown Museum.
Is Detroit an expensive destination?
It is mid-range for a big American city. The Riverwalk and markets are inexpensive; museums and downtown hotels cost more. Prices change, so check official sites.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Detroit drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Detroit as the destination, and your maximum budget. You'll be notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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