Cleveland walking tour & city guide

The lakefront and downtown

The glass pyramid of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame stands right on the lakefront next to the science centre and the football stadium. Downtown climbs up from there to Public Square and the Terminal Tower, once one of the tallest buildings outside New York, and to the restored 19th-century arcades with their glass roofs.

Playhouse Square, one of the largest theatre districts in the country outside New York, is marked by a giant outdoor chandelier hanging over Euclid Avenue.

Ohio City, the Flats and University Circle

Across the river, Ohio City is built around West Side Market, a brick market hall from 1912 with a clock tower and long rows of butchers, bakers and produce stands. The Flats along the winding Cuyahoga are lined with riverside bars and lift bridges. A few miles east, University Circle gathers the Cleveland Museum of Art, the botanical garden and several other museums around green parkland.

A classic Cleveland walk

Start at the Rock Hall and walk the lakefront paths, then head up East 9th Street to Public Square and the Terminal Tower. Wander through the old arcades and east along Euclid Avenue to the chandelier at Playhouse Square. On another day, cross the Detroit–Superior Bridge to Ohio City and West Side Market. The downtown loop is about 5 kilometres.

Visiting tips

Summer and early autumn are the best seasons, with festivals, patios and sailing on the lake. Winters are cold and snowy, with icy winds off Lake Erie, but the museums and theatres are at their best then. The rapid transit line runs from the airport to downtown and on to University Circle.