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Tour · Old town on foot · Cincinnati

Downtown Cincinnati on Foot: From Fourth Street to the Ohio

A compact walk through Cincinnati's Central Business District, from the buildings around Saint Xavier Park along historic Fourth Street and down to the riverfront at The Banks. Along the way you'll find contemporary art, lunch downtown, a drink above the rooftops, and dinner in an Art Deco setting.

Stops
13
Time
10:00–19:00
On foot
approx. 3.6 km
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This tour takes you on foot through Cincinnati's Central Business District in a single day, the city's compact center between Sixth Street and the Ohio River. The distances are short, you won't need to drive anywhere, and the stops are so close together that you'll have plenty of time to take in the sights along the way.

You start at the Times-Star Building and walk past Saint Xavier Park and the Gwynne Building to the Contemporary Arts Center, whose architecture alone is worth a visit. After lunch, you follow Fourth Street, the city's old commercial axis, past the PNC Tower and the Mercantile Building. Then you head downhill to Cincinnati's origins: the settlement that grew into the city began at the site of Fort Washington. Past the sculptures of Reds legends, you reach the riverfront at The Banks, where the view opens up over the river and across to Kentucky.

To finish, you return to the city center, have a drink on a rooftop terrace, and eat dinner at Orchids at Palm Court. This tour is a good fit if you're interested in architecture and urban history, enjoy getting around on foot, and want to get a coherent picture of the city center in a single day without rushing from museum to museum.

Facades, history, and the riverfront downtown

  1. Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    1Cincinnati Times-Star Building

    A good starting point on the northeastern edge of downtown: take note of the monumental facade of the former newspaper building.

  2. on foot 4 min · 290 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    2Saint Xavier Park

    A small green gap between the city blocks, ideal for getting your bearings before heading toward Walnut Street.

  3. on foot 3 min · 210 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    3Gwynne Building

    A historic commercial building at the corner of Sixth and Main, best viewed from the opposite side of the street.

  4. on foot 3 min · 230 m
    Visit · Contemporary art · Central Business District

    4Contemporary Arts Center

    Zaha Hadid's building is worth seeing from the outside alone; check opening hours in advance, as museums are often closed on Mondays.

  5. on foot 2 min · 190 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    5Cincinnati Enquirer Building

    Just a few steps to the west, another reminder of the city's newspaper history.

  6. on foot 3 min · 270 m
    6
    Meal · Latin American · Central Business District

    6Mita's Restaurant

    Latin American cuisine in the heart of downtown; check lunch hours in advance and make a reservation if needed.

  7. on foot 4 min · 290 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    7PNC Tower

    The Art Deco skyscraper on Fourth Street shapes the skyline; take a look at the entrance hall too, if it's accessible.

  8. on foot 3 min · 270 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    8The Historic Mercantile Building

    A well-preserved older building on Fourth Street that shows what the commercial street looked like around 1900.

  9. on foot 6 min · 440 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    9Fort Washington (Cincinnati, Ohio)

    This is where the military fort stood from which the city emerged; today only a marker commemorates Cincinnati's origins.

  10. on foot 4 min · 300 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    10Reds Legends of Crosley Field

    Sculptures on the baseball history of the Reds outside the stadium, a good photo stop on the way to the river.

  11. on foot 4 min · 350 m
    Visit · Historic sites · Central Business District

    11Live at The Banks

    A lively district on the Ohio with views toward Kentucky; a short stroll along the bank rounds out the walk.

  12. on foot 5 min · 420 m
    12
    Bar · Cocktail bars · Central Business District

    12Shires' Rooftop

    A rooftop terrace with views over downtown; in bad weather, check ahead to see whether it's open.

  13. on foot 4 min · 330 m
    13
    Meal · American · Central Business District

    13Orchids at Palm Court

    An elegant restaurant in an Art Deco hall just a few steps away; check reservations and opening hours in advance.

Good to know

  • All stops are in the Central Business District and are no more than a 15-minute walk from one another, so comfortable shoes are all you need.
  • Most buildings can be viewed from the outside; some lobbies are open to visitors on weekdays only.
  • Reservations are a good idea for both lunch and dinner, especially on weekends and on Reds game days.
  • The route to the riverfront runs downhill and the way back is slightly uphill, so allow a little extra time.

Not quite right? Open this tour in the trip planner and set your own interests, times, pace, and must-see places.

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Automatically compiled from travelguide195 places (as of 11/05/2026). Travel times are estimated from distance; please check opening hours in advance.

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