Louisville Kentucky Attractions

*Help save the planet (and your waistline). All the great attractions marked with an asterisk are in our neighborhood, within walking distance of 21c.

Prefer to see the city on your own set of wheels? Hotel guests can borrow cruising bicycles. Stop by the front desk for more info.

With countless attractions and a rich history, Louisville, Kentucky has something for everyone. Even if you can't score tickets to the Run for the Roses, a visit to Louisville is not complete without a tour of Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby Museum is a mecca to horse racing fans and the track offers thoroughbred racing during their spring and fall meets, as well as daily simulcast wagering year-round. Delve further into Bluegrass culture with a visit to one of the many local horse farms.

If your day with the ponies leaves you wanting to explore more of the animal kingdom, the Louisville Zoo exhibits over 1300 species and is open year-round. Continue the family fun downtown with the Louisville Science Center, the largest hands-on science center in the Commonwealth and home to a four-story IMAX theatre, or the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, home to the world's largest bat and features exhibits and factory tour. Finish your tour along Museum Row with a visit to the Muhammad Ali Center or the Frazier International History Museum. History buffs will delight in exploring the fossil beds along the river at the Falls of the Ohio. Take in the architecture along West Main, home to the largest collection of cast iron facades second only to New York's Soho neighborhood, or in Old Louisville, the nation's largest preservation district of Victorian buildings. The neighborhood also plays host to the renowned Saint James Court Art Show each October.

Skip over to the Highlands for a visit to the historic Cave Hill Cemetery and Cherokee Park, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. While your out enjoying the sunshine, take in a game at Louisville Slugger field, home to Triple A baseball team Louisville Bats. By now you've surely worked up an appetite, thankfully Louisville is home to a thriving restaurant scene. Locals will argue Louisville institution Kaelin's Restaurant invented the cheeseburger, but we suggest you hunt down another famous sandwich Louisville can take credit for: the Hot Brown. Finish your night hitting up the hotspots along the Urban Bourbon trail or exploring Louisville nightlife at Fourth Street Live. You'll find the University of Louisville crowd packing into the many local Irish Pubs along Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue.

Don't forget that Louisville is first and foremost an art city. Catch a show with the Louisville Orchestra, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Ballet, Actors Theatre, PNC Broadway Series at the Kentucky Center's Whitney Hall, or Stage One, Louisville's children's theatre. Make time for the Speed Art Museum, Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft, and popular East Market galleries. Glassblowing is also popular with two downtown studios open for tours and demonstrations—Glassworks and Flame Run. On your way out of town, detour through Nelson County and Bardstown to learn why Kentucky is considered the Bourbon Capital of the World. With dozens of Bourbon distilleries - including Makers Mark, Jim Beam, and Woodford Reserve - dotting the countryside, many who offer free Bourbon tastings, we think you'll enjoy our local flavor!