With more than 120 attractions, Louisville has something for everyone to see and do. The iconic Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum pay homage to the thoroughbred horse—a hallmark of what makes Kentucky so special, especially during May’s Derby season.
The bat of most major League Baseball teams is made at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. The Belle of Louisville is the oldest operating steamboat still in existence. And, Louisville’s native son, Muhammad Ali, is now remembered with a self-guided tour of “Ali’s Footsteps of Greatness.”
While you’re in Louisville, we invite you to check out our myriad of things to do with Bourbon City’s one-of-a-kind attractions.
Kentucky Derby Museum. Located on the grounds of Churchill Downs, the legendary home of the Kentucky Derby, you can experience the tradition, history, hospitality and pride of “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” year-round. The museum celebrates the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s historic Kentucky Derby win and Triple Crown sweep with a new, state-of-the-art exhibit designed to showcase Secretariat’s life, stardom and incomparable impact on horse racing, America and the world.
Muhammad Ali Center. Muhammad Ali’s legacy continues at this immersive museum, which begins with a 14-minute film introducing viewers to his Six Core Principles. Ali’s boxing career is showcased with exhibits and memorabilia, including the interactive “Train with Ali” exhibit, where you can shadow box with “The Greatest.” Ali’s life and achievements are put in historical context with the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement.
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Hillerich & Bradsby Co. has been making the Louisville Slugger since 1884, and you don’t have to be a die-hard baseball fan to enjoy visiting the factory where the world’s most famous baseball bat is manufactured. However, baseball enthusiasts will get a particular thrill out of seeing Babe Ruth’s 1927 record-setting bat and Hank Aaron’s 700th home run bat. Take a factory tour to see how the Louisville Slugger bat is made and depart with a souvenir mini-Slugger bat. You can’t miss the 120-foot replica bat marking the museum entrance.
Louisville Mega Caverns. A former manmade limestone quarry that extends for 17 miles underneath parts of Louisville, including the Zoo, found a new life as the world’s only underground adventure park. Technically classified as Kentucky’s largest building, the Louisville Mega Cavern is home to a zipline course, tram tour, ropes course and bike tour, providing adventures for all ages.
Cave Hill Cemetery. The final resting place of Muhammad Ali and Colonel Sanders, this historic cemetery also contains 600 species of trees and shrubs and is the city’s only accredited arboretum. Its 296 acres also includes lakes, mausoleums, sculptures and the graves of 228 Confederate and 6,100 Union soldiers. Whether you visit to pay respects, learn about history and botany or just stroll for a lovely walk, Cave Hill Cemetery has much to offer and is free and open to the public.
Churchill Downs Derby City Gaming Downtown. This brand-new, spectacular entertainment hub just across from Louisville’s downtown convention center has 500 historical racing machines as well as a fresh-air gaming area, a sports bar with a stage for music and live entertainment, a premium bourbon library and an elegant wine and charcuterie lounge. An onsite retail store offers Kentucky Derby-themed merchandise year-round.
Outdoor adventures
Belle of Louisville and Mary M. Miller. Take a step back in time aboard the Belle of Louisville, the last remaining authentic Mississippi River-style steamboat left in the world. Or see the River City onboard the Belle’s sister vessel, the Mary M. Miller. Either way, you’ll see Louisville and the Ohio River from a unique vantage point.
Waterfront Park: Big Four and Swing Garden. Take in the sights of the Ohio River as you cross this pedestrian bridge linking the waterfronts of Kentucky and Indiana. Set out on foot or bike the one-mile span for picturesque views of the Ohio River, Waterfront Park and the Louisville skyline. After sunset, a rotating LED light show illuminates the bridge, setting a vibrant scene for an after-dark walk.
Topgolf. This is a must-visit destination for golf lovers with climate-controlled hitting bays for year-round comfort using Topgolf’s complimentary clubs or your own. Take aim at the giant outfield targets with high-tech balls that will score themselves.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens. Situated in the Butchertown neighborhood and just steps from Louisville’s Waterfront Park, the new 23-acre, $60 million dollar project is revitalizing what was once a landfill into a flourishing community garden. Phase one was completed in 2019 and while construction is currently in progress, there is no cost to visit the gardens. The garden’s eventual master plans include a conservatory, children’s gardens, an overlook, edible gardens and a water wall.
Kentucky Kingdom. Kentucky Kingdom offers playland rides for little ones and thrilling rides for big kids who meet the height requirements. The popular theme park will be open the weekend leading up to MPI WEC.
Bourbon City’s Culinary Scene
You’re in for a treat in Louisville, one of Travel + Leisure’s “Best Food Cities in the U.S.”
NuLu neighborhood. NuLu stands for “New Louisville,” the East Market District of downtown known for its unique art galleries, authentic bourbon experiences, specialty stores and award-winning culinary scene. Named one of the “Best Neighborhoods in the USA” by AFAR, it’s the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between.
Bardstown Road’s “Restaurant Row.” This lively neighborhood is known for its casual pubs and sushi bars alongside breakfast joints and chef-driven bistros on Bardstown Road.
Food markets
Paristown Village Market. Louisville’s newest eatery features five local restaurant concepts and a large bar. The transformed building provides casual indoor dining, as well as open outdoor dining on a large patio that flows seamlessly from the Village Market to Christy’s Garden. The Village Market is open seven days per week for lunch and dinner, with one concept open for breakfast.
Logan Street Market. Louisville's only public market is nestled between Germantown and Downtown in Shelby Park. With over 20+ independently owned businesses, including an onsite brewery, onsite coffee roastery, tons of shops and more, come see what the city of Louisville has to offer under one roof.
Neighborhoods
Louisville is well-known for its variety of architectural styles—from traditional to modern to somewhere in between.
Downtown. Named one of the best Main Streets in America, Louisville’s downtown has some of the oldest buildings in the city. Built between the 1850s and early 1900s, many still boast their original cast-iron façades. The downtown thoroughfare is a thriving bourbon and culinary district and is also home to some of the city’s most iconic attractions.
Old Louisville. Old Louisville has the most extensive collection of restored Victorian homes in the country and is the third-largest Historic Preservation District in the U.S. Built as a suburb in the 1870s, this neighborhood consists of more than 40 city blocks of Victorian-era homes—considered some of the oldest, largest and most beautifully preserved homes in the city.
NuLu. The East Market District of downtown has become known for its plethora of art galleries, specialty stores, antique shops, robust culinary scene and nightlife all set on the pedestrian-friendly Market and Main Streets.
Highlands. As well as being a foodie hub, the area is also celebrated for its unique collection of artisan shops and is one of the most popular neighborhoods for local nightlife. If it’s a quieter atmosphere you crave, bookstores and java shops meet that need with a variety of independent coffee shops around the neighborhood. The Highlands is as quirky as it is charming, boasting Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century architecture.
Crescent Hill & Clifton. Take a stroll along Frankfort Avenue and you’ll find historic homes and buildings, tree-lined streets, alfresco dining and locally owned shops peppering this railroad-lined avenue and one of the city’s noted “Restaurant Rows.”
Butchertown. One of Louisville’s oldest neighborhoods just east of downtown was the city’s original meatpacking district, with butcher shops dominating the area in the 1800s. These days, though one large meatpacker still anchors the area, Butchertown is in the middle of a renaissance and is seeing an influx of tasty restaurants, chic boutiques, the city’s only brandy distillery and a state-of-the-art soccer stadium.
National Accolades. Louisville continues to be championed as a welcoming and inclusive place, while receiving high-profile accolades, including Travel + Leisure’s “50 Best Places to Travel to in 2024” and one of the 2024 “South’s Best Cities” by Southern Living.
“The Best Places to Travel in May” - Conde Nast Traveler
“Trending Destination” - TripAdvisor “52 Places to Go in 2023” - New York Times
“25 Best Weekend Getaways in the South” - Travel + Leisure
“The Best Food Cities in the U.S.” - Travel + Leisure
“Top 50 Destinations in North America” - Cvent
“The Most Overlooked Travel Cities in America” - Cheapism
Photos courtesy Louisville Tourism.
