Michigan · United States
Where to stay in Detroit
Detroit is a city in Michigan, United States, home to about 639,000 people.
- Best months
- September
- Nearest airport
- YQG10 km · Windsor International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/Detroit
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Detroit
Detroit ( dih-TROYT, locally also DEE-troyt) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario.
Downtown Detroit is unique: an International Riverfront, ornate buildings, sculptures, fountains, the nation's second largest theater district, and one of the nation's largest collection of pre-depression era skyscrapers. Two major traffic circles along Woodward Avenue surround Campus Martius Park and Grand Circus Park, both gathering points. The city has ample parking much of it in garages. Many historic buildings have been converted into loft apartments, and new businesses have opened in the Central Business District.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Detroit
See
This is only a small list of some of the biggest attractions and even though they are listed here, their info is brief. Make sure to check out the district articles for more.
Do
This is only a small list of some of the key activities and events to enjoy and even though they are listed here, their info is brief. Make sure to check out the district articles for more.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Detroit to stay in
With plenty of luxurious accommodations, the Detroit area includes many fine hotels to fit all types of needs. Whether it is the riverfront ambiance of the Renaissance Center Marriott, or the old-world elegance of the newly restored Westin Book-Cadillac. For a mix of the urban/suburban flair try the international style Westin Southfield-Detroit Hotel. Budget options are also available, including a hostel in North Corktown.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Detroit
27 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Westin Book Cadillac Hotel | 1924 | 0.3 km |
| Hotel Tuller | 1906 | 0.6 km |
| MGM Grand Detroit | 1.0 km | |
| The Leland Hotel | 1927 | 0.6 km |
| The Whittier | 1926 | 5.4 km |
| 2643 Park Avenue | 1924 | 1.3 km |
| Belcrest Apartments | 3.6 km | |
| Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown Riverfront IHG Hotels & Resorts | 1965 | 0.4 km |
| Detroit Statler Hotel | 1915 | 0.6 km |
| Fort Shelby Hotel | 0.5 km | |
| Greektown Casino Hotel | 0.7 km | |
| Inn at 97 Winder | 1.2 km | |
| MotorCity Casino Hotel | 1999 | 1.9 km |
| Park Avenue House | 0.9 km | |
| Eddystone Building | 1.4 km | |
| Hotel St. Regis, Detroit | 1966 | 4.8 km |
| Madison-Lenox Hotel | 1903 | 0.6 km |
| Riverwalk Hotel Detroit | 2.8 km | |
| The Hamilton Midtown Detroit | 2.0 km | |
| American Hotel | 1.5 km | |
| Shinola Hotel | 1915 | 0.3 km |
| Aloft Detroit at The David Whitney | 0.5 km | |
| Atheneum Suite Hotel Detroit | 0.5 km | |
| Detroit Foundation Hotel | 0.4 km | |
| Mint House Detroit - Times Square | 0.5 km | |
| The Detroit Club | 0.4 km | |
| The Siren Hotel | 0.5 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Detroit
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Detroit are September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; April is the wettest, with about 89 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Detroit: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Windsor International Airport (YQG), about 9.8 km from the city centre in a straight line; Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW, 28 km) and Bishop International Airport (FNT, 91 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) is in Romulus, about 20 minutes west of the city, at the junction between I-275 and I-94 with many nearby hotels. The airport is a major Delta hub and operational headquarters, so it offers direct flights to and from a surprising variety of cities, from Seattle to Osaka. The airport has been modernized and has six major runways. The easiest way to get to downtown Detroit is the Detroit Air Xpress bus, which provides direct service between downtown and Evans & McNamara terminals in 30-60 minutes. Tickets are $6 by reservation and $8 at the door.
Getting around
As the historical center of the American automobile industry, with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler once having their main factories here, Detroit is unsurprisingly one of the world's most car-dependent cities. Detroit's street layout is truly unique, combining wheel-and-spoke, grid, and strip-farm (near the River) layouts. Six major spoke roads radiate out from downtown; they are, in clockwise order, Fort Street, Michigan Avenue, Grand River Avenue, Woodward Avenue, Gratiot Avenue, and Jefferson Avenue.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
YQG · Windsor International Airport
DTW · Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
FNT · Bishop International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Detroit
Eat
Detroit is home to many American classics including Sanders Hot Fudge, Little Caesars Pizza, Better Made Potato Chips, and Vernor's Ginger Ale. (Vernor's Ginger Ale shares the distinction as America's oldest soft drink with Hires Root Beer.) Detroit is famous for the ubiquitous Coney Island. The term refers to a hot dog with chili, mustard, and chopped fresh onions; the name also applies to restaurants that serve them. The two oldest are American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island, next door to each other in downtown Detroit. Coney Islands can be found all over the city. People in the suburbs get their fill from local chains such as National Coney Island and Leo's Coney Island.
Drink
Vernor's Ginger Ale, created by Detroit pharmacist James Vernor, shares the distinction as America's oldest soft drink with Hires Root Beer. A local favorite, Detroiters pour Vernor's over ice cream (this drink is called a "Boston Cooler" in reference to Boston Blvd. in Detroit, not the city in Massachusetts). Also try Faygo soft drinks, another former Detroit based soft drink company. Detroiters enjoy Michigan Wines. A family of GM heritage, the Fisher family Coach Wines are served at the Coach Insignia Restaurant atop the GM Renaissance Center. The Detroit area also hosts a number of microbreweries.
Stay safe
As with most other urban areas in the US, precautions should be taken when out after dark: stay in groups; do not carry large amounts of money; and avoid seedy neighborhoods. The overall crime rate in downtown Detroit is below the national average, and crime has declined significantly, but the city is still among the most dangerous in the country. That being said, if you exercise common sense and don't go looking for trouble, you'll be fine. Downtown Detroit is generally well-policed and the safest part of the city. Crimes sometimes occur, but exercising common sense will go a long way toward keeping you and your valuables safe.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Detroit: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Detroit?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Detroit are September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; April is the wettest, with about 89 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Detroit?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Windsor International Airport (YQG), about 9.8 km from the city centre in a straight line; Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW, 28 km) and Bishop International Airport (FNT, 91 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Detroit?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Detroit
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.