Kentucky · United States
Where to stay in Lexington
Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States, home to about 323,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- LEX13 km · Blue Grass Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/New York
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Lexington
Lexington is a consolidated city coterminous with Fayette County, Kentucky, United States, of which it is also the county seat. As of the 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the second-most populous city in Kentucky (after Louisville), the 14th-most populous city in the Southeast, and the 59th-most populous city in the United States.
Founded in 1775, 17 years before Kentucky became a state, the fledgling campsite was named Lexington when settlers received news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord which had opened the Revolutionary War just a few months prior. (Many people today assume it to be the other way around, since Lexington, Kentucky, is much larger and more well-known than the eponymous Lexington, Massachusetts.) Lexington was one of the first cities in the country to enact urban growth legislation, controlling lot sizes and requiring suburban expansion to be continuous.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Lexington
See
- Ashland
- Boone Station
- Hopemount
- The Kentucky Theatre
- Lexington Public Library
- Mary Todd Lincoln House
- Triangle Park
- Waveland State Historic Site
Do
Despite the relatively small size of this South-North straddling city, Lexington offers a surprisingly delightful palette of interesting activities. Whether you choose to explore some of the world-class and stunning horse farms ringing the city, hit up some of the surprisingly upscale shopping venues, take in a play at the Downtown Arts Center or the Lexington Opera House, tour the oldest university west of the Allegheny Mountains (Transylvania University), catch an insanely popular UK basketball game (Rupp Arena) or sample one of the myriad great restaurants that have sprung up all over town, you can be sure your experience here will not be a bland one.
- Big Ass Fans
- Barrel House Distilling
- Bluegrass Distillers
- James E. Pepper
- Town Branch Distillery
- Woodland Art Fair
- Festival of the Bluegrass
- Kentucky Horse Park
- Blue Grass Tours
- Horse Farm Tours Inc.
- Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Farm Tours
- Unique Horse Farm Tours
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Lexington
13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Castle | 17.0 km | |
| Radisson Plaza, Lexington | 1978 | 3.6 km |
| Johnston's Inn | 21.2 km | |
| Keene Springs Hotel | 18.9 km | |
| Phoenix Hotel | 3.4 km | |
| 21C Museum Hotel Lexington | 3.4 km | |
| Charred Oaks Inn | 23.3 km | |
| DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Lexington | 4.2 km | |
| Embassy Suites Lexington | 5.7 km | |
| Lexington Marriott City Center | 3.5 km | |
| Lyndon House Bed & Breakfast | 2.9 km | |
| Montgomery Inn BnB | 23.2 km | |
| The Woodford Hotel | 1881 | 23.8 km |
All 13 hotels in Lexington, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Lexington
Lexington has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C; June is the wettest, with about 131 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 Lexington: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Blue Grass Airport (LEX), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF, 113 km) and Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG, 113 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Lexington is a relatively spread out city, though not large. Unless you are mainly visiting the downtown or the university campus (which are within walking distance of each other), you will find that getting around by car is the most convenient method. Downtown, Main Street divides cross-streets north and south, and Limestone marks east versus west. Addresses downtown usually specify a cardinal direction, which provides a clue to what area of the city it's in. Bus service is provided by Lextran, which provides service from the downtown Transit Center to many parts of town and the airport.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
LEX · Blue Grass Airport
SDF · Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport
CVG · Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Lexington
Eat
Lexington is home to an astonishing number of independently owned restaurants at all price levels. The city's college town atmosphere and affluent lifestyle contribute to this relatively small metropolitan area's great culinary offerings. Chain restaurants, typical in most American cities and towns, can be found here, as well as a great number of privately owned and operated establishments.
Drink
Nearby Winchester is home to a regional soft drink called Ale-8-One. The soda was developed in the 1920s after major drinks like Coca-Cola were already established, hence the name, which is a pun on "a late one" (as in "the latest thing"). The ginger- and citrus-flavored soda has some passionate fans, and for most of its life was only available in Central and Eastern Kentucky, but since the 2000s you can find "Ale-8" in surrounding states and in Cracker Barrel restaurants nationwide.
Stay safe
The Lexington Division of Police, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), was awarded "Flagship Status" in 2010 for the third consecutive assessment, becoming the first and only municipal police agency in the U.S. to be so honored. The Police department has several special patrol units, including bicycle, Segway, and a mounted patrol. Lexington's crime rates rank favorably with other cities of its size. The University of Kentucky campus is patrolled by the University of Kentucky Police Department and is generally quite safe. An initiative called "Cat's Path" is comprised of a series of recommended walking routes that span central campus.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Lexington: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Lexington?
Lexington has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C; June is the wettest, with about 131 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Lexington?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Blue Grass Airport (LEX), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF, 113 km) and Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG, 113 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Lexington?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Lexington
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.