Free Things to Do in Cincinnati, Ohio

Enjoying Cincinnati, Ohio doesn't have to be expensive. The Queen City offers a wealth of parks, museums, historic neighborhoods, and other attractions that are free to the public.

01 of 06

Spring Grove Cemetery

Spring Grove Cemetery
David Ohmer/Flickr/CC BY 2.0
Address
4521 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45232, USA
Phone +1 513-681-7526
4.1

Cemeteries can be peaceful sites as well as good places to learn about local history. That is certainly true of Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery. Located north of downtown, Spring Grove is the second oldest planned cemetery in the United States, founded in 1845. The 733-acre cemetery and arboretum feature 12 ponds, striking Gothic monuments and one of the best collections of flowering trees in the Midwest.
Residents include Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the United States; several members of President Taft's family; Civil War general Joseph Hooker; yeast manufacturer, Charles Fleischmann; and grocery store founded, Bernard Kroger. The cemetery is open daily from dawn to dusk.

02 of 06

Mount Adams

Downtown view from Mt. Adams Neighborhood
Walter Bibikow / Getty Images

This colorful neighborhood is located atop one of the seven hills that make up Cincinnati and looks across downtown to the Ohio River beyond. Originally settled by German and Irish immigrants, today Mt. Adams is one of Cincinnati's most sought after addresses. Visitors will find an eclectic mixture of restaurants and boutiques. It's a great place for an afternoon stroll.

03 of 06

Krohn Conservatory

Floral clock at Krohn Conservatory, Eden Park.
Richard Cummins / Getty Images
Address
1501 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202-6030, USA
Phone +1 513-421-4086
4.4

This garden center is located in Eden Park, near the Cincinnati Art Museum. The Conservatory, opened in 1933, features more than 3,500 plant species. Particularly interesting are the Bonsai collection and the ethereal orchids.
The Krohn Conservatory is open daily from ​10 am to 5 pm. Admission is free.
Krohn Conservatory
1501 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513 421-4086

04 of 06

Cincinnati Art Museum

Grand Hall at Cincinnati Art Museum
William Manning / Getty Images
Address
953 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA
Phone +1 513-721-2787
4.7

The Cincinnati Art Museum, founded in 1881, is located in the city's Eden Park cultural district. The neo-classical building houses a collection of more than 60,000 objects. Highlights include an extensive collection of locally-made Rookwood Pottery, an array of American and European portraits, and the largest collection of ancient ​Nabataean art outside of Jordan.
The Cincinnati Art Museum is open Tuesday - Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm and on Thursday until 8 pm. Admission and parking are free every day.
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513 721-2787

Continue to 5 of 6 below.
05 of 06

Taft Museum of Art

Taft Museum of Art.
Richard Cummins / Getty Images
Address
316 Pike St, Cincinnati, OH 45202-4214, USA
Phone +1 513-241-0343

The Taft Museum of Art, in downtown Cincinnati, is housed in a Greek Revival mansion that once belonged to President William Taft's half-brother and his wife. The Tafts donated the structure as well as their extensive art collection to the city in 1929 and the museum opened in 1932.
Today the museum houses thousands of works, including those by Ingres, Gainsborough, Rembrandt, and Whistler. The museum is also noted for its collection of Limoges enamels, ​19th-century American paintings, and European decorative arts.
The Taft Museum of Art is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 am to 4 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is free on Sundays.
Taft Museum of Art
316 Pike Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513 241-0343

06 of 06

Sawyer Point

Address
705 E Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA
Phone +1 513-357-2604

Sawyer Point is downtown Cincinnati's riverfront park. Located near the city's two stadiums, the park offers a plethora of facilities and activities, including several concert stages, a playground, volleyball and tennis courts, a fishing pier, and the 1923-circa Showboat Majestic, which still hosts stage productions in the summer.
In the warmer months, there is a seemingly endless string of festivals, art fairs, and food shows at Sawyer Point. In the winter, a skating rink is set up; in the summer you can rent bicycles.
Sawyer Point
720 East Pete Rose Way
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513 352-6180

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Free Things to Do in Cincinnati, Ohio