Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Downtown Cleveland

Downtown Cleveland serves as the principal business district of Cleveland, Ohio. While it is primarily focused on commercial activities, with its skyline prominently featuring high-rise buildings of major financial institutions, it also boasts a picturesque environment adjacent to the stunning shores of Lake Erie.

This vibrant area is not solely about business; the waterfront transforms the district into a cultural and social hub. A majority of Downtown’s premier attractions are situated along the lakeside in North Harbor. Visitors can explore an array of interactive museums, a concert park, and numerous aquatic endeavors.

Furthermore, Downtown Cleveland presents an impressive array of shopping opportunities, sophisticated bars, and a diverse culinary landscape infused with international flavors. Therefore, prior to your visit, consider these fifteen essential activities in Downtown Cleveland as a guide for an enriching experience.

1. Lolly The Trolley

Experience a sightseeing tour of Downtown Cleveland by hopping aboard Lolly the Trolley, an antique-style, bright red trolley bus with wooden bench seating. The journey begins on the West Bank.

The tour encompasses significant areas like Public Square and North Harbor, along with several other notable hotspots in the city.

Select between a one-hour nonstop tour or a more comprehensive two-and-a-half-hour tour with scheduled rest breaks included. Both tours feature narratives from a professional guide.

2. Goodtime III Cleveland Cruise

Board the Goodtime III cruise ship for a unique perspective of Downtown Cleveland from the water. Departing from East 9th Street Pier, the cruise navigates both the lake and the Cuyahoga River.

As Cleveland’s largest sightseeing vessel, the Goodtime III features four decks and accommodates up to a thousand passengers. Public tours are narrated and typically last approximately two hours.

For a different experience, consider a luncheon cruise with food, a happy hour cruise featuring beverages, or a Saturday night City Lights cruise, which includes illuminated views of the Downtown skyline and starlit skies.

3. Public Square

Upon visiting the Public Square in Downtown Cleveland, one encounters the city’s very essence. This historic square, encompassing six and a half acres, traces its origins back to the city’s founding in the late 1790s.

The Public Square serves as more than just a recreational space; it routinely hosts events throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy live music or theater performances on the Mandel Concert Hill, attend presentations at the Speakers’ Terrace, or savor nutritious offerings from the Rebol restaurant-cafe while enjoying the Gund Foundation Green.

The square features intriguing monuments, with a charming cobbled pathway encircling it, ideal for a stroll after lunch. During the winter months from December to February, an ice rink is open for public enjoyment.

4. House of Blues Cleveland

For an energetic evening complemented by excellent music, visit the House of Blues Cleveland on Euclid Avenue in Downtown Cleveland.

This renowned venue, highly rated locally, features a spacious music hall for live performances, plush VIP lounges with independent acts, a full-service bar, and an in-house restaurant.

Once each month on a Sunday, the club hosts its famous Gospel Brunch, a hearty all-you-can-eat buffet consisting of breakfast items, a roast meat carvery, traditional Southern dishes, and an array of desserts, all while enjoying live gospel music.

5. Great Lakes Science Center

The Great Lakes Science Center, located on East Ninth Street in Downtown Cleveland, is an impressive museum.

This institution features numerous interactive exhibits, allowing visitors to explore scientific concepts firsthand, investigate the human body in the Grossology Lab, or experience space exploration at the NASA Glenn Visitor Center.

Additionally, the center includes an on-site cafeteria offering splendid views of the lake and a theater featuring a six-story domed cinema screen.

6. Cleveland Bike Tours

Engage in a cycling adventure to discover Downtown Cleveland. Participants convene with fellow cyclists and the guide at the depot on East 9th Street. After a brief safety overview, it’s time to don helmets and explore.

The bike tour showcases the city’s most notable sites, with stops for insightful commentary from the guide, concluding with a journey to the waterfront for fresh lakeside air.

Typically lasting two and a half hours, the tours cover approximately five miles.

7. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame serves as a museum honoring the pioneers of the music industry, situated on Rock and Roll Boulevard off East 9th Street.

This uniquely designed museum houses a vast collection featuring video clips, pinball machines, song lyrics, and photographs that span from the era preceding The Beatles to contemporary hip-hop artists.

The museum also features a theater showcasing artist induction ceremonies held over the past thirty years, alongside an outdoor stage for live performances.

8. Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar

Enhance your experience in Downtown Cleveland by dining at the Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar on East 9th Street.

This waterfront establishment features delightful terraces overlooking the marina, an ideal setting for enjoying a Mango Margarita before indulging in Carnitas or Lengua tacos.

The Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar also hosts live musical performances on their outdoor patio weekly during summer months.

9. Rock and Dock

If you seek aquatic activities on Lake Erie, visit Rock and Dock at the North Coast Marina on Downtown Cleveland’s East 9th Street.

Rent a paddleboat for a tranquil paddle around the marina, or opt for a kayak or stand-up paddleboard for a different experience. For a thrilling adventure, consider trying out a jet ski on Lake Erie.

Alternatively, embark on a Go Boat. These single-passenger electric boats, resembling a rubber ring with a motor, provide a fun way to navigate while allowing you to captain your journey.

10. Jack Cleveland Casino

Test your skills at the Jack Cleveland Casino located in Public Square. This luxurious gaming venue spans over one hundred thousand square feet, operating twenty-four hours a day and offering more than fifteen hundred slot machines and over a hundred game tables, including roulette and poker.

Within the casino, several restaurants present a wide range of cuisines, from international buffets to burgers and pizzas, as well as numerous bars catering to diverse beverage preferences.

11. Tower City Center

The Tower City Center represents a large indoor shopping complex located on West Huron Road in Downtown Cleveland. Allocate an entire day for shopping, as you’ll want to explore all it has to offer.

Hosting three retail levels filled with well-known stores, cafes, and restaurants, the mall also features a ten-screen cinema showcasing current movie releases.

The Tower City Center connects with the Jack Cleveland Casino and has a corridor linking it directly to both of Downtown Cleveland’s main sports venues.

12. Mallorca

Dine at the Mallorca restaurant on West 9th Street to savor authentic Mediterranean flavors while in Downtown Cleveland. This establishment presents traditional dishes from Spain and Portugal.

Embodying a Spanish ambiance, the Mallorca features dark wood decor and tuxedo-clad waitstaff. Indulge in the Paella Valenciana paired with a glass of Sangria or the Shellfish Casserole in Green Sauce complemented by a Rioja, and you will feel transported to the Iberian Peninsula.

Conclude your meal with coffee and brandy, a delightful finale marked by the dramatic presentation of fire on your drink.

13. USS Cod Submarine Memorial

The USS Cod Submarine Memorial functions as a maritime museum located on North Marginal Road in Downtown Cleveland.

This historic submarine, measuring three hundred and twelve feet long, was actively engaged in World War II until its decommissioning in the mid-1950s. After extensive restoration preserving its original features, it was designated as a national historic landmark.

The Cod is accessible to guests from early May to late September, on Saturdays only from October to November, as well as during special events such as the Pearl Harbor Commemoration Day.

14. Terminal Tower

The observation deck within the Terminal Tower offers one of the best views of Downtown Cleveland.

This fifty-two story building, constructed in the 1930s, stands as one of the iconic landmarks of Downtown and a vital component of the Tower City Center.

Accessing the deck on the forty-second floor involves a two-elevator ride, providing panoramic views of the city, and on clear days, even visibility up to thirty miles across the lake and beyond.

15. Bar 32

Visit Bar 32 located on the thirty-second floor of the Hilton Hotel on Lakeside Avenue East for breathtaking views coupled with refined beverages.

Perched nearly four hundred feet above the ground, the bar provides spectacular vistas over Lake Erie and sections of the downtown area, making it an ideal locale for pre-dinner drinks or late-evening refreshments.

As dusk falls over Downtown Cleveland, the View cocktail or a Blue Moon is certain to provide an enjoyable experience.