Flights to Cincinnati
 

Founded in 1788, Cincinnati is the first major inland city established after the American Revolution and is touted as the first purely “American” city. It sits on the Ohio River, with its metro area spilling south into Kentucky and west into Indiana. 

The city is experiencing a resurgence of tourism. You can spot it on many influential lists ranking it a premier destination to visit. It is No. 8 on the New York Times “52 Places to go in 2018,” which highlights the city’s cultural renaissance following a $143 million renovation of the Music Hall, a fantastic red brick Venetian Gothic structure built in 1878 and home to the Cincinnati Symphony, Ballet, and Opera.

Travel & Leisure’s “50 Best Places to Travel in 2017” also singled out the Queen City for the transformation of its Over-the-Rhine district, first settled by German immigrants in the 19th century and now home to technology companies, farm-to-table restaurants, historic breweries, and the city’s first electric street car connecting it to downtown.

 

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is located in Hebron, Kentucky, 15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati. It has a three-story terminal and two concourses serving nine airlines, including Delta Air Lines. It offers 175 daily departures with non-stop flights to 47 cities, as well as direct international service to Paris, Toronto, and Cancun. 

An airport subway system operates between the terminal and both concourses every 90 seconds. Free high-speed WiFi is available at the ticketing and baggage claim areas, as well as at all gates. Charging stations are plentiful.

Shopping options include Brooks Brothers, Creative Kids Stuff, and PGA Tour Shops. Travelers can grab a bite at the food court, which offers regionally famous Gold Star Chili and Graeters ice cream. Or opt for a relaxed meal at one of several full-service restaurants, including Outback Steakhouse, Samuel Adams Pub, or Vino Volo.

  • Cincinnati Metro rail transit system provides transportation from the airport to locations throughout the metropolitan area. 
  • Taxis are available 24-hours-a-day at baggage claim door 5. Handicap accessible vehicles can be reserved in advance. Note that Cincinnati taxi companies cannot pick up passengers in Kentucky and Kentucky taxi companies cannot pick up passengers in Ohio unless they have a dual state license to operate at the airport. 
  • Metro bus service runs from 5 a.m. to midnight and leaves from the east end of baggage claim. 
  • Rideshare services Lyft and Uber are authorized to operate at the airport.
  • Executive Transportation Services provides private car and coach service to hotels, attractions, and other locations. Service request can be made at the shuttle desk at baggage claim.

Cincinnati is home to two major league clubs, the Cincinnati Reds, the oldest team in MLB, and the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. Both teams have new stadiums downtown. The Reds play at the Great American Ball Park, and the Bengals play at Paul Brown Stadium.

Discerning foodies will want to savor dishes unique to the city, such as Cincinnati-style chili seasoned with Mediterranean spices and served atop a mound of spaghetti or hotdogs. There’s also handcrafted French pot ice cream, and goetta (rhymes with feta), a locally renowned sausage made with steel-cut oats.  

Hop on the new Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar and ride over to the Queen City’s most transformed neighborhood, the Over-the-Rhine district, where German beer brewers and pork packers built the largest collection of 19th-century Italianate architecture. It is home to Findlay Market, an open-air, outdoor market where locals buy fresh meat, cheese, produce, and ethnic foods. 

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is is a poignant reminder that the Ohio River marked the entrance to freedom for slaves escaping Kentucky.

Spend the day among fabulous gardens and more than 500 animal species, including rare African painted dogs, at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.

Spend the night at the museum at the award-winning 21c Museum Hotel. This unique property combines an 8,000-square-foot modern art museum featuring rotating exhibits and site-specific installations with 160 guest rooms for an artful stay.  The Metropole restaurant and bar serves contemporary American cuisine sourced with local ingredients. 

A 10-minute drive across the river into Kentucky, the Hotel Covington is a boutique hotel located in the former headquarters of Coppin’s Department Store. Built with 20-foot ceilings and a sloping floor in 1907 to afford shoppers a sweeping view of the entire store, it now offers visitors a grand view of the reception area, lobby and bar.

The Cincinnatian Hotel is a AAA Four Diamond hotel that offers modern luxury in a historic setting. Built in 1882, it offers attentive service in elegant surroundings. Don’t miss the Palace Restaurant and Cricket Lounge.

Cincinnati enjoys a long, warm summer season with only a few months of bitterly cold weather.

Summer temperatures generally peak in the 80s, with about 21 days of hot and humid highs in the 90s. Thunderstorms are likely to pop up in the summer, as well as the occasional tornado.

Temperatures dip down into the 20s during the winter months of December, January, and February. January is the coldest month, averaging 31 degrees with an occasional low of 0.

Cincinnati gets 42 inches of precipitation a year, just over the U.S. average of 39