Best Things to Do in Cleveland: A Local's List

At a glance

• Where: Downtown Cleveland, Ohio City, Tremont, University Circle and Old Brooklyn, plus one park just outside the city
• Hours: Typically daytime, with theaters and the Rock Hall running into the evening; check each official site before you go
• Cost: Free (Cleveland Museum of Art general admission) to $45 for an adult Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ticket
• Time needed: Two days covers the anchors; one day covers the first five picks

The best things to do in Cleveland are the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on the lakefront, the free Cleveland Museum of Art in University Circle, the West Side Market in Ohio City, a show at Playhouse Square, and a day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park just south of the city. Around those anchors sit a brewpub, the house from A Christmas Story, two more museums, a zoo and a lake beach, all inside the city limits.

This is the list a local gives a friend who has two days and a rental car. Every pick below was checked against its own official site. One pick, the national park, is outside the Cleveland city limits, and we say so where it appears.

How we chose

Each pick had to be open and run by an organization with an official website, inside Cleveland, Ohio (or clearly labelled as just outside). We favored places that are specific to Cleveland over things you could find anywhere. We left out anything whose status we could not confirm, including a few places that were closed for a stretch or had no readable official page when we checked.

Hours and prices change. We give typical hours and the adult price where the official site states one, so check the official site before you go.

What are the five anchors every first visit needs?

The five anchors are the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the West Side Market, Playhouse Square and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Do these and you have seen Cleveland the way Clevelanders show it off.

1. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Downtown Cleveland)

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, at 1100 Rock & Roll Blvd. on the North Coast Harbor lakefront in Downtown Cleveland, is a museum devoted to the artists and history of rock and roll. Level 0 sits underground and is packed with exhibits, so the glass pyramid is only the start.

• Do: Work through the exhibit floors, then the Hall of Fame inductee displays upstairs.
• Time: Plan 2 to 3 hours.
• Cost: Typically $45 for an adult and $40 for locals and students with a valid ID; check the official site.
• Local tip: The museum is cashless and does not validate parking. From September through June, hours are typically 10am to 5pm daily, with Thursdays open until 9pm; summer hours differ.

2. Cleveland Museum of Art (University Circle)

The Cleveland Museum of Art, at 11150 East Boulevard in University Circle, has free general admission every day it is open. The collection holds more than 63,000 works spanning roughly 6,000 years.

• Do: Take the free highlights tour (a ticket is needed) or wander the galleries on your own.
• Time: 2 hours for highlights, a half day if you like armor and antiquities.
• Cost: Free general admission; special exhibitions may charge.
• Local tip: It is typically closed Mondays and open until 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. The museum garage is entered from Jeptha Drive and you pay at the entrance.

3. West Side Market (Ohio City)

The West Side Market, at 1979 West 25th Street in Ohio City, is a public market opened in 1912 under a 137-foot clock tower. It is home to more than 70 vendors selling produce, meats, seafood, baked goods and prepared food.

• Do: Graze: pierogi, a pastry, cheese and fruit for the walk out.
• Time: 1 to 1.5 hours.
• Cost: Free to enter; pay per item.
• Local tip: The homepage typically lists Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. The market hall is in a long renovation, so check the official site for current vendor access. Pair it with the Ohio City guide.

4. Playhouse Square (Downtown Cleveland)

Playhouse Square, at 1501 Euclid Avenue in Downtown Cleveland, is the theater district where Broadway tours, concerts and local companies share a cluster of restored historic theaters. A show is the best use of a Cleveland evening.

• Do: Book a Broadway touring production or a concert, and walk the lit marquees before curtain.
• Time: 2 to 3 hours for a performance.
• Cost: Varies by show; tickets are sold on the official site.
• Local tip: Park in the Chester Avenue garage at 1450 Chester Ave, which has a covered walkway into the theaters, or the Lumen Garage at 1965 E. 17th St. Both are cashless. Explore the neighborhood in the Downtown Cleveland guide.

5. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (just outside Cleveland)

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a national park about 22 miles and roughly 30 minutes by car south of Cleveland. It is not inside the Cleveland city limits: its official addresses are in Brecksville and Peninsula.

• Do: Walk or bike the Towpath Trail along the old Ohio & Erie Canal route, or ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (cvsr.org).
• Time: Half a day to a full day.
• Cost: No entrance pass is required for the park; train fares are on the railroad's site.
• Local tip: The park is open every day of the year, though some areas close at dusk and some facilities are seasonal, so check the hours page before a late hike.

What else is worth the time inside the city?

Six more places inside Cleveland fill out a second day, in Ohio City, Tremont, University Circle, Old Brooklyn and along the lakefront.

6. Great Lakes Brewing Company (Ohio City)

The Great Lakes Brewing Company brewpub, at 2516 Market Ave in Ohio City, is the brewpub of the brewery founded in Ohio City in 1988. Order a Dortmunder Gold Lager, the beer that won the brewery its first gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival.

• Time: 1.5 hours.
• Cost: $$ for a meal and a pint.
• Local tip: Hours are typically 11:30am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, 11:30am to 10pm Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 3pm Sunday. It is a short walk from the West Side Market.

7. A Christmas Story House and Museum (Tremont)

A Christmas Story House & Museum, at 3159 W 11th St in Tremont, is the house from the 1983 holiday film, restored to match the movie's look. It is open daily for tours year-round, typically 10am to 5pm.

• Time: Plan about an hour with the museum and gift shop (our estimate).
• Cost: Tours start at about $20; children under 5 are free.
• Local tip: Tremont sits on a bluff over the Cuyahoga Valley, so stay for dinner and a skyline view. Read more in the Tremont guide.

8. Cleveland Museum of Natural History (University Circle)

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, at 1 Wade Oval Drive in University Circle, covers natural history from dinosaurs to wildlife, with a planetarium. It is typically open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

• Time: 2 to 3 hours.
• Cost: Adult admission is typically $25 in advance or $28 at the door, with youth and senior tickets at $18 in advance; the planetarium is an add-on.
• Local tip: Book online ahead for the lower price, and pair it with the Museum of Art for a University Circle day. See the University Circle guide.

9. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Old Brooklyn)

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, at 3900 Wildlife Way in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood, is a city zoo run by Cleveland Metroparks. Hours are typically 10am to 4pm from October to March and 10am to 5pm from April to September.

• Time: 3 to 4 hours.
• Cost: Typically $25 for adults, $23 for seniors 62 and up, and $21 for children 2 to 11, with $1 off on weekdays.
• Local tip: It is on the west side, so combine it with the Old Brooklyn guide rather than driving back downtown.

10. Great Lakes Science Center (Downtown Cleveland)

The Great Lakes Science Center, at 601 Erieside Ave on the North Coast Harbor, is a short walk from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It includes the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, which is free with general admission.

• Time: 2 to 3 hours.
• Cost: Typically $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 2 to 12; check the official ticket page.
• Local tip: It is a good rainy-day pair with the Rock Hall since both sit on North Coast Harbor. Its typical hours are 10am to 5pm.

11. Edgewater Park (West Side lakefront)

Edgewater Park, at 4101 Fulton Parkway on Cleveland's West Side, is a Cleveland Metroparks lakefront park off the Shoreway with swim and dog beaches, a fishing pier and paddling access along the rock jetty. For nearby neighborhoods, see the Edgewater guide and the Detroit-Shoreway guide.

• Time: 1 to 2 hours.
• Cost: The Metroparks page lists no admission fee; parking details are there too.
• Local tip: It is our favorite place in Cleveland to watch the sun set over Lake Erie. Paddlers launch inside the buoys along the jetty, away from swimmers.

What is a good two-day Cleveland route?

This two-day route strings the picks together with the least backtracking.

• Day 1 morning: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, then Great Lakes Science Center next door.
• Day 1 afternoon: Drive to University Circle for the Cleveland Museum of Art (free).
• Day 1 evening: Dinner and a show at Playhouse Square.
• Day 2 morning: West Side Market in Ohio City, then lunch at Great Lakes Brewing Company.
• Day 2 afternoon: A Christmas Story House in Tremont, then a skyline view from the bluff.
• Day 2 sunset: Edgewater Park, or Cuyahoga Valley National Park if you have a full day.

How do you get around?

A car makes the two-day route easy, but Downtown Cleveland is walkable, and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) HealthLine bus rapid transit runs from Public Square to the Louis Stokes-Windermere Rapid Station. Check riderta.com for the stop nearest University Circle. For more neighborhoods, browse the Cleveland areas page.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top things to do in Cleveland?

The top things to do in Cleveland are the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the West Side Market, a show at Playhouse Square and a visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. All but the park are inside the city.

Is the Cleveland Museum of Art free?

Yes, general admission to the Cleveland Museum of Art in University Circle is always free. It is typically closed Mondays, and special exhibitions or parking may cost extra.

How long do you need to see Cleveland's main sights?

Two days is enough for the main sights. One day covers the Rock Hall, the Museum of Art and an evening show; the second covers the West Side Market, Tremont and the lakefront or the national park.

Is Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Cleveland?

No, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is just outside Cleveland; its official addresses are in Brecksville and Peninsula. It is about 22 miles and 30 minutes from Cleveland by car.

How much is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame lists adult admission at $45, and $40 for locals and students with a valid ID. Prices change, so check rockhall.com before you go.