[2024] Is Detroit Worth Visiting? Yes! Let A Local Explain Why!

Street art in Detroit

My favorite topic to write about for any city is being covered first for Detroit, as Detroit has some of the most memorable street art in the US!

In this section, I'll show you some of Detroit's iconic sculptures, most fascinating public art projects, and splashiest murals!

Let's start with the sculptures-- four that are all less than a minute's walk from one another!

The Spirit of Detroit is used as the seal for the city of Detroit. It is the largest sculpture built by a single architect since the Renaissance. Despite the grandeur of the art piece, the sculptor declined any commission.

The Fist was constructed to honor boxer Joe Louis. The athlete was raised in Michigan. Prior to becoming a fighter, Louis worked at one of Michigan's most famous employers: Ford Motor Company. Joe Louis defended his title as world heavyweight champion a record 25 times.

The bottom two sculptures are both located in Hart Plaza. The large loop sculpture, which is named Transcending, was built in support of Michigan's labor movement. The other is the uniquely designed Dodge Fountain-- enchanting to see at night with its LED lights!

The above two sculptures are both located in Campus Martius.

The Countdown Clock is probably the most Instagrammable sculpture in Detroit. This sculpture is shaped like a tire, commemorating Detroit's history in the automotive industry. It was built in anticipation of Detroit hosting the NFL Draft in 2024.

My favorite statue is the pair of anthropomorphic mice. The reason they give off Disney vibes is no coincidence. They were built by a former Disney animator. This is another promiminent Instagrammable sculpture. I always take pictures of this whenever I visit.

Two more Instagrammable spots: the 'WE ♥ DETROIT' text displays. One is found in Campus Martius and the other is found in nearby Capitol Park.

One more text-based art piece...

If you are driving toward Detroit on I-94 eastbound, you'll come across the divisive 'DETROIT' sign.

Reception to this sign initially was split down the middle, as many Detroiters had the expectation the sign would be around the size of the Hollywood letters as seen in Los Angeles.

I made a TikTok of this sign-- it's garnered over 300,000 views and is my most successful TikTok to date! Follow me on there if you have the app!

The final two sculptures I'll mention here are the ones you'll find at Comerica Park and Grand Circus Park.

At Comerica Park-- the stadium where the Detroit Tigers play-- you'll encounter enormous sculptures of baseball bats and tigers! Nearby at Grand Circus Park is the Millennium Bell-- an art piece I feel is overlooked and rarely mentioned but nonetheless, a lovely art piece!

And now, let me show you four of Detroit's best public art projects: the Heidelberg Project, African Bead Museum, Hamtramck Disneyland, and The BELT.

The Heidelberg Project is Detroit's most well-known public art project.

Located on the east side of Detroit, the Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art project led by artist Tyree Guyton, famous for the painted polka dots and several clocks. Guyton intended to use street art to revive a worn-down and formerly dangerous neighborhood.

I luckily had the pleasure of meeting Tyree Guyton the first time I came to the Heidelberg Project. Conversation with him was intellectually very stimulating. His abstract thoughts are a characteristic of a real artist.

You can explore the outside of the African Bead Museum for free. There is a shop you can purchase souvenirs as well.

Despite being called Hamtramck Disneyland, it is not affilated with Disney. It is a free backyard art project designed by a former GM employee.

The BELT is an artistic alleyway and public space much like Luminous Lane in uptown Charlotte. The BELT is between a parking structure and building-- each bridge connecting the two buildings with exterior artwork. Murals and some restaurants are found here too.

Finally, to conclude this section of Detroit's street are the numerous murals!

There are hundreds of murals throughout Detroit-- one big reason why Detroit is one of my favorite cities! The colorful wall compositions embody Detroit's rich history, culture, and sometimes just plain affinity for aesthetics-- in its brightest times and darkest moments.

The street art throughout Detroit captures the city's personality in its rawest and purest form.

Two other spots other than downtown where you can find plenty of murals are Eastern Market and Mexicantown.

I feel I've really made my point here on how much Detroit prides itself on the visual arts.

We are not quite done with Detroit's beauty yet. For most other American cities I've written about, I haven't covered the architecture of their skyscrapers and buildings.

However, the architecture found in Detroit deserves its own mention, thus...

The architecture in Detroit is stunning

My second argument as to why you should visit Detroit is to cast your eyes upon Detroit's marvelous architecture.

Skyscrapers are a staple of any major city. Aside from their impressive height, many skyscapers in even some of the most prominent American cities are forgettable in design. Detroit, however, is an exception to this observation!

Featured above is my favorite skyscraper in the entire U.S-- the Renaissance Center, or 'Ren Cen', for short. An unforgettable player in Detroit's skyline, it is Detroit's tallest skyscraper, standing at 727 feet high. It was General Motor's headquarters but will not be moving forward in 2025.

The Guardian Building is my second favorite skyscraper in Detroit-- all because of its Art Deco architecture. You can also enter this glorious ediface 24 hours a day for free!

To see more of this architectural gem, there are free guided tours offered every Sunday at either 12PM or 1:30PM.

On this guided tour, you'll have the opportunity to visit the 32nd floor and some downtown Detroit from up high. You'll also be able to access the cellar and step inside some old bank vaults.

Located on Woodward Avenue-- which is Detroit's busiest street-- is the majestic Fox Theatre.

The Fisher Building-- located in Detroit's New Center neighborhood-- is another one of the great skyscrapers in the city with Art Deco design.

To prevent this section from getting too long, I am just going to show one more building I am highly fond of.

The last example to show off Detroit's architectural prowess is found on the island of Belle Isle-- in particular, the Belle Isle Aquarium.

Like the Guardian Building and Fisher Building, the Belle Isle Aquarium is also free to enter!

Detroit has the best art museum in the US

My third point of persuasion pertains to the Detroit Institute of Arts: it's been regarded as the best art museum in the U.S!

Yes-- even higher than other renowned art museums like the Art Institute of Chicago or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City!

This accolade of the Detroit Institute of Arts being the best art museum in the country comes from USA Today-- who bestowed this honorific on the museum in both 2023 and 2024!

There is a running sum of over 65,000 pieces of art work at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

At 658,000 square feet, the Detroit Institute of Arts is the largest art museum in the midwest!

One of the more famous statues at the Detroit Institute Arts is located the entrance on Woodward Avenue. You can find a replica of a world-famous statue: The Thinker!

If you are reading this and you live in either Wayne, Macomb, or Oakland county, guess what? Admission to the Detroit Institute of Arts for you is free!

I've been to the Detroit Institute of Arts several times and I am still awestruck every visit!

Want more suggestions on art pieces you should see when visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts? I have an article featuring more of the museum's finest artwork!

Besides having the best art museum in the US, as it turns out, Detroit also has the best...

Detroit has the best public square in the US

My fourth assertion why you should visit Detroit concerns Campus Martius-- an area I introduced earlier in this article.

USA Today, in 2024, deemed Campus Martius the best public square in the US-- triumphing over another public square I've been to: The Square in Oxford.

What I adore about Campus Martius is the public art, the peripheral views of Detroit's skyline, the Woodward Fountain to sit and people-watch, and the chance to see the Q-Line pass me by.

Detroit has the best riverwalk in the US

Fifth reason you should visit Detroit? Besides the best art museum and public square, Detroit has the best riverwalk in the country too!

For three consecutive years (2021, 2022, 2023), USA Today awarded first place to Detroit's riverwalk in its evaluation of the country's best riverwalks.

One unique opportunity the Detroit Riverwalk provides visitors is the chance to see another country from across the water! Look over the blue water and you'll see the city of Windsor, which is located in the Canadian province of Ontario!

The walkway of the riverfront borders my favorite skyscraper in Detroit: the Renaissance Center. You'll be able to get real close to this modern skyscraper and even walk inside, if you wish!

There are a few smaller public parks along the way too which add some delightful scenery to the riverwalk.

Detroit has other world-class museums

Reason six to book your next trip to Detroit: it has other must-see museums!

Aside from the Detroit Institute of Arts, there are two other legendary museums you have to visit during your trip to Detroit: the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and the Motown Museum.

First, I'll briefly cover the Henry Ford Museum-- as I have been to it several times!

The Henry Ford is a truly impressive museum with tons of artifacts illustrating the story of Detroit's role in the automotive industry and how American culture has been shaped by the invention of the automobile.

There are also exhibits dedicated to aircraft and trains! Did you know that Henry Ford briefly considered building small passenger planes as well? I didn't before I came to the museum! Imagine if, instead of or in addition to owning a car, you could own your small aircraft!

The Henry Ford is the only museum in this article that is not technically in Detroit. Rather, it is located in Dearborn, which is about a 10-15 minute drive from downtown Detroit.

The Motown Museum provides visitors a guided tour showcasing the history and musical achievements of Detroit's influential Motown label. One cool highlight of the tour is being able to walk through an actual recording studio.

By the way, Motown is technically a label, not a genre of music.

Some household music artist names that came from the Motown label are Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, and Marvin Gaye.

Detroit is known for some good food & drink

My seventh and final reason why Detroit is worth visiting: the city is known for a few iconic foods and one beverage!

In the above image, I am holding up Vernors ginger ale. Whereas brands like Canada Dry and Schweppes can be found all over the country, Vernors is, for the most part, confined to just Michigan!

I'm not just saying this because I live in Michigan but I honestly prefer Vernors to other ginger ale brands. Vernors has a sweeter taste, due to its vanilla base.

Coney dogs are a modification of hot dogs-- another classic American food. The sausage-shaped meat of a coney dog is made from either beef or pork and served in a bun cut from the top. The meat is adorned with chili, onions, and mustard.

There are two coney dog restaurants in downtown Detroit that neighbor one another: American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island.

The quality of the food served at both restaurants is, in my opinion, about equal. That being said, I do like the aesthetic of American Coney Island more but I also appreciate how Lafayette Coney Island has later hours.

It's funny-- I mentioned the cities of Chicago and New York when I wrote about the Detroit Institute of Arts-- and now I'm mentioning those same cities again when talking about pizza!

Just like how Chicago and New York have their own style of pizza, so does Detroit! It's called... Detroit style pizza. Very on-the-nose with the naming there!

Detroiters love to debate which restaurant in town has the best Detroit style pizza. I don't personally care who has the best-- I just know that this following establishment has been open since 1946 and that the pizza is damn good: I'm talking about Buddy's Pizza.

One aspect I love about New York style pizza is you can purchase it by the slice. At Buddy's Pizza, you too can purchase Detroit style pizza by the slice!

Public transportation

Compared to other mid-sized and major cities in the US, Detroit has a much smaller network for public transportation. The reason why Detroit has less public transportation than other American cities is due to the automotive industry.

The Q-Line was introduced to the city of Detroit in 2017. It is a fare-free streetcar which runs down Woodward Ave in two directions-- with one end at Congress Street in downtown and the other end at Grand Boulevard in New Center.

Campus Martius, Comerica Park, and the Detroit Institute of Arts are all major Detroit attractions you can easily access by taking the Q-Line.

Another public transportation option available in Detroit is the People Mover. It is a monorail system which loops around downtown, giving riders birdseye views of places like the Detroit Riverfront, Greektown, and the financial district.

In Jnauary 2024, the city of Detroit made the People free for everyone. To my knowledge, the People Mover still has no fare.

Aside from being used to get around, you can also just ride the People Mover for an elevated view of the city. The whole loop takes about 12 minutes to complete.

Safety

Since Detroit's renaissance, violent crime has been on a decline every year.

As testimony to how safe visitors from all over the US felt downtown Detroit was, over 750,000 people gathered around Campus Martius for the 2024 NFL Draft.

That being said, in 2024, U.S News still determined Detroit to be the third most dangerous city in the US, only behind Memphis and St. Louis.

As someone who often explores the city alone, I can say with confidence that downtown is a safe area for tourists to check out. Homelessness is far less of a problem in Detroit than it is in, say, Portland.

One neighborhood in Detroit (not that there is much for tourists to see there) I'd avoid is Delrey.

Best times of year to visit

The best times of year to visit Detroit would be either late spring, during the summer, or in the fall.

In particular, if you are a sports fan, the fall is when you can catch a game from all four Detroit sports team. The Lions catch the most attention, in my opinion, as Detroiters are so eager for them to just once make it to the Super Bowl!

The other three sports team in Detroit are the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Pistons.

Winter will be the worst time of year to visit Detroit. Winters in Detroit are very cold, as the state of Michigan is surrounded by four large lakes. Snowfall also is rather high.

Early spring is not a good time to visit either, as the temperatures can wildly fluctuate from cold to hot.

Conclusion

Is Detroit worth visiting? A resounding 'yes'!

Detroit has made astronomical strides in effort to reprise its former glory. In some aspects, I feel Detroit has surpassed itself.

Detroit has unforgettable street art and architecture. It's art museum, public square, and riverwalk are regarded by the press as the best in the US. The Henry Ford Museum and Motown Museum are outstanding museums, preserving the best of Detroit's history. And it's known for some interesting foods!

I love Detroit and feel lucky I live so close to one of the best cities in the US! I hope my enthusiasm and my photography has inspired you to book your next trip to Detroit this year!


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