Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Detroit?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Detroit?

Most people spend one to three days in Detroit during their visit. The overlooked city offers amazing highlights such as plenty of live music, the nightlife scene, the famous sights and museums, and the big city activities.

Detroit is the largest city in Michigan. Although it's not at the top of many traveler's itineraries, the city offers a unique local atmosphere and a growing art scene. It's history is shaped by the auto industry and its influential music scene.

Do you have one or two days to visit Detroit? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Detroit?

Detroit isn't a particularly popular city for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as plenty of live music, the nightlife scene, and the famous sights and museums. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for one to three days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Detroit

Perhaps the most famous place in Detroit is the Henry Ford Experience, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

Live music is very popular in Detroit, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Detroit?

A weekend is the perfect amount of time in the overlooked city of Detroit, as many visitors prefer to spend around one to three days here. Over 2 days or on a weekend trip, you'll be able to explore the major attractions and listen to some live music, grab some drinks at a bar, explore the museums and famous sights, and soak up the big city atmosphere. We have some suggestions for what to do and where to start your weekend adventure below.

Detroit, Michigan Detroit, Michigan

How to spend 2 days in Detroit

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Detroit will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

This city offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Detroit, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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