Getting There

By Plane -- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (tel. 216/265-6030) is 10 miles south of downtown. Major car-rental companies are housed at a central off-site lot; pick up the shared shuttle bus, which stops just outside baggage claim. It's an easy 20-minute drive into the city; take I-480 to I-71 north to I-90 into downtown.

If you're not renting, you can take the RTA Red Line into the city from the main airport terminal for $1.50 per person. The ride takes about 25 minutes to downtown's Tower City Center and about 40 minutes to the University Circle section of town. Trains generally leave every 15 minutes at peak times, but not all trains stop at University Circle. For more information, see "Getting Around," below. Taxis are available outside baggage claim exit 2; expect the fare to run about $25 (plus tip) to downtown. For limousine service to downtown hotels, call Hopkins Airport Limousine Service (tel. 800/543-9912 or 216/267-8282); the per-person, one-way fare runs about $65.

By Train -- Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL) provides daily service from Chicago (trip time: 7 hr.), New York (12 hr.), and Washington, D.C. (11 hr.) to its downtown station, 200 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, across from the Great Lakes Science Center (tel. 216/696-5115).

By Car -- The principal highway routes into Cleveland are I-77 from the south (Akron); I-80 or I-76 from the east (Youngstown and Pittsburgh, both connecting with I-77 north near Akron); I-90 from the northeast (Buffalo); I-71 from the southwest (Columbus); and I-80/90 from the west (Toledo). Both I-77 and I-90 will take you right into downtown Cleveland.

Visitor Information

Contact the Positively Cleveland, 100 Public Square, Suite 100, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 (tel. 800/321-1001, or visit the website), or call the information hot line at tel. 800/321-1004 or 216/875-6600. The Cleveland arts and entertainment hot line (tel. 888/323-2787;) is helpful. Other useful sites -- especially for the latest arts and entertainment coverage -- are Visit Cleveland!, Citysearch, and AOL City Guide.

Positively Cleveland's is located at 100 Public Square, Suite 100. (tel. 216/875-6600). The helpful staff will answer your questions and can sell you discounted tickets to the city's main attractions, so this makes a great first stop.

Orientation

Cleveland's major attractions are concentrated in two areas: Downtown, where you'll find most hotels, government buildings and corporate headquarters, the major sports arenas, and attractions such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Playhouse Square Center. University Circle is about 4 1/2 miles east via Euclid Avenue; this leafy district is home to Case Western University (hence the name) and most of the city's major cultural institutions. Plans are underway to link the two enclaves via a redeveloped Euclid Avenue Corridor. Public transportation, tree-lined sidewalks, retail developments, and apartments are envisioned as part of this $325-million urban renewal project targeted for completion in 2006.

The Gateway and Warehouse districts are an easy walk from Public Square. You can also walk to North Coast Harbor and down to the east bank of the Flats (as long as you don't mind the steep slope), or take the RTA rail's Waterfront Line. You'll want to drive or take a taxi to the west bank of the Flats. Ohio City has its own RTA stop on the Red Line. (For RTA information, see directly below.)

Getting Around

The Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority (RTA) rail system is not extensive. Visitors usually stick to the main Red Line, which travels between the airport and University Circle, with stops at downtown's Tower City Center and Ohio City; and the Waterfront Line, which connects Tower City with the Flats and North Coast Harbor. In addition, RTA buses cover five downtown loop routes from Public Square. For complete information, call the RTA Answerline at tel. 216/621-9500, or check out their website.

You don't need a car downtown, but it's convenient to have one if you'd really like to explore. The cost of taxis will negate what you save by not renting, and a 20- or 30-minute wait for a summoned cab is common, especially on evenings and weekends. Driving is also easier than using the RTA rail system to travel between downtown and University Circle.

If you still want to use a cab, try Yellow Cab Company of Cleveland (tel. 216/623-1500) or Ace Taxi Service (tel. 216/361-4700). The flag drops at $1.80 and it's $1.50 per mile thereafter.

Fast Facts

Emergency and urgent-care services are available at Lutheran Hospital, 1730 W. 25th St. (tel. 216/696-4300). A 24-hour Rite Aid pharmacy (tel. 216/676-5561) is located 8 miles out of the city center at 15149 Snow Rd., in Brookpark. Sales tax is 8% and hotel tax is 15%.