Getting There

By Plane -- Major airlines fly into Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (tel. 859/767-3144), one of the fastest-growing airports in the world, which also serves as a gateway to northern Kentucky. Look for the 14 Art Deco murals from Union Station before you leave the airport. Executive Transportation (tel. 859/261-8841) provides regular service to downtown hotels for $15 one-way, $25 round-trip. Cab fare is about $22.

By Train -- Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL) serves Union Station, 1300 Western Ave. There's daily service from Chicago (trip time: 9 hr.), Indianapolis (3 1/2 hr.), and Washington, D.C. (16 hr.).

By Car -- The major routes into Cincinnati are I-75 from the north (Dayton) and south (Lexington); I-71 from the northeast (Columbus) and southwest (Louisville); and I-74 from the northwest (Indianapolis).

Visitor Information

Contact the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitor Bureau, 300 W. 6th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202 (tel. 800/543-2613 or 513/621-2142).

Getting Around

The Queen City Metro provides inexpensive bus service (tel. 513/621-4455). Exact change or token is required. On weekdays the fare is $1; at rush hour it's 80¢. On weekends, the fare is 50¢. Transfers cost 25¢.

An odd city ordinance does not allow cabs to cruise downtown for fares; they must park at taxi stands and wait for passengers. Cabs can usually be found on the west end of Fifth Street, where the convention center and many hotels are located. You can also call a cab. Yellow Community Cab (tel. 859/727-2900) charges $2.60 plus $1.60 per mile.

Special Events & Festivals

Fans of choral music fill Music Hall for the internationally renowned May Festival (tel. 513/381-3300), an annual event since 1875. Summer officially kicks off downtown Memorial Day weekend with the Taste of Cincinnati, when dozens of area restaurants sell small but tasty portions of their best dishes. Summer closes with Labor Day weekend's Riverfest, featuring fireworks, entertainment, and food throughout the city's waterfront parks. In mid-September, Fountain Square becomes a German biergarten for Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati, with German music, dancing, food, and lots of beer.