Supporting local and taking advantage of local recreation and resources isn’t always easy and there is often cost involved. But don’t let an expense that may not be in your budget get in the way of experiencing so many wonderful places, sights, activities, and museums that our city has to offer.
Here are just some of the great FREE things to do in Cincinnati that I am loving right now:
The Connector
Fare FREE streetcar provides ADA accessible transport from north of OTR down to The Banks.
Cincinnati Art Museum
Parking and general admission are FREE daily. For a kid-friendly experience with creating, check out the Rosenthal Education Center.
Read more about experiencing the arts at little to no cost here.
Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame
FREE, interactive stroll through Cincinnati’s rich history of Black musicians and their contributions to the music industry.
Great Parks Park Passport
Access to Great Parks does require a Motor Vehicle Permit (one-time payment of $10 for HamCo residents), but daily admission is otherwise FREE and their passport includes so many great activities.
Findlay Market
The Market has shopping and restaurants, as well as FREE live music and events throughout the year. Plus you can park for one hour FREE in their north and south lots Mon-Fri, 8a–6p (choose one-hour stay).
CHPL
All branches of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library have FREE resources like story times, events, books, media, and printing, while the main branch also has the FREE MakerSpace and genealogy department.
Self-Guided ArtWorks Mural Tour
In addition to their many walking tour options, did you know that ArtWorks also provides a map to create your own mural tour?
Pick an area you would like to explore and create your own route using this map.
BLINK
Back for its fourth edition October 17–20, BLINK is a citywide art and installation festival spanning dozens of blocks from OTR to NKY.
Contemporary Arts Center
Admission to the CAC is FREE and, in addition to four floors of exhibition space, there is also the UnMuseum and Creativity Center on the sixth floor, an immersive and interactive space that brings art and the creative process to all people.
Located on the streetcar line.
King Arthur’s Court Toys
The toys themselves may not be free, but King Arthur’s is a treasure trove of free fun, from playing dress up with their costumes and props on stage upstairs to the Dungeon play space downstairs, and all the toys in between.
Cincinnati Parks
All of the Cincinnati Parks properties are beautifully manicured and maintained, and provide amenities from hiking to event programming. And they are totally FREE to visit.
Pro tip: park for free at Friendship Park and walk along the Riverwalk from Friendship Park > Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove > Smale Riverfront Park. Other favorite Cincinnati Parks include Alms Park, Ault Park, and Washington Park.
Cincinnati Museum Center Rotunda Tours
45-minute tour of the 1933 train station where docents explain the architecture, construction, and art of one of the finest examples of the Art Deco style. Call 513-287-7001 to make a reservation.
Fridays at 12:30p, 1:30p, 2:30p, and 3:30p
Saturdays at 11:30a, 12:30p, 1:30p, and 2:30p Sundays at 12:30p, 1:30p, and 2:30p
CHPL Discovery Pass
Visit several Hamilton County arts, cultural, and recreational attractions for free with a Library card.
Click here for details.
Cincinnati Type & Print Museum
FREE hidden gem of a museum highlighting Cincinnati’s rich print history.
By appointment only, Tuesday–Saturday, at 10a, 12p, or 1p
Fifth Third Community Days at the Freedom Center
Every fifth and third Sunday of each month, plus MLK Day and Juneteenth, admission is free to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center courtesy of the Fifth Third Foundation.
Fossil Fun
- Sharon Woods Gorge Trail (prehistoric trail)
- Trammel Fossil Park (Sharonville)
- Archaeological Research Institute Rock, Fossil, and Artifact ID Day (Lawrenceburg)
In addition to what is mentioned above, you can also check out the Weekend Rundown, which is published weekly and features several FREE attractions happening in greater Cincinnati each week. To make it even easier, and to never miss making plans for the coming weekend, you can subscribe to the Weekend Rundown newsletter and it will be delivered directly to your inbox each week. Whenever you visit tourdecincinnati.com you should get a prompt to subscribe.
[Header image: photo of Gee Horton’s “Coming of Age” mural on Court Street downtown. Red Bikes, shown in the foreground, are not free to use]
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