Kentucky's largest city sits along the Ohio River, known for bourbon production and the Kentucky Derby. Home to the Muhammad Ali Center and historic Main Street's cast-iron buildings.
Louisville sits along the Ohio River, where you can watch thoroughbreds thunder down the track at Churchill Downs, sample bourbon at Angel's Envy Distillery, or explore Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves and training gear at his namesake center. Walk past the world's largest baseball bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum, then stop at the Brown Hotel for their signature Hot Brown sandwich – a local creation since 1926.
Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs
The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs has run every May since 1875. This two-minute horse race brings 150,000 spectators who wear elaborate hats and drink mint juleps. Visit the Kentucky Derby Museum next to the track to see racing memorabilia and interactive exhibits about thoroughbred training. Morning tours let you watch horses practice on the track.
Bourbon Experience in Louisville
You can visit ten distilleries within Louisville's city limits. At Angel's Envy Distillery, housed in a restored warehouse, you'll learn the grain-to-glass bourbon making process and taste their port wine barrel-finished whiskey. Follow the Urban Bourbon Trail through 35 bars and restaurants, each with at least 60 different bourbons and signature bourbon cocktails.
Museums Along Main Street
The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, marked by a 120-foot-tall baseball bat, makes 1.8 million bats each year. Watch the bat-making process and hold bats used by baseball legends during the factory tour. At the Muhammad Ali Center, you'll find the champion's boxing gloves, robes, and personal items alongside multimedia exhibits. The Speed Art Museum displays American, European, and contemporary art collections in a modernist building with changing exhibitions.
Local Food Scene
Try the Hot Brown at its birthplace, the Brown Hotel, where chefs created this open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and Mornay sauce in 1926. Proof on Main serves Kentucky-raised beef and vegetables from regional farms. Stop by Muth's Candies for bourbon balls and chocolate candies made from 1920s recipes. Logan Street Market houses local vendors selling fresh produce, coffee, and craft beer under one roof.
Getting Around Louisville
TARC buses run regular routes throughout Louisville, but a car helps you reach areas beyond downtown. Walk or cycle across the Ohio River on the Big Four Bridge to Indiana. The city's growing network of bike lanes makes cycling convenient for short trips.
Weather and Timing Your Visit
Summer temperatures climb above 90°F with high humidity. Winter brings occasional snow and ice. Spring and fall stay mild. Plan your visit during the Kentucky Derby Festival in April and May to see fireworks, marathons, and steamboat races. In October, hundreds of artists display their work at the St. James Court Art Show in Old Louisville's Victorian neighborhood.
