There are so many fun things to do in Louisville no matter what time of year you visit. From world-class museums and bourbon to amusement parks and riverboat cruises, you’re sure to never be bored. We’ve chosen our top things to do in Louisville in the list below.
**This article is part of our Louisville City Guide. Check out the full guide for more tips on visiting Louisville! **
Belle of Louisville
Any opportunity to get out on any body of water is a must-do in our book. Seeing Louisville from the water is a memorable experience. Make that a historic steamboat and you’ve got an extra special experience. The boat was built in 1914 by the James Rees and Sons Company during a time when steamboat travel and transportation was changing the face of the city, the river and the nation. They offer a number of cruises on the Belle and her smaller sister, the Mary M. Miller throughout the year and the boat is available for private events.
401 W. River Road, Louisville, KY 40202, 502-574-2992
Louisville Slugger Museum
This one is hard to miss. In downtown Lousiville, a 120-foot tall, 68,000 pound baseball bat leans against a redbrick building that is home to the Louisville Slugger Museum. The museum has the world’s largest collection of baseball artifacts including bats used by legendary players like Cal Ripken Junior and Mickey Mantle. You can also tour the Louisville Slugger factory where today they still manufacture the world-famous bat. Visitors get a free souvenir bat with every tour.
800 W. Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202, 877-775-8443
Churchill Downs Tour and Kentucky Derby Museum
The Kentucky Derby Museum is a museum of American Thoroughbred horse racing. It is located within the grounds of the iconic Churchill Downs race track in Louisville and is primarily dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby. There are two floors of exhibit space including a theater that shows a film about the derby in a 360-degrees. Admission to the museum includes a 30-minute walking tour of Churchill Downs.
704 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208, 502-637-1111
The Urban Bourbon Trail
Louisville is the epicenter of the country’s bourbon culture and the only city in the country to offer their exclusive “Urban Bourbon Trail,” a walking trail with great places to stop and sample Kentucky’s most famous beverage and learn about the history and culture that surrounds Bourbon. The trail is full of award-winning micro-distilleries, craft cocktail destinations and exhibits related to Bourbon. Stop by the Louisville Visitor Information Center and pick up your guidebook that outlines the 34 stops on the self-guided walking tour. Collect a stamp in your passport-style guidebook from six of the stops and you’ll get a commemorative T-shirt.
301 South Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40202, 502-379-6109
Walking tour of Old Louisville
If you aren’t into Bourbon, maybe a walking tour of Old Louisville is more your thing. Rumored to be one of the most haunted neighborhoods in the country, Old Louisville is a historic district chock full of ornate historic homes and impressive mansions built by Louisville’s historic elite. Pick up an illustrated tour brochure from the Old Louisville Information Center on 4th Street. There are five different tours although you may wish to plan your own to visit the stops you are most interested in. The area is quite large, so even though we’ve listed it as a “walking tour” you may want to drive to see specific homes.
Old Louisville Information Center, 1340 S. 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40208, 502-635-5244
Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom is the state’s premier amusement park destination with 63 acres of amusement rides and a water park named Hurricane Bay. The park had an unsuccessful run as a Six Flags theme park but reopened in 2014 with its original name but better than ever with tons of new additions and expansions. There’s something for fun-lovers of all ages with kiddie sections for little ones and plenty of thrilling roller coasters and rides for teens and adults.
937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209, 502-813-8200
Mega Cavern
The Mega Cavern is an underground attraction located in a former limestone mine in Louisville. The cave stretches into the underground areas beneath the Louisville Zoo and some sections of the Watterson Expressway. Once the limestone stores had been exhausted, the property was purchased by private investors to be converted into a high-security business park and later into a storage facility. The space began being used as a tourist attraction in 2009 when they started offering Jeep tours. During Christmas time the cavern offers a “Lights Under Louisville” display in the evenings where visitors can drive through and see a variety of impressive holiday light displays. It is the largest underground Christmas light display in the world. In recent years a ropes course and a zipline tour of the cavern have been added to it’s attractions. Most recently, a massive underground mountain bike park was opened. It is a well-designed, family-friendly attraction with 45 trails suitable for visitors of all ages.
1841 Taylor Avenue, Louisville, KY 40213, 877-614-6342
Louisville Waterfront Park
Louisville Waterfront Park is one of the best green spaces in the city. This 85-acre city park flanks the Ohio River right next to downtown Louisville with the wharf and Riverfront Plaza immediately to the west. The park has fountains which are popular for swimming as well as large green laws which are crossed by the interstate. There is a Children’s Play Area and an Adventure Playground. It is a popular event venue and many concerts and festivals use the space it the summer. It is also prime viewing ground for Thunder Over Louisville. The park is also the largest public park in the country to offer free wireless internet.
401 River Road, Louisville, KY 40202, 502-574-3768
Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad Ali Center is a museum and cultural center dedicated to famous boxer Muhammad Ali. Ali was a native of Louisville who led an incredibly interesting life as both a boxer and a public figure. The museum has dramatic multimedia presentations, interactive exhibits, historical films, tons of photographs and a variety of other artifacts on display where you will learn about his life and his impact on the world.
144 6th Street, Louisville, KY 40202, 502-584-9254
Louisville Zoo
Animal lovers, this one’s for you. The Louisville Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in the region and for good reason. There are more than 1,500 animals that call The Zoo home. They live in naturalistic habitats spread across 134 acres.The Zoo is one of the most popular family attractions in the region has has many features that are geared toward younger visitors such as multiple playgrounds, rides and attractions such as the zoo trains, the Papa John’s Splash Park and a variety of animal shows.
1100 Trevillan Way, Louisville, KY 40213, 502-459-2181
Frazier History Museum
The Frazier History Museum is a regional history museum located along Louisville’s “Museum Row.” The museum was founded by Owsley Brown Frazier which is where it got it’s name. There is 75,000 square feet of exhibit space spread over three floors as well as an auditorium and a museum store that sells local Kentucky gifts. The collection covers historical artifacts and objects from the last 1,000 years. Some of the most significant items in the museum include a rifle thought to have been owned by George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt’s hunting rifle and items that once belonged to Buffalo Bill and Jesse James.
829 W. Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202, 502-753-5663
Kentucky Science Center
The Kentucky Science Center is the state’s largest hands-on science museum. It is the perfect stop for families who want to inspire a love of science in their children. It is highly interactive and your kids definitely won’t want to leave after they spend several hours blowing giant bubbles, playing with wind tubes, building with Magna-Tiles or playing pretend in the museum’s Cityscape. There’s something for every age and the whole family is sure to have a memorable time.
727 W. Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202, 502-561-6100
Speed Art Museum
The Speed Art Museum, known locally as simply “the Speed” is the largest, oldest and most significant art museum in the state of Kentucky so it is a must-see for art-lovers. The museum houses ancient, classical and contemporary art from all around the world with an emphasis on Western art from ancient times up until now. If you love art, or just need a bit more culture in your life, stop by the Speed for an enlightening and enjoyable experience.
2035 S 3rd Street, Louisville, KY 40208, 502-634-2700
Waverly Hills Sanatorium
The Waverly Hills Sanatorium is famous around the country because of claims that it is one of the most haunted places in the United States. The Sanatorium opened in 1910 as a 2-story tuberculosis hospital that could accommodate up to 50 patients. It was closed in 1961 when such hospitals were no longer needed. Today, visitors can visit Waverly Hills on guided tours and paranormal investigations and there is an annual haunted house each Halloween. Tours are by reservation only so make sure you make bookings in advance.
4301 East Pages Lane, Louisville, KY 40272, 502-933-2142
Falls of the Ohio State Park
The Falls of the Ohio State Park sits on the banks of the Ohio River just across the bridge from Louisville. The park is easily accessible from the city and makes for a great place to spend a day in nature during your time in Louisville. Popular activities here include hiking across a Devonian-age fossil bed, fishing, birdwatching, biking, boating, picnicking and visiting the George Rogers Clark home site. The park welcomes leashed dogs.
201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN 47129, 812-280-9970
If you are looking for something fun to do in Louisville, check out our calendar of Events in Louisville and the surrounding area!
