Welcome to Cleveland. This Lake Erie city is home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and SO MUCH more. Cleveland has one of the best art museums in the whole country (seriously, it blew me away!), incredible architecture, and a melting pot of cultures lending way to the most delectable food.
If you’re just visiting Cleveland for a day, this itinerary will show you the best of the city and a couple local gems. I’ve actually been a couple times and most recently, I was actually visiting my friend, who is a Cleveland local! She showed me around for the day, so I know these are some of the best of the best spots.
Let’s dive into how to spend your day trip to Cleveland, Ohio!
Day Trip to Cleveland Overview
Here’s a quick peek at your day trip to Cleveland itinerary including some top tours, recommended hotels, and quick links so you can get this thing planned!
🛎️ Accommodation
- Hyatt Regency at The Arcade ($170+ per night) — for the most beautiful architectural building in downtown
- Hotel Indigo ($125+ per night) — for a more budget-friendly downtown stay
🎫 Top tour to book: West Side Market food tour
💃 Activities on this itinerary:
- Breakfast at Addy’s and The Arcade building
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- West Side Market for lunch
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (with alternative options)
- Sunset at Edgewater Park
- Dinner at LJ Shanghai in Chinatown
- Mitchell’s Ice Cream for dessert
Map of Your 1 Day in Cleveland Plans
Day Trip to Cleveland Itinerary
Addy’s and Architecture
If you’re a first time reader of Periodic Adventures (heyyy, glad you found me!), you may not know, but breakfast is my most sacred meal of the day. I could eat breakfast all day every day and never tire of it.
So, of course, this itinerary has to start with bangin’ breakfast recommendations.
First up, Addy’s Diner is a Cleveland favorite. Known for their cozy, classic atmosphere, fast service, and breakfast staples, Addy’s Diner can be found in the 5th Street Arcades, a covered shopping area.
- Address: 530 Euclid Ave
- Hours: weekdays 6:30 am – 2 pm, Saturday 7 am – 2 pm, Sunday 7 am – 12 pm
- Price: ~ $10 per person
While you’re here, head across the street to The Arcade, another indoor shopping area with a twist. This building opened in 1890 and was the first indoor shopping arcade in America! It was designed after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy and financed by some of Cleveland’s most famous businessmen including John D. Rockefeller (he founded Standard Oil Company in Cleveland in 1870!).
If you need a coffee fix (or another), you can pop into Rising Star Coffee Roasters where they’re focused on creating a safe space for cultural exchange and paying farmers fair prices. Can’t say no to that!
- Address: 401 Euclid Ave
- Hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily
- Price: free
Unique breakfast alternative: Brewnuts
I can’t talk about breakfast without sharing this unique spot called Brewnuts. This corner donut joint doubles (triples?) as a coffee shop and bar and actually makes their donuts with local craft beer! It gives their small batch donuts a unique flavor that you really have to try.
They’re only open Wednesday through Sunday, so if your day trip to Cleveland aligns, definitely consider them for breakfast!
- Address: 6501 Detroit Ave
- Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 6:30 am – 1 pm and 4 pm – 10 pm, Friday 6:30 am – 11 pm, Saturday 8 am – 11 pm, Sunday 8 am – 3 pm
- Price: ~ $6 per person
Cleveland Museum of Art
Onto my favorite thing I did when I was visiting, the Cleveland Museum of Art. The reason I loved it so much was that the exhibits were truly one of a kind.
As a science person, I tend to drift off in art museums when things get redundant. I literally studied art history throughout college and considered becoming an art history chemist (that’s one of those jobs you probably didn’t even know existed). That said, as much as I love Impressionism and funky pop art, how many of Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans can you admire before you’re over it?
The Cleveland Museum of Art will keep you entertained the whole time. First off, the building is stunning with a huge, open atrium that reminds me of what the Louvre wishes it was (the crowds really put a damper on it). I could totally see myself becoming a regular at the café and sitting there to work every week.
Of course, that’s not all. The exhibitions are interesting. Period.
When I visited, they had a collection highlighting the influence of Egyptian art, culture, and history on fashion through the years including a great discussion on inspiration versus appropriation.
Now, you can admire unique exhibits like the Seven Jeweled Mountain, which is an immersive digital exploration of a Korean painted folding screen that allows you travel through the landscape digitally with massive projection.
And don’t worry, their mainstay exhibits are just as fascinating.
My favorite? The Armor Court. Because you know what I wasn’t expecting when I traveled to the Midwest? A collection of over 700 pieces of medieval armor, weapons, and tapestries that look like they belong in Europe.
This exhibit was one of the first to open with the museum in 1916 and was the love-child of the museum’s first director, Frederic Allen Whiting, and it shows. I know you’ll be just as impressed!
They also have exhibits on Impressionism, fabregé and Tiffany collections, Native American, Indian and Southeast Asian, Chinese, Himalayan, and Japanese and Korean exhibits.
The Cleveland Museum of Art is closed on Mondays, and is free to visit. It takes a good 2-3 hours to get a good chunk of the museum done, so I would plan to get there right at opening at 10 am, then browse until you’re ready for lunch.
- Address: 11150 East Blvd
- Hours: closed Monday, open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm, and Wednesday and Friday 10 am – 9pm
- Price: free
Lunch at West Side Market
Iconic places only – next up West Side Market. This is Cleveland’s oldest publicly owned market, which dates back to 1840. This building was designed by the same architects who designed the Cleveland Museum of Art, so you just know it’s good!
The highlight of West Side Market are its vendors, of which there are over 100 that span great ethnic diversity!
They have everything here including market items like meats, vegetables, and cheeses, and ready-to-eat foods like bakery items, calzones, pierogies, pasta, gyros, and crepes.
For lunch, I recommend walking the yellow brick markethouse (the most central, open marketplace) to take stock of all the vendors and what looks interesting to try. Then, take your pick!
For dessert, don’t miss a classic Ohio buckeye, a peanut butter ball dipped in chocolate. It’s an iconic Ohio snack because it looks exactly like the namesake nut from an Ohio buckeye tree.
You can find them at a number of vendors around the marketplace and there are some slight variations like type of chocolate, chunky versus smooth inside, etc.
- Address: 1979 W 25th St
- Hours: closed Tuesday and Thursday, open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 8 am – 5 pm and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
- Price: free to enter, food is up to you (expect ~ $10 for a meal)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
It wouldn’t be a trip to Cleveland without a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Whether you’re a music fan or not, this museum is truly well done and highlights icons of music who influenced the rock n roll genre.
It’s hard to know where rock n roll officially started. Some claim the sound was created in Memphis at Sun Studios when a busted amp was used in a recording session. But, Cleveland’s claim to rock n roll fame is that a radio disc jockey, Alan Freed, coined the term while playing rock n roll music on air on WJW.
That’s why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland! (That and all the lobbying Cleveland did to have it be there…which really helped increase tourism and the economy in Cleveland).
Aside from the actual hall of fame that you will see, it’s also a museum with exhibits showcasing the roots and history of rock n roll, its musicians, and the instruments, all with a TON of artifacts from the artists themselves.
You’ll get a deeper look into the evolution of rock n roll and who was involved in developing the sound over the years. These pioneers include icons like Elvis, Chuck Berry, and Wanda Jackson (yay women!).
Psst…Not feeling the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Jump to the bottom for other ideas of things to do.
In The Garage, you can pick up actual instruments and give them a go!
On the 4th floor you can see a massive tour replica of Pink Floyd’s The Wall that was used as the set for Roger Waters’ performance in Berlin commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Finally, on the 5th floor, you’ll learn all about the legends of rock like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and U2.
Don’t worry, even if you aren’t the biggest rock n roll fan, you’ll enjoy the museum as there’s lots to learn about including cross-genre influence and exhibits. For example, they’re celebrating 50 years of hip hop right now with a special exhibit dedicated to the genre.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is open every day of the week and advanced online tickets are recommended.
Tickets are $35 and it takes about 2 hours to go through the museum.
- Address: 1100 E 9th St
- Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily, open late Thursday until 9 pm
- Price: $35 per person
Sunset at Edgewater Park
Depending on your timing and what time of year you are visiting, you may want to switch these next two things around.
You’ll want to time your visit to Edgewater Park with sunset as it’s a beautiful time to visit and isn’t as stunning once it’s dark.
You probably don’t associate Ohio and beaches, but since it’s on the shores of Lake Erie, you actually get some stunning beaches. In fact, I spent a weekend in Ohio’s Shores & Islands region, which was one of my favorite underrated getaways in the US.
Still, you can enjoy the beaches from Cleveland at Edgewater Park where there is over 9000 feet of shoreline and 147 acres of park space to enjoy.
It’s dog-friendly, and they have fishing, picnic areas, swings, and water sports.
In the warmer months, they also have a restaurant called Edgewater Beach House, so if you’re really leaning into late sunsets during the summer, you can totally opt to have dinner here and enjoy the beach longer.
- Address: Edgewater Park
- Hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily
- Price: free
Dinner in Chinatown LJ Shanghai
Remember how I said Cleveland is a melting pot of cultures? Well, I couldn’t let you leave without indulging in that.
While there are certainly TONS of choices, I’m recommending the restaurant I went to and loved, LJ Shanghai in Chinatown. They had some incredible spicy chaoshou (dumplings), pan fried fat noodles, and xiao long bao. YUM!
It’s also affordable for family-style portions. For example, the chaoshou was $10 and 3 of us shared it!
- Address: 3142 Superior Ave
- Hours: closed Monday, open 11:15 am – 8 pm daily
- Price: ~ $10 – 15 per person
Mitchell’s Ice Cream for Dessert
For a special Cleveland dessert spot, head to Mitchell’s Ice Cream, specifically the Ohio City Kitchen and Shop. What was once a theatre has now become the base operations of Mitchell’s Ice Cream where they’re always hand crafting their flavors with local ingredients.
You can seriously taste how fresh this ice cream is and can’t go wrong with any flavor. Although, my favorite way to try a few is their “taster’s” duo or triple scoops. I had the chocolate peanut butter chunk after trying a few flavors and honestly, I could have had them all.
Be sure to walk around the back to the right, behind the shop’s counter, to see the ice cream makers in action!
- Address: 1867 W 25th St
- Hours: 11 am – 9:30 pm weeknights, and 10:30 pm weekends (Friday and Saturday nights)
- Price: ~ $5
Other things to do in Cleveland
That concludes our day in Cleveland itinerary. However, if you’re still looking for things to do, I have you covered.
- Cultural Gardens – Along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., enjoy over 35 gardens each designed and cultivated by distinct nationality groups to contribute to peace through mutual understanding. These are free to visit and have been an ongoing project since the early 1900s with the British Garden having been dedicated in 1916! You can take a self-guided tour via their app here and parking is available on side streets or at the side of the road next to the individual gardens.
- Great Lakes Science Center – Home to NASA Glenn Visitor Center and numerous exhibits with interactive elements for kids of all ages (adults, too!), Great Lakes Science Center is a fun activity for families, especially!
Cherry Blossoms – If you happen to be visiting Cleveland in the spring, be sure to check out the cherry blossoms at Wade Lagoon near the Cleveland Museum of Art or at Brookside Reservation, one of Cleveland’s many metroparks.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Just 25 minutes from downtown Cleveland is a national park! Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the best places to visit in fall in the US because of its insane fall foliage! There’s a scenic train ride through the park that’s a great way to see the beautiful landscapes. Alternatively, visit Brandywine Falls, one of the most iconic spots in the park.
FAQs
Best time to visit Cleveland
Cleveland is best visited in spring through fall. Cleveland is especially lovely in the summer when warm weather brings everyone out to enjoy it. Lake Erie really becomes a summer hub as water sports and beaches are best enjoyed when it’s warmest. Cleveland Guardians baseball games are going and come fall, you can enjoy Cleveland Browns football games!
Spring and fall also bring beautiful scenery with cherry blossoms in April and fall foliage come September and October.
While winters may not be the most scenic with the plant life going dormant, many of the best things to do in Cleveland are indoors, so it’s also not a bad time to visit. In fact, on this one day itinerary, there’s only one outdoor activity that can easily be subbed with an indoor one (listed in the section above).
How to get to Cleveland?
Cleveland has a major international airport called Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). You can often find inexpensive domestic fares under $100 from New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Houston, and Miami, among many other cities.
You can also drive to Cleveland. Detroit is only 2.5 hours away while Chicago is 5.5 hours away. Cleveland is also within driving range (6 hours or less) from Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and even Louisville, Kentucky.
Where to stay in Cleveland?
I personally stayed with my friend, so while I can’t give a personal recommendation, I do have some hotels that I would choose if I were to go back.
First off, my number one pick is the Hyatt Regency at The Arcade (the first stop on this itinerary). I truly would just love to have access to The Arcade and marvel in that architecture. Plus, you could easily pop down to all the restaurants including a coffee shop, chocolate shop, and ice cream parlour with gourmet ice cream sandwiches! YUM! Rates are around $170+ per night.
For a more budget-friendly option, I’d go with the Hotel Indigo in downtown, which has a great location, a beautiful courtyard, and rates from $125+ per night.
Best way to get around Cleveland
If you only have one day in Cleveland, I recommend getting a rental car. It’s just easier to get around with a car and will maximize your time so you can spend more time at your activities, and less time waiting on public transportation.
You can also opt for ride shares as they are plentiful around the city. This will also avoid any parking costs, specifically at a downtown hotel.
Parking in Cleveland
My friend and I drove everywhere in Cleveland when I visited in the summer and we had no trouble finding parking everywhere we went.
Specifically, the main attractions either have dedicated lots or there is plenty of street parking surrounding the attraction. Expect to pay $10 – 20 for private parking or at attractions’ lots. For example, at Cleveland Museum of Art, parking at their lot is a flat fee of $14. Street parking is cheaper!
How much does a day trip to Cleveland cost?
Given this itinerary and without a hotel or transportation, here’s a breakdown.
$95
Food: $40
Activities: $35 (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame admission)
Parking: $25
Check out these other Ohio posts:
- Itinerary for Shores & Islands Ohio (Port Clinton, Put-in-Bay, and more!)
- Travel guide to Ohio
My Travel Essentials
- Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
- Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
- Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
- Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
- Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
- Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
- Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!
Save to Pinterest
The post How to Spend a Delightful Day Trip to Cleveland, Ohio appeared first on Periodic Adventures.