Cincinnati is viewed as the first purely American city and is also known as Cincy, The Queen City, The Nati, The City of Seven Hills, The Queen of the West, and The Blue-Chip City. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is worth a visit as it's the US’s second-oldest zoo dating back to 1875.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport hosts international and domestic flights and is situated 26 miles from Cincinnati. Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport is the nearest major airport and is serviced by most domestic destinations. Airport shuttles are available to link visitors to hotels, downtown, and eateries.
Getting around Cincinnati can quite comfortably be managed on foot, by road, using the bicycle paths, and public transit. Public transport encompasses buses, run by Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) and the Clermont Transportation Connection. The Cincinnati Bell Connector is a streetcar line that runs in a 3.6-mile loop between The Banks, Downtown, and Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine. RideKC is a new streetcar doing its rounds in the city. Amtrak's Cardinal train travels links the east and northwest. The Greyhound bus links the city to the rest of the country. Taxis are to be found around the hotels and the airport. Uber, Drivr, Lyft, Bird Electric Scooters, and e-Scooters are also widely used, and the app is easily installed on those smartphones which don’t already have them. Cincy Red Bike offers bikes for hire at a reasonable daily rate. ZipCar also gives you the option of hiring a car for short periods in downtown.
More unusual is the Steps of Cincinnati, a historic mode of transportation in the hilly city. The approximately 400 stairways link hillside neighborhoods and are a popular form of exercise. Take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage in downtown on a Friday or Saturday evening for a unique way to view Boise.
Cincinnati has hot and humid summers with plenty of rain, so pack an umbrella between June and September. January is the coldest month, averaging 29°F and snow is the norm so pack thermal underwear, a winter coat, hat, gloves, and a warm scarf. Overall September or May is best, with pristine weather and an interesting array of activities. Cincinnati is quite cold from October to April with snowfall, so this is best for anyone wanting to take advantage of the winter sports and cheaper rates.
Cincinnati has a selection of fine accommodations for visitors from hotels to bed and breakfasts and most everything in between. For a room with a difference, choose between homestays, apartments, lodgings with a historical appeal, row-houses, a cottage with a beachy appeal in the city, or a riverfront resort.