From renowned cultural institutions to vibrant neighborhoods, inspired food and beverage offerings, action-packed sports and popular green spaces, engaging experiences can be found around every corner in Cleveland.
Cleveland Culture
Cleveland Museum of Art. Art aficionados can admire displays at the world-renowned and always free Cleveland Museum of Art, which has nearly 45,000 items in its collection. The museum brings classics to life with cutting-edge interactive technology that helps patrons engage with the expansive collection. A three-story-high atrium provides visitors with a space to reflect on their art immersion or enjoy a snack or meal from the museum’s café and restaurant, Provenance.
Playhouse Square. Follow the massive, outdoor chandelier to Playhouse Square, the city’s home base for performing arts. Illuminated marquees and 11 opulent theaters, including five restored to their grand 1920s splendor, welcome guests to one of the largest performing arts centers in the country.
Cleveland Orchestra. Orchestra lovers around the globe recognize Cleveland as home to one of the best. To be exact, the Cleveland Orchestra ranks as one of the top orchestras in the world. Spectators can enjoy performances at Blossom Music Center during the summer and Severance Music Center in the winter months.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa). moCa captures the attention of visitors even before they step inside. Acclaimed architect Farshid Moussavi designed the four-story hexagonal building with a reflective steel façade. Inside, visitors can view rotating exhibits that feature installations, photos, paintings, sculptures and audio and video works.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The greatest stories and biggest names in music live on at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Multiple theaters, interactive stations and exhibits tell the story of one of the world’s most powerful art forms. The Rock Hall, which is dedicated to exploring the past, present and future of music and the cultural context from which it emerges, will soon nearly double its footprint thanks to a $135 million expansion set to open in 2026. The addition will feature exhibit space, an atrium lobby with views of Lake Erie and a 2,800-person indoor event venue for concerts, as well as an ADA-compliant outdoor park.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History unveiled its $150 million transformation in December 2024. New exhibits, immersive experiences and innovative programming elevate the guest’s experience of natural history and increase meaningful dialogue on the natural world. Explore more than 375,000 square feet of reimagined spaces within the museum.
Karamu House. Located on Cleveland’s east side, Karamu House is the oldest producing Black theater in the nation with a rich history and distinguished alumni, including one-time Cleveland resident Langston Hughes. The theater finished renovations in 2024 to make the spaces more accessible and preserve the architecture’s history for generations to come. The addition of an outdoor stage and indoor full-service eatery will continue to elevate the theater’s offerings year-round.
House from A Christmas Story. Fans of the movie “A Christmas Story” can relive the magic of the holiday classic as they tour the famed house and view props including Randy’s snowsuit, toys from the Higbee’s department store window and Ralphie’s Red Ryder BB Gun. For the ultimate fan experience, visitors can stay overnight at the house or reserve a suite in the neighboring Bumpus House.
Cleveland History Center. Rare images, films, artworks and artifacts – like the first Cleveland map and LeBron James’ 2016 NBA Championship season shoes – illustrate the triumphs and tragedies that define the city at the Cleveland History Center. A costume collection, Grand Carousel and more than 140 historic vehicles on display in The Crawford Auto Aviation Collection delight guests of all ages and illustrate the city’s history.
Root for the Home Team
Cleveland Cavaliers & Cleveland Monsters. Inside the Rocket Arena, you can almost taste the excitement when the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) step onto the court or the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) take the ice. Updated food and beverage offerings feature local chef and restaurant partnerships and state-of-the-art technology.
Cleveland Browns. Win or lose, Cleveland’s football pride is infectious. Visitors can get into the spirit by adorning themselves in brown and orange, tailgating in the Muni Lot and then snagging seats in the Dawg Pound at Huntington Bank Field to cheer (or bark) for the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland Guardians. Visitors shouldn’t miss the chance to cheer on the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Thanks to recent renovations, fans have access to an expanded clubhouse, a revamped Upper Deck with a beer garden and a new, expansive Cleveland Beer Hall food experience.
Pro Football Hall of Fame. Relive all the great moments in football history at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. The museum pays homage to the greats of the game and features interactive exhibits that put the visitor in the center of the gridiron action. in Canton. The museum pays homage to the greats of the game and features interactive exhibits that put the visitor in the center of the gridiron action.
Live on the Wild Side
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. See the world through a different set of eyes – more than 3,000 to be exact – at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Spanning 138 acres just outside of Downtown, the Zoo is home to more than 600 species in numerous habitats, including the recently expanded Rosebrough Tiger Passage and Asian Highlands. The Zoo’s Rainforest is undergoing renovations for a transformative new Primate Forest to enhance animal wellbeing and visitor experiences, expected to open in 2026.
Greater Cleveland Aquarium. At the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, located in a late 19th-century landmark structure that once generated electric power for streetcar lines, visitors can walk through the SeaTube, a 230,000-gallon tunnel that is home to sharks, stingrays, eels and saltwater fish.
Great Lakes Science Center. At the Great Lakes Science Center, visitors can explore science, technology and engineering through more than 340 interactive exhibits. Inquisitive guests can get up close to the 1973 Skylab 3 Apollo Command module in the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, climb aboard a historic Great Lakes freighter and see an immersive film at the Cleveland Clinic Dome Theater – featuring the world’s first giant dome cinema laser system.
JACK Cleveland Casino. Visitors who like to try their luck should head to JACK Cleveland Casino and roll the dice on one of the 1,600 slots or 125 table games. Housed in the historic Higbee Department Store building, the casino embraces Cleveland history and celebrates its charm.
Cedar Point Amusement Park. Adventure-seekers need not travel far to find thrills. Located 60 miles west of Cleveland, visitors can experience the ultimate rush of adrenaline at Cedar Point Amusement Park with some of the world’s most daring rollercoasters, including the tallest, longest and fastest tilt coaster in North America opening in 2025.
Connect with Nature
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cuyahoga Valley National Park provides a natural oasis as the winding Cuyahoga River gives way to dense forests, rolling hills and open farmlands. Visitors can discover mile after mile of green space filled with waterfalls, covered bridges, more than 100 hiking trails and elevated ledges with expansive views. For a relaxing excursion, visitors can travel through the park on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. CVNP 50, programming to commemorate the park’s 50th anniversary will run through 2025 with activities and events designed to educate and celebrate.
Cleveland Metroparks. The Cleveland Metroparks encircle the city in parkland so visitors are never far from a spot to connect with nature. Multipurpose trails stretch for more than 325 miles throughout 25,000 acres of parks, which include 18 reservations, nine golf courses, eight lakefront parks and a nationally acclaimed zoo.
Cleveland Botanical Garden. Acres of lush gardens full of dazzling colors and beautiful plants await visitors at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. While there’s much to explore outdoors, the space also boasts two climate-controlled glasshouses where patrons can interact with rainforest and desert biomes and even make friends with a butterfly or two.