Things To Do In Downtown Detroit

Detroit is best known for Motown music and being home to the Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler. Since we moved our headquarters here in August 2010, the city’s landscape has changed quite a bit. From the artistic, passionate and authentic people who call this place home, to the beautiful neighborhoods and areas that make this place so unique, we are proud to work in this city and call this community home.

Around every corner is a new thing to discover here in the Motor City. Here’s a roundup of the top three things you need to see and do when you visit Detroit.

Detroit’s famous Coney dog restaurants get a lot of hype for good reason. If you’ve never had a Coney dog in downtown Detroit then head over to American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island to be your own judge of which old school classic is best. 

It’d be very remiss of us not to mention that Detroit also has just about every other type of cuisine you could wish for. Our exciting dining scene has generated world-renowned buzz, so whether you’re hunting for a fine dining experience or just looking to grab a sandwich or chicken wings, we have every type of food you could possibly be craving. Explore all of Detroit’s restaurants, here.

Downtown Detroit shopping is better than ever before with major retailors like Nike, H&M, Shinola and Under Armour all within walking distance of our One Campus Martius headquarters.

What you really should explore if you’re only in town for a short time though, is our incredible local businesses, like: Detroit Is The New Black, a high-end apparel provider and event space; Good Neighbor, a men’s and women’s clothing boutique featuring brands with ethical manufacturing and sourcing values; and City Bird, the perfect place to shop for gifts with local art, design and handmade goods.

Those are just a FEW of the incredible small businesses that call Detroit home, so get yourself a scooter or walk around the city and don’t miss a thing!

Go for walk through the aquarium or conservancy on Belle Isle Conservancy, Detroit’s 982-acre island park. Learn the history behind Motown music at the Motown Museum. Drive to Eastern Market to check out the murals created by artists from around the world. And slot some time to catch a live performance, movie or exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts, our cherished city art museum that is among the top six museums in the United States.

You’ll also want to make time to explore the city’s stunning architecture. The city has one of the largest surviving collections of late-19th and early-20th century buildings in the U.S. Places like the 40-floor skyscraper called the Guardian Building will wow your eyes with its classic art deco architecture. Other architectural gems include our iconic Michigan Central Station in Corktown, the grand Fox Theatre and the Fisher Building which was designed by famous architect Albert Khan.

There’s no shortage of places to explore in Detroit. You should expect a memorable experience no matter what time of year you visit. Still not sure what to do while you’re here? Check out some of these walkable office favorites or just ask anyone that works here to give you their list of can’t miss spots.