A weekend in Cincinnati

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway that blends culture, history, and natural wonders, Cincinnati, in Ohio, is an underrated gem. Here’s how to spend a fun weekend in the Queen City, with a side trip to Dayton to visit the National Museum of US Air Force.

Day 1 – National Museum of US Air Force and Dayton

After arriving to Cincinnati by plane, we drove to Dayton, one hour away from the airport. Dayton is home to one of the most impressive aviation museums in the world (and with free admission!). The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force features more than 350 aerospace vehicles across four massive hangars. From the Wright brothers to bombers and a retired Air Force One, this is a must-see for anyone even remotely curious about flight or history. We spent around 3 hours here – it was really interesting.

We then went to Dayton to have dinner. Perhaps because the weather was cold and windy, we didn’t explore much of the city. There didn’t seem to be much more to do than seeing downtown, so we headed to a burger place to warm up a bit.

Day 2 – Cincinnati

After sleeping in Cincinnati, it was time to explore the city.

Downtown Cincinnati

The city has a walkable core with charming 19th-century architecture, modern restaurants, and lively public spaces. The downtown is beautiful, full of skyscrapers. Near the river, there is the Smale Riverfront Park, a pleasant park to walk around, and you can see the historical Roebling Suspension Bridge, once the longest suspention bridge in the world.

Cincinnati Art Museum

Located in Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum is impressive. With over 73,000 artworks spanning 6,000 years, this museum covers everything from Ancient Egyptian sculptures to contemporary installations. Admission is free, and they have rotating exhibitions. You can easily spend a couple of hours here, and don’t forget to stroll the park for beautiful skyline views.

Krohn Conservatory

If you want to spend your day surrounded by tropical plants and butterflies, the place to be is the Krohn Conservatory, also located in Eden Park. This glasshouse from the 1930s features themed rooms including desert and rainforest biomes. The conservatory also hosts the Butterfly Show in spring, which is a highlight. They gave us a pink scented piece of cardboard to attract the butterflies – they were sitting on them sometimes.

Day 3 – Trammel Fossil Park & Flight back home

For a hands-on adventure, we went to Trammel Fossil Park, just 25-minute north of the city by car. This park allows visitors to dig for real fossils in exposed rock layers — some dating back over 400 million years! There are explanation panels showing the animals that used to live there and how their fossils look like, so you may find yourself a fossilized coral or a more rare trilobite as a souvenir. It’s a great spot for some fun. After that, we already went to take our flights back home.

Why Cincinnati is Worth the Weekend

Cincinnati delivers a perfect balance of urban culture, natural beauty, and historical intrigue — all within easy driving distance. Whether you’re exploring vintage aircraft in Dayton or uncovering fossils in the hills of Ohio, this weekend trip packs in more than you’d expect.