Cincinnati and 37 neighbourhoods in Northern Kentucky make up the Cincy Region.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport has direct flights from London Heathrow, making the region easy to visit as a destination in its own right or at the start or end of a road trip with Nashville, a four-hour drive away. The driving times from Pittsburgh and New York City are five and 11 hours respectively.
Visiting the Cincy Region rewards those who love to eat, drink and explore. Must-try delicacies include Cincinnati chilli, which is mild, aromatic and big on flavour; Graeter’s ice cream, which is handcrafted in French pots; and goetta, a meat-based delicacy whose heritage traces to the region’s German settlers.
Many of the latter lived in the resurgent Over-the-Rhine (OTR) neighbourhood, whose historic lagering tunnels, formerly used by brewers to store beer, can be visited during guided walking tours or by heading to Ghost Baby – one of the region’s many chic and vibrant bars. OTR’s historic Findlay Market is an ideal spot to sample produce from independent, local suppliers.
Attractions in the region include the Cincinnati Art Museum, Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati Museum Center, the American Sign Museum, the Lucky Cat Museum and Vent Haven Museum – which, uniquely, is dedicated to ventriloquism. Venues for live entertainment include the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Cincinnati Music Hall.
August’s long-running Cincinnati Open, an ATP Master 1000 event, is an opportunity for tennis fans to get close to the sport’s stars.
One region, two states
Cincy’s most iconic landmark is the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge – the engineering marvel that inspired the Brooklyn Bridge. It spans the Ohio River, connecting Ohio and Kentucky, making it possible to both walk and drive between the neighbouring states. The walkability of Cincinnati, Covington and Newport – two of the main cities in Northern Kentucky – is part of the region’s charm.
The Banks area, by Cincy’s riverside, runs between the Paycor Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, and the Great American Ball Park, which is home to the Cincinnati Reds and an engaging baseball museum. It also hosts the Cincinnati Black Museum Walk of Fame and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which introduces the story of the network that helped people flee the horrors of slavery.
Cincy Region festivals
The new Freedom Journey App is also an insightful way of finding out more about that aspect of American history. The America’s River Roots Festival, from October 8-12, will explore the heritage of the Ohio River through food, culture and music and riverboat cruises – a relaxing way to view scenery.
Murals on Covington’s floodwall convey a colourful history of a region and many more public artworks adorn buildings. Several are a legacy of the popular BLINK art and light festival, whose next edition is in October 2026.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is the largest event of its kind in the U.S. and a nod to the region’s German heritage. So too is the springtime Bockfest. Food and culinary creativity also take centre stage during Taste of Cincinnati in May and the summertime Goettafest, which champions the sausage-like delicacy unique to the Cincinnati region. July’s Cincinnati Music Festival draws top acts to the Paycor Stadium.
Pride parades are held on both sides of the Ohio River, while October’s Bourbon and Belonging, held in cities across Kentucky, is the country’s first LGBTQ+ inclusive bourbon festival.
Throughout the year, bourbon aficionados can follow the Cincy Region’s B-Line, a self-guided trail with nine distilleries, which is part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and offers insights into the heritage and craft of distilling.
Find out more at visitcincy.com.
Selling Travel Connect: Cincy Region events were held at The College Green Hotel in Dublin on June 26 and then at Harvey Nichols in Leeds on June 30.
The events attracted dozens of travel agents, who had the opportunity to discover what makes the Cincy Region a compelling travel destination. There was also a lot of fun to be had, as this gallery of photos shows.
Visit the Cincy Region to create memories of your own!
Dublin
Leeds
Prize-winning travel agents
Attendees at Selling Travel Connect events have the opportunity to drop their business cards and enter prize draws for fabulous prizes.
In Dublin, Amy Nolan won a €100 M&S voucher while, in Leeds, Julie Bamford took home £100 in John Lewis vouchers.
Selling Travel Connect
View the Selling Travel Connect Calendar for information about forthcoming events and to register online.
Looking ahead to September, further North America-themed events are being planned in Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh and London. After that, in mid-October, London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow will host Indian Ocean and Middle East events.
We look forward to seeing you at a Selling Travel Connect event soon.
