Detroit Downtown
Detroit Downtown
4
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Neighbourhood: CBD
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4.0
491 reviews
Excellent
195
Very good
171
Average
71
Poor
35
Terrible
18
69davidmcgregor
Melbourne, Australia9 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
So the concierge at Marriot Hotel books this cab for us
I will contact Marriot seperately to confirm their cabs are not appropriate to recommend to any guest or visitor to Detroit
He took us 2kms and demand $130 in cash. Have we been mugged I’d say yes.
He will say his card machine does not work.
Get this driver off the road !
We will not return to Detroit with this type of Hostility displayed in hotels and transportation services
I will contact Marriot seperately to confirm their cabs are not appropriate to recommend to any guest or visitor to Detroit
He took us 2kms and demand $130 in cash. Have we been mugged I’d say yes.
He will say his card machine does not work.
Get this driver off the road !
We will not return to Detroit with this type of Hostility displayed in hotels and transportation services
Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vintage A
3 contributions
Aug 2023
Crazy people, crazy things happening within the confined radius of "downtown Detroit". Feels like an out-of-control circus. And stay away from Greektown! Unfortunately, that clientele has moved into the downtown's condensed area between Circus Park and Campus Martius Park. And, the homeless is a pitiful sight, hard to ignore. Too bad downtown is not spread out with small and affordable innovative shops!
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ami G
Herndon, VA32 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Detroit Downtown nothing short of a busy yet relaxing streets. From the crowd for Lions game to lovely receeational spots for having fun with friends, partner, family. It has it all. Lovely art to see everywhere. It has it all.
Written 3 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,006 contributions
Apr 2022
Well it's not like Chicago, Boston or NYC, but still it's a nice area to explore.
We walked from the Riverwalk, all the way up to Comerica stadium.
Hart Plaza, GM center, Guardian bldg stand out among others and plenty of bars and restaurants around.
We walked from the Riverwalk, all the way up to Comerica stadium.
Hart Plaza, GM center, Guardian bldg stand out among others and plenty of bars and restaurants around.
Written 27 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allen M
7 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Downtown Detroit has come a long way. I have a great time every time i visit downtown. I promise you if you haven’t experienced downtown on game day & go to a lions game you’re missing out . Nothing like it
Written 9 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josephine S
Manchester, UK3 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
I am British and have just returned from a 5 day trip to Detroit. The aim of the trip? To visit my husband's former place of work/old colleagues and see (Sir) Elton John perform at the Joe Louis Arena - having missed an annual pilgrimage to see him in concert in the UK this year when he cancelled tour dates due to illness. I have visited the USA before - East and West Coasts; Florida and New Orleans; Nevada. Before leaving I read of Detroit's statistics of decline; knew that many of its great buildings are ghosts; that that each year at Halloween more of it is burned down in a mixture of insurance fraud and abandoned destruction; that roads into the City Downtown are potholed, often of worn asphalt revealing Edwardian cobblestones; the City's lighting intermittent and the monorail, operating after closure at the start of the year, circles the riverfront zone, largely empty. An official declaration of bankruptcy of the City is awaited.
I also knew that it was wise to take care as a visitor; to exercise sensible precautions and not head out after dark without a purpose; dress down without flashing camera/phone/handbag; not to engage in voyeuristic tourism in the badlands.....
Elton "rocked" the Joe Louis crowd. On stage for over two hours without a pause his concert was more of a party than a performance. A wonderful night and thanks for that Elton. But the next day we headed from Dearborn where we stayed at a vast but almost wholly empty hotel, Downtown along Michigan Avenue and towards the main entrance to the City. On our right loomed the majestic hulk of the abandoned Michigan Central Railroad Station. Its sheer size is so impressive it demands closer inspection and we turned off the highway on a narrow entrance road towards it. It was a beautiful bright if freezing morning but the structure seemed to repel the sun; it had the magnetic attraction of a vast mammal at point of imminent death. A colossus; dark, brooding, horribly beached and alone in a wasteland of empty urban sprawl. We meant to walk around its metal fenced exterior. If we had it would have been in silence certainly. But we didn't. Why? Because my lovely, engaging, dear husband was curious about a group of people gathering together with boxes, tables, bags and all the paraphanalia of a jumble sale on a low bank of grass within 100 ft of the Station. We parked behind a car whose occupant was extracting a fold up table from within. This was Guy. He and his friends were volunteer members of The Ark Association, a dedicated non-profit support group founded by Karen Gates and David Kalita in 2000 who gather together every Saturday mid-morning and set up tables on which they lay food; drinks and clothing; tables with chairs for visitors (disadvantaged, at-risk) and the volunteers to sit and eat; drink; talk and rest. We asked if we could help - we didn't know how let alone why. It just seemed the right thing to do. We were welcomed warmly with open arms; invited to man the clothing tables and met the most astonishing bunch of human beings whose decency, compassion, dogged reliability and determination to make a difference to the lives of the local desperately needy left us utterly humbled. And the needy came. Some without shoes; teeth or anything resembling warm clothing, clearly hungry and thirsty. They came with stories; laughter; tales of fellows too weak, lost or ill to make the journey. They discussed local official initiatives that included "removal" from beneath the local motorway bridge and their need to "rehome" in tents in the open. Tents? It was 3 degrees but had been minus 2 during the night. One homeless neighbour had died from hyperthermia a fortnight earlier. We saw the tents - they were within thirty feet of the highway. Not all were homeless and itinerant but all needed something and the volunteers that didn't serve food or clothing gave their companionship; they gave hope and crucially, a promise - that they would be there the following Saturday. Because whether it pours with freezing rain; snows; bakes or blinds - the Ark has a presence every Saturday just off Michigan Avenue in the brooding, frowning shadow of the Central Railroad Station. Its mission statement is to "meet individuals at their point of need and walk with them to a place of opportunity." If this sounds lofty and idealist a quick "Google" search of the Association reveals its core values are grounded, thoroughly considered and based on both humanitarian and Christian principles with an emphasis on providing what an individual needs from a perspective that takes robust account of the right of every human being to dignity, self-determination and support when it is sought. Direction when this is chosen.
This isn't an advert for you to contribute to their cause - though you might choose to do so. It isn't a plea for you to stop by; say hello and offer a helping hand - though if you did and if you took along just one piece of clothing that you could afford to part with, you and your donation would be so graciously welcomed you wouldn't be able to resist staying for a while (their hot chocolate is good). It is a plea to know that this City has a still beating heart; that the scrapings of Detroits streets and "hoods" have angels that offer hope and what practical care they, as savvy, informed, concerned human beings can, and that as a visitor to Detroit, by all means take care of yourself. But if you can - and you can take care of someone else - then your visit will be truly memorable. You won't be made to feel like "poverty tourists" getting a quick fix as instant charitable donors. We were conscious of this but our reception was utterly sincere. Karen spoke simply of the difference every person's help made. And if you can't get to the Station, and you are in Town then you might want to consider donating a few dollars from the shopping fund to The Salvation Army there who do amazing work too. Have a great time in Detroit - it is a remarkable place of contrasts (Drive from Grosse Point along St Clair Shore into the City and be amazed); it has still memorable buildings and museums and some fine restaurants. It is also a living museum of what many great Cities in the US and the West may become. Go. Be safe and take care of yourself, and whoever else you may be fortunate enough to.
Jo and Paul.
Derbyshire, UK.
I also knew that it was wise to take care as a visitor; to exercise sensible precautions and not head out after dark without a purpose; dress down without flashing camera/phone/handbag; not to engage in voyeuristic tourism in the badlands.....
Elton "rocked" the Joe Louis crowd. On stage for over two hours without a pause his concert was more of a party than a performance. A wonderful night and thanks for that Elton. But the next day we headed from Dearborn where we stayed at a vast but almost wholly empty hotel, Downtown along Michigan Avenue and towards the main entrance to the City. On our right loomed the majestic hulk of the abandoned Michigan Central Railroad Station. Its sheer size is so impressive it demands closer inspection and we turned off the highway on a narrow entrance road towards it. It was a beautiful bright if freezing morning but the structure seemed to repel the sun; it had the magnetic attraction of a vast mammal at point of imminent death. A colossus; dark, brooding, horribly beached and alone in a wasteland of empty urban sprawl. We meant to walk around its metal fenced exterior. If we had it would have been in silence certainly. But we didn't. Why? Because my lovely, engaging, dear husband was curious about a group of people gathering together with boxes, tables, bags and all the paraphanalia of a jumble sale on a low bank of grass within 100 ft of the Station. We parked behind a car whose occupant was extracting a fold up table from within. This was Guy. He and his friends were volunteer members of The Ark Association, a dedicated non-profit support group founded by Karen Gates and David Kalita in 2000 who gather together every Saturday mid-morning and set up tables on which they lay food; drinks and clothing; tables with chairs for visitors (disadvantaged, at-risk) and the volunteers to sit and eat; drink; talk and rest. We asked if we could help - we didn't know how let alone why. It just seemed the right thing to do. We were welcomed warmly with open arms; invited to man the clothing tables and met the most astonishing bunch of human beings whose decency, compassion, dogged reliability and determination to make a difference to the lives of the local desperately needy left us utterly humbled. And the needy came. Some without shoes; teeth or anything resembling warm clothing, clearly hungry and thirsty. They came with stories; laughter; tales of fellows too weak, lost or ill to make the journey. They discussed local official initiatives that included "removal" from beneath the local motorway bridge and their need to "rehome" in tents in the open. Tents? It was 3 degrees but had been minus 2 during the night. One homeless neighbour had died from hyperthermia a fortnight earlier. We saw the tents - they were within thirty feet of the highway. Not all were homeless and itinerant but all needed something and the volunteers that didn't serve food or clothing gave their companionship; they gave hope and crucially, a promise - that they would be there the following Saturday. Because whether it pours with freezing rain; snows; bakes or blinds - the Ark has a presence every Saturday just off Michigan Avenue in the brooding, frowning shadow of the Central Railroad Station. Its mission statement is to "meet individuals at their point of need and walk with them to a place of opportunity." If this sounds lofty and idealist a quick "Google" search of the Association reveals its core values are grounded, thoroughly considered and based on both humanitarian and Christian principles with an emphasis on providing what an individual needs from a perspective that takes robust account of the right of every human being to dignity, self-determination and support when it is sought. Direction when this is chosen.
This isn't an advert for you to contribute to their cause - though you might choose to do so. It isn't a plea for you to stop by; say hello and offer a helping hand - though if you did and if you took along just one piece of clothing that you could afford to part with, you and your donation would be so graciously welcomed you wouldn't be able to resist staying for a while (their hot chocolate is good). It is a plea to know that this City has a still beating heart; that the scrapings of Detroits streets and "hoods" have angels that offer hope and what practical care they, as savvy, informed, concerned human beings can, and that as a visitor to Detroit, by all means take care of yourself. But if you can - and you can take care of someone else - then your visit will be truly memorable. You won't be made to feel like "poverty tourists" getting a quick fix as instant charitable donors. We were conscious of this but our reception was utterly sincere. Karen spoke simply of the difference every person's help made. And if you can't get to the Station, and you are in Town then you might want to consider donating a few dollars from the shopping fund to The Salvation Army there who do amazing work too. Have a great time in Detroit - it is a remarkable place of contrasts (Drive from Grosse Point along St Clair Shore into the City and be amazed); it has still memorable buildings and museums and some fine restaurants. It is also a living museum of what many great Cities in the US and the West may become. Go. Be safe and take care of yourself, and whoever else you may be fortunate enough to.
Jo and Paul.
Derbyshire, UK.
Written 3 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
heckfy
Pleasanton, California1,210 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
Detroit downtown is very different, so you have to measure it on it's own scale. It's not for everyone and it's lacking a lot of usual features, but it also has something other cities don't have, so hopefully it will help you to set your mind.
1. Architecture. Great. Detroit went through some boom and bust cycles, so most of the buildings were built either in 1920s or 1960s and it was hit hard during Great Depression and after mid 1970s, so it has a more distinct pure style architecture and some buildings like the Guardian building or GM HQ are true classics.
2. Shopping. Sucks. Detroit doesn't have an equivalent of San Francisco Union Square or Chicago's Magnificent Mile, so there is no high end shopping district.
3. Walking. Very good. Detroit downtown is very walking friendly. The best known area is Greektown, but you can easily walk the area between the Opera House and the riverside, so no need to drive.
4. Safety. Not sure. I'm not local, so not sure what the police reports say, but I felt pretty safe in the downtown area.
5. Food. Good. There is plenty of food and I especially liked the Greektown area.
6. Points of interest. Great. It's actually packed with sport arenas, casinos, churches, plazzas, historic buildings, music venues, reverside walk, parks, so there are surprisingly many things to do in such a small area.
7. Area outside of downtown. Scarey. If you drive out of downtown, it looks like a war zone - burnt and neglected buildings, trashed streets, high crime rate.
8. Unique style. Great. Downtown Detroit doesn't look like anything else, so likely going to be either love or hate impression. However, I have to admit it's one of the iconic American towns and it's still has it's unique style and I was glad to see it.
Hopefully it helps.
1. Architecture. Great. Detroit went through some boom and bust cycles, so most of the buildings were built either in 1920s or 1960s and it was hit hard during Great Depression and after mid 1970s, so it has a more distinct pure style architecture and some buildings like the Guardian building or GM HQ are true classics.
2. Shopping. Sucks. Detroit doesn't have an equivalent of San Francisco Union Square or Chicago's Magnificent Mile, so there is no high end shopping district.
3. Walking. Very good. Detroit downtown is very walking friendly. The best known area is Greektown, but you can easily walk the area between the Opera House and the riverside, so no need to drive.
4. Safety. Not sure. I'm not local, so not sure what the police reports say, but I felt pretty safe in the downtown area.
5. Food. Good. There is plenty of food and I especially liked the Greektown area.
6. Points of interest. Great. It's actually packed with sport arenas, casinos, churches, plazzas, historic buildings, music venues, reverside walk, parks, so there are surprisingly many things to do in such a small area.
7. Area outside of downtown. Scarey. If you drive out of downtown, it looks like a war zone - burnt and neglected buildings, trashed streets, high crime rate.
8. Unique style. Great. Downtown Detroit doesn't look like anything else, so likely going to be either love or hate impression. However, I have to admit it's one of the iconic American towns and it's still has it's unique style and I was glad to see it.
Hopefully it helps.
Written 2 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay T
Detroit, MI14 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
Do not visit Detroit, it is the most depressing, corrupt city in America. With no mass transit, very poor bus system(wait time can take hours), and no quick way to get to Downtown from airport (the only way is expensive cab), you will have a difficult time navigating. There are no streetlights on the major freeways, so it is also very unsafe to drive. I have traveled extensively, this city has nothing to offer compared to the world class cities around the globe. Crime can be a problem as well, be careful at night. The three casinos are nothing compared to Vegas. STAY AWAY
Written 10 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leilian Khoury
Lebanon, TN11 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Went to a baseball game. The weather was great, had great seats and the Tigers won in the 9th inning on a home run. Just a great time all around.
Written 17 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travity
Fort Myers, FL114 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Was truly shocked as I've not been to Downtown Detroit in over 5 years! What a difference! I heard about how Quicken Loans and the Ilitch's from Little Caesars Pizza were pumping money into Detroit for revitalization! OH MY - it truly shows.
So much construction, remodeling and building going on! New restaurants, shops, hotels, etc! The Riverfront is looking gorgeous. Took the People Mover and felt totally safe - that is now how it felt last time I was here!
I'm just so happy to see this resurgence. It is so heartening!
So much construction, remodeling and building going on! New restaurants, shops, hotels, etc! The Riverfront is looking gorgeous. Took the People Mover and felt totally safe - that is now how it felt last time I was here!
I'm just so happy to see this resurgence. It is so heartening!
Written 3 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hola viajeros!!! cual es el consejo para desplazarme desde toronto a detroit?
de antemano, muchas gracias
Written 1 May 2019
A big city with a small city feel. Very accessible and friendly. If you move here you will often run into people you know.
A city with world class art museums, Music and theater as good as NYC.
It still has a way to go but you will be pleasantly surprised.
Written 24 October 2019
Hola viajeros!!!alguno de ustedes viajo en auto desde chicago a detroit ? Que me aconsejan ?
Written 18 February 2017
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