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Rent Blog > Cities > Cincinnati
Cincinnati City Guide:
Neighborhoods & Things to Do
Cincinnati, Ohio sits at a transition between the Midwest and the South, and thus you'll find a mixing of American cultures here in this thriving city on the Ohio River across from Kentucky. Nicknamed "The Queen City," Cincinnati gained fame in the 1978-1982 sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati and that same fun, freewheeling spirit still abounds here today. With companies like Proctor & Gamble (headquartered here), Cincinnati provides plenty of opportunity with the beautiful scenery of rolling hills and an attractive riverfront. If you like to bike or commute on human powered wheels, Cincinnati has a biker's dream, the Central Parkway Bikeway. With many attractive public parks, world class art museums and the University of Cincinnati, you'll enjoy much in the way of outdoor and cultural activities in this Midwest city in the hills. You'll learn more about Cincinnati's unique neighborhoods here in our Cincinnati city guide.
Cincinnati city highlights
With so many great places and events to choose from, it was hard to choose what to highlight in our Cincinnati city guide. Here are some places to see and things to do when you tour Cincinnati looking for your new apartment:
Purple People Bridge: Formerly known as the Newport Southbank Bridge, this bridge first built in 1872 has recently been renovated and painted purple for its use as a pedestrian bridge and event space. With a length of 2,670 feet, the Purple People Bridge is a great place to take a walk and enjoy the view of the Ohio River.
Cincinnati Art Museum: If you love art, the Cincinnati Art Museum is a historic museum next to Eden Park. With more than 67,000 individual pieces of art in the permanent collection, plus rotating exhibits, the art museum will give you much to ponder and take in across multiple visits.
Contemporary Arts Center: When you are done with the Cincinnati Art Museum visit the Contemporary Arts Center highlighting "the art of the last five minutes." Andy Warhol was featured here early on in his career and the Contemporary Arts Center nurtures and supports the avant garde artists of today.
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden: Founded in 1873, the Cincinnati Zoo is the second oldest zoo in the United States. It's known for its collection of reptiles at the famed "Reptile House." The connected Botanical Garden is a great place to relax and smell the flowers.
The Skystar Wheel: Enjoy amazing views of the city while taking a ride on the Ferris wheel in Downtown Cincinnati that is 15 stories high.
Cincinnati Sports: Sports fans have a lot to be excited about in Cincinnati. From football to basketball, there is plenty to cheer for. Cincinnati professional sports teams include NFL football with the Cincinnati Bengals and major league baseball with the Cincinnati Reds. If the Bengals aren't enough football for you, check out the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in college football. If you like men's basketball, the University of Cincinnati offers Bearcats basketball and Xavier University has the Musketeers.
Cincinnati city guide to the best neighborhoods for renters
The best place to live in Cincinnati will depend on what exactly you are looking for. Fortunately, you have many great options in Queen City. Our Cincinnati city guide offers a glimpse of the best neighborhoods in Cincinnati. From modern apartments to quaint townhomes, you'll find plenty of apartments to rent in Cincinnati for your individual needs.
Downtown Cincinnati has all the benefits of an urban downtown without a lot of the problems you'd find in a larger city. With the Ohio River nestled against the city, Cincinnati's downtown has much to offer, from enjoyable places to walk to amazing views. More than 13,000 residents live in the downtown core of Queen City, where they have access to lots of shops, restaurants and clubs. Enjoy the view of the river from Smale Riverfront Park or hop on over to Fountain Square for festivals such as Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. Another popular downtown location is The Banks, a waterside development that has a baseball park, a stadium, 45 acres of green space and many restaurants and bars.
This historic area was first incorporated as a village in 1850. Located in north central Cincinnati just three miles from downtown, Clifton was the place for spacious, garden mansions in the 19th century. This charming area still contains many of these mansions and historic houses. It's walkable and close to the University of Cincinnati.
Over-the-Rhine
Over-the-Rhine (OTR) hearkens back to the 1830s, when German immigrants began settling here. With working class roots, the neighborhood has undergone revitalization in recent years, and there's a lot of great architecture to appreciate in the Victorian and Greek Revival styles. The amazing thing about Over-the-Rhine is its recent comeback. This area used to be very crime-ridden. Over the past decade, with considerable effort from the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp, OTR has become a revitalized, much safer place with a colorful main street area, new apartments and a great park known as Washington Park. By the way, did you know that Cincinnati has an abandoned subway tunnel system? Some of it is located under Over-the-Rhine.
The Hyde Park neighborhood is conveniently located close to downtown and attractions such as the Krohn Conservatory. This east side neighborhood is predominantly affluent, but you can find reasonably priced apartments for rent here as well, some in beautiful art deco buildings. The center point is Hyde Park Square, a bustling shopping area with diverse boutiques, cafes, restaurants and bars.
The quirky and energetic Northside neighborhood is known for being a creativity hub and a place for small businesses to grow and thrive. It offers plenty of fun nightlife and entertainment options, which are particularly popular with young people and the young at heart. The vibrant environment is why this hip community attracts a lot of students, artists and young professionals.
Known locally as the Hill, Mount Adams is a local landmark (because it is an actual hill) as well as a neighborhood. Mount Adams was initially called Mount Ida, named after a woman who actually lived in a sycamore tree up on the hill. With lots of beautiful historic buildings and great views of the city and water, Mount Adams is a great place to live. Check out the local pubs and taverns to experience some local flavor.
Recognized as one of the most diverse communities in the region, Pleasant Ridge is known for the antique gas lighting that gives a soft glow to the streets at night. This residential area has a home-town feel. You'll find a variety of small businesses to frequent at the business district at the intersection of Montgomery and Ridge Road, including a stained glass studio, a comic book store, a tattoo shop and local restaurants.
The largest neighborhood in Cincinnati, Westwood boasts almost 30,000 residents. With an urban-suburban feel, Westwood has recently undergone community development to build a more vibrant community. This little town within Cincinnati (Westwood used to be its own village), Westwood has a lot to offer, from charming brick homes to local festivals and a lot of positive energy.
West Price Hill
West Price Hill brands itself as "Distinctively Suburban," and this neighborhood, along with next door Delhi Hills, provide a quieter respite west Cincinnati's central core. The neighborhood prides itself on being an "affordable, diverse community" according to the West Price Hill Community Council website. All are invited to participate in the council to have a voice in this thriving suburban community.
The history of College Hill goes all the way back to 1813, when William Cary bought 492 acres of land and built a log cabin on it. Eventually his son, Freeman G. Cary, launched a school called the Pleasant Hill Academy in 1833. By 1846, the school had become an agricultural college, which led to the renaming of the area. At some point, it became a wealthy suburb, though you don't need to be wealthy to live there now. Samuel Fenton Cary, an Ohio congressman and leader in the temperance movement, was born in College Hill. College Hill is now a picturesque neighborhood with many boutiques and restaurants in the main-street-like business district.
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