Cincinnati

Around Cincinnati

Photo: Jason Zhang · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Ohio · 2.3M people

Cincinnati

Locals say Tri-State · “Queen City”, “The 'Nati”

Three states, one flavor.

Cincinnati Reds redCincinnati Bengals orange

Join the room Ask the neighbours

Welcome to the Tri-State! Whether you're here for the chili, the river views, or the hilltop sunsets, you'll find a city that takes its sports, food, and neighborhoods seriously. Come for a game, stay for the vibe – there's always something happening in Cincy.

Clubs for Cincinnati

No clubs for Cincinnati yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Cincinnati. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Cincinnati. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Great American Ball Park Home of the Cincinnati Reds, right on the riverfront.
  • Paycor Stadium Home of the Cincinnati Bengals, next to the river.
  • TQL Stadium Soccer-specific home of FC Cincinnati in the West End.
  • Eden Park Hilltop park with the Krohn Conservatory and great city views.
  • Findlay Market Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market, in Over-the-Rhine.
  • Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal Art deco train station turned museum complex.
  • Outdoors Hike the trails at Mount Airy Forest
  • Outdoors Bike the Little Miami Scenic Trail
  • With kids Visit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
  • With kids Explore the Newport Aquarium
  • Evenings Bar-hop in Over-the-Rhine
  • Evenings Catch a concert at Riverbend Music Center
  • Locals love Chili parlors
  • Locals love Breweries in Over-the-Rhine

Through the year

  • Taste of Cincinnati May Memorial Day weekend street festival with dozens of local restaurants.
  • Oktoberfest Zinzinnati September The nation's largest Oktoberfest, with German food, music, and beer.
  • Flying Pig Marathon May A major marathon and half-marathon winding through the city's hills and riverfront.
  • Cincinnati Reds Opening Day April A civic holiday of sorts – the parade and game kick off the baseball season.
  • Cincinnati Music Festival July A major R&B and jazz festival drawing national acts to the riverfront.

Cincinnati has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons – hot, muggy summers and cold, overcast winters. The best times to be outside are late April through June and September through October. Best: Spring and early fall are perfect for outdoor festivals and riverfront walks.

Talk like a local

“Tri-State”
The local nickname for the Cincinnati metro area, spanning Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
“Cincy”
Short for Cincinnati, used casually.
“The 'Nati”
A nickname for Cincinnati, often used in sports chants.
“OTR”
Abbreviation for Over-the-Rhine, the historic neighborhood.

Getaways

  • Dayton Visit the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and the Oregon District.
  • Madison, Indiana A historic Ohio River town with antique shops and riverboat views.
  • Richmond, Indiana Explore the Whitewater Gorge and the historic Depot District.
  • Wilmington, Ohio Small-town charm and the Clinton County History Center.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Cincinnati Bengals NFL
  • Cincinnati Reds MLB
  • FC Cincinnati MLS
  • Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL
  • Cincinnati Bearcats NCAA Division I
  • Xavier Musketeers NCAA Division I
  • Northern Kentucky Norse NCAA Division I
  • Miami RedHawks NCAA Division I

Eat and drink

  • Cincinnati chili Spaghetti topped with chili, shredded cheddar, onions, and beans; served at Skyline and Gold Star.
  • Goetta Breakfast sausage made with pork, beef, and oats, often fried and served with eggs.
  • Graeter's ice cream Local chain famous for black raspberry chip and French pot process.
  • Cincinnati-style pizza Thin crust, square cut, sweet sauce, and toppings all the way; LaRosa's is a local chain.

Where people go

  • Over-the-Rhine Historic district with 19th-century architecture, breweries, and Findlay Market.
  • Ohio Riverfront The river and its parks, with the Roebling Suspension Bridge and the Smale Riverfront Park.
  • Chili parlors Local diners and fast-food spots serving Cincinnati chili, a unique institution.
  • Hillside neighborhoods Mount Adams and other hilltop areas offer views and historic charm.

Heritage and traditions

Cincinnati is proud of its German heritage, historic architecture, and riverfront, but above all, its people's warmth and quirky food traditions like chili and goetta.

This time of year in Cincinnati

  • Blink Cincinnati October Light and art festival illuminating the city's buildings.

Say it like a local: “Get-together” — A local term for a small, informal gathering.

Festivals

  • Cincinnati Chili Festival May Celebrates the city's signature dish with tastings and contests.
  • Bunbury Music Festival June Multi-genre music fest along the riverfront.
  • Appalachian Festival May Showcases Appalachian music, crafts, and food.
  • Asian Food Festival August Food and performances from Asian communities.
  • Greek Food Festival June Greek Orthodox church hosts food, dance, and music.
  • Cincinnati Fringe Festival June Theater, dance, and performance art in OTR.

Landmarks with a story

  • William Howard Taft National Historic Site Birthplace and boyhood home of the 27th president.
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe House Home of the author of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'.
  • John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge Historic bridge over the Ohio River, a model for the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum Historic cemetery with Victorian monuments and gardens.
  • Cincinnati Music Hall Victorian concert hall home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
  • Mound Street Historic District Well-preserved 19th-century neighborhood in Over-the-Rhine.

Food traditions

  • Cincinnati chili Greek-inspired chili served over spaghetti with cheese, a local icon.
  • Goetta German sausage of pork, beef, and oats, fried for breakfast.
  • Graeter's ice cream French-pot ice cream made in small batches since 1870.
  • Cincinnati-style pizza Thin crust, sweet sauce, and square-cut pieces, a local favorite.
  • Coney dogs Hot dogs topped with chili, mustard, and onions, a chili parlor staple.

Music and arts

  • Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra One of America's oldest orchestras, based in Music Hall.
  • Cincinnati Pops Orchestra Known for pops concerts and recordings with famous guest artists.
  • Underground Railroad spirituals African American spirituals and gospel music tied to the city's abolitionist history.
  • German folk music Polka and oompah bands at festivals and beer halls.

A little history

  • 1788 Cincinnati founded as a frontier town
  • mid-1800s Became a major pork-processing center, nicknamed 'Porkopolis'
  • 1830s-1900 German immigrants shaped the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood
  • 1869 Home to the first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings
  • 2015 Hosted the 2015 MLB All-Star Game

Rivalries

  • Bengals vs. Browns The Battle of Ohio in the AFC North.
  • Reds vs. Cardinals A long-standing NL Central rivalry.
  • FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew The 'Hell is Real' derby for Ohio soccer supremacy.
  • Bearcats vs. Musketeers The Crosstown Shootout between UC and Xavier basketball.
  • Game day Reds Opening Day parade
  • Game day Bengals tailgating at The Banks
  • Outdoors Walk the Purple People Bridge
  • Outdoors Hike the trails at Mount Airy Forest
  • With kids Ride the carousel at Smale Riverfront Park
  • With kids Watch the Reds' Opening Day parade

Cincinnati has a Midland accent with some Southern influences, especially across the river in Kentucky. Locals often say 'please' and 'thank you' more than in other cities, and they have a distinctive way of pronouncing 'Cincinnati' with a short 'i'.

Only here

  • The Flying Pig Marathon's course winds through the city's hills.
  • Cincinnati has the oldest continuously operating municipal observatory in the US.
  • The city's chili is served over spaghetti, not hot dogs.
  • The Roebling Suspension Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when built.
New here? A few tips
  • Try a three-way at a local chili parlor—it's a rite of passage.
  • Learn to love the hills; they make walking a workout.
  • Be prepared for humid summers and chilly winters.
  • Don't say 'Cincinnati' with a long 'i'—it's 'Cincinnati' with a short 'i'.
  • Take the streetcar to explore Over-the-Rhine and downtown.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Sign in and join a club here to suggest.

Part of Cincinnati area

Nearby

Every area
BatesvilleIndianaWhere the hills meet the river, and everyone knows your name.WilmingtonOhioA sweet slice of small-town OhioEatonOhioA patchwork of farms and friendly towns.DaytonOhioWhere aviation took flight and the river runs through it.HillsboroOhioWhere the hills hold a thousand storiesConnersvilleIndianaWhere the Whitewater runs through historyRichmondIndianaThe Rose City, where the road meets home.MadisonIndianaA river town with a storied past.

Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

Join the conversationFree, with just an email.

Sign in