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Where to stay in Cincinnati

Cincinnati sits on the north bank of the Ohio River, with Kentucky just across the bridges. Stay Downtown for Fountain Square, theatres and the restaurants of Over-the-Rhine; at The Banks for the Reds' and Bengals' stadiums and the riverfront park; or across the river in Covington and Newport, Kentucky, for the aquarium, river views and good-value hotels. The free Connector streetcar links downtown, The Banks and Over-the-Rhine.

Find your area, then your hotel

Tap one of our picks, or any area, to see its hotels on the map, what it costs, where we'd book and how long it takes to get around.

In short: our pick for each kind of trip. Tap one to see why.

Should you stay in

Downtown?

Fountain Square, theatres & Over-the-Rhine

What a night costs

Budget
$160
Mid-range
$190
Luxury
$270

2nd cheapest of 3 areas, about $30 a night less than The Banks & Riverfront.

Where we'd book

The verdict

The centre of Cincinnati, with Fountain Square, Art Deco landmarks, theatres and museums, a short walk or free streetcar ride from the restaurants and breweries of Over-the-Rhine.

  • Stay here if
  • First-time visitors
  • Food lovers
  • Theatre-goers
  • Look elsewhere if
  • You want river views
  • You want a quiet residential stay
  • You want to be next to the stadiums

Minutes to the sights

  • Fountain Square2 minwalk
  • National Underground Railroad Freedom Center11 minwalk
  • Findlay Market13 min
  • Taft Museum of Art14 minwalk
  • Great American Ball Park15 minwalk
  • Smale Riverfront Park16 minwalk

Stations and airports

0 min to Fountain Square. The free Connector streetcar loops from The Banks through downtown to Over-the-Rhine and Findlay Market. Metro buses cover the rest of the city.

  • From Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)TANK bus 2X or a taxi from the airport to downtown20 min
Read the full Downtown guide →

Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Minutes planned with the Transitous (MOTIS on published GTFS timetables and OpenStreetMap) for a weekday, including walking and waiting · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more

Cincinnati questions

What is the best area to stay in Cincinnati for first-timers?

Downtown puts the big sights within easy reach and is 0 minutes from Fountain Square. The Banks & Riverfront are good alternatives.

Which area of Cincinnati has the cheapest hotels?

Covington & Newport, KY and Downtown, with budget hotels from around $130 and mid-range around $145–$190 a night.

Where should families stay in Cincinnati?

Covington & Newport, KY has the best mix of parks, calm streets and sights for kids. The Banks & Riverfront are good alternatives.

Where is the best nightlife in Cincinnati?

The Banks & Riverfront has the most bars, restaurants and late nights. Downtown are good alternatives.