Carli
Carli
Unless you stay in your hotel the whole time, it might be impossible to have a bad weekend in Louisville. The city has so much to offer from food and drinks to history and culture.
Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links. What does that mean you ask? I may earn a small commission, but you won’t pay any extra. These links also help fund and support my page.
Explore the different neighborhoods
As with any large city, you need to get out of downtown! That’s where you really get a feel for what the city and people are really like.
Museum Row
While technically the northern part of downtown, this is also where you’ll find a majority of the museums in Louisville, as well as a number of the bourbon tasting rooms. Read more about both below.
NuLu
NuLu (New Louisville), also known as the East Market District, is hands down my favorite area of Louisville. This small and vibrant neighborhood packs a punch. There are murals around almost every corner, and the neighborhood is filled with cute boutiques, lively bars and great dining options. You could easily spend an entire weekend without leaving this neighborhood.
Old Louisville
Don’t skip out on Old Louisville! Once this neighborhood was the heart of aristocracy and upper class in Louisville. After weathering a few rough decades in the 1970s and 80s, the neighborhood is being revitalized. This area is worth visiting just to see the historic architecture. Old Louisville is one of the best preserved neighborhoods of Victorian houses in America. There’s also the beautiful Central Park, which has different festivals throughout the year, including one of the most popular events in Louisville, the Kentucky Shakespeare festival.
Eat your way through a weekend in Louisville
You can’t have the perfect weekend in Louisville without having great food, and there is no shortage of that here.
Downtown Louisville
- Merle’s Whisky Kitchen – This restaurant is part of the Urban Bourbon Trail and features live music on weekends. You can’t go wrong with the fried chicken.
- Mussel & Burger Bar – Located off of museum row, grab a burger for lunch or dinner after a day downtown. Don’t miss the small backyard patio on nice days.
NuLu
- Nami Korean Steakhouse – Great Korean steakhouse with friendly service, and a part of Resy, if you’re looking to use your Amex credits.
- Louisville Cream – fantastic local ice cream spot, be sure to check out the “Cookie Monster’.
Germantown
- Hop Atomica – delicious pizzas and a large outdoor patio.
Tyler Park
- The Eagle – Best for groups because you’ll want to try one of everything and share. It’s all amazing, so you really can’t go wrong.
Harrods Creek
- Captain’s Quarters – if you have a car this place is great, but it’s a hike from downtown so I wouldn’t recommend getting a taxi/Uber. Located right on the Ohio River they have a massive outdoor patio and lawn. The food is very good, and there is live music Wednesday – Sunday. You can find the lineup on their events calendar.
Have a drink on the bourbon trail
Kentucky is best known for two things: bourbon and horse races, and often enjoyed at the same time. The first settlers arrived in Kentucky over 250 years ago, and not long after that they were producing their own style of whiskey that eventually became “bourbon”. Today, Kentucky produces nearly all of the bourbon for the entire world.
There are 100 licensed distilleries in Kentucky, which means there is no shortage of options to taste the different styles. You can either drive out to the many distilleries throughout Kentucky, or there are plenty of options for tasting rooms in and around Louisville. In Downtown Louisville the bourbon bars and tasting rooms are part of the “Urban Bourbon Trail”.
Many of the local museums even have their own bourbon tasting add on as an option when visiting. If you love whiskey or bourbon, a tasting needs to be on your list of things to do in Louisville KY.
Watch a horse race at the historic Churchill Downs
The most famous event in Louisville history is of course the Kentucky Derby. This is the first of the three races that make up the Triple Crown, and takes place on the first Saturday of May. However, this isn’t the only time you can place a bet and watch a horse race at the world famous Churchill Downs.
Throughout the summer, horse racing is happening most weeks from Wednesday – Sunday. Early in the summer, Thursdays are “Twilight Thursdays”, where the racetrack also hosts different food trucks and live music in the Paddock Plaza.
Be sure to check their website for races and event calendar.
Visit the amazing Louisville museums
The city has an abundance of unique and interesting museums for your weekend in Louisville. Here are a few of the best museums in Louisville to visit
- Louisville Slugger Museum
- Muhammad Ali Center
- Speed Art Museum
- Frazier History Museum
Explore Louisville Museums for a Unique History of the City
Have a haunted weekend in Louisville
If you love all things spooky and paranormal, Louisville is the place for you. The historic old Louisville neighborhood is full of beautiful Victorian era mansions, many of which have regular ghost sightings.
I highly recommend the Old Louisville Ghost Tour, this was one of the more quirky and fun things to do in Louisville KY. This is a 90 minute walking tour where you will see some beautiful architecture, learn about the history of the city, and if you’re lucky – maybe see a ghost. The tour guides are very engaging and informative and you get a special bonus gift when you arrive.
The Best Louisville Ghost Tour for a Spooky Night Out
Halloween is of course a favorite holiday in Old Louisville. There are many special spooky Louisville events and tours the week prior to Halloween.
If you have a car and want to amp up the scary factor, drive 30 minutes outside of the city to the Waverly Hills Sanitorium. This facility was opened in the early 1900s after a wave of Tuberculosis hit the city and was functional through the 1990s. Today it remains open as a beacon of paranormal activity. You can take 2 hour tours, full day tours, or if you’re courageous enough, you can stay the night.
Find more about the Sanitorium events and tours on their website.
Weekend in Louisville FAQs
What are some things to see when you visit Louisville Kentucky?
When you visit Louisville Kentucky you should definitely go to some of the local museums like the Louisville Slugger Museum or Speed Art Museum. If you visit at the right time of year you can go to a horse race at Churchill Downs.
What are some interesting things to do in Louisville Kentucky?
For interesting things to do in Louisville, you can join a ghost tour, make your own bourbon, visit the gold replica of David or take a riverboat cruise on the Ohio River.
Is Louisville Kentucky a good place to visit?
Yes, Louisville is a fantastic place to visit! The locals are extremely friendly, there are tons of great bars and restaurants, and it is significantly less crowded than Nashville or New Orleans.
