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Plan a meetingVenues, hotels and what’s on in town on your dates
Detroit A–ZFrom limos to chambers of commerce: every business and service in one place
Food · One day
A Pulaski statue by a Hungarian sculptor, a local history museum, a Polish import shop, Hamtramck's cathedral-size church, pierogi and a modern Polish dinner.
Detroit's Polish heritage is still right there in the church steeples, on Hamtramck's streets and on the plate. This Saturday starts at the downtown Pulaski statue (made, as it happens, by a sculptor born in Hungary), then heads to Hamtramck for a local history museum, a Polish import shop open since 1958, the town's cathedral-size church and a pierogi lunch, before a modern Polish dinner on the east side. Hamtramck today is a true mix: Yemeni, Bangladeshi and Bosnian families live here alongside the Polish old guard.
09:30
Detroit – Downtown
Start downtown in the median of Washington Boulevard, where Casimir Pulaski, the Polish cavalry commander who died for American independence, stands in bronze, saber in hand. It was dedicated on September 4, 1966, on behalf of metro Detroit's Polish Americans, and the sculptor was Ferenc Varga, a Hungarian émigré born in Székesfehérvár.
Short drive northeast to the edge of Eastern Market.
10:15
Eastern Market / Forest Park
The Mother of Divine Mercy parish, a Polish Catholic congregation, runs two churches from one office: Sweetest Heart of Mary near Eastern Market and St. Josaphat, built in 1900. Visits are by appointment; if you couldn't book one, the church is still worth a look from outside.
Short drive north to Hamtramck's main street, Joseph Campau Avenue.
11:00
Hamtramck
This free local history museum, opened in 2013, tells Hamtramck's story from Polish enclave to one of America's most diverse small cities, with thousands of photos, documents, political memorabilia, films and maps. The nonprofit behind it, Friends of Historical Hamtramck, also leads walking and bus tours of the city.
Right next door.
12:00
Hamtramck
A family-run Polish import shop since 1958: amber jewelry, stoneware, folk art, wycinanki paper cuts, pisanki eggs and Christmas ornaments, plus Polish candies, dried mushrooms and preserves for the basket. The education room next door hosts egg-decorating classes and folk-art demos.
Short walk, or a quick drive, along Poland Street.
12:45
Hamtramck
Polish immigrants working in Hamtramck's auto plants founded the parish in 1907 and raised the money for this Ralph Adams Cram design, dedicated on October 21, 1928. Its nearly 200-foot spire is the tallest point in Hamtramck; inside are a blue ribbed vault, windows of five Polish saints and altars finished in real gold leaf. Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, said Mass here in 1969.
Short hop across Hamtramck to Yemans Street.
13:30
Hamtramck
A late lunch at Polish Village Cafe: pierogi and potato pancakes in a cozy, old-school dining room. You've earned it after the morning's church tour.
Short drive north to Klinger Street.
15:00
Hamtramck
Retired autoworker Dmytro Szylak built this colorful art world out of found objects above and between the garages. It's not an amusement park but one man's life's work, now cared for by Hatch Art; the alley between Klinger and Sobieski gives you the best view.
Drive southeast to the east side, onto Jefferson Avenue.
18:00
East Side
Dinner on the east side: Roses Fine Food now calls itself a Polish restaurant cooking with Michigan produce. Forget the old breakfast write-ups and check its own site for current dinner service and reservations.
Cab or drive back to your hotel from here.
6 stops
Detroit-style pizza, from the 1946 original to today's favoritesSquare crust, crispy cheesy edges: a pizza day from Six Mile and Conant through Greektown and Capitol Park up to Midtown.
6 stops
Where should you eat Asian food in Detroit? Ramen, dim sum and nigiri in a dayRamen in Corktown, the reborn train station, Asian art at the DIA, a Southeast Asian dinner, nigiri and Japanese whisky, then an anime-meets-techno lounge.
8 stops
Where do you grab a bite on the move in Detroit?Dawn tamales, fresh tortillas, market fried fish, charity water ice, a container food hall, a Thai spot born as a food truck and a mangonada shop born on a street corner.We built these plans from our own checked place pages. Hours and prices change, so check each place’s page before you go.
