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Plan your Detroit trip

DETROIT / Trip planner / ¼

Plan your Detroit trip

Everything you need before you go, in one place: when to come, how to get downtown from the airport for two bucks, what's free downtown, and what to do with your first 24 hours. Every step links to the deep-dive page.

to ride the People Mover and the QLINE
$0
airport to downtown on the FAST 261 bus
$2
hours behind Budapest, most of the year
6
Michigan sales tax, added at the register
6%

© TheWxResearcher · CC0

When should you come?

Detroit's climate is a close cousin of Budapest's: hot summers, cold winters, just wetter and snowier. Snowfall averages 42.5 inches (108 cm) a season, and the daily mean runs from 25.6°F (−3.6°C) in January to 73.6°F (23.1°C) in July. Month-by-month details live on our weather page, the big parties on our festivals page.

SeasonWhat it's likeWhy comeOn our site
Spring (March–May)Moody: April can still throw a cold day at you, and the warm season kicks off in May.Smaller crowds, gardens waking up on Belle Isle, and Movement, the techno festival, at Hart Plaza on May 29–31, 2027./holidays/spring/
Summer (June–August)Warm and sometimes sticky; it tops 90°F (32°C) on about 12 days a year.Riverfront festival season, the Belle Isle swim beach, and the Ford Fireworks on June 21, 2027./holidays/summer/
Fall (September to mid-November)September still feels like summer; the first frost typically shows up around October 20.The free Detroit Jazz Festival over Labor Day weekend (September 3–6, 2027), Halloween, and the Free Press Marathon on October 16–18, 2026./holidays/fall/
Late fall and winter (late November–February)Cold and snowy: on an average 44 days a year it never climbs above freezing.Skating at Campus Martius, the tree lighting on November 20, 2026, America's Thanksgiving Parade on November 26, 2026, and the Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place, January 14–24, 2027./holidays/winter/

How do you get here?

  • By air: DTW

    Detroit Metro Airport sits about 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown. There's no nonstop from Budapest; one connection does it, and Amsterdam or Paris on a single ticket is the smoothest. Delta and its partners use red McNamara, everyone else blue Evans.

  • From the airport into town

    SMART's FAST 261 bus is $2 and takes about 50–65 minutes to Rosa Parks Transit Center. The DAX express coach is $6 if you book online and runs nonstop downtown in 30–50 minutes. An Uber averages about $56.

  • By car

    Detroit is a car town, and plenty of trips are easiest by car. Our driving guide shows whether your license works here, what to know about rentals and how to handle snow.

  • By train: Amtrak

    Detroit's Amtrak station is at 11 West Baltimore Avenue in New Center, a block from the QLINE's Baltimore Street stop. The Wolverine runs three times a day between Chicago, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Pontiac.

  • By intercity bus

    Greyhound and FlixBus use the bus station at 1001 Howard Street. From Ann Arbor, the D2A2 express is $6 to Grand Circus Park (1508 Park Avenue), and Michigan Flyer runs from Ann Arbor and East Lansing straight to the airport.

  • From Canada

    Windsor is right across the river. Drive through the tunnel or over the bridges, or ride The Linq or FlixBus. Bring your passport; we show live border wait times.

Your first 24 hours, step by step

A tried-and-true order that gets you the feel of the city on day one without spending much.

  1. Land and get downtown for two dollars

    The FAST 261 stops at McNamara on the Departures level outside Door 1, and at Evans at stall 1 of the Ground Transportation Center in the garage. In a hurry? The DAX express is quicker.

    Read more ↗

  2. Drop your bags and ride the People Mover

    The 2.9-mile loop takes 15 minutes, has 13 stations and costs nothing. Sit on the right: between Water Square and Financial District it's all river, with Canada on the other side.

    Read more ↗

  3. Walk through Campus Martius to the Guardian Building

    Campus Martius is downtown's living room, and a few minutes away the 1929 Art Deco Guardian Building waits with marble and bright ceramics in its lobby. It's a working office building, so stick to the public areas.

    Read more ↗

  4. Hit the Riverwalk at sunset

    About 4.75 continuous miles of riverfront path, open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM. That skyline across the water? Windsor, Canada.

    Read more ↗

  5. Eat dinner the Detroit way

    Square pizza or a coney dog? Both are local institutions, and our dining guide has the best tables. At a sit-down restaurant, tip 15–20 percent of the pre-tax bill.

    Read more ↗

  6. Jazz, techno or a show tonight

    Our events guide shows exactly what's on tonight, and the nightlife guide covers the jazz rooms and techno spots.

    Read more ↗

  7. Next morning, ride the QLINE up Woodward

    The free streetcar comes every 15 minutes and takes 24 minutes from the river to New Center, passing the Detroit Institute of Arts. If it's Saturday, hit Eastern Market first: the market runs 6 AM to 4 PM.

    Read more ↗

  8. Be smart about jet lag

    Detroit is six hours behind Budapest, except from October 25 to November 1, 2026 and from March 14 to March 28, 2027, when it's five: the US and the EU switch their clocks on different dates.

What should you see first?

Ten places you can't go wrong with on your first days in Detroit.

Coming from abroad? Here's what will feel different

The entry details are on our international page; here's the quick list. Rules change, so check the official sites before you travel.

  • ESTA, not a visa

    Hungary is in the Visa Waiver Program: up to 90 days of tourism without a visa, but you need an e-passport and an approved ESTA before you fly. Apply only on the official U.S. government site.

  • Time difference

    Six hours behind Budapest, except October 25 to November 1, 2026 and March 14 to March 28, 2027, when it's five.

  • Power outlets

    120 volts, 60 hertz, flat-pin Type A and B plugs. Bring an adapter and check your charger's label for 100–240 V.

  • The price tag isn't the final price

    Shelf prices don't include tax; Michigan's 6 percent sales tax is added at the register. Back in Hungary the 27 percent VAT is baked into the price.

  • Tipping

    At a sit-down restaurant, 15–20 percent of the pre-tax bill is standard; at the bar, $1–2 a drink or 15–20 percent of the tab; in a taxi, 15–20 percent.

  • Emergencies: 911

    Ambulance, fire and police, all on one number: 911.

  • Canada next door

    Windsor is just across the river, but it's another country: don't head over without your passport.

How do you save money in Detroit?

  • Free rides on rails

    The People Mover has been free since January 2, 2024, and the QLINE since September 2021. Transfer between them at Grand Circus and Congress Street.

  • A full day of buses for $5

    The DART pass, good on both DDOT and SMART, is $2 for 4 hours, $5 for 24 hours and $22 for a week. Buy it in the Transit app or pay cash on board.

  • The airport for two bucks

    The FAST 261 bus costs $2; an Uber averages $56. If you're not in a rush, that's the deal of the day.

  • Free treasures

    The Riverwalk, the Dequindre Cut, Campus Martius, Belle Isle on foot or by bike, the murals around Eastern Market: none of it costs a cent.

  • A free Fisher Building tour

    Pure Detroit runs free tours of the 1928 Fisher Building on Saturdays at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM.

  • Belle Isle without a car

    Drive onto the island and your car needs a Recreation Passport. Walk, bike or ride DDOT's #12 bus, which runs about hourly, and you don't.

  • A tax-free picnic

    In Michigan, groceries aren't taxed but restaurant meals are. A picnic from your Eastern Market haul pays off twice.

Accessibility and safety: what should you know?

  • People Mover by elevator

    Every station has an elevator or escalator, and Grand Circus Park is elevator-only. Each train has a securement spot for one wheelchair. In fall 2026 the escalators at Greektown, Michigan Avenue, Broadway and Renaissance Center are out, so use the elevators.

  • Level boarding on the QLINE

    High platforms and low floors leave only a tiny gap. Wheelchair and stroller space is in the center section, and stops are announced out loud and on screens.

  • A paved riverfront

    The Riverwalk and the Dequindre Cut are paved and car-free, with ramps down to the Cut from seven streets. Belle Isle also has an accessible playground on a rubberized surface.

  • Reduced bus fares

    For riders with disabilities, the 4-hour DART pass is 50 cents.

  • Helpers in yellow jackets

    Downtown has a team of 100-plus ambassadors in yellow jackets: ask them for directions, restaurant tips or help in an emergency.

  • Help phones

    In an emergency, call 911. The People Mover's cameras and help phones are monitored around the clock.

  • Big-city common sense

    Same as any big city: stick to the busy streets at night, take a ride to farther-out neighborhoods, and leave nothing visible in your car.

  • AED map

    Our Detroit Heart map shows the nearest AED.

Ready-made plans if you'd rather not plan

What everyone asks

Do I need a car in Detroit?

Not for downtown, Midtown and the riverfront: the People Mover, QLINE, buses and MoGo bikes have you covered. For Dearborn, the suburban malls and the surrounding towns a car is easier, though you can reach The Henry Ford by bus and train.

How do I get from the airport to downtown?

Take the FAST 261 bus for $2 (about 50–65 minutes to Rosa Parks Transit Center), the DAX express for $6 online (30–50 minutes) or an Uber for about $56.

Is Detroit safe?

Downtown, Midtown and the riverfront are busy, and downtown has ambassadors in yellow jackets ready to help. Act like you would in any big city: stay on lively streets at night, ride to farther-out spots and leave nothing in your car. In an emergency, call 911.

Can I pop over to Canada?

Yes, Windsor is right across the river, but you need your passport. Drive over a bridge or through the tunnel, or take The Linq or FlixBus; we show border waits live.

How much should I tip?

At a sit-down restaurant, 15–20 percent of the pre-tax bill; at a bar, $1–2 per drink; in a taxi, 15–20 percent.

Is tax included in the price?

No. The 6 percent sales tax is added at the register, and groceries are exempt. Local governments can't add their own sales tax, so it's the same everywhere in Michigan.

When's the best time to come?

Late May to early September for festivals, late November onward for the holidays, and January for car lovers, when the auto show is on.

Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-10-01

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