Detroit
United States · Country profile
Detroit is the great American city of the automobile, the metropolis of the motor that built the modern industrial world and that has begun a striking comeback from the decades of the decline. The city spreads along the Detroit river opposite the Canadian shore, and its centre holds the soaring towers of the grand era, the vast skyscrapers and the theatres of the old downtown, while the surrounding neighbourhoods carry both the scars and the new gardens of the recovery. The great institutions of the city, the art institute, the opera and the concert halls, and the museum of the Motown music that changed the popular culture, anchor the deep cultural weight of the metropolis, and the new districts of the food, the beer and the start-ups run the forward energy. Bold, historic and resilient, Detroit is the great comeback story of the American city.
About Detroit
Detroit is a city in United States. The city's documented population is around 620,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
The Motor City and the Great Comeback of the Centre
Detroit is a historic, resilient city with one of the great downtowns of the country, a place of magnificent old towers, world-class museums and an unmistakable industrial heritage. The centre is walkable and full of new life, while the surrounding districts, from the arts of the midtown to the music of the old neighborhoods, carry the deep story of the metropolis. The city is less a tourist conventional than a genuine, working American city on the rise, with warm people and an extraordinary cultural weight. The riverfront, the renovated quarters and the food scene of the new decade make it one of the more fascinating urban visits of the country.
The Winter Cold, the Mobility Loop and the Riverfront Walks
The climate is continental, with the cold, snowy winters, the warm summers and the vivid spring and autumn of the Great Lakes region. The art institute, the Motown museum and the centre of the city are the essential circuit, and the riverfront and the nearby towns of the automobile heritage fill the days. The US dollar is the currency and the cards work everywhere. The city is spread and car-friendly, though the centre is walkable, with the people mover loop and the buses covering the core, and the security of the outer areas, as in any large American city, asks for the usual awareness.
The Rivera Frescoes, the Motown Studio and the Theatre District
The art institute of the city, the great museum with one of the finest collections of the country, from the frescoes of the Rivera cycle to the European and the American masterpieces, is the unmissable cultural jewel of the metropolis, and the museum of the Motown, housed in the original studio of the city, tells the story of the music that defined a generation. The theatre district of the centre with its restored palaces, its grand hotels and its boom-era skyscrapers anchors the golden age of the downtown, while the riverfront with its promenade and its parks and the new food and the brewery districts of the city carry the energies of the comeback. The car culture of the region, from the museum of the design of the motor city to the tracks and the shows of the industry, frames the identity of the whole metropolis.
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- Country
- United States
- Population
- 620,000
- Coordinates
- 42.2162, -83.3554
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Country code
- US
Entry requirements for United States
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting United States for tourism.
Getting to Detroit
Airports we list for Detroit:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in United States
Other cities we cover in United States:
Frequently asked questions
Is Detroit the capital of United States?
No — the capital of United States is Washington, D.C..
What currency do I need in Detroit?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in United States include English.
What is the dialling code for United States?
The international dialling code for United States is +1.
Which airport should I fly into for Detroit?
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is the airport we list for Detroit.
How far is Detroit from the nearest airport?
Detroit is about 376 km from Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit United States?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Argentina (visa required), Japan (e-visa), Morocco (visa required), Singapore (e-visa) and South Korea (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Detroit? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.