Where to Stay in Louisville Kentucky by neighborhood - and where not to stay!

Planning a trip to Louisville? It'south difficult to fall in love with a metropolis without having a great identify to stay. Luckily,  there are tons of amazing places to stay in Louisville! Where to stay in Louisville depends on what kind of feel you're afterward: practice you lot want a centrally located boutique hotel or a gorgeous vacation rental that makes you feel like a local? Exercise yous want to be in the heart of the urban city center, or would you rather walk through tree-lined streets by beautiful, historic homes? Louisville's got it all, and nosotros're here to help you determine.

This guide to places to stay in Louisville is organized by neighborhood. We'll tell you exactly why you might want to stay in each area we recommend forth with a couple of specific accommodations to volume. And we'll likewise tell you lot where to avert staying (considering let's exist honest, no city is perfect).

Sound like a lot? Don't worry, there'southward a summary at the bottom of this post with all the info below condensed into one easy-to-digest listing. We're hither to help, y'all!

Ready to kickoff planning your trip to Louisville? Let's get!

  1. Where to Stay in Louisville by Neighborhood
    • Where to Stay: Downtown Louisville
    • Where to Stay: NuLu
    • Where to Stay: The Highlands
    • Where to Stay: Erstwhile Louisville
    • Where to Stay: Clifton
    • Where to Stay: Butchertown
    • Where to Stay: Germantown
  2. Where NOT to Stay in Louisville
  3. Where to Stay in Louisville: Summary

Psst: Need some more suggestions for your trip? Accept a look at these other posts:

  • The 63 Best Things to Do in Louisville, Kentucky
  • Kentucky Derby Tips: The Ultimate Outset-Timer's Derby Guide
  • Louisville Weekend Trip: The Perfect three-24-hour interval Itinerary

Where to Stay in Louisville past Neighborhood

Louisville is a very large city, and most of its locals split it mentally into four parts: Westward End, East End, South End, and Downtown. And while each part of Louisville has its ain highlights, there are a few neighborhoods which are much improve to base yourself in on a visit to Louisville.

The neighborhoods we've included below are easiest to get around, fifty-fifty without having to hire a car: they're walkable, bikeable, and serviced by buses, including LouLift, a gratis, zero-emissions electric bus that runs along Market place & Main Streets downtown. (With that said, if y'all do have a car, you'll exist able to explore the Due south Finish, West Finish & the E End much more easily if you like!)

So even though united states locals take beloved for the West End, Eastward Finish, and Southward End, we think that Downtown and its adjacent neighborhoods are the most tourist-friendly parts of the metropolis, including Sometime Louisville, The Highlands, Clifton, NuLu, Germantown, and Butchertown. Don't worry, we'll suspension each pick down in detail!

Each of these neighborhoods is chock full of awesome stuff to do for visitors to Louisville, from restaurants to bars & breweries to theatres, parks, and more. We've listed a few of our favorite attractions in each neighborhood and included our height picks for both hotels and vacation rentals in each!

  • Note about Vacation Rentals: Personally, we recommend booking vacation rentals directly through VRBO because it has fewer fees and more flexible counterfoil policies than Airbnb, and we're not fans of Airbnb's unethical track record and lax security. Too, I was one time kicked out of an Airbnb in Louisville because the landlord rented it to a permanent tenant – in the eye of my stay. Yikes! VRBO's tend to be professionally managed, so yous're less likely to experience problems.

Let's swoop into it!

Clock and Street View in Downtown Louisville Kentucky
Cute downtown Louisville, with its gorgeous brick facades and sometime clocks, is abode to many of the best places to visit in Louisville, Kentucky! Psst: look for this photo at the Louisville Airport when you go far!

Where to Stay: Downtown Louisville

Downtown Louisville is filled with celebrated brick facades, towering skyscrapers and high-rises (don't worry, at that place aren't THAT many), hotels, theatres, and museums. Bordering the waterfront and the Ohio River, you're never very far from a view of the h2o – only head up to the nearest rooftop bar!

Downtown is the best place to catch a gorgeous sunset, see some astounding local theatre, attend a baseball game, and explore a wide variety of expertly curated museums.

Along the waterfront, you'll detect a few bridges leading over the Ohio River into Indiana, including the walkable/bikeable Big Four Bridge. On a warm summer evening, there's null better than a stroll along the Big Four bridge and Waterfront Park at sunset!

Museum Row and its neighbor, Whiskey Row, are my favorite parts of Downtown Louisville: they're gorgeous and historically restored, with beautiful old brick facades. You can't aid simply imagine yourself in a historical steamboating town smuggling barrels of bourbon downriver when you lot walk down Westward Primary street! Plus, the plethora of bourbon bars, speakeasies, and museums stuffed into a couple of blocks of downtown makes this 1 of the best places to explore in Louisville! Our favorite museums are the Frazier History Museum, the Kentucky Museum of Fine art & Craft (KMAC), Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, and the Muhammad Ali Heart

Y'all'll also be close to the all-time independent theatre in town, Actor's Theatre. In Apr, Role player'south Theatre is home to the world-famous Humana Festival of New Plays.

In that location'southward also no shortage of bourbon in downtown (or anywhere in Louisville, for that matter). Tucked into a few tranquility alleys are hidden speakeasies, and two bourbon distilleries – Angel'south Envy and Rabbit Hole – operate and run tours right in the heart of downtown!

Every bit for transit, y'all definitely don't need a car downtown. There are wide, flat sidewalks to walk, bike-share stations all over with bikes to rent, and a gratis, zero-emissions bus to take you up and down Chief & Market.

  • Verdict: Stay in downtown if you want to be right in the urban eye of the city shut to the waterfront, museums along Museum Row, speakeasies and restaurants along Whiskey Row, and two bourbon distilleries!

Where to Stay in Downtown Louisville

Your best bet downtown is to stay in a hotel! There aren't many vacation rentals in this expanse. Our two favorite accommodations in downtown Louisville are both boutique hotels located right on Museum Row in the middle of downtown.
  • The Grady Hotel: Louisville's newest boutique hotel is right on Museum Row in the heart of downtown – and y'all, it's gorgeous! The historic building dates back to 1883 and was once a medicinal bourbon apothecary – but today, it'south a stunning hotel that stays true to its historic by.  The lounge is themed similar the bourbon bar/library you've ever wanted in your own personal mansion, the rooms are incredibly modernistic and chic, and if you lot like, your windows can expect out on the historic facades of Museum Row or the cute Ohio River. Breakfast is included, and you can grab (bourbon) cocktails and bites at the on-site restaurant which is named for a company which made Derby hats during the roaring twenties in the very same building.  Plus, the hotel is dog friendly (for an boosted fee), so you can bring along your pet (and have the world's cutest photos of them in a piddling Marker's Mark bourbon butt bed!!!)
  • 21C Museum Hotel: Yous know that book we all read in elementary school, Nighttime at the Museum? (Or wait, is that a Ben Stiller movie??) Anyway, this is your run a risk to finally achieve your sleeping-in-a-museum fantasy! This incredibly unique bazaar hotel is both a hotel and a contemporary art museum, located right on Museum Row – and so you lot're literally staying in i of the expanse's coolest attractions! Staying in a museum hotel is every bit hip as information technology gets, y'all. Pop down and see the art or grab a alive performance in the museum, or but admire the modern art in your room – each room is dissimilar! 21C is also home to one of the best restaurants in Louisville,Proof on Main – practice not miss out on eating at Proof, even if you're not staying hither! 21C is super unique and well worth information technology!. Oh, and .. er, try to brand a visit the men's bathroom on the main floor. But trust us. Fun fact: at that place are 21C locations in other cities, just Louisville'due south is the original location!
Main Street in NuLu during Pride in Louisville Kentucky
NuLu, aka "New Louisville," is the trendiest neighborhood in town. Celebrated brick buildings painted with vibrant murals line the streets housing hip local restaurants & bars pouring arts and crafts beer and bourbon, art galleries, and eclectic shops.

Where to Stay: NuLu

NuLu stands for New Louisville. That's right, Louisville is absurd enough to have its ain neighborhood nicknames, like SoMa in SF or SoHo in NYC. (We're very proud!)

Nulu was created in recent years thank you to an upswing in evolution in a part of Downtown Louisville that didn't really have a whole lot going on. Just a few years ago, this area was a expressionless zone of empty lots, abandoned warehouses, and other not-super-exciting stuff.

But its proximity simply down the street from Downtown and a few blocks s of the waterfront meant that NuLu was ripe for development.

Today, it's the most upwards-and-coming neighborhood in Louisville. The surface area is super walkable and a lot of fun to explore. Rad new shops, art galleries, markets, confined, breweries, and restaurants seem to exist opening in NuLu daily, breathing new life into warehouses, lofts, and nether-utilized industrial spaces!

At that place is so much good food in NuLu, information technology'southward ridiculous! Start with a coffee from Quill's. For luncheon, selection upwards a delicious biscuit sandwich at Beige Belly or some hot friend chicken at Royal'south Chicken. For dessert, grab ice cream from Louisville Cream or a warm chocolate flake cookie from Delight & Thank you. And for a fancy dinner, caput to Decca or Mayan Buffet!

There are also tons of opportunities to shop local in NuLu. Browse the shops at the NuLu Marketplace and option up rad, artist-crafted souvenirs to take back domicile with you from Revelry Bazaar + Gallery. Evidence your pride and support Louisville'south LGBTQ scene by shopping at Louabull – 100% of gain go towards fighting for LGBTQ equality, pride, visibility and justice.

After nighttime, grab a drink and dance the night abroad at Galaxie and Garage Bar (which, yes, used to be a mechanic) or sip a bourbon at Taj Louisville.

For more tips, head to our complete guide to things to do in NuLu!

  • Verdict: If you want to stay adequately close to downtown (and the waterfront) and be within walking altitude of fantastic food and bully nightlife, this is the all-time neighborhood to base yourself in!

Where to Stay in NuLu

Your best bet for this area is to stay in a holiday rental! In that location aren't many big hotels here, but at that place are some incredibly cute, centrally located apartments and lofts.

  • This chichi, hip loft is one street over from the shops and restaurants on Market Street. The loft features two bedrooms on two separate stories, a gorgeous kitchen, updated bath (with an Instagrammable tile wall, I might add) and a cute picayune outdoor patio.
  • This budget-friendly celebrated apartment is right next to the NuLu Market place! It'southward easy to find, just await for the colorful rainbow horse mural on the side of the building. Inside the flat is all exposed brick walls, high ceilings and huge windows looking out on the city views of NuLu. Relax by the working fireplace, take a bathroom in that huge bathtub, melt in that stunning kitchen (or don't, in that location'southward incredible nutrient steps from your door) and savor!

Where to Stay: The Highlands

The Highlands is made upwardly of a few smaller micro-neighborhoods, all under the Highlands umbrella, and is one of Louisville'southward near historic and near walkable areas.

Its tree-covered streets are lined with beautiful historic homes, including many gorgeous Victorians, especially in the Original Highlands and Cherokee Triangle micro-neighborhoods. The streets and sidewalks are well maintained and perfect for walking and biking, and the entire neighborhood is wonderfully light-green. Y'all, it'southward just freakin' gorgeous here. Although I may be slightly biased – this is where we alive!

The gem of the Highlands is Louisville's incredible urban park, Cherokee Park. This beautiful park was designed by Frederick Police force Olmsted, who not just designed New York City's Primal Park, but too Louisville'due south other major parks, Iroquois and Shawnee, besides equally the city's four parkways.

Exploring Cherokee Park'southward breathtaking loop or hiking on its many trails is a respite from the urban center of Louisville, total of hilly forests, boardwalks, and even a bird sanctuary – and it'southward smack dab in the middle of the Highlands!

The Highlands is likewise dwelling to many of Louisville's all-time restaurants, bars and breweries all lining the Bardstown Road corridor, as well as the historic Cave Colina Cemetery. On a crisp autumn twenty-four hours, in that location'due south nada more than peaceful than a stroll through Cave Hills' tranquility, garden-adorned grounds, past ponds and mausoleums filled with Louisville's most famous residents such as Colonel Sanders, Muhammad Ali, and Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr.

The Highlands experience much greener and less urban than Downtown or NuLu, but you're nonetheless very shut to Downtown – only about 10 minutes driving or a 20 minute, generally flat cycle ride. (And NuLu is merely down the street, nigh a mile away.) The neighborhood is highly walkable, and talking walks is a dandy manner to explore, because the surface area is gorgeous!

Head to our neighborhood guide for more suggestions on things to practice in the Highlands.

  • Verdict: Historic Victorian homes, copse and lush greenery, a behemothic urban park, walkable neighborhoods, and Louisville's best places to eat and beverage lining the thriving Bardstown Route corridor all make the Highlands one of the best places to stay in Louisville, especially if you prefer to be a little away from the urban Downtown core!

Where to Stay in the Highlands

Your best bet for the Highlands is to stay in a holiday rental! There aren't many large hotels here, simply there are some incredibly cute, centrally located apartments and lofts.
  • This stylish Highlands Habitation is the perfect "walk to all" location. Its bright and artsy, with iv bedrooms, a modern kitchen, and a cute outdoor deck expanse. The location truly is perfect too- past the intersection of Bardstown and Eastern Parkway, you'll truly exist able to walk to the best of the Highlands, including Cherokee Park.
  • Located in the Baxter Avenue department of the Original Highlands, this Charming Flat on the 2nd floor of a fairytale-esque Victorian abode is a stone'due south throw away from both the historic Cherokee Triangle and NuLu. This apartment is spacious and hip, with a fantastic bathroom (and a luxurious soaking tub!) and a secluded outdoor patio.
  • This Four Bedroom Flat is a more modern option. Perfect for groups, the house has five(!!) bedrooms and is nestled in the Cherokee Triangle expanse nearly some of the all-time Highlands nightlife. Yous'll exist able to swallow, and drink, and walk to all kinds of things from this location!

Where to Stay: Old Louisville

One-time Louisville is home to the largest drove of historical Victorian homes in the world, fabricated up of 48 blocks of gorgeous, mansion-esque, Victorian homes and tree-covered streets. Simply put, Old Louisville is 1 of the well-nigh absolutely beautiful neighborhoods in Louisville. (Personally, I rank it at the very peak!)

Walking paths wind through the historic homes, and at the heart of the neighborhood is the small only charming Fundamental Park, nevertheless another 1 of Olmsted's creations. In the summer, Central Park is dwelling to Shakespeare in the Park, one of Louisville's best and longest-running theatre festivals!

One downside of staying in Erstwhile Louisville, though, is that unlike some of the other neighborhoods on our listing, there is no central stretch of businesses to stroll through – the surface area is firmly residential, so yous probably won't exist within walking distance to much.

That said, there are a few gems tucked in the neighborhood, like Buck'southward Eating house, Old Louisville Brewery, and Mag Bar. Y'all'll also be less than a mile away from the Speed Art Museum (which is gratuitous on Sundays) and Churchill Downs. You lot tin take historical walking tours and a sightseeing tour in a tuk-tuk here as well, and the humming campus of the University of Louisville is adjacent to the neighborhood.

Simply even if you lot don't stay hither, taking a walk through the beautiful celebrated streets of One-time Louisville is admittedly a highlight of any visit to Louisville! The ornate Victorian mansions, flickering gas lamps, and fountains of Belgravia Courtroom and St. James are picture-perfect for a stroll at twilight.

Oh, and … the neighborhood is said to exist super haunted. We consider that a plus, personally.

  • Verdict: A quiet, tree-line neighborhood filled with Louisville'due south most cute Victorian homes, trees and lush greenery, and a small urban park make Old Louisville the nearly scenic neighborhood to stay in during your trip. Only you won't exist in walking altitude to much other than scenery, then programme to cycle or drive to other neighborhoods for food, drinkable, and activities.

Where to Stay in Old Louisville

There'south a mix of vacation rentals and cozy bed and breakfasts tucked into Old Louisville! Nosotros've got a recommendation for each.
  • If you tin snag it, our favorite Louisville vacation rental is right on beautiful little Primal Park! The location is perfect: it's across the street from the park, on a gorgeous tree-lined street. The view of the park out the chamber window is wonderful to wake upward to each solar day! You'll have a full kitchen and a individual balcony, plus a luxurious updated bath. The apartment is the perfect balance of historic and modern, and nosotros've stayed here several times!
  • The Inn at St. James Court is a mannerly b&b located on the famous fountain court in Louisville, St. James Court. Information technology's our favorite area to go for a walk and the nigh iconic role of the neighborhood! The bed and & breakfast is very much onetime-earth charm, from the ornate Victorian home it's located within to the grandeur of the lounge and each comfortably-furnished room.
silver dollar on frankfort avenue in the clifton neighborhood of louisville kentucky

Where to Stay: Clifton

The Clifton neighborhood is centered effectually Frankfort Avenue, a walkable and celebrated street lined with locally-owned restaurants, shops, galleries, and more. It's the kind of street that's designed for strolling downwardly and popping into anything that looks interesting, much like its cousin, Bardstown Road in the Highlands. Clifton has some of the all-time places to swallow and drinkable in Louisville, including Sweet Surrender, The Fuelery, and Comfy Cow (two of which are on our list of the best places to get dessert in Louisville)!

The houses in the Clifton neighborhood are less historic and tend to exist shotgun-style homes, which ways they are typically a little cheaper – perfect for a budget-friendly stay.

But the expanse is every bit every bit green, walkable, and beautiful every bit the older neighborhoods in Louisville, and there are some cute historic gems to discover. Exist certain to take a walk to tiny Bingham Park, designed in 1915 by Frederick Law Olmsted. The walk to the park is lovely, and one of the best places to encounter Clifton's oldest and most beautiful homes.

Clifton borders Butchertown and the Highlands, and is right on the other side of Cave Hill Cemetery, making it a central place to base yourself in during a trip. At the very top of Frankfort Avenue you'll detect the Louisville Botanical Gardens and the eastern tip of the downtown waterfront – downtown is less than a mile abroad forth the river!

Running along one side of Frankfort Avenue for a few blocks along its border with neighboring Crescent Hill is a train, and at 1 betoken the tracks cross Frankfort Avenue. Nigh of the time, the tracks are empty, but a few times a day the train tin can cause some irritation. Take note, peculiarly if you're visiting with dogs – mine was Non a fan!

  • Verdict: If you're on a tight budget, stay in Clifton for piece of cake access to the quiet, walkable Frankfort Avenue corridor, lined with local shops, galleries, and some of the best places to eat and drink in town.

Where to Stay in Clifton

Your all-time bet for this area is to stay in a vacation rental! In that location aren't many large hotels here, but at that place are some incredibly beautiful, centrally located apartments and lofts.

  • This Vivid, Spacious Flat will aid you stay on tiptop of your brunch game- literally. Located right higher up the delicious Morning Fork, you can literally roll out of bed and caput down to a spectacular brunch. You'll also exist just minutes from the waterfront and other fabulous Clifton locations!
  • If yous demand a piddling more space, this three Bedroom House is also near the top of Frankfort Avenue, and in seconds you can eat at fabled restaurants like the Silver Dollar.
  • This Historic and Bright three Sleeping room Apartment will take y'all closer to the middle of Clifton, getting you even closer to all the food and shops along the road. You'll also be close to Bingham Park and the Victorian homes along Coral Street.

Where to Stay: Butchertown

Bordering Clifton, NuLu, and the waterfront, Butchertown has this uber-cool industrial renaissance thing going on, with some of the best restaurants in town, a brandy distillery, art galleries and operation spaces, and some seriously hip shops. Learn more well-nigh Butchertown here.

Only when I was growing up in Louisville – and when my mom was growing up in Louisville – Butchertown was that one role of town that always sort of … smelled. That'south because "Butchertown" is not a proper name pulled out of sparse air: at that place is actually a meat processing constitute that STILL operates in this part of Louisville.

But don't worry: it doesn't smell so bad anymore – in fact, on the weekends, it doesn't odor at all!

And so why am I suggesting that yous stay in a meatpacking district? Y'all, considering information technology's cool as hell. Grab a drinkable at Ten20 Brewery or accept a tour of Copper & Kings distillery. Attend a elevate show at Play Louisville and shop the local vendors at Butchertown Market place.

And every bit you explore, keep an middle out for street art – there are a ton of awesome murals gracing the sides of old warehouses in this industrial part of town!

  • Verdict: If "converted warehouse turned lofts/galleries/marketplaces/restaurants" is up your aisle, you lot'll want to stay in this post-industrial part of town next to NuLu and downtown that's splashed with murals and total of extremely hip things to do.

Where to Stay in Butchertown

While there are a handful of places to stay in Butchertown, staying in the Nulu neighborhood to the south will also allow you to easily explore both NuLu and Butchertown on pes!

  • This Cocked Butchertown Apartment has three bedrooms and a fabulous, renovated kitchen. You volition be in the perfect spot to stroll downwards E. Washington Street to all the fabled shops, distilleries, and Play Lousville.
Schnitzelberg and Germantown Sign in Louisville Kentucky

Where to Stay: Germantown

Bordering the Original Highlands neighborhood, Germantown is was founded in the 1800s past, you lot guessed it, German immigrants.  This celebrated Louisville neighborhood is populated by narrow "shotgun houses," long, skinny homes that you'll find sprinkled throughout certain neighborhoods in Louisville.

This is a quieter neighborhood with a few cool businesses and unassuming taverns sprinkled amongst the residential streets, merely information technology strikes a dandy balance betwixt residential and urban without feeling terribly industrial.

Best of all, y'all'll accept piece of cake access into the glamorous Victorian-lined streets of the Original Highlands and the shops and restaurants forth Bardstown Route corridor without having to pay Highlands prices! In many parts of Germantown, the Highlands are comfortably walkable.

Thanks to its German heritage, the surface area is habitation to some crawly places to eat in Louisville and, of course, some of the all-time places to drink beer in Louisville, as well. Take hold of both at Iv Pegs or Hammerheads. The pizza at The Mail service is said to be the all-time in town. And you'll find crawly dive bars on every corner, like Nachbar and The Merryweather.

You'll as well be in walking distance of Louisville's biggest and best public market, Logan Street Marketplace (and the unique Idlewild Butterfly Farm, which is direct across the street.) If you similar hunting for treasure, head to Fleur de Flea, where you can sip coffee or a cocktail while you admire the collection of fascinatingly weird artifacts (and perhaps detect one to have dwelling).

By the mode, don't get confused when yous come across signs for Schnitzelburg: no, this isn't a rude anti-Germantown slur. It's actually a sister neighborhood to Germantown.

Maybe the near interesting chip of trivia about Germantown is its annual Dainty Globe Title. The Dainty game includes ii sticks, a long "dame" broomstick and brusk "dainty" stick, and whoever can striking the dainty the uttermost wins!

The game was invented in Schnitzelburg and follows some rather interesting rules – for case, you must exist over 45 years old to play! Curious? Sentry a game for yourself!

Read more than about Germantown here.

  • Verdict: Stay in Germantown if your budget is more important than the scenery, and yous don't demand to be directly adjacent to downtown. Or if you lot desire to compete in the Dainty World Championship.

Where to Stay in Germantown

Your best bet for this area is to stay in a vacation rental! There are some incredibly cute, centrally located apartments and lofts.

  • Located in the center of Germantown, this Stylish Two Chamber Business firm is super beautiful and modern! You'll exist in walking altitude of Goss Avenue with it'southward shops and restaurants, as well as Barret Avenue which is also trendy and busy.
  • This Cozy Germantown Getaway has 3 bedrooms and is merely steps away from The Mail Pizza and Nachbar. You can't go wrong beingness shut to the action!
Louisville Kentucky Big Four walking bridge over the Ohio River into Indiana
If you cross over the Ohio River, you've gone also far! You're in Indiana at present – plough dorsum around and come on dorsum 😉

Where Non to Stay in Louisville

Louisville has lots of great hotels, just unfortunately, a lot of them are in the East End – a part of town that can be swell to live in, only not ideal for visitors and tourists.

Louisville's East Finish is not accessible by public transit, so a auto is a requirement. The surface area consists of sprawling suburban neighborhoods, broken upwards by four-5 lane roads lined with strip malls, big box stores and parking lots (although to exist fair, so is much of Louisville outside of the neighborhoods in a higher place).

You lot won't detect much in the East End that's walkable (sidewalks in full general are hard to come by). Plus, it's far away from the best things to do in Louisville.

The reason and then many hotels are in this expanse is that there's lots of infinite and it'due south near a few business parks. You might observe some spacious vacation rentals too – there are tons of homes here with – merely you'll exist spending a lot of time in your car, getting on the highway to leave the Due east Cease and head downtown.

So, unless yous have a practiced reason to want to exist in the area, we don't recommend staying in Louisville'south Due east End.

The same holds true for a few neighborhoods exterior of the cadre downtown city center. We recommend non staying in Fern Creek, well-nigh Dixie Highway, in Shively, in Middletown, or in Pleasure Ridge Park.

Basically, if a neighborhood doesn't border one of the neighborhoods we mentioned above, and isn't within a few miles of downtown, don't stay there during your visit! (Over again, that doesn't mean these aren't great places to live – but a visit as a tourist has very different priorities than someone looking for a place to live.)

We promise that helps you narrow down your conclusion! In case you're notwithstanding feeling a little overwhelmed, nosotros've got a summary beneath.

Downtown Louisville sign on a trashcan in Louisville, Kentucky
Not certain which neighborhood yous're in? Look at the trash cans! (Yes, this is a trash tin can!) They'll tell you exactly where you are.

Where to Stay in Louisville: Summary

Nosotros've washed our best to summarize all the information y'all need into ane, seize with teeth-sized paragraph! Here goes:

  • Downtown Louisville: Base of operations yourself in downtown if y'all want to be right in the urban middle of the urban center, next to the waterfront, museums forth Museum Row, speakeasies and restaurants along Whiskey Row, and two bourbon distilleries. Nosotros recommend staying in a hip bazaar hotel on Museum Row, like The Grady Hotel or 21C Museum Hotel.
  • NuLu: Base yourself in NuLu if y'all want to stay shut to downtown while being within walking distance of fantastic food and great nightlife in a quirky, upward-and-coming neighborhood. We recommend a holiday rental, similar this chic, hip loft one street over from the shops and restaurants on Market Street, or this budget-friendly historic apartment right next to the NuLu Marketplace.
  • The Highlands: Base yourself in the Highlands if if you prefer to be a little away from the urban Downtown cadre surrounded by Historic Victorian homes, trees and lush greenery, a giant urban park, walkable neighborhoods, and Louisville'southward best places to eat and beverage lining the thriving Bardstown Road corridor. We recommend a vacation rental similar this stylish Highlands 4br Home, this Charming Apartment on the 2d floor of a fairytale-esque Victorian home, or this modern 5 Bedchamber Flat in the Cherokee Triangle.
  • Old Louisville: Base yourself in Old Louisville if you don't mind not having much "stuff" to walk to, but still want to exist surrounded past beautiful Victorian homes, trees and lush greenery in Louisville'south most beautiful neighborhood. We recommend staying in our favorite Louisville vacation rental on beautiful little Central Park, or in the charming The Inn at St. James Court.
  • Clifton: Base yourself in Clifton for budget-friendly holiday rentals with easy access to Frankfort Avenue, a charming walkable street lined with local shops, galleries, and some of the all-time places to consume and drink in boondocks. Nosotros recommend this bright, spacious flat located direct above a fantastic brunch spot, this three Sleeping accommodation House most the top of Frankfort Avenue (closest to downtown) or this historic and vivid 3br apartment in cardinal Clifton near Bingham Park and the Victorian homes along Coral Street.
  • Butchertown: Base of operations yourself in Butchertown if you like mail service-industrial urban renewal and street fine art, and withal want to be adjacent to NuLu and downtown. We recommend this artsy Butchertown apartment.
  • Germantown: Stay in Germantown if your upkeep is more important than the scenery, and you don't demand to exist directly side by side to downtown. Nosotros recommend this stylish 2br firm in walking altitude of the shops and restaurants on both Goss Avenue and Barret Artery, equally well as this cozy Germantown getaway located steps abroad from two delicious restaurants, The Post Pizza and Nachbar.

Did you figure out where to stay in Louisville? Which neighborhood did you land on? Drop u.s.a. a comment beneath!

Psst: Need some more than suggestions for your trip? Take a look at these other posts:

  • Louisville Weekend Trip: The Perfect three-Day Itinerary
  • The 63 Best Things to Do in Louisville, Kentucky
  • 13 Famous Louisville (& Kentucky) Foods You lot Have to Endeavor

Psst: Did you detect this post helpful? Save it for afterward Pinterest!

Where to Stay in Louisville Kentucky by neighborhood - and where not to stay! Written by a local.