Cleveland, Ohio's working-class roots run deep. But in the last decade the city has given its industrial past a serious dusting and today's Cleveland is a sparkling model of American urban renewal. From its thriving dining scene to world class museums, Cleveland has a lot to offer visitors. Enjoy getting to know this city's past and present with a friendly local guide on a private Cleveland tour.

Cleveland is a city of neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct history and character. Your guide will introduce them to you, along with the city's major sights, such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Museum of Art. Enjoy shopping with the locals at the European-style Westside Market, or even getting out of the city to explore the wineries of Northeast Ohio.

At the end of the day, your guide will be happy to suggest a great spot for dinner - maybe somewhere in the city's rejuvenated Warehouse District, or the eclectic Tremont neighbourhood. Enjoy your private Cleveland tour!

Cleveland

Highlights of Cleveland - Express Private Tour

I would like to give you a bit of the lay-of-the-land regarding Cleveland. Centrally located, Chicago, Toronto and Washington DC are just a 6 hour drive away.

Cleveland is situated on Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes, one of the largest bodies of fresh-water in the world. Along with a scenic lakefront, the city is bisected by the Cuyahoga River, a major shipping channel that features a vibrant entertainment district along its banks and many miles of bike paths. Needless to say, water sports, boating, sailing, rowing and fishing are very popular.

This may be a cursory tour, yet a thorough overview of Cleveland, nonetheless! I will show you what the city is all about: three professional sports teams, industry, banking, entertainment districts, food and Rock 'n Roll (that's right, the phrase was coined here!)

You'll see the old and historic - and the new and cutting edge. I'll show you green space and an urban beach. We'll just be scratching the surface, and you'll want to come back!

In Downtown's Civic District, the fountain's bronze figure represents a man rising from the flames and reaching for eternal peace. The Terminal Tower, on Public Square, in in the background.

Along the boardwalk on the East Bank of the Flats you'll find luxury apartments, clubs, restaurants and plenty of places to watch the water traffic, from huge freighters to groups of rowers.

A sightseeing ship is anchored on the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River, in front of Jacobs Pavilion, a summertime concert venue, and the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, in a repurposed former powerhouse.

The historic Warehouse District, dating back to the first half of the 19th century, was transformed into Downtown's preeminent entertainment and residential neighborhood.

Let's take a look at why Cleveland is called "the best location in the nation"!

See why Cleveland Rocks!

This 2-hour trip combines driving and walking to some of the best sights and views of Cleveland you won't see from Main Street. You will see some of the unique attractions of Cleveland our popular sites.
Highlights of the tour include:
Euclid Avenue
The Flats
Edgewater park
West Side Market
Tremont
University Circle
Coventry

We visit some of the best places off Main Street

Hidden Sights and Stops of Cleveland

All In Cleveland- three-hour step on bus tour

One of my most popular tours. because it covers everything! You will get the full Cleveland experience that few other tours offer. Venturing through historic neighborhoods, visiting the heart of Downtown. This is a wallop of a tour, squeezed within a three hour customized time-frame in which your group will experience little-known gems. and regions of the greatest location in the nation! You will ride along the oldest continuously operating freighter system, that navigates the curvy Cuyahoga River. View local public art, architecture, culture, and much more!

Whiskey Island's historic Coast Guard Station.

Erie Street Cemetery with neighbor Progressive Field

Group Photo at my favorite "secret" Cleveland sign!

Historical, all encompassing excursion through Cleveland, with scenery, landmarks, hidden sights and perspectives!

Grand Cleveland Excursion - Full Day Tour

On this tour, you'll see all the key sites and colorful areas of Cleveland. In the last 30 years, this city has made a successful transition from blue collar to a white collar city. The urban renewal continues, neighborhood by neighborhood. Civic pride is at its peak too, and I can show you why. I've been an enthusiastic ambassador for our city for over 25 years!

Our amenities are definitely above average for a mid-sized city. We have the second largest performing arts center in the country, the best orchestra in the US, an award-winning parks system and the globally-renowned Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland boasts all the major sports teams, and let's not forget the one-and-only Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! We'll take a look inside several of these places.

For foodies, our 110 year old public Food Hall rivals any in the country! I am well-versed in the restaurant scene and could recommend the perfect place for you. A view of the water, a hip neighborhood or a romantic spot? No problem!

Customizable itinerary:

The largest outdoor chandelier in the country anchors Playhouse Square, the 2nd largest performing arts center in the nation, consisting of 11 theatres and performance spaces.

The Cleveland Museum of Art's landmark 1916 building in University Circle, and Lake Erie in the background.

Outdoor dining at one of many restaurants along the scenic Cuyahoga River in the Flats.

One of the 8 art deco Guardians of Transportation along the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge leading to Progressive Field, in the background, home of the Cleveland Guardians baseball team.

Let's cover everything there is to see and know about Cleveland!

Off the beaten path with "Back Roads Jo"- half day

One of my most popular tours because it covers everything! You will get the full Cleveland experience that few other tours offer. Venturing through historic neighborhoods, visiting Erie Street cemetery in the heart of Downtown. This is an all-encompassing tour in which you will experience little-known gems and regions of the greatest location in the nation! You will ride along the oldest continuously operating freighter system, that navigates the curvy Cuyahoga River. View local public art, architecture, culture, food and much more! And we will enjoy a progressive lunch at local haunts along the way.

Everybody likes driving through scenic, winding back roads, with hidden sights and perspectives!

Cleveland History, Culture & Architecture - Half Day Tour

This tour will provide a comprehensive overview of Cleveland, with several stops at notable sites.

This city's history is inextricably linked with its cultural life. In the 1920's, Cleveland was one of the largest, most prosperous cities in the US. The oil, steel and automotive industries were burgeoning. Philanthropically-minded industrialists left lasting legacies by endowing our great institutions, resulting in top-notch museums, universities and the Cleveland Orchestra (#1 in the nation), as well as the beautiful edifices that house them.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is 1of the 4 most richly-endowed art museums in the US. As an arts lover, I will show you some of its greatest gems.

Architecture aficionados will see both historical and modern buildings, created by world-renowned architects such as IM Pei, Sir Norman Foster, Frank Gehry and others.

I've been showcasing Cleveland to newcomers for over 25 years. Allow me to share my knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with you!

Customizable itinerary:

Historical Arcade modeled after Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy.

A view of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from Lake Erie

The Cleveland Museum of Art in University Circle

Severance Hall, the home of the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra, in University Circle. It is surrounded by buildings on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.

Let's go down memory lane to see Cleveland's most significant places and treasures!

Half Day Cleveland Tour of Rock and Roll History

Rock and roll has deep roots in Cleveland, take this behind the scenes tour with an experienced chauffeur, hospitality professional, and resident rocker! My father is pictured here driving the Beatles in 1964 to their first concert in America held at iconic Public Hall.

The history of rock started here back in the early 1950s, when radio disc-jockey, Alan Freed titled the genre of music he started playing "rock 'n' roll, " a term borrowed from an old blues tune.

See the location of The World Series of Rock Concert, these recurring, day-long multi-act events were held from 1974 through 1980. Then in 1995 an all-star jam at the same location Cleveland Municipal Stadium welcomed the official opening of neighboring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You will learn about stories not included in the museum displays.

This tour can be customized to receive a more in-depth view from an industry insider. Spend the day feeling the beat of Cleveland's still happening music scene.

Cleveland's Mourning {A} Blkstar https://mourningablkstar.com/

I hosted the band Moon Kissed at my home, during the last stop of their recent tour. https://moonkissedmusic.com/music

How Cleveland became the home to the rock hall museum, venues, bars and a favorite spot for entertainers

While covering the sites on this itinerary, you will also be getting an overview of Cleveland. The tour spans East Side to West Side, encompassing the city's cultural hub, University Circle, and the business hub, Downtown.
Our focus is on the impact of African Americans in Cleveland, the far reaching effects of their accomplishments, as well as the significant influence of Cleveland in their trajectories. Did you know that Jesse Owens came to national attention while a teenager in Cleveland? Or, that Langston Hughes began writing when he was a student at Central High School? The oldest African American theater in the country, where his plays premiered, is here. You'll see the church that served as headquarters for Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his frequent visits to Cleveland. The historical markers of our Civil Rights Trail commemorate places, events and people - in politics, sports, religion and social activism. I'll also show you where freedom seekers boarded boats bound for Canada. Please join me.

St. John's Episcopal Church, known as "Station Hope" by many freedom seekers, was an important last stop on the Underground Railroad.

Larry Doby statue at Progressive Field. He became the first Black player in the American League when he joined the Cleveland Indians.

Mayor Carl Stokes historical marker in front of Cleveland City Hall. He was the first Black man to become mayor of a large American city (8th largest at the time) in a groundbreaking election in 1967.

The pre-Civil War Cozad-Bates House was the home of active abolitionists who supported the Underground Railroad.

For decades, Cory United Methodist Church hosted key figures of the Civil Rights Movement, including W.E.B. DuBois, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Malcolm X and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A plaza in University Circle commemorating Stephanie Tubbs Jones, former Cuyahoga County Prosecutor in Cleveland, and the first African American woman to represent the state of Ohio in Congress.

Notable People and Key Places that played a role in the Civil Rights Movement and the Underground Railroad

Black History and Legacy in Cleveland

The story of Cleveland breweries is as old as the city itself. Settlers established themselves near the Cuyahoga River. Competition was and still is fierce and thirsts are mighty here in Cleveland! Let's take a day or early evening tour of establishments and meet some of our brew masters.

This relaxing private tour will give you an authentic taste of Cleveland's crafts. Drive the scenic roads along the shores of Lake Erie and the iconic Cuyahoga River, and enjoy a guided tour of local breweries, distilleries and wineries. You'll learn all about the process of these artisanal masters and sample their fabulous products. Browse their spirits at Great Lakes Gift Shop.

https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/street-level/griffinhauntedlakewood102721.aspx

Cleveland tours

Explore with 9 tours and 3 guides.

Karolina M.

$ 425 (USD)

Steve R.

$ 395 (USD)

MaryJo

$ 525 (USD)

Karolina M.

$ 625 (USD)

MaryJo

$ 595 (USD)

Karolina M.

$ 525 (USD)

MaryJo

$ 465 (USD)

Karolina M.

$ 525 (USD)

MaryJo

$ 465 (USD)

Customize your tour

Cleveland tours

Things to do in Cleveland