5 reasons to visit Louisville in 2024

Bourbon, bluegrass music and baseball are just some of the reasons to fall in love with Kentucky’s largest city. Louisville has been home to many greats, including boxing superstar and Olympic gold medal winner Muhammad Ali. Even literary icon F. Scott Fitzgerald was stationed here and frequently visited The Seelbach Hotel, which is mentioned by name in his classic novel The Great Gatsby. Along with its Bourbon Trail, home to some of the world’s most famous whiskeys, and a strong sporting heritage that includes the Kentucky Derby, there are many reasons to visit Louisville in 2024.

1. The Kentucky Derby turns 150 in 2024

Ask any Kentuckian and they are likely to talk about how the state is known for horses. This is because one of the world’s most celebrated horse races, the Kentucky Derby, is held every year in Louisville on the first Saturday in May. Held at the historic Churchill Downs racetrack, the Derby is considered the longest continuously held sporting event in the country where three-year-old thoroughbreds with fascinating names race a distance of 1.25 miles. There is plenty of action happening leading up to Derby Day as well. Grab a mint julep and watch behind-the-scenes warm-up sessions of the horses or head to the buzzing opening night event where the post-position draw is now open to the public for the first time. If you’re visiting before or after horse racing season, there is still a lot to explore at the Kentucky Derby Museum, where you can receive a tour of Churchill Downs, discover fascinating exhibits, or watch a brilliant short film, giving you a glimpse of the Derby’s rich heritage.

2. 2024 is set to be a great year for sport in Kentucky

Beyond horseracing, Louisville wears many hats in sporting heritage. The city is hosting the PGA Golf Championship at the prestigious Valhalla Golf Club in 2024, the fourth time the golf club has hosted the major event. It is hard to miss the world’s largest baseball bat when walking around downtown, which marks the entrance to Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. This notable museum, which has been making baseball bats since 1884, is a must for baseball fans and those intrigued by the history of the sport. As a working factory, visitors will be taken on a journey through the full manufacturing process of the famous baseball bats. There are bats on display from many greats including Lou Gehrig and if you’re up for it, you can test your batting skills here as well. If this isn’t enough, there are ample outdoor activities to indulge in too. Louisville is home to over a dozen parks designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted giving plenty of options to stretch your legs. For more adventure head south to Mammoth Cave National Park which is known for being the longest cave system in the world.

3. It's the home of Muhammad Ali

No visit to Louisville is complete without tracing in the footsteps of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Find numerous murals depicting the icon across the city or discover his old stomping grounds that still exist today including the Columbia Gym (now Spalding University) where he used to train. Venture out to the West End neighbourhood to drive past Muhammad Ali’s pink-hued childhood home to get a glimpse into his early life as Cassius Clay. Don’t miss the Muhammad Ali Center, where you can easily spend a few hours learning about his life in Louisville – from boyhood to his final resting place at nearby Cave Hill Cemetery. Spread over multiple stories with panoramic views overlooking the Ohio River, the museum displays interactive exhibits that cover various aspects of Ali’s life including the challenges that he faced in his career and his battles beyond the ring in his day-to-day life. Keep an eye out for news about a brand new musical titled ALI, which is currently in the works and will be composed by GRAMMY-award winning Louisville Orchestra conductor, Teddy Abrams.

4. Soak up Louisville's bourbon heritage

Bourbon is considered ‘America’s only native spirit’ and Louisville is home to numerous top-notch bourbon producers, and Kentucky Bourbon Trail® favorites, like Old Forester Distilling, Angel’s Envy, and Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.. The city’s bourbon scene is constantly growing and there are several ways to experience it all. Start with the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience where there is an impressive demonstration of how bourbon is made and the history of the spirit including the devastating effects on the industry during the Prohibition era. Bourbon is an essential part of life in Louisville and you will find it used generously in the cuisine too. On menus in restaurants, you’ll come across bourbon-glazed steaks, hot sauces infused with bourbon, or even bourbon-flavoured ice cream. Newer experiences on the city’s Whiskey Row are emerging like the Pursuit Spirits Visitor Experience (set to open late 2024) where you can learn the fascinating and technical aspects of bourbon. There are also many swanky spots offering cocktail-making classes and unique speakeasies such as Hell or High Water that will take you back to the dazzling days of the 1920s.

5. Wander neighbourhoods full of diverse architecture

One of the oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains, Louisville was founded back in 1778, just two years after the U.S. declared its independence. The city is known for its variety of architectural styles – from traditional to modern to somewhere in between. Take the historic district in Old Louisville, the third-largest historic district in the country and home to the largest collection of Victorian-era mansions. Explore the neighbourhood on your own or sign up for a walking architecture and history tour or night-time ghost tour. Another unique architectural style you’ll find throughout the city is what are known as shotgun homes. These long, narrow, and quaint one-storey homes can be found scattered throughout the Germantown, Portland and Butchertown neighbourhoods in vast numbers that rival only New Orleans. A walk around downtown Louisville is also a great way to see some of the city’s unique buildings with post-modernism on display as well as the largest collection of cast-iron facades outside of New York City’s SoHo neighbourhood.

Feeling inspired?

For more information, head to the official Louisville Tourism website.

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