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City in Iowa, United States
Photo: Vkulikov, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hip and urban, Iowa City is a prominent college town primarily known as the home of the University of Iowa. Along with its adjacent suburb of Coralville, just to the west. Iowa City sits at the center of a metro area home to 171,000 people (2020) in the I-380 Corridor region of Eastern Iowa.
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Tour Iowa's first capitol building in the center of the Pentacrest. Inside you'll find three floors of exhibits linked by a beautiful spiral staircase within the building's rotunda. The original Senate and Legislature Chambers are open as well as a couple of galleries which host changing exhibitions. Gift shop.
This museum's collection includes some European paintings, a large collection of African and Mesoamerican art, and some modern art among other objects.
One of the oldest museums west of the Mississippi, this place has many well-crafted displays of taxidermy figures, prehistoric artifacts, and exhibits on Iowa's geology and ecology, as well as the state's Native American cultures. Among the highlights of the museum are a reconstruction of a giant Ice Age sloth, a complete whale skeleton, and an extensive Bird Hall with over a thousand birds on display, including a marvelous cyclorama (a 360-degree diorama) depicting bird life on a remote Pacific island. Gift shop.
Displays about the history of the Hawkeye teams, including Nile Kinnick's Heisman Trophy.
An oft-noted local attraction, the Black Angel is a statue in Oakland Cemetery. Designed by famed sculptor Mario Korbel, the statue is 8.5 feet tall and depicts a dark angel of death guarding over a grave. The beautiful yet eerie angel has been a source of local urban legend since its construction. Many legends say that if anyone kisses the statue, he or she will be struck dead unless they are a virgin. Despite this, the Angel and her folklore have been embraced.
Ped Mall
A pedestrian-only plaza in the middle of Downtown that is home to many locally-owned restaurants, bars, and stores, as well as the Iowa City Public Library. The Ped Mall serves as a pleasant gathering spot for locals, and plays host to public art displays and events.
Over 90 automobiles dating from since 1899, with a replica of an early Skelly gas station.
Permanent and rotating exhibits on the history of Iowa City and the surrounding county, with displays on farm life, the Native American history of the region, and the development of Iowa City. The society also maintains a collection of historic buildings scattered around Iowa City and Coralville which are opened on a limited basis, including Plum Grove, the house of the first governor of Iowa.
A large riverside park with lots of amenities for families, including picnic shelters, ponds, playgrounds, athletic facilities, a boat ramp, a small amusement park for little kids that's open in the summer months, and an outdoor Shakespeare theater.
A large natural wooded area on the northeast corner of town, past Oakland Cemetery, with lots of trails meandering through woods, reconstructed prairie and wetlands. Popular with day hikers and picnickers in the summer and cross-country skiers and sledders in the winter.
A historic theatre, first opened in 1912, now operates as a stage for plays, comedy and music performances, and community events. Also home to a small gallery showcasing local artwork.
Iowa City's resident professional theatre presents both classic and contemporary theatre. Most popular are Shakespeare plays, which are performed each summer at City Park's Shakespeare Theater.
An independent movie theater that shows many indie, arthouse, and foreign films, as well as special events such as film discussions and community screenings. The theater also shows film screenings by the student-operated Bijou Cinema, which offers free movies for students and showcases student work.
formerly The Picador
Iowa City's most popular music venue offers performances by local, regional, and national bands and musicians. Some all ages shows but mostly 19+.
formerly The Q, The Industry, and Blue Moose Tap House
Bar and live music venue, with local and national music acts. Most shows 19+.
Home to the Hawkeyes football team. If you happen to make it to a Hawkeyes home game, you can take part in perhaps the most heartwarming tradition in American sports. In early 2017, the university opened a new children's hospital across the street, with the top floors having an unobstructed view of the entire playing field. The hospital created a lounge area that's reserved for patients and their families on game days. Since the hospital opened, every home game has featured the "Kinnick Wave" at the end of the first quarter, which involves the entire crowd turning toward it (unless they're already facing that direction) and waving to the children across the street.
Home to the Hawkeyes basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling teams.
A celebration of children's literature, with lots of family activities, workshops for kids, a book fair, and even readings of work by children and students.
Nationally-known acts, indie bands, and local musicians perform at various venues downtown. Literary readings by authors at local bookstores and coffee shops.
First weekend in June. Popular three-day community celebration of local and regional artists, including open admission to downtown's art galleries, live music, local food vendors, and other activities.
June. Gay pride parade, run, and festival.
Live jazz groups, both local and from around the world play on stages set up around downtown Iowa City.
The city's premier literary event, a multi-day celebration of the written word with lots of readings, discussions, demonstrations, and a book fair.
20 downtown galleries showcase the works of local and regional artists.
An organic grocery store with some good lunch options, including some excellent soups and breads as well as a salad and buffet bar. Tends to be on the pricey side, but is a good spot for a quick lunch or snack.
formerly Cafe Z
French cuisine.
Hamburgers, soups, a large selection of omelets and more. An Iowa City institution, noted for often being a stop for politicians during campaign season.
East Indian food. This place is leagues above the other Indian restaurant in town.
Popular local Mediterranean food. Serving falafel, hummus, babba ganoush, tabbouleh.
Pizza from family recipes. Thin-crust style.
Serving marvelously thick burgers and sandwiches, with only Iowa-made beers and ciders on tap.
Asian, Greek and Italian noodle dishes.
Due to the large cover for those yet to turn 21 years of age, it caters to an older crowd. There's a dance floor and it's pretty upbeat.
Iowa City's only gay bar and dance club. DJs most nights of the week, plus fun drag shows, karaoke, theme parties and contests. Mainly college-aged (19+).
A staple bar for decades. It's known for incredible pizza ($1.50/slice on Sundays) and cheap drinks. Visited by Tom Brokaw in May 2008 when his favorite booth as a student was dedicated to him with a plaque.
Located downtown and generally caters to an older crowd. Fairly laid-back atmosphere.
formerly The Q, The Industry, and Blue Moose Tap House
Good place to play pool and get cheap beer. Draws a fairly diverse crowd and has great music with frequent shows upstairs.
everyone just calls it George's
A dark dive bar, not a buffet. However, they do make the best burgers in Iowa City. Filled with locals and students from the Writers' Workshop. If you go in the afternoon, you'll probably spot more than one aspiring writer filling up a notebook.
everyone just calls it The Fox Head
One block away from George's. Often considered the "fiction bar," to George's supposed allegiance within the poetry division. In reality, students from each of the disciplines frequent both locations. Divey, with a popular pool table, a jukebox, and a taxidermied fox behind the bar.
Variety of cheap drinks. Great place to watch football and basketball games. It gets pretty chaotic on the weekends.
Wings and beer, busier on game day.
New, modern, hotel downtown on the Pedestrian Mall, in Iowa City's tallest building.
formerly Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Large hotel and conference center at the Iowa River Landing in Coralville, with river views.
Hilton Garden Inn
Opened in 2017, 100% smoke free, close to downtown.
at the Iowa Memorial Union
On the campus of the university, inside the Memorial Union building. Few frills, but the location is hard to beat for the price.
A large upscale mall in adjacent Coralville. Anchor stores include Dillard's, Younkers, JCPenny, Target, and Best Buy, and the mall also has a movie theater, a carousel, and an indoor ice skating rink.
This large bookstore downtown is frequently hailed as one of the finest bookstores in the nation and regularly features readings by nationally and internationally known authors. The store is spread over three floors, with a children's section in the bottom floor. The top floor holds a nice cafe with views over the street.
By plane
The nearest commercial airport, the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), is in Cedar Rapids, about 20 miles to the north on I-380. A taxi to Iowa City may cost $40; a shuttle $25.
By bus
Walking is the easiest way to get around Downtown Iowa City; the main campus of the university is right in the middle of Downtown and is very integrated with the town.
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Cedar Rapids · Regional · CID
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