Cincinnati Music Hall is the landmark at the heart of Over-the-Rhine, across from Washington Park, and the Friends of Music Hall run guided tours that take you inside it. The hall opened in 1878 and is the home of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the other performing companies that use it, and a tour is a good way to see it even if you cannot get tickets to a concert. The indoor tour covers the building and lasts about 90 minutes, and it runs all year. From May to October there is also an outdoor walking tour around the perimeter of the building, which is roughly the length and width of a football field, with guides who encourage questions and so can run long. Both tours take you through a grand building that is still in active use.
Schedule and booking
Indoor tours run year-round, and outdoor tours run May to October. Tour times and prices are not listed on the tour page, so use the link to see what is available on your dates. You can buy in advance online, by phone or in person at the Aronoff Center box office on Walnut Street or the Music Hall box office.
Payment is required in advance, and you should bring your confirmation. Space is limited, and tickets can sometimes be bought on the day of the tour if space remains, but it is better to book ahead. Members of the OTR Chamber, Cincinnati Arts Association, Friends of Music Hall and Cincinnati Tourism Ambassadors receive 10 percent off, and there are group, student and small-group discounts.
Where and when to arrive
The hall is at 1241 Elm Street, between 12th and 14th Streets, across from Washington Park, and outdoor tours meet in Washington Park. Guides check registration 15 minutes before the start, so arrive early. Tour routes can change because Music Hall is a working building with ongoing repairs and events, so what you see on one day may differ from another.
Access and age
The indoor tour is described as ADA accessible with a few opportunities to sit briefly, and guests who have trouble with minimal stairs should say so when booking. The outdoor tour has no stairs or hills but no places to sit, and the tours are not recommended for anyone who finds walking difficult without a walker or wheelchair. They are not recommended for very young children, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian on the outdoor tour. The tour organizers handle accommodation requests by phone or email.
Making it count
Choose the indoor tour for the interior and the outdoor tour for the architecture and the neighborhood, and combine either with a meal in Over-the-Rhine. Because Washington Park is a few steps away, it makes a pleasant start or finish, and the streetcar stops nearby.
If you are attending a concert, the tour gives you context for where you will sit. For a different angle on the same buildings after dark, the ghost walking tour passes by Music Hall as well. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time for the tour plus a drink afterward.
Walkers who enjoy architecture should choose the outdoor tour for the exterior details and neighborhood context, while those who want the grand rooms should choose the indoor tour, and visitors with time can do both on different days. Because tour paths can change with repairs and events, it is wise to treat the experience as a guided look at a living building rather than a fixed route. Tell your guide what you are most interested in, since the guides encourage participation.
What to expect
The experience
A guided indoor tour of a historic concert hall, with an outdoor walking tour of the exterior from May to October.
Best time
Any day with a tour available, then a meal in Over-the-Rhine.
How long
About 90 minutes.
Tips
Book ahead, arrive 15 minutes early, and tell the organizers about any mobility needs when booking.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture and music lovers.
- Families
- Not recommended for very young children, and under-18s need a guardian on the outdoor tour.
- Couples
- A tour followed by dinner in Over-the-Rhine.
- Pair with
- Findlay Market or the Hidden Brewery Caverns Tour.
- Time needed
- Plan on two hours with travel and arrival.
Good questions
How long is the Music Hall tour?+
Indoor tours run about 90 minutes. Outdoor walking tours are typically about the same, though guides encourage questions so timing varies.
When do Music Hall tours run?+
Indoor tours run year-round and outdoor tours run May to October. Check the tour page for available dates.
Where do I meet for the tour?+
The hall is at 1241 Elm Street. Outdoor tours meet in Washington Park, and you should arrive 15 minutes early.
How do I buy tickets?+
In advance online, by phone, or at the Aronoff Center or Music Hall box offices. Payment is required in advance.
Is the tour accessible?+
The indoor tour is described as ADA accessible with a few chances to sit. Tell the organizers about any stair or mobility concerns when you book.
