Cleveland is a city that takes music seriously, and not only rock. The same few miles hold the shrine of rock and roll, one of the world's most admired concert halls and a theater district built in the 1920s. This guide builds a trip around them, with the practical details that save time.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
I. M. Pei's glass pyramid on the lakefront is the headline. The museum tells the story of rock and its roots through costumes, instruments, lyrics and films, and most of the exhibits are on Level 0, so start there. Plan two to three hours. The museum opens daily from 10am to 5pm from September to June, with Thursday evenings until 9pm, which is the quietest time. It is cashless, so bring a card, and it closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Children five and under are free.
Severance Music Center
In University Circle, the home of The Cleveland Orchestra since 1931 offers both concerts and tours. The public tours are led by volunteer guides, run for about an hour on select Sundays at 11:30am and take in the concert hall, the grand foyer, the organ loft and the green room, with the 6,025-pipe Norton Memorial Organ as a highlight. Tours are booked in advance on the orchestra's site, and the ticket office is closed on Sundays. If your dates match a season concert, an evening in the hall is the best way to experience it.
Playhouse Square
Downtown, the district describes itself as the world's largest theater restoration project, with 12 performance spaces and five original theaters that opened between 1921 and 1922. The KeyBank State Theatre's lobby is 320 feet long. Free public tours run on the third Saturday of the month and select Mondays, starting at the State Theatre lobby, with registration required. For a show, check the venue calendar for touring musicals, plays and concerts, and book early for popular dates.
Evenings and extras
After dark, the ghost tour near Prospect Avenue and Playhouse Square is a one-hour way to see the theater district's streets, and the Cleveland Comedy City Tour offers a laugh-filled bus ride for groups that prefer humor to history. Progressive Field has Guardians baseball in the season for visitors who want a sports night.
A three-day music plan
On day one, visit the Rock Hall in the morning, walk the lakefront and have dinner downtown. On day two, spend the morning in University Circle at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which is free, take a Severance tour if it falls on a Sunday and have lunch in Little Italy. Spend the evening at Playhouse Square for a show. On day three, choose between the Cleveland History Center, a food tour or the national park.
Where to stay
Staying downtown lets you walk to Playhouse Square and the Rock Hall. The Kimpton Schofield is a boutique choice on East Ninth, the Crowne Plaza sits at Playhouse Square, and the Hyatt Regency occupies the historic Arcade. If Severance and the museums are your priorities, the Glidden House and the Residence Inn are in University Circle. Check the venue calendars before you book, since event weekends push up hotel prices.
Shaping the trip around the calendar
Music travel runs on schedules, so start with the dates rather than the hotel. Look first at the orchestra and Playhouse Square calendars, then fit the Rock Hall around them, since the museum is open most days and flexible while concerts and tours are not. A Sunday-morning Severance tour followed by lunch in Little Italy and an afternoon at the art museum makes a complete University Circle day, and an evening show then needs only a short ride on the HealthLine back downtown. If your dates leave a free evening, a Guardians game in the season or a ghost walk on Prospect Avenue fills it without needing any advance planning.
Getting around
The HealthLine bus runs along Euclid Avenue from downtown past Playhouse Square to University Circle, and the Red Line connects the airport, Tower City and University Circle. This means a music trip works without a car, and you can leave it behind and enjoy an evening out.
Tips
Buy Rock Hall tickets in advance, check the orchestra's tour dates early because they are limited and look at the Playhouse Square calendar as soon as you plan your trip. Thursday evenings are the sweet spot for the Rock Hall, and Sunday mornings are the window for Severance.
