FreeIowa State Capitol
The gold-domed Capitol on the hill above downtown is Des Moines at its most photogenic: a free, working statehouse with grand staircases, a spiral library and a skyline view that rewards a short climb.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Iowa
Des Moines
Des Moines is the friendly capital of Iowa, a river city where a gold-leaf dome crowns the skyline, a free sculpture park sits beside the library, and the biggest state fair in the country fills August with butter cows, prize pigs and food on a stick.
This guide collects the essential sights in one place: the State Capitol and its museum, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the Des Moines Art Center, Living History Farms, the botanical garden dome, the zoo and the Science Center, plus easy day trips to the Madison County covered bridges and the glowing High Trestle Trail Bridge. Hotels span historic downtown landmarks, all-suite family bases and a resort option near Adventureland, and six travel guides cover first visits, where to stay, a three-day plan, eating and drinking, the State Fair and the best day trips.
Don't miss
Iowa State Capitol
The gold-domed Capitol on the hill above downtown is Des Moines at its most photogenic: a free, working statehouse with grand staircases, a spiral library and a skyline view that rewards a short climb.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
A free, open-air gallery of monumental works in the Western Gateway, set among lawns and downtown towers. It is one of the best things to do in Des Moines for nothing at all.
Living History Farms
A 500-acre working open-air museum in Urbandale that walks you through three centuries of Iowa farming, from an Ioway farm to a 1900s town, with costumed interpreters and real animals.
Iowa State Fair
Eleven days of August fairgrounds madness: the butter cow, giant boars, grandstand concerts and every food imaginable on a stick. The state fair is the biggest party in Des Moines.
Things to do in Des Moines
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeFreePappajohn Sculpture Park
A free, open-air gallery of monumental works in the Western Gateway, set among lawns and downtown towers. It is one of the best things to do in Des Moines for nothing at all.
45 minutes to 2 hoursDetails →
Living History Farms
A 500-acre working open-air museum in Urbandale that walks you through three centuries of Iowa farming, from an Ioway farm to a 1900s town, with costumed interpreters and real animals.
Iowa State Fair
Eleven days of August fairgrounds madness: the butter cow, giant boars, grandstand concerts and every food imaginable on a stick. The state fair is the biggest party in Des Moines.
FreeDes Moines Art Center
A free modern and contemporary art museum in a building complex by Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei and Richard Meier, set beside Greenwood Park on the western edge of downtown.
1.5 to 2.5 hoursDetails →
Blank Park Zoo
Iowa's best-known zoo on the south side of Des Moines, with animals from several continents, close-up encounters and plenty of room for children to roam.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
A glass dome on the east bank of the river houses tropical plants, a waterfall and winter greenery, with outdoor gardens and a skyline view. It is an easy, affordable stop in any weather.
Science Center of Iowa
A hands-on science museum in the Western Gateway with interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and a large-format dome theater, ideal for rainy days and curious children.
Terrace Hill
A grand Second Empire mansion on a hill west of downtown, built in the 1860s and now the residence of Iowa's governor, open for guided tours in season.
State Historical Museum of Iowa
The state's history museum on the Capitol grounds tells the story of Iowa through artifacts, regional exhibits and changing displays, a calm pairing with a Capitol visit.
Principal Riverwalk
A paved riverside path through downtown with bridges, plazas, public art and an ice-skating rink in winter, the best free stroll in the city.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
FreeDowntown Farmers Market
Saturday mornings from spring to autumn, the Court Avenue district fills with produce, baked goods, flowers and street entertainment in one of the biggest farmers markets in the Midwest.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$Hotel Fort Des Moines
Downtown
A restored 1919 landmark in the heart of downtown, with historic lobby details, a lively restaurant scene and an easy walk to the Western Gateway and Court Avenue.
Check rates →
$$$The Savery Hotel
Downtown
A 1919 downtown landmark reborn as a Marriott hotel, with elegant rooms, a grand lobby and a prime position near Court Avenue, the Capitol and the skywalk.
Check rates →
$$Des Moines Marriott Downtown
Downtown
A large, full-service downtown hotel on Grand Avenue with skywalk access, a pool and easy reach of the Capitol, the Western Gateway and the Events Center.
Check rates →Hilton Des Moines Downtown
East Village and Events Center
A full-service Hilton beside the Iowa Events Center and the Principal Riverwalk, handy for concerts, hockey, conventions and walks to the East Village.
Check rates →Embassy Suites by Hilton Des Moines Downtown
Downtown
An all-suite hotel in downtown Des Moines with separate living areas, an atrium and a complimentary breakfast, a convenient choice for families and longer stays.
Check rates →Hyatt Place Des Moines Downtown
Downtown
A modern, mid-priced downtown hotel with a bright lobby, a complimentary-style breakfast, a fitness center and a short walk to Court Avenue and the Western Gateway.
Check rates →Residence Inn by Marriott Des Moines Downtown
Downtown
An extended-stay-style hotel downtown with studios and suites that include kitchens, a free breakfast and space for families or longer visits.
Check rates →Prairie Meadows Hotel
Altoona
A resort-style hotel in Altoona beside the Prairie Meadows racetrack and casino, a short drive from Adventureland and the State Fairgrounds.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Iowa State CapitolStay
The Savery HotelDowntown
Do
Pappajohn Sculpture ParkStay
Hotel Fort Des MoinesDowntown
Do
Living History FarmsStay
Embassy Suites by Hilton Des Moines DowntownDowntown
Des Moines guides
Des Moines for First-Timers: What to See and How the City Fits Together
A practical first-visit guide to Des Moines: the Capitol, the Western Gateway, the East Village, the river and the sights worth planning around.
Where to Stay in Des Moines: Neighborhoods and Hotels Compared
Which part of Des Moines to base yourself in: downtown, the East Village, Court Avenue, the Western Gateway or Altoona, with hotel picks for each.
Three Days in Des Moines: A Balanced Itinerary
A three-day plan for Des Moines mixing the Capitol, public art, farms, local food and a day trip to the covered bridges.
Eating and Drinking in Des Moines: What to Try and Where to Look
A food guide to Des Moines: the pork tenderloin, sweet corn, the Saturday market, breweries and the neighborhoods where the best restaurants cluster.
The Iowa State Fair: A Visitor Guide to Eleven Days of August
How to plan a visit to the Iowa State Fair: when to go, what to see and eat, where to stay and how to handle the crowds and heat.
Day Trips from Des Moines: Covered Bridges, a Glowing Trestle and More
The best day trips from Des Moines: the Madison County covered bridges, the High Trestle Trail Bridge, Adventureland and other easy escapes.
