Downtown Dubuque Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Photo provided by Dubuque Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Take a trip through time as you stroll down the historic streets of this eastern Iowa city. Visit cafés, shops and galleries in revitalized heritage buildings.

Diverse architectural styles, historical monuments and lively community hubs make Downtown Dubuque an exciting destination. Tour the historic city streets and look out over the city from the top of a bluff. Have coffee in a buzzing café and dine in a restaurant within a heritage building. Check out boutique retailers and one of Iowa’s oldest farmers markets to get acquainted with the local Dubuque community.

Start your Downtown Dubuque walking tour at the historic Ice Harbor and the Port of Dubuque, once humming with steamboats. Stroll up Historic Old Main Street to admire the variations in old world architecture. Notice the Hotel Julien Dubuque, old stone buildings with ornate carvings and steamboat-style houses, with front porches on both the first and second floors.

At the Town Clock Plaza, see Dubuque’s restored Clock Tower. Open-air concerts are regularly held in the plaza every summer. Nearby, the Dubuque County Courthouse and the Carnegie-Stout Library are open to visitors. Pick up locally made souvenirs, boutique apparel and well-known labels from heritage homes converted into cozy stores. Walk toward the bluff and peruse the gift shops and galleries lining the streets. Reach the top of the bluff via the historic Fenelon Place Elevator, which takes passengers diagonally up the face. Stop at the Cathedral San Raphael to check out the imposing building’s gothic revival architecture.

On Saturdays between May and October, visit the weekly Dubuque Farmers Market, which has operated in the Upper Main district since 1845. Purchase homegrown produce and handmade souvenirs at this popular local market. Other regular events in Downtown Dubuque include jazz concerts, art festivals and architecture tours.

Downtown Dubuque stretches from the old port toward 12th Street in the north. Visit the district for free at any time. Public transit is limited, but a network of buses operates between the east and west sides of the city.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best Downtown Dubuque Hotel Deals

Days Inn by Wyndham Dubuque
Days Inn by Wyndham Dubuque
2 out of 5
1111 Dodge St, Dubuque, IA
The price is AU$86 per night from 10 Jul to 11 Jul
AU$86
per night
10 Jul - 11 Jul
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Dubuque. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the pool and the bar in our reviews. ...
7/10 Good! (1,004 reviews)
"Rooms clean the doors on rooms are flimsy"

Reviewed on 9 Jun. 2024

Days Inn by Wyndham Dubuque
Hotel Julien Dubuque
Hotel Julien Dubuque
3.5 out of 5
200 Main Street, Dubuque, IA
The price is AU$326 per night from 20 Jun to 21 Jun
AU$326
per night
20 Jun - 21 Jun
Stay at this 3.5-star spa hotel in Dubuque. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,066 reviews)
"Loved the setting and location. Nice hotel. Great surroundings."

Reviewed on 17 Jun. 2024

Hotel Julien Dubuque
Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena, an IHG Hotel
3 out of 5
450 Main St, Dubuque, IA
The price is AU$180 per night from 23 Jun to 24 Jun
AU$180
per night
23 Jun - 24 Jun
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Dubuque. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,003 reviews)
"Very nice"

Reviewed on 12 Jun. 2024

Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena, an IHG Hotel
Canfield Hotel
Canfield Hotel
2.5 out of 5
W 4th St, Dubuque, IA, Dubuque, IA
The price is AU$120 per night from 26 Jun to 27 Jun
AU$120
per night
26 Jun - 27 Jun
Stay at this hotel in Dubuque. Enjoy free parking, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Diamond Jo Casino and Five Flags Center ...
6.2/10 (49 reviews)
"Elevator was broken BUT I was alerted & told I could cancel my reservation w/o any penalty. I stayed anyway (a couple flights of stairs was good exercize). TV did not work properly in my initial room BUT was given a better room with a good TV. Staff did their best so I will use Canfield again next ..."

Reviewed on 20 May 2024

Canfield Hotel
Wyndham Garden Galena Hotel & Day Spa
Wyndham Garden Galena Hotel & Day Spa
4 out of 5
11383 US Highway 20, Galena, IL
The price is AU$169 per night from 26 Jun to 27 Jun
AU$169
per night
26 Jun - 27 Jun
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Galena. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (275 reviews)
"Friendly staff, excellent accomodations"

Reviewed on 15 Jun. 2024

Wyndham Garden Galena Hotel & Day Spa
Stoney Creek Inn Galena
Stoney Creek Inn Galena
2 out of 5
940 Galena Square Dr, Galena, IL
The price is AU$165 per night from 25 Jun to 26 Jun
AU$165
per night
25 Jun - 26 Jun
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Galena. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,015 reviews)
"Great location, great price. No complaints"

Reviewed on 16 Jun. 2024

Stoney Creek Inn Galena
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Downtown Dubuque Travel Guide

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