9 Most Colorful Spots in Detroit

Belle Isle, the island state park just east of Downtown Detroit, is a beautiful spot to spend a day taking in the color. You can sit at Sunset Point and look over the Detroit skyline with the Detroit River in front.

The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory has a variety of plants and flowers and a lily pond. Next door is the historic Belle Isle Aquarium, which is America’s oldest original aquarium. Inside you can see colorful fish and the stunning green glass tiles on the ceiling.

One of the newer additions to the island is the three-acre Oudolf Garden from global garden designer Piet Oudolf. It’s comprised of four different areas with nearly 100,000 plants from more than 250 varieties.

Eastern Market is filled with color throughout the year - with dozens of murals spread throughout the market and its side streets. They also celebrate them every year with the Murals in the Market event.

On Saturdays all year long and Tuesdays in the summer, the market is also open with local companies selling fresh fruit and vegetables, delicious food, flowers, plants and more, meaning the market comes alive with color.

The Dequindre Cut, which is just one part of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, is about a two-mile greenway that runs on the former railroad line from Eastern Market all the way to the Detroit River.

Murals line the side of the greenway as part of the Dequindre Cut Art Walk, which has more than a dozen different murals that were painted dating back to 2009 when it opened. The newest mural was finished in the fall of 2023 and pays tribute to Michigan’s wildlife.

Detroit has stunning architecture throughout the city, with two standout buildings – the Fisher Building and the Guardian Building.

In New Center, the Fisher Building is known as “Detroit’s largest art object” and was designed by Albert Kahn. From the outside, the golden tower of the Fisher Building can be seen from miles away. On the inside, three stories of marble, brass, bronze and a mix of beautiful colors will have you looking up and constantly turning your head.

Right in Downtown Detroit, the Guardian Building is covered with red bricks on the outside, but the inside is where it stands out. The Griswold entrance has a dome with custom tiles by Pewabic Pottery, and there are beautiful murals and colors throughout. At the south end of the building’s lobby, a massive mural of Michigan with the state’s resources around it stands out.

You’ve read about plenty of places to take in color outside, but if you want to see some of the best art in the world, then head to the Detroit Institute of Arts, located in Midtown Detroit.

It’s been voted among the top art museums in the country and has more than 100 galleries, ranging from ancient artifacts to modern art.

You’ll see work from some of the most famous artists in the world, including Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and more.

The most iconic pieces are the Detroit Industry Murals, pained by Diego Rivera. They are a series of 27 frescos painted in 1932-33 showing off the American worker.

Right in the heart of Downtown Detroit tucked between the Z Parking Garage is The Belt, a colorful alley that features bars, restaurants, art and more. It’s curated by The Library Street Collective and features murals from artists like Shepard Fairey, FAILE, Nina Chanel Abney and more.

You can also grab delicious food from places like Mootz, or unique cocktails from The Skip or Standby.

From the outside, it may seem like just a parking garage, but The Z is also a massive public art mural. Owned by Bedrock, the garage has murals on each level going up to the room and each is different from the last.

In all, Bedrock said there are 130 paintings collaborated on by 27 international and local artists.

The Lincoln Street Art Park is just west of New Center and Midtown and is on the site of an abandoned factory. The park has different sculptures and murals, with the colorful murals providing a great and unique backdrop to the metal sculptures and brick buildings.

Located right near the famous Lafayette and American coney islands, Lafayette Greens is an urban garden in the heart of Downtown Detroit.

It’s part of the Greening of Detroit and was created by Kenneth Weikal Landscape Architecture, according to the Greening of Detroit. Throughout the summer, plants, vegetables and flowers grow, and there are also different art installations throughout the garden.