Here’s everything you need to know about the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) in downtown Louisville. From tips on choosing the perfect hotels near the convention center to enjoying Louisville’s cultural attractions – bourbon, sports, art, culture, and architecture -, you’ll find plenty of ways to make the most of your stay beyond meetings and conference rooms.

Kentucky Convention Center, View from Hyatt Regency Room, 5th floor, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

At the heart of downtown Louisville is the Kentucky Convention Center, this great hub for business travelers.

I attended a 4-day conference there and stayed at the Hyatt, just a 2-minute walk away. I absolutely loved the venue’s architecture, but what really stood out from my perspective was everything around it—the perfect mix of art and sports, and, of course, bourbon! With the famous bourbon trail right around the corner, I couldn’t resist trying a few bourbon cocktails that were simply amazing. Louisville literally shines when you combine business with some local culture and flavours!

Therefore, whether you’re organizing or attending an event, the Convention Center offers everything you might need — modern meeting spaces, cutting-edge technology etc. But what sets it apart is its unbeatable location. Unlike many others on the outskirts of cities, this one is perfectly positioned within walking distance or a short taxi drive of most top attractions in Louisville.

The Kentucky Convention Center is surrounded by lots of things to do and see just to unwind after a day of meetings, from bourbon tastings and vibrant nightlife of the 4th Street Live to sports museums, Derby track tours, and charming Victorian homes with their own famous ghosts.

Kentucky Convention Center: A Hub for Business

Kentucky International Convention Center, Downtown Louisville, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

Every year, I participate in a water treatment convention that rotates through different US cities. This year’s lucky choice was Louisville, and the beautiful, airy Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC). And what an amazing choice it was!

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🥃 The Convention Center Building

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Convention Center Interior, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

The building’s architectural design perfectly complements Louisville’s downtown landscape. Its exterior has expansive glass facades that flood the interiors with natural light. The design is both functional and aesthetically striking, with modern, open spaces that are ideal for both large-scale events and more intimate gatherings. It’s virtually perfect for events of all sizes.

Inside, the Convention Center is equipped with a wide range of amenities, including  flexible meeting and exhibit space, state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, and high-speed internet connectivity. The meeting rooms are fully customizable, allowing event planners to configure spaces for anything from small breakout sessions to large conferences. Additionally, the facility features spacious lobbies and pre-function areas, perfect for networking and socializing.

The venue hosts a variety of events: cocktail receptions, concerts, exhibitions, sporting events, weddings, and even gaming championships— the Pokémon Championship is just weeks away.

Over 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 40,000 sq. ft. column-free ballroom, 52 meeting rooms, and a conference theatre with 165 tiered seats and a 220-inch video wall equipped with cutting-edge AV capabilities, – it’s what makes the Kentucky International Convention Center a true top-tier convention venue in the United States. I found it impressive.

And what sets KICC even more apart is its location, surrounded by lots of cultural and artsy things to do after a day of events.

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📌 The Location

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Kentucky International Convention Center Surrounding Area Map

The KICC is linked by skywalks to well-known hotels and is only a few minutes from the beautiful Ohio River.

The surrounding area has a rich bourbon-making history, which places the venue close to the Bourbon Trail, as well as within walking distance of many art and sports museums, restaurants and bars. Plus, a quick taxi ride can take you to Churchill Downs and the famous Kentucky Derby.

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🚖 Getting to KICC from the Airport

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To get to the Kentucky Convention Center area from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), you have a few options:

• Taxi or Ride-sharing (Uber/Lyft):
  This is the fastest and most convenient option. The ride to the Kentucky Convention Center in Downtown Louisville takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic. I took an Uber to the Hyatt Regency, and the fare was about $25.
• Public Bus (TARC):
  Louisville’s public bus system, TARC, offers service from the airport. You can take TARC Route #2 or Route #18, which run to downtown. It’s a more economical option, but the ride will take around 25-30 minutes. For me it looked complicated with all the luggage.
• Hotel Shuttle (Courtesy Van):
  Hotels near the Kentucky Convention Center offer shuttle services. But not all of them. Marriott has one, while Hyatt or Omni do not. “All hotel courtesy vans pick up their guests in the Commercial Ground Transportation Lot located on baggage claim level, on the west side of the terminal.” (Source: FlyLouisville)
• Private transport:
  If you’re not on a budget, you can get comfortable with a private car transfer from the airport to your hotel. Check availability and cost >>

Downtown Louisville: Hidden Gems Around the Kentucky Convention Center

Fourth Street Live near Kentucky Convention Center, Downtown Louisville, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

The business-oriented Kentucky Convention Center in Downtown Louisville stands in the shadow of some gleaming skyscrapers that host quite a few of the world’s most renowned hotel brands. It’s surrounded by over 6,000 luxury hotel rooms. As an example, the Convention Center is connected to the Marriott by a sky corridor, and many rooms at the Hyatt have views of its large hallways. These hotels are just across the street—literally.

Needless to say there are plenty of things to do near the Convention Center.

First of all, you’re in the heart of Bourbon City! Historically, this area was the very center of the bourbon industry, with its Main Street bustling with activity before Prohibition, thanks to its privileged location right near the Ohio River. Today, downtown is home to several distillery experiences, part of a bourbon revival that’s turned Louisville into a must-visit destination for bourbon lovers.

The area is also packed with excellent local restaurants and vibrant nightlife options like Fourth Street Live, a lively entertainment district featuring live concerts and great dining. A bit further away, about a 30-minute walk, is NuLu, a trendy neighborhood with even more shops and restaurants.

Equally famous is the Museum Row, just a 7-minute walk from the Convention Center. This street is lined with 19th-century buildings—mostly low-rise, former residential and industrial spaces—that now house museums breathing art, sports, and history.

All of this is just a short distance from the shores of the Ohio River. From the Kentucky Convention Center, you can reach the historic Belle of Louisville paddlewheel boat for a beautiful cruise, in under 10 minutes. And also less than 10 minutes, but by car, taxi or Uber, more to the East side, you’ll find Waterfront Park and the walkable Big Four Bridge.

Louisville Experiences for Post-Meeting Fun

On the Bourbon Trail at Sway Bar, Hyatt Regency, Louisville Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

If you have some spare time in between or after meetings, or if you decide to take a day off in Louisville, step away from the conferences and business gatherings to unwind for a while — you’ll find plenty to explore and lots of fun stuff to do around the Kentucky Convention Center. And beyond.

You can take your lunch break really, really close by from KICC, on Museum Row, at Proof on Main. It’s the restaurant of the arty 21c Museum Hotel. And beforehand, you can easily fit in a fast 45-minute tour of the Slugger Museum & Factory, home of the original American baseball bats.

Or instead of all that, you can easily have a 10-minute drive to the legendary Churchill Downs to see the historic horse racing grounds.

In the afternoon, as post-meeting fun, you can maybe organize a private business party at 4th Street Live!, take a cruise on the Ohio River, or join partners at a bar along the Bourbon Trail. And to all bourbon fans out there, try to consider a full-day tour on your day off. Louisville has quite a culture on that.

Below, I put together some more ideas for things to do in Louisville, out of the conference hall.

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🥃 Visit a Bourbon Distillery (or More) – Half & Full Day Tours

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Whiskey Row, Louisville, KY, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

Louisville is called Bourbon City for a reason! There are multiple distilleries just a 10-minute walk from the Convention Center and there you can spend a few hours sampling some of the finest bourbons. I would recommend Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Kentucky’s first licensed distillery, or Angel’s Envy Distillery, another hip vibe, industrial-chic location.

For a deeper dive, full-day bourbon experiences last between 8 and 10 hours, taking you to historic distilleries and farms where you’ll learn about the distillation process, aging techniques, and even sample rare, limited-edition bourbons. For example, the Bourbon Distillery & Horse Farm Tour (🎟️ admission >>) would definitely be a yes.

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🎤 Fourth Street Live!

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Fourth Street Live, Louisville, KY, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

After meetings, head to Fourth Street Live!, a relatively small and lively entertainment district, yet Louisville’s trendiest one. It’s just a short walk from the Convention Center—past the Visitor’s Center and the Hyatt Regency Hotel—until you reach the colorful, canopy-covered pedestrian street with bars, restaurants, and live music. You can dine, shop, enjoy the nightlife, unwind any way you like after a day of meetings. Or have even more meetings.

During a conference, I also attended a private event there, so it’s common for companies to host post-convention gatherings in the area.

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⚾ Explore Museum Row

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If you’re into sports, art, history, (and food) do not miss the Museum Row.

Museum Row in Downtown Louisville is just a short, less than 10-minute walk from the Kentucky Convention Center, and it’s the perfect destination to explore between meetings. You can learn everything about the life of the local legendary boxer at the Muhammad Ali Center, have the dream experience of any baseball fan and visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, or explore Kentucky’s rich heritage at the Frazier History Museum. For art lovers, the hallways pf 21c Museum Hotel are contemporary galleries open to the public 24/7. Museum Row is a must-see and an easy choice being so close to the Convention Center.

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🏘️ Stroll Through the Old Louisville

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As you leave the Convention Center and Downtown area and head into the Old Louisville neighborhood (30-minute walk or 6 minutes by taxi), you’ll find yourself surrounded by one of the largest collections of Victorian mansions in the United States, beautifully preserved homes dating back to the late 19th century.

The St. James Court area is particularly charming, known for its annual art fair and historic beauty. Nearby, you can stroll through Central Park, designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. For a deeper dive into history, visit the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, an ornate Richardsonian Romanesque mansion that reflects the lavish lifestyle of Louisville’s elite during the Gilded Age.

You can explore the area with daytime walking tours (🎟️ tour tickets >>) or, for something spookier, join an exciting ghost tour after dark! (🎟️ ghost tour tickets >>)

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🏇 Tour Churchill Downs

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The grounds of Churchill Downs in Louisville, just a 10-minute drive from the Kentucky Convention Center, are home to the Kentucky Derby Museum (🎟️ admission tickets >>), one of the world’s most renowned American Thoroughbred horse racing museums. It preserves the magical history of the Kentucky Derby, which dates back to 1875, making it one of the oldest horse races globally and first filmed in 1918.

The guided tour of the iconic race track lasts about 30 minutes, followed by another 30-45 minutes for a historical movie and a visit to the museum. The best would be to schedule your visit either early in the morning at 8 AM or squeeze it in between meetings, as the museum closes by 5 PM.

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🌊 Enjoy the Great Outdoors by the Ohio River

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If you head south on 4th Street from the Convention Center, you’ll reach the beautiful Ohio River in less than 10 minutes. This river has been a vital transportation route since the time of Native Americans, long before European settlers arrived.

To your left is the Belle of Louisville, a century-old steamboat where you can catch a scenic river cruise twice a day. To your right, about 30 minutes away, is Waterfront Park and the Big Four Bridge, a walkable bridge that connects Louisville, Kentucky to Jeffersonville, Indiana, a quaint, little town with a vintage feel. The bridge, built in 1895, was once used for rail transport, but now it’s just perfect for walking or cycling while watching charming sunsets over the river.

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🦇 NuLu

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If you walk from the Kentucky International Convention Center toward East Louisville, there is NuLu – short for New Louisville.

It’s an artsy neighbourhood with charming ancient buildings that have been given new life, canvases for amazing street art and pretty homes for some quite unique souvenir shops, indie boutiques, galleries, farm-to-table restaurants, and craft breweries, many of which are family-owned businesses.

If you choose to spend the morning at the Convention Center and afterward feel like trying something special for lunch, you can join a guided tour of NuLu starting arund 01:00 PM (🎟️ Louisville Food & History Walking Tour Tickets >>). They will take you around to try multiple delicious bites that tell the story of Louisville and Ke, plus  sample some craft beer and refreshing bourbon slushies.

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🏇 Bonus Tip: Catch a Live Event

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Make sure to check the schedule for concerts, sporting events, or shows happening at KFC Yum!, a massive arena located downtown. It’s home to Louisville Cardinals basketball and volleyball championships, and hosts big-name music concerts, monster truck parties and other fun stuff. The KFC Yum! Center is just about 0.4 miles, around 7 minutes walking, from the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC), which make attending events at both venues really easy.

Downtown Louisville Hotels near the Kentucky Convention Center

The Galt House, Downtown Louisville Historical Hotel, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

The Kentucky International Convention Center is surrounded by some of the world’s biggest hotel brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Omni, and Hyatt, as well as iconic Louisville hotels like the historic Galt House and the artsy 21c Museum Hotel. Most of them are either a just a short walk away or connected by skywalks with the Convention Center.

Getting Around Louisville & Kentucky Convention Center

Electric Scooters, Downtown Louisville, Market Street Intersection with 4th Street, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

I personally did not use the public transport, as the downtown area near the Convention Center is highly walkable, with everything within easy reach, from hotels and restaurants to museums, souvenir shops, banks, and CVS pharmacies.

But if you’re in need for public transport, TARC’s all-electric, free-ride ZeroBus runs on weekdays and Saturdays in downtown Louisville. The east-west route (5:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.) covers Main and Market Streets, including Museum Row and the KFC Yum! Center. The north-south route (7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.) connects the Galt House to Breckinridge Street, passing key spots such as Fourth Street Live!.

You can also get an electric scooter at one of the corners of the Kentucky Convention Center, Market St. and 4th St. intersection.

I did use ridesharing apps to get to the Derby Museum or Old Louisville. For destinations further away from the downtown core and Convention Center area, especially if you’re heading out at night, I recommend using Uber or Lyft as quicker, safer and more reliable options.

When traveling with your own car, you can find a parking spot with parkopedia and compare what’s available. There is one inexpensive garage just next to Hyatt. Or these two which are KICC recommendations.

Key Takeaways on KICC & Fun Things to Do Around KICC

Graffiti near KFC Yum! Arena in Louisville Kentucky, Copyright © Cooltourismical.com

• 🏢 impressive, modern venue for all kinds of events;
• 📌 amazing location in downtown Louisville;
• ✈️ easy access from the airport;
• 🚍 free public transport in the area;
• 🛏️ surrounded by famous hotels, as well as others for all budgets;
• 🏛️ perfect destination for blending work and fun, near Museum Row and Bourbon Trail;
• 🥃 plenty of nightlife options with live music, dining and bourbon tastings;
• 🚶‍♂️ safe and walkable area.