Visiting Cincinnati

Welcome to the Queen City — home of chili, charm, and Cindependent Film Festival!

Whether it’s your first time in Cincinnati or your hundredth, we’re thrilled to host you in our vibrant, creative, and ever-evolving city. From walkable historic districts to skyline views, award-winning eats to indie bookstores, there’s plenty to explore between screenings.

Where to Stay

We’ve partnered with The Radisson Hotel on the River to offer discounted rates for attending filmmakers and festival-goers. The Radisson is 2 miles from our main festival hub and is offering shuttles every 30 minutes to support your festival experience.

How to Get Around

Downtown is walkable, bikeable, and shuttle-able. Plus:

  • Free streetcar (Connector) loops through key neighborhoods

  • Festival shuttles available for filmmakers staying at partner hotels

  • Rideshares (Uber/Lyft) and RedBike rentals are widely available

Getting Here

By Air:
The closest airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) — just 15–20 minutes from downtown by car or rideshare. CVG serves all major airlines with direct flights from dozens of U.S. cities (and a few international ones too!).
Pro tip: it's small, friendly, and easy to navigate.

By Train:
Amtrak’s Cardinal Line stops at Cincinnati Union Terminal, just west of downtown. The terminal itself is a must-see — a grand Art Deco gem that doubles as a history museum.

By Car:
Cincinnati is an easy drive from:

  • Columbus – 1.5 hours

  • Indianapolis – 2 hours

  • Louisville – 1.5 hours

  • Chicago – 4.5 hours

  • Nashville – 4.5 hours

We recommend using park-and-walk garages near downtown or your hotel — our festival venues are centrally located and pedestrian-friendly.