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Frankfort
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Frankfort, Kentucky, pairs Capitol landmarks, bourbon heritage, riverfront walks and Civil War history with a historic Bluegrass capital experience in Kentucky.

A Small Capital with Deep Roots

Frankfort occupies a graceful bend of the Kentucky River between Lexington and Louisville, its limestone bluffs, wooded hills and compact streets giving the state capital a distinctly intimate character. Kentucky became the fifteenth state of the United States in 1792, and Frankfort was selected as its capital that same year. Today, government buildings, historic homes and museums sit close to the river, making much of the city easy to explore on foot.
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History, Bourbon and the River

The Old State Capitol anchors the historic centre with its Greek Revival architecture and political history, while nearby Liberty Hall Historic Site preserves two early Kentucky residences associated with the Brown family. The current Kentucky State Capitol stands south of downtown in landscaped grounds, and the Kentucky Historical Society offers further insight into the people and events that shaped the Commonwealth. Frankfort’s identity is also closely connected with bourbon: Buffalo Trace Distillery, one of the country’s long-established distilleries, occupies a historic site beside the Kentucky River and provides a window into local whiskey-making traditions.

Green Spaces and Civic Life

Frankfort’s scale encourages slow exploration, from riverfront paths and historic neighbourhoods to the trails and overlooks around the city’s wooded edges. Downtown cafés, independent shops, galleries and seasonal events provide a contemporary counterpoint to the formal world of the Capitol. The surrounding landscape remains central to the experience, with rolling Bluegrass scenery, limestone country and nearby horse farms defining the wider setting without overwhelming the city itself.

When is the best time to visit Frankfort?

Best: May, September–October · 21–28°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January580
February880
March1590
April21100
May (best)26110
June31100
July33110
August32100
September (best)2890
October (best)2180
November1490
December890

Getting to and around Frankfort

How to get there

Frankfort has no major passenger airport of its own; most air travellers use Blue Grass Airport in Lexington or Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, with onward travel by car or hired vehicle. The city lies along major road routes connecting Lexington, Louisville and northern Kentucky, making driving the most practical way to reach and explore the wider area. Intercity bus availability and schedules can change, so connections should be checked before travel. Passenger rail is not a principal means of reaching Frankfort. The compact capital centre is accessible once in town, but several important attractions are separated by the river and surrounding hills.

Transportation

A car is useful in Frankfort because the city’s attractions extend from the downtown riverfront to the Capitol grounds, distillery sites and wooded outskirts. The central historic area can be explored on foot, although the terrain includes slopes and some streets are more comfortable for pedestrians than others. Local bus service exists through Frankfort Transit, but routes and operating arrangements should be verified before relying on them for sightseeing. Taxis and app-based ride services may be less readily available than in larger Kentucky cities. Cycling and walking are pleasant along selected riverfront and park routes, while parking is generally easier outside the most central historic streets.

Best attractions in Frankfort

Frankfort’s principal attractions combine state history, bourbon culture and a river-shaped landscape. The Old State Capitol offers an accessible introduction to Kentucky’s early government, while the Kentucky Historical Society’s exhibitions broaden the story through objects, documents and personal histories. Liberty Hall Historic Site preserves two historic houses and gardens associated with the Brown family, providing a more intimate view of elite life in the early Commonwealth. At Buffalo Trace Distillery, guided visits explore the long development of whiskey-making on the Kentucky River site, subject to tour arrangements and age requirements. The current Kentucky State Capitol, set among landscaped grounds south of downtown, reveals the scale of modern state administration. Frankfort Cemetery adds elevated views and Civil War associations, while River View Park and nearby green spaces provide quieter opportunities to walk, watch the river and understand the wooded terrain surrounding the capital.

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Best landmarks in Frankfort

The Old State Capitol is Frankfort’s defining historic civic building, a Greek Revival structure completed in 1830 that housed Kentucky’s legislature before the government moved to larger premises. The current Kentucky State Capitol, completed in 1910, represents the Commonwealth’s later confidence in monumental Beaux-Arts-inspired public architecture and remains the centre of state government. Liberty Hall Historic Site preserves the Orlando Brown House and the adjacent Thomas D. Clark Center, connecting domestic history with the city’s political past. Frankfort Cemetery, on a hillside above the river, contains the grave of Daniel Boone and memorials associated with Kentucky’s development and the Civil War. Buffalo Trace Distillery’s historic industrial buildings add a different type of landmark, linking the city’s identity to bourbon production and the Kentucky River corridor. Together these sites show Frankfort as both a political capital and a place shaped by private homes, memory and industry.

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Best restaurants in Frankfort

Frankfort’s dining scene reflects central Kentucky’s modest capital-city scale, with independently run restaurants, cafés, bakeries and casual places concentrated around downtown and nearby commercial areas. Bourbon is an important culinary influence, appearing in drinks, sauces and desserts, while menus draw on Kentucky staples such as fried chicken, country ham, biscuits, cornbread and seasonal produce. Barbecue and Southern comfort food are familiar choices, though the city also has restaurants offering contemporary American cooking and international flavours. Local farmers’ markets and seasonal events provide opportunities to encounter produce, baked goods and small-scale regional products rather than a single prescribed cuisine. Distillery visits may include tastings or food pairings, but they should not be mistaken for the whole dining culture. Restaurant hours can be limited compared with larger cities, particularly outside the central area, making advance checks useful for evening meals.

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Best bars in Frankfort

Frankfort’s nightlife is restrained and social rather than built around large clubs. Downtown bars and restaurants provide places for bourbon tastings, local beer, cocktails and relaxed conversation, with the Kentucky River and historic streets lending the evening a quieter setting. Whiskey culture is especially visible, although responsible tasting and American alcohol regulations remain important parts of the experience. Live music, seasonal festivals, community events and performances connected with local arts organisations offer alternatives to drinking-centred evenings. The city does not have the extensive late-night club districts found in Louisville or Lexington, and activity can thin out beyond the central area. Visitors should check current schedules for concerts, theatre and public events, since entertainment is often programme-led rather than continuous. A hired car or designated driver is essential when visiting distillery areas outside the walkable centre.

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Best nightclubs in Frankfort

Frankfort’s nightlife is restrained and social rather than built around large clubs. Downtown bars and restaurants provide places for bourbon tastings, local beer, cocktails and relaxed conversation, with the Kentucky River and historic streets lending the evening a quieter setting. Whiskey culture is especially visible, although responsible tasting and American alcohol regulations remain important parts of the experience. Live music, seasonal festivals, community events and performances connected with local arts organisations offer alternatives to drinking-centred evenings. The city does not have the extensive late-night club districts found in Louisville or Lexington, and activity can thin out beyond the central area. Visitors should check current schedules for concerts, theatre and public events, since entertainment is often programme-led rather than continuous. A hired car or designated driver is essential when visiting distillery areas outside the walkable centre.

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Best shops in Frankfort

Shopping in Frankfort is centred on the historic downtown, where independent shops, galleries, bookshops and small businesses occupy streets near the Old State Capitol and the river. Antique and vintage shops reflect the wider Bluegrass interest in furniture, decorative objects and local history, while craft retailers and galleries offer Kentucky-made art and gifts. Bourbon-related products are prominent, including branded glassware, books and food items, though visitors should distinguish souvenirs from bottles subject to transport and alcohol regulations. Farmers’ markets and seasonal community markets provide locally produced food, baked goods and handmade goods when operating. The city also has conventional retail areas outside the centre, but its most distinctive shopping atmosphere lies in the older streets, where purchases can be combined with architecture, historic interpretation and riverfront walking rather than a large enclosed shopping complex.

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Frankfort essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD). Credit and debit cards, including contactless payments, are widely accepted at hotels, museums, restaurants, shops and distillery visitor facilities, although small independent businesses or market stalls may still prefer cash. ATMs are available in commercial areas and at banks, but international visitors should notify their card provider before travelling and check foreign-transaction charges. Carrying a modest amount of cash is sensible for incidental purchases, tips and places where connectivity or card acceptance is limited. Prices normally exclude sales tax, which is added at the point of purchase.
Safety
Frankfort is a comparatively small capital, but ordinary urban precautions remain appropriate. Keep valuables out of sight in parked vehicles, take care around quiet streets after dark and remain alert in crowded areas or during public events. Traffic can be more significant than pedestrian activity on roads outside the centre, so use marked crossings and take extra care near highway approaches. The river, bluffs and wooded trails require normal outdoor awareness, particularly in wet weather or during periods of high water. Distillery and historic-site visits should follow staff guidance, and visitors should arrange a sober driver when tasting alcohol.
Emergency Situations
For police, fire or urgent medical assistance in Frankfort, dial 911 and give the operator the precise address or landmark, especially when calling from a trail, riverfront area or distillery property. For non-urgent police matters, use the local law-enforcement contact listed by the city or county rather than the emergency line. Visitors needing medical treatment can attend an established local hospital or urgent-care facility, but should confirm the nearest option and insurance arrangements on arrival. International travellers should carry identification, emergency contacts and travel-insurance details, and should ask accommodation staff to help communicate with services when necessary.
Do's and Don'ts
Do treat the Capitol, churches, cemeteries and historic houses as working or commemorative places rather than merely photo settings, and follow instructions about photography and access. Do dress neatly for formal government interiors and remember that bourbon tastings are regulated, so identification may be requested and drinking laws apply. Do not climb on historic structures, disturb graves or enter restricted areas. Tipping is customary in restaurants, bars and for personal services, while retail prices normally exclude sales tax. Kentuckians often value friendly, courteous conversation, but visitors should avoid treating bourbon or Civil War history as a stereotype rather than part of a more complex local culture.
Local Tips
The most rewarding orientation is to connect downtown, the Old State Capitol, the riverfront and Liberty Hall before travelling to the newer Capitol complex. Frankfort’s historic districts are best appreciated slowly, because modest residential streets and civic buildings often reveal details missed on a quick drive. Check the Kentucky Historical Society’s current programme for exhibitions and talks, and plan distillery visits separately from the central sightseeing route. The city’s surrounding hills become particularly important beyond downtown, with parks, overlooks and country roads offering a different perspective on the capital’s setting. Seasonal weather can change quickly, so outdoor plans benefit from flexible timing.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[haw-dee]
GoodbyeSee ya[see yuh]
YesYep[yep]
NoNah[nuh]
Please/You're welcomePlease/You're welcome[Please/You're welcome]
Thank youThanks[th-anks]
Excuse me/SorryPardon me[pahr-dn mee]
How are you?How y'all doin'?[how y'all doin']
Fine. And you?Fine. How 'bout you?[fine. how 'bout you?]
Do you speak English?Y'all speak English?[y'all speak English?]
I don't understandI ain't gettin' it[I ain't get-tin' it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu, please[can I see the menu, please]
I don't eat meatI don't eat meat[I don't eat meat]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseI need to settle up, please[I need to settle up, please]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Git![Git!]
Call the Police!Call the Police![Call the Police!]
Call a doctor!Get a doc![Get a doc!]
I'm lostI'm lost[I'm lost]
I'm illI ain't feelin' right[I ain't feelin' right]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I'm lookin' to buy...[I'm lookin' to buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsin'[Just browsin']
How much is it?How much does it cost?[How much does it cost?]
That's too expensiveThat's too pricey[That's too pricey]
Can you lower the price?Can you do any better on the price?[Can you do any better on the price?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[What time is it?]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[It's one o'clock]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMornin'[Mornin']
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvenin'[Evenin']
YesterdayYestiddy[yestiddy]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorry[tomorry]
1One[wun]
2Two[too]
3Three[three]
4Four[four]
5Five[five]
6Six[six]
7Seven[seven]
8Eight[ate]
9Nine[nine]
10Ten[ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[Where's the...?]
What's the address?What's the address?[What's the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can you show me (on the map)?[Can you show me (on the map)?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next (bus)?[When's the next (bus)?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket (to ....)[A ticket (to ....)]

History of Frankfort

Indigenous Kentucky River Country

Long before Frankfort was established, the Kentucky River valley was used and inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including communities associated with the Shawnee and Cherokee worlds. The river provided movement through a landscape of wooded hills, limestone outcrops and fertile bottomland, while hunting and seasonal travel shaped the region’s human geography. European-American settlement later transformed these patterns, but the valley’s geography continued to determine where roads, ferries and communities developed. Understanding this earlier history helps place Frankfort within the broader story of Kentucky, where Indigenous presence preceded colonial expansion and state formation by many centuries.

Settlement on the Kentucky River

Frankfort emerged in the late eighteenth century as American settlers moved into Kentucky after the Revolutionary era. The community developed around the Kentucky River, whose crossings and navigable stretches supported communication and trade. The settlement’s name is commonly linked to Stephen Frank, who was killed at a nearby ford in the 1780s, although local historical accounts describe the naming tradition in varying detail. Frankfort was incorporated in 1786 and soon became an administrative centre for the surrounding region. Its location between eastern Kentucky and the Bluegrass helped it grow as roads, river traffic and political institutions expanded.

A New State Capital

When Kentucky entered the Union in 1792, Frankfort was selected as the Commonwealth’s capital. The choice reflected its central position along the river and its established role in regional administration, although the small settlement had to develop the buildings and institutions expected of a state seat. Early government operated in modest structures before the construction of more substantial public architecture. The Old State Capitol, completed in 1830, later expressed Kentucky’s growing confidence through its carefully proportioned Greek Revival design. The capital’s political role has remained continuous, linking the modern city with the formative decades of state government.

Industry, Bourbon and Civic Growth

During the nineteenth century, Frankfort grew through government, trade, milling and manufacturing, while the Kentucky River remained an important corridor. Whiskey production also became embedded in the surrounding economy. The distillery now known as Buffalo Trace developed from earlier operations on the same site and survived the disruptions of Prohibition by making medicinal whiskey under federal permission. Railways and improved roads gradually reduced the river’s importance as a commercial route but strengthened Frankfort’s connections with other Kentucky centres. Historic homes, commercial buildings and public institutions from this period reflect the capital’s expansion beyond its original riverfront core.

Frankfort during the Civil War

The Civil War brought military uncertainty to Kentucky, a border state whose population was divided in its loyalties. Confederate forces briefly occupied Frankfort in September 1862 and installed a Confederate governor during their short control of the capital. Union forces soon regained the city, and the episode demonstrated the strategic and symbolic importance of controlling Kentucky’s government. Frankfort’s Civil War history is also represented by the Battle of Frankfort and by the Frankfort Cemetery, where soldiers and civilians connected with the conflict are commemorated. The events left the capital politically and physically marked by the national crisis.

The Modern Commonwealth’s Capital

Frankfort’s twentieth-century development centred increasingly on state administration, education, cultural preservation and improved regional transport. The current Kentucky State Capitol, completed in 1910, replaced the Old State Capitol as the seat of government and created a larger civic campus south of downtown. Historic preservation later strengthened the city’s identity, protecting sites such as Liberty Hall, the Old State Capitol and important residential streets. At the same time, museums, distillery tourism and riverfront improvements broadened the visitor experience beyond government. Frankfort remains a working capital rather than a large metropolitan centre, with its historic landscape closely integrated into everyday civic life.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Frankfort, Kentucky

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Make the most of your trip to Frankfort, Kentucky with Evendo. Discover attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and book your experiences all in one place.

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Imagine you're a traveler about to explore the charm and rich history of Frankfort, Kentucky. With Evendo, your journey becomes effortlessly exciting. This app-based travel guide provides detailed information on the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities in Frankfort.

Start your adventure with a visit to the Kentucky State Capitol and the Old State Capitol, where you can immerse yourself in the local history. Wander through the beautiful grounds of the Liberty Hall Historic Site or enjoy a peaceful afternoon at Cove Spring Park. For art enthusiasts, the Josephine Sculpture Park offers a unique outdoor experience.

When hunger strikes, Evendo guides you to the best dining spots in the city. Savor the flavors at local favorites like Rick's White Light Diner or enjoy fine dining at Serafini. After a day of exploration, unwind at one of Frankfort’s charming bars or nightclubs.

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