Free Reno Travel Guide & Mobile App

Plan your Reno trip with Evendo. Get free guides to top attractions, restaurants, hotels, and bars. Web access or download the mobile app.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play Download the Free PDF guide
Reno
Reno photo 2
Reno photo 3
All photos

Reno, Nevada combines casino heritage, Sierra Nevada scenery, art museums, riverfront walks and year-round outdoor adventures near Lake Tahoe.

A City Between Desert and Mountains

Reno occupies the broad Truckee Meadows in western Nevada, where the Truckee River leaves the Sierra Nevada and runs east towards Pyramid Lake. Its setting gives the city a character that is both urban and outdoors-oriented: casinos, museums, restaurants and historic streets sit within easy reach of mountain trails, ski resorts and the river corridor. Lake Tahoe is a major regional excursion, but Reno has its own identity, shaped by high-desert light, dramatic mountain horizons and a lively calendar of public events.
Read more about Reno

Casino Heritage and Downtown Culture

Downtown Reno grew around the railway and the gambling industry, and the neon Reno Arch remains the city’s most recognisable emblem. The central district includes large casino resorts, the Truckee Riverwalk, the National Automobile Museum and the Nevada Museum of Art, while nearby Midtown offers independent shops, cafés, bars and creative businesses in a more intimate setting. Virginia Street links several layers of the city, from civic buildings and historic bridges to contemporary murals and entertainment venues.

Art, River Life and Open Landscapes

Reno’s cultural life extends beyond casino floors. The Nevada Museum of Art explores art connected with landscape, the American West and contemporary practice, while local galleries and performance spaces contribute to a growing creative scene. Along the river, paths, parks and white-water features provide places for walking, cycling and seasonal recreation. Further out, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park and the foothills introduce the sagebrush landscape that defines northern Nevada, making Reno a useful base for visitors interested in both city culture and the wider Great Basin.

When is the best time to visit Reno?

Best: May, September–October · 22–28°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January923
February1122
March1520
April1913
May (best)2410
June297
July346
August336
September (best)289
October (best)2213
November1318
December927

Getting to and around Reno

How to get there

Reno-Tahoe International Airport is located southeast of central Reno and provides the principal air connection for the city and the surrounding region. The airport is linked to downtown by road, taxi, rideshare and local bus services. Amtrak’s California Zephyr serves Reno station on its long-distance route between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, though schedules and service patterns should be checked before travel. Interstate 80 crosses the city east-west through the Sierra Nevada and northern Nevada, while US 395 provides north-south access. Reno is also served by long-distance coach services, with availability varying by operator and season.

Transportation

Central Reno is reasonably walkable, particularly around the Riverwalk, Virginia Street, downtown museums and casino resorts, but the metropolitan area is spread across the Truckee Meadows. The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County operates RTC RIDE buses, including routes linking downtown, the airport, the university and suburban districts. Taxis and rideshare services are available, while cycling is practical along parts of the Truckee River and on selected urban routes. A car is useful for reaching trailheads, regional parks, ski areas and Lake Tahoe, but winter weather can affect mountain roads and travellers should check conditions before driving.

Best attractions in Reno

Reno’s sightseeing begins around the Truckee River, where the Riverwalk connects public art, cafés, parks and views of the city’s white-water features. The National Automobile Museum presents an extensive collection of historic vehicles, arranged in period settings that explain the automobile’s social and technical story, while the Nevada Museum of Art explores landscape, Western identity and contemporary artistic practice. Nearby, the Discovery offers interactive science exhibitions suited to families, and the Wilbur D. May Center at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park combines museum displays with access to open parkland. The University of Nevada, Reno campus adds historic buildings and cultural events, while the Reno Arch and downtown casino district reveal the city’s twentieth-century entertainment history. Outside the centre, the Truckee River corridor and foothills provide walking and cycling opportunities, with the wider Sierra Nevada offering organised outdoor excursions rather than a single urban attraction.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in Reno

The Reno Arch, spanning Virginia Street near the downtown casino district, is the city’s best-known civic symbol and has marked Reno’s promotional identity for generations. The Virginia Street Bridge crosses the Truckee River at an important point in the city’s urban landscape, linking the downtown grid with the Riverwalk and recalling the role of the river in Reno’s development. The historic Riverside Hotel, now associated with artist and cultural spaces, reflects the era when Reno’s short-residency divorce trade brought visitors for extended stays. The University of Nevada, Reno campus contains prominent historic buildings, including Morrill Hall, which dates from the early twentieth century. The California Building and the National Automobile Museum add architectural and cultural interest downtown, while the surviving casino towers represent the post-war expansion that made Reno a major Nevada entertainment centre.

Show more landmarks

Explore Reno on the map

Plan your Reno trip on one map. See where the top attractions, landmarks, restaurants, bars and hotels are, find what's near where you're staying, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Neighbourhoods in Reno

Best restaurants in Reno

Reno’s dining scene reflects northern Nevada’s position between the Great Basin, California and the Sierra Nevada. Basque cooking is one of the city’s most distinctive traditions, associated with family-style meals, hearty stews, beans, lamb and communal dining shaped by the region’s Basque immigrant history. Downtown and Midtown offer a broad range of restaurants, from contemporary American kitchens and independent cafés to international food influenced by the city’s university population and growing diversity. Casual eateries, bakeries, coffee shops and bars cluster around Virginia Street and the Midtown district, while casino resorts provide varied dining under one roof. Local menus often draw on Western ingredients and California produce, although Reno is not defined by a single regional dish. Food halls, seasonal markets and independent restaurants give the city a more varied culinary character than its casino reputation alone suggests.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in Reno

Reno’s evening life is closely linked to its casino resorts, where gaming floors, lounges, bars, entertainment and live performances continue late into the night. Downtown around Virginia Street offers the greatest concentration of casino-based nightlife, while Midtown has a more local atmosphere with cocktail bars, breweries, music venues and relaxed drinking spots in converted commercial buildings. The Riverwalk area brings outdoor terraces and occasional cultural programming, although activity varies by season and event calendar. Theatre, concerts and performances at venues including the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts broaden the city’s evening options beyond gambling. Reno is livelier on major event weekends, but visitors should expect a regional city with distinct pockets of activity rather than a continuous nightlife district. Standard United States rules on age, identification and alcohol service apply.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in Reno

Reno’s evening life is closely linked to its casino resorts, where gaming floors, lounges, bars, entertainment and live performances continue late into the night. Downtown around Virginia Street offers the greatest concentration of casino-based nightlife, while Midtown has a more local atmosphere with cocktail bars, breweries, music venues and relaxed drinking spots in converted commercial buildings. The Riverwalk area brings outdoor terraces and occasional cultural programming, although activity varies by season and event calendar. Theatre, concerts and performances at venues including the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts broaden the city’s evening options beyond gambling. Reno is livelier on major event weekends, but visitors should expect a regional city with distinct pockets of activity rather than a continuous nightlife district. Standard United States rules on age, identification and alcohol service apply.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in Reno

Reno’s shopping is divided between independent urban districts, traditional malls and large suburban retail areas. Midtown is the most characterful place for small boutiques, vintage goods, gifts, design-led shops and local businesses, with murals and cafés making the area part of the experience. The Riverwalk and downtown contain galleries, specialist retailers and stores connected with the visitor economy, while Meadowood Mall provides a conventional indoor shopping centre south of the city. Visitors interested in regional goods can look for Nevada-themed art, locally made food products, Western clothing, jewellery and crafts, though genuine provenance varies between retailers. Antique and vintage shopping is present in the older commercial districts, and farmers’ markets or seasonal craft events may add locally produced food and handmade goods depending on the time of year.

Show more shops

Get your free copy of our complete guide to Reno, delivered straight to you.

Everything on this page, from attractions and restaurants to essentials and local phrases, in one PDF you can read offline, print or share.

Already have an account? Sign in

By clicking Create account, you accept the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Reno essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD). Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, museums, shops and larger entertainment venues, although smaller businesses, market stalls and some outdoor services may prefer or require another method. ATMs are common in central Reno, shopping areas and casino resorts; casino floors may also have cash-access facilities, though fees and exchange rates can vary. International visitors should notify their card provider before travelling and keep a small amount of cash available for small purchases, tips and situations where contactless payment is unavailable.
Safety
Reno is a functioning regional city as well as a tourism centre, so normal urban precautions are appropriate. Keep valuables secure in busy casino, entertainment and transport areas, remain aware of belongings in crowds and use well-lit routes when walking late at night. Outdoor hazards deserve equal attention: high elevation, intense sun, dehydration, sudden weather changes and limited services on remote trails can create risks beyond the built-up area. When driving towards the Sierra Nevada, check road and weather conditions, particularly in winter, and avoid leaving valuables visible in parked vehicles.
Emergency Situations
Call 911 for police, fire or urgent medical assistance anywhere in Reno and throughout the United States. Give the dispatcher the exact location, describe the emergency clearly and follow instructions; 911 operators can coordinate the appropriate service. For non-urgent police matters, use the relevant local law-enforcement contact rather than emergency services. Visitors with medical needs should carry identification, insurance details and information about regular medication. Emergency departments and urgent-care facilities serve the Reno area, but treatment costs for visitors can be substantial, making suitable travel insurance and prompt contact with the insurer important.
Do's and Don'ts
Do respect public land, trail guidance and posted fire restrictions, and carry water when walking in the dry high-desert climate. Do remember that casino gaming is regulated and that alcohol consumption and age restrictions apply; do not assume that drinking in public spaces or driving after drinking is permitted. Tipping is customary for table service, bartenders, taxi drivers and other service workers in the United States, with the amount depending on the service. At museums, galleries and cultural sites, follow photography and handling rules, and treat the Washoe homeland and natural areas with care rather than as disposable scenery.
Local Tips
Downtown, Midtown and the river corridor offer the most convenient concentration of cultural sights, restaurants and evening venues, while the University District has a more student-oriented atmosphere. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park provides an accessible introduction to the local landscape, and the Truckee River offers an urban walk with changing views of the city. For mountain or desert excursions, plan around distance and weather rather than assuming that nearby-looking destinations are quick to reach. Nevada’s dry air and elevation can increase water needs, and shade may be limited on exposed paths.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

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[hah-dee]
GoodbyeSee ya[see yuh]
YesYup[yuhp]
NoNope[nohp]
Please/You're welcomePlease/No problem[pleez / noh proh-bluhm]
Thank youThanks[thanks]
Excuse me/SorryPardon me/My bad[par-dn me / mah bad]
How are you?Howdy?[hah-dee]
Fine. And you?Good. You?[good. yuh?]
Do you speak English?Ya speak English?[ya speak ing-glish?]
I don't understandI don't get it[I don't get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu, please[kan eye see the men-yoo, pleez]
I don't eat meatI don't eat meat[I don't eat meat]
Cheers!Cheers![cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseI'm ready to pay, please[I'm ready to pay, please]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help!]
Go away!Get lost![get lost!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doc![get a doc!]
I'm lostI'm lost[I'm lost]
I'm illI'm sick[I'm sick]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[I wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsing[just brow-zing]
How much is it?How much does it cost?[how much duhz it cost?]
That's too expensiveThat's pricey[That's pricey]
Can you lower the price?Can you drop the price?[can yuh drop 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[It's one]
Half past (10)Ten thirty[Ten thirty]
MorningMorning[Morning]
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvening[Evening]
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
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 Reno

Washoe Homeland and the Truckee Meadows

The Reno area lies within the traditional homeland of the Washoe people, whose cultural and economic connections extend across the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe and the surrounding valleys. The Truckee River and its meadows provided water, plant foods and routes through a landscape later described by emigrants and settlers. Northern Paiute communities also maintained longstanding connections with the wider region. Any account of Reno’s history begins before the city’s nineteenth-century establishment, with Indigenous knowledge of seasonal movement, water sources and mountain environments shaping the land that newcomers subsequently occupied.

Lake’s Crossing and the Emigrant Routes

During the nineteenth-century movement of settlers across the American West, the Truckee River became an important route through the Sierra Nevada. A trading post known as Lake’s Crossing developed near a river crossing used by travellers heading towards California. The settlement benefited from traffic associated with the California Gold Rush and from the region’s position between the Sierra passes and the settlements of the Great Basin. Although early development was modest, the crossing established the geographical foundation for the town that would become Reno.

The Railway Creates Reno

Reno was founded in 1868, when the Central Pacific Railroad established a station in the Truckee Meadows and named it for Union general Jesse Lee Reno. The railway transformed the settlement from a crossing and trading point into a service centre linking California with the interior West. Businesses, hotels, warehouses and civic institutions gathered around the tracks, while the river supported mills and other early industries. The surviving alignment of downtown streets and the continued importance of rail and road connections reflect this formative period of transport-led growth.

Divorce, Tourism and the New Deal Era

In the early twentieth century, Reno became nationally known for short-residency divorce, after Nevada reduced its residency requirement and visitors came to establish the necessary period of residence. Guest ranches and accommodation businesses developed around this temporary population, adding to the town’s tourism economy. Gambling was legalised in Nevada in 1931, creating a second major source of visitors and investment during the Depression era. Reno’s reputation as a place of rapid personal and financial change helped establish the entertainment culture that later became central to its urban identity.

Casino Expansion and Suburban Growth

After the Second World War, investment in casinos, hotels and entertainment enlarged Reno’s visitor economy. Downtown resorts became prominent landmarks, while roads and new housing extended the city into the surrounding valley. The growth of Las Vegas eventually overshadowed Reno in national casino tourism, but Reno retained an important regional role and developed connections with outdoor recreation in the Sierra Nevada. Institutions such as the University of Nevada, Reno, founded in Elko in 1874 and moved to Reno in 1885, also strengthened the city’s educational and cultural life.

A Diversifying Contemporary City

In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, Reno’s economy broadened beyond casinos through higher education, healthcare, technology, distribution, arts and outdoor tourism. Downtown riverfront redevelopment, the emergence of Midtown businesses and investment in cultural institutions have added new layers to the older gaming landscape. The city also became associated with the nearby Burning Man event through the Black Rock Desert region, although the festival site is outside Reno. Today, Reno’s identity combines railway and casino history with creative enterprise, university life and access to the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada.

Reno in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Cities near Reno

The closest cities to Reno, if you have time for more than one stop.

Explore more

Nevada
More of the region

Explore more of Nevada

Discover Nevada: From the bright lights of Las Vegas to the tranquil beauty of Lake Tahoe, Nevada offers a unique blend of excitement and natural wonder.

Explore Nevada
The Evendo app on two phones

Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Reno, Nevada

Discover Reno with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide that covers attractions, landmarks, restaurants, hotels, and more, making your trip unforgettable.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich set of information including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Make the most of your trip to Reno with Evendo, the ultimate travel guide app. Discover attractions, book experiences, and navigate the city effortlessly—all for free.

  • History of Reno
  • Travel essentials for visiting Reno
  • Local advice to maximize your visit
  • Easy navigation through the app and the city
  • 'Near Me' feature to discover nearby points of interest
  • Curated local tips

Planning a trip to Reno, Nevada? Look no further than Evendo, your ultimate travel companion. This 100% free app-based travel guide is designed to help you make the most of your visit, offering detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities.

Imagine strolling through the iconic Riverwalk District, exploring the National Automobile Museum, or enjoying a night out at the famous Eldorado Resort Casino. Evendo provides you with rich descriptions, local tips, images, maps, and contact details for all these landmarks and more, making it easy to plan and organize your trip.

Craving some local cuisine? Check out the highly recommended restaurants like Peg's Glorified Ham n Eggs for a hearty breakfast or Campo for a farm-to-table dining experience. With Evendo, you'll have the best dining options at your fingertips.

But that's not all. The app also allows you to book hotels, tours, tickets, and other experiences directly, saving you the hassle of multiple searches and bookings. Features like the 'Near Me' function ensure you always know what's around you, no matter where you are in the city. Plus, curated local tips help you experience Reno like a local.

Whether you're interested in the history of Reno, need travel essentials, or just want good local advice, Evendo has you covered. And the best part? It's completely free with no in-app purchases. Additionally, Evendo covers over 7,000 other destinations worldwide. Download Evendo today and make your trip to Reno, and beyond, truly unforgettable.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.