Get the app

Kentucky, United States

Covington

A slow Jan 1 across the river: a bridge walk, old German streets and the view from Devou Park. Below: 3 sights, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot, plus how Covington fits into a longer trip.

Plan Covington with friendsBrowse 6 places
Covington, Kentucky, United States
Places
6

3 See · 2 Do · 1 Outdoors

Curated routes
1

Cincinnati New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

31°C / 88°F avg high

Coolest month
January

4°C / 39°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 118 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Downtown Cincinnati, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Covington

6 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

3 sights worth building a day around across Riverfront and MainStrasse. All 3 are free to visit.

  • John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in CovingtonPhoto: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge

    1866 suspension bridge over the Ohio by the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, with a sidewalk on each side.

    Tip Walk it in both directions; the downstream side has the best skyline view.

    • Riverfront
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Late afternoon Jan 1
  • MainStrasse Village in CovingtonPhoto: Warren LeMay · CC0
    See

    MainStrasse Village

    Covington's 1800s German neighborhood of brick row houses, pubs and a carillon tower in the square.

    Tip Start at Goebel Park and walk down Main Street toward the river.

    • MainStrasse
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Midday Jan 1
  • Carroll Chimes Bell Tower in CovingtonPhoto: Warren LeMay · CC0
    See

    Carroll Chimes Bell Tower

    Brick and timber clock tower in Goebel Park whose carillon plays while figures act out the Pied Piper story.

    Tip Check the posted schedule; the figures come out on the hour for part of the year.

    • MainStrasse
    • Free
    • 20 min
    • Midday Jan 1

Do

2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Riverfront and Newport.

  • Purple People Bridge in CovingtonPhoto: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Purple People Bridge

    Old railroad bridge painted purple and turned into a walking bridge between downtown and Newport.

    Tip Cross to Newport and back to make a loop with the Roebling bridge.

    • Riverfront
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Afternoon Jan 1
  • Do

    Newport Aquarium

    Riverfront aquarium in Newport with shark tunnels, penguins and a shark bridge over a tank.

    Tip Buy timed tickets online; Jan 1 is a popular family day.

    • Newport
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Morning Jan 1

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Devou Park.

  • Devou Park in CovingtonPhoto: Cingensler · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    Devou Park

    Hilltop park above Covington with an overlook that takes in the river, the bridges and the downtown skyline.

    Tip Drive up for sunset; the overlook faces the city straight on.

    • Devou Park
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Sunset Jan 1

How to fit Covington into a trip

Covington is stop 2 of 2 on our Cincinnati New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Covington into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Downtown Cincinnati

Our climate figures for Covington come from Downtown Cincinnati, about 2 km (1 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 4°C / 39°F in January to 31°C / 88°F in August. May is the wettest month, with about 118 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Downtown Cincinnati. Downtown Cincinnati weather (covers Covington) →

Near Covington

8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

Covington questions, answered

How many days do you need in Covington?

On our Cincinnati New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 6 places add up to roughly 5 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Covington best known for?

A slow Jan 1 across the river: a bridge walk, old German streets and the view from Devou Park. Standouts on our list: John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge (1866 suspension bridge over the Ohio by the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, with a sidewalk on each side); MainStrasse Village (Covington's 1800s German neighborhood of brick row houses, pubs and a carillon tower in the square); Carroll Chimes Bell Tower (Brick and timber clock tower in Goebel Park whose carillon plays while figures act out the Pied Piper story).

When is the best time to visit Covington?

Our Cincinnati New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Downtown Cincinnati put the warmest highs in August (31°C / 88°F), the coolest in January (4°C / 39°F) and the most rain in May (about 118 mm).

What are the best things to do in Covington?

Start with John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, MainStrasse Village, Carroll Chimes Bell Tower, Devou Park and Purple People Bridge. Our guide lists 6 places in all, from 3 sights, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot.

What is near Covington?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown Cincinnati (about 2 km / 1 mi), Lexington (about 116 km / 72 mi) and The Highlands & Cherokee Park (about 140 km / 87 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Covington with your crew

Open the Cincinnati New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 6 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Plan around Covington

More in Kentucky

More in United States

Plan it together

Plan Covington