Find hotels in downtown Wichita, Kansas, close to the Old Town, Arkansas River, INTRUST Bank Arena, museums, restaurants and the city's central business district
Wichita, Kansas, has a compact downtown shaped by the Arkansas River, historic districts and a growing mix of restaurants, entertainment and cultural attractions. Downtown hotels put visitors close to INTRUST Bank Arena, Old Town and the city’s central attractions, while providing a convenient base for exploring the wider Wichita area.
Downtown Wichita is small enough to explore in sections, with the Arkansas River providing a natural reference point. The riverfront extends toward the Keeper of the Plains, while the central streets bring together museums, restaurants, entertainment venues and some of the city’s most recognizable historic buildings.
Old Town is just northeast of downtown and adds another side of Wichita, with converted warehouse buildings, restaurants, bars and entertainment. For visitors staying downtown, it is close enough to combine with the central district during the same outing.
For sports and live entertainment, INTRUST Bank Arena is one of the main reasons visitors choose a downtown hotel. The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, housed in the former City Hall, offers a different perspective on the city’s development.
Wichita was once known as the “Cowtown” of the Great Plains. In the late 19th century, cattle drives brought thousands of cattle through Wichita, helping turn the young city into an important trading and transportation center. The downtown area grew alongside that boom, and traces of Wichita’s cattle, railroad and frontier history can still be found around the city center today.
Downtown Wichita has had its own brush with Beatlemania. In 1964, the historic Orpheum Theatre hosted the Wichita premiere of A Hard Day’s Night, the Beatles’ first major film, drawing thousands of fans to the corner of First and Broadway. The theater later became known for its cult midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which have been a Wichita tradition since 2001. Today, the restored Orpheum remains one of downtown’s signature entertainment venues, hosting concerts, films, comedy and live performances.
If you enjoyed Wichita, Omaha is another Great Plains city worth exploring. Its downtown combines the Missouri River waterfront, historic districts, restaurants, entertainment and a growing arts scene, with plenty of downtown hotels to choose from.
