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Whether you’re visiting Winston Salem for its annual festivals or to check out homes, booking a hotel near downtown puts you right in the center of it all.
We’ve created a comprehensive guide to downtown hotels that highlights nearby restaurants, parks, shops, and attractions all within easy walking distance. There’s no better way to get to know a city than by exploring it on foot, and knowing exactly where to start makes all the difference.
The purpose of Best of Winston’s guides is simple: to help you experience the full scenic beauty and character of the city, especially on foot. Walking allows you to slow down, skip the stress of traffic, and truly take in the details that make Winston-Salem special, from locally owned shops and historic architecture to vibrant murals and public art tucked along the way.
Greenways stretch right up to the edges of downtown, offering scenic routes for both biking and walking, and once you’re in the heart of the city, plentiful crosswalks make exploring easy. Dedicated paths like the Long Branch Trail provide a paved connection from the Innovation Quarter to Salem Creek, spanning approximately 1.7 miles and making it even easier to experience the city at your own pace.
Winston-Salem is home to several respected higher education institutions, with some located right in the heart of downtown, adding energy and innovation to the city’s core. The Wake Forest University School of Medicine is one of the most prominent, easily accessible from the vibrant Bailey Park area and deeply integrated into the Innovation Quarter. Nearby, the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity plays an important role in advancing community health and research, further strengthening downtown’s reputation as a hub for education, collaboration, and progress.
Just a short distance north of downtown, you’ll find the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, a key part of the academic and clinical experience for many students at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and a major anchor of the city’s medical community.
For younger learners, downtown is also home to both The Downtown School and Winston-Salem Street School, conveniently located just off 6th Street and serving families who value an urban, close-knit educational environment.
And for hands-on, activity-based learning, Kaleideum on 3rd Street offers an engaging space where kids can climb, explore, and discover. With multi-level play structures (complete with safety nets), interactive exhibits, and activities that build coordination and critical thinking skills, it’s a favorite downtown destination for both learning and play.
Winston-Salem offers an inviting mix of great bars, cozy pubs, locally owned restaurants, and live music spots that keep downtown lively well into the evening.
We’ve shared some of our favorite Winston-Salem nightlife recommendations, and if you’re new to town, the outdoor street seating at many downtown venues offers an easy, welcoming way to meet people and soak in the city’s energy.
The Winston Salem Transit Authority, the hub of public transportation, is also right in the downtown area at the intersections of 5th Street, Trade Street, and Liberty Street.
Centrally located within walking distance of downtown, this hub offers a seamless alternative to rush-hour traffic and parking hassles. With buses arriving and departing at regular intervals, you can easily plan your trip by checking the schedule here.
