24 Hours in Frankfort
Frankfort is small enough to see a good slice of in one day if you plan around opening hours. Here is a day that starts with coffee on Main Street and ends with a pour of bourbon a few blocks away.
Before you start: check the day of the week
A lot of Frankfort keeps short or split weeks. The Kentucky Historical Society sites are closed Sunday and Monday, Castle & Key is closed Monday and Tuesday, and several bakeries only open a few days a week. A Tuesday through Saturday visit gives you the most options. Everything below is listed with the hours Google Maps showed in October 2026, so give each place a quick check before you go.
Breakfast downtown
Engine House Coffee and Crepes at 307 W Main St opens at 6 AM on weekdays and 7 AM on Saturday, with espresso drinks and sweet or savory crepes. If you want a sit-down plate of eggs instead, Main Street Diner at 227A W Main St opens at 8 AM every day. On a Wednesday through Saturday morning, Andy's Artisan Bread on E Todd St in South Frankfort does pastries, coffee and breakfast sandwiches, but it closes at 1 PM. More options are on our Eat & Drink page.
Morning: Kentucky history on Broadway
Walk over to the Old State Capitol, the 1830 Greek Revival building in the middle of downtown, and look for the stone staircase that stands with no center support. One Kentucky Historical Society ticket covers the Old Capitol, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History at 100 W Broadway and the Kentucky Military History Museum. All are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Parts of the Old Capitol may have limited access while restoration work goes on.
If you would rather keep it short, the Capital City Museum at 325 Ann St tells Frankfort's own story, from river town to state capital, and charges no admission. It is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, with free parking in the lot beside the building.
Late morning: Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace Distillery sits on the river just north of downtown. Its tours and tastings are free, but tours are booked online and walk-up spots are limited. Reservations open up to eight weeks out, with a new week released every Wednesday at 10 AM Eastern. If you can't get a tour, the guided tastings at the gift shop don't need a reservation. Bring an ID if you plan to taste. The John G. Carlisle Cafe is on site if you want to eat lunch there.
If you are tasting, decide now who is driving for the rest of the day.
Lunch
Back downtown, The Brown Barrel at 202 W Broadway opens at 11 AM every day and sits a block from the Old Capitol. Down at the river end of Main Street, Bourbon On Main has outdoor tables by the bridge.
Afternoon: a view and something sweet
Drive up to Frankfort Cemetery at 215 E Main St. Daniel and Rebecca Boone were the first people buried there, moved from Missouri in 1845, and their graves sit on the bluff overlooking the city and the Kentucky River. The grounds are open sunrise until dusk.
From there it is a short drive to Rebecca Ruth Candy at 116 E 2nd St in South Frankfort. The shop is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. Tours run about 30 minutes, Monday through Saturday, and include a chocolate sample. You can book online at least 12 hours ahead or join as a walk-in. Production is not scheduled for Friday or Saturday tours, so come Monday through Thursday if you want the best chance of seeing candy being made.
Dinner
For a sit-down dinner, Serafini at 243 W Broadway faces the Old Capitol lawn and mixes Italian and Southern dishes with a long bourbon list. Limewater at 900 Wilkinson Blvd is a New American bistro that makes its sauces and cocktail syrups in house. It takes reservations on Resy or by phone at (502) 234-2346 and also welcomes walk-ins.
For dessert, Hoggy's Ice Cream at 301 W Main St is open until 8 PM most nights and 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
The evening
See what is playing at the Grand Theatre on St. Clair Street, which hosts concerts, classic movies, comedy and community shows. For a nightcap, House of Commons: A Bourbon Library at 245 W Main St stays open until midnight on Friday and Saturday and 10 PM Monday through Thursday. If the night runs later than that, Dicey Riley's Irish Pub at 321 St Clair St stays open until 2 AM Monday through Friday.
What's happening while you're here
Concerts, festivals and special tastings change week to week. Check the events calendar for the dates you're in town, and browse Things to Do if you have a second day.