Des Moines moves at a low hum of sky and streets.
Best Stays by Sonder Des Moines
Find places to stay in Des Moines. Choose from apartment-style stays and boutique hotels for weekend breaks, business trips, and longer city stays.
Travelers
Grounded, civic, and easy to navigate.
Des Moines moves with a steady Midwestern rhythm, where the Iowa Capitol dome, river trails, and downtown skywalks give the city a grounded, easy-to-read character.
What Makes Des Moines Des Moines
- East Village storefronts and murals
- Saturday market mornings downtown
- Prairie-meets-city riverfront paths
- Art Center visits after dark
Where to Stay in Des Moines
Des Moines Popular Stays
Choose your perfect stays
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Good for the Weekend
Easy in-and-out for quick Des Moines gateway.
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Work-friendly stays
Desks, fast Wi-Fi, and a kitchen for work trips that run long, with dinner a short walk away.
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Capital corridors, artful evenings, easy pace.
Des Moines feels easygoing and walkable, with a downtown rhythm that suits food-first, low-key stays.
Known for
Iowa’s capital blends a working downtown, the State Capitol’s gold dome, and a strong local food-and-art scene that gives the city its staying power.
Best for
Best for first-time visitors, food-led city breaks, and work trips that can spill into an easy weekend of museums, markets, and neighborhood wandering.
Walkability
Explore downtown, the East Village, and the Cultural District on foot, with the skywalk system helping connect key blocks when the weather turns.
Closest airport
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) sits southwest of the city center.
Ideal trip length
Two to three days gives you enough time for downtown, nearby neighborhoods, and a few unhurried meals.
Vibe
Grounded, civic, creative, low-key, easy to navigate
Des Moines in streetlight, steam, and river wind.
Some moments feel more Des Moines than others, from Capitol views to neighborhood dinners, the things to do in Des Moines you carry home.
Start the day with coffee from a neighborhood café
Order a familiar breakfast drink, read the room, and watch commuters drift in and out of a small counter service café before the city fully wakes.
Pick up lunch from a local deli
Choose a sandwich, soup, or salad from a deli counter, then settle into a nearby table while office workers move through the midday rush.
Walk downtown at lunch through the skywalks
Follow the enclosed walkways between buildings, using the skywalks to cross blocks comfortably while storefronts, lobbies, and lunch crowds shape the pace.
Browse shelves at an independent bookstore
Spend an unhurried hour moving between fiction, cookbooks, and local titles, with staff recommendations and quiet browsing giving the visit a steady rhythm.
Meet friends for dinner in a neighborhood restaurant
Arrive early for a booth or bar seat, then linger over shared plates and conversation as the room fills with regulars and after-work diners.
End the evening with a walk through a downtown block
Take a slow loop past storefronts, offices, and apartment buildings, letting the city settle into its night rhythm before heading back inside.
Every few blocks, Des Moines shifts in character
From downtown blocks to riverfront paths, each area shifts in pace, texture, and after-work rhythm.
Downtown Des Moines through the seasons.
Many travelers aim for June for the Des Moines Arts Festival in Western Gateway Park.
Spring
Downtown sidewalks wake up with longer light, patio lunches, and a steady flow of runners and spectators. The city feels alert, open, and ready for outdoor routines.
Summer
Late-day light stretches across the riverfront and downtown blocks, with festivals, sidewalk dinners, and live music shaping an easy rhythm between errands and evenings out.
Fall
The pace settles into crisp mornings, clearer sidewalks, and a more reflective city mood. Cafes, galleries, and parks feel like part of the same slow route.
Winter
Winter pulls activity indoors, where hotel lounges, coffee counters, and museum stops make the city feel compact and deliberate. Evenings center on warm rooms and short walks.
Annual events worth planning around
Drake Relays
A late April track-and-field meet drawing athletes and spectators to Drake University.
Des Moines Arts Festival
A late June downtown arts weekend with galleries, performances, and food near the riverfront.
Iowa State Fair
A mid-August fair with rides, farm exhibits, and classic fair food at the fairgrounds.
Festival of Trees and Lights
A November and December holiday showcase of decorated trees, lights, and seasonal displays.
Where locals return
From East Village coffee counters to downtown routines, these are the Des Moines places locals keep in rotation.
Browse the Downtown Farmers' Market
Saturday mornings downtown bring produce, baked goods, and coffee stands to Des Moines streets, where locals shop for the week and linger over breakfast.
Wander East Village for shops and lunch
Independent boutiques, cafés, and Capitol views give East Village its easy rhythm, and locals come here for errands that turn into an unhurried midday walk.
End the evening at Hoyt Sherman Place
Concerts and stage performances draw regulars to this historic venue, where a night out feels close to the city's arts scene and familiar to repeat visitors.
A few things worth knowing.
From the most walkable neighborhoods to how travelers explore the city, these notes help you plan a trip to Des Moines.
Most walkable areas
Downtown and the East Village are the easiest areas to walk, with Court Avenue close by for an easy city-center loop.
Getting around
Downtown is manageable on foot, and DART buses help reach neighborhoods farther out when you do not want to drive.
Ideal trip length
Two to three nights gives you time for Downtown, the East Village, and a slower meal or two along Court Avenue.
Good for work trips
Downtown stays practical for work trips, with apartment-style stays and fast Wi-Fi where available for longer weekdays.
Des Moines travel questions, answered.
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most.
Des Moines is walkable in the central areas where many stays are set, especially if you want to move between food, coffee, and downtown errands on foot. If your plans are spread farther out, a car or rideshare can make the trip easier. Check the listing for the exact address and nearby transit or parking details, since access can vary by building.
For a first stay, choose a central location that keeps you close to dining, offices, and the city’s core attractions. That gives you the simplest arrival and the least time spent navigating. If you want a quieter residential feel, compare listings by neighborhood and distance to the places on your itinerary, since the right fit depends on how you like to spend your day.
Two to four days usually works well if you want time for meetings, a few meals out, and a relaxed look around the city. A shorter stay can cover a focused work trip, while a longer one suits slower mornings and a more local rhythm. If you are staying longer, look for apartment-style layouts and laundry access where available.
Yes, Des Moines works well for work trips when you want a central base with room to spread out. Look for a stay with a proper desk, reliable Wi-Fi, and a layout that supports both calls and downtime, since those details vary by listing. If you need parking or easy transit for meetings, confirm that before booking.
Accessibility is easiest to confirm from the specific listing, since features can differ by building. Look for elevator access, step-free entry, and bathroom details if those matter to your stay. If you need a particular setup, review the room description carefully and contact support before reserving so you know exactly what is available.
Go with curiosity. Come back with stories.
The best trips rarely go exactly as planned. Sonder keeps you closer to the neighborhoods, kitchens, and small moments that make a city worth remembering.