Do you know which US city blends Southern charm, modern creativity, bourbon heritage, and a 2-minute sporting legacy? If you said, Louisville, Kentucky, top marks! Known globally as Bourbon City, it’s an ideal destination for travellers seeking a lively vacation and Viva Holidays’ have new packages to make booking Louisville a breeze.
Australian travellers love destinations where they can connect to heritage, culture, and enjoy a warm welcome. Louisville, Kentucky, has all three in abundance (especially Southern charm).
Bourbon is just the beginning! Conveniently located in the heart of the US, Louisville extends an invitation for your clients to sip its rich heritage and serves as the gateway to the American South.
Alongside its fascinating bourbon heritage – with Whiskey Row at its heart – Louisville is home to the greatest two minutes in sports at the Kentucky Derby.
Whether your clients want to visit this vibrant city as a standalone vacation or as part of a wider road trip, Viva Holidays, in partnership with Brand USA and Louisville Tourism, have the ideal packages to suit.
Top ten things to see & do
Recognised as one of the friendliest cities in America, Louisville offers a wealth of attractions, a sophisticated culinary scene, and authentically welcoming neighbourhoods.
Here is a snapshot of Bourbon City’s top 10 highlights:
- Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum: The iconic home of the Kentucky Derby, these two attractions offer an immersive look into 150+ years of racing history and its accompanying memorabilia.
- Muhammad Ali Center & the US Civil Rights Trail: Exhibits at this cultural institution honour Muhammad Ali and Louisville’s important place on the US Civil Rights Trail.
- Whiskey Row: This revitalised, vibrant district invites visitors to celebrate the city’s bourbon heritage via its distilleries, tasting rooms, upscale bars, and live music venues.
- Waterfront Park & Big Four Pedestrian Bridge: Wander the waterfront trail along this picturesque riverfront park. At night, the Big Four Bridge glows bright with colourful lights.
- NuLu: Louisville’s energetic arts and design district, NuLu, offers independent boutiques, contemporary galleries, craft breweries, and farm-to-table eateries.
- Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory: Home of the world-famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat, visits include show-and-tell regarding how the bats are made.
- Butchertown: An edgy neighbourhood blending historic industrial spaces with modern eateries, it’s fun to explore Butchertown’s distilleries, specialty shops, and artisanal markets.
- Frazier History Museum & Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center: What better place to begin a bourbon journey than with expert guidance about distilleries, tastings, and regional experiences? It’s the official start point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.
- Bourbon & Beyond: For September travels, check out Bourbon & Beyond, an acclaimed multi-day festival where top musicians, celebrity chefs, and the best bourbon experiences are headliners.
- Urban Bourbon Experiences: In Louisville, bourbon isn’t just a drink—it’s an experience. Explore a walkable mix of historic bars, stylish cocktail lounges, and distillery stops, where guided tastings, cocktail classes, and bourbon-inspired dishes offer an immersive taste of Kentucky’s signature spirit.
Unlocked with Viva Holidays
Take the guesswork out of booking Louisville with Viva Holidays’ new ready-to-book packages.
Here’s a sample of what’s on offer:
Discover Louisville
This 5-day package is the ideal introduction to Louisville. Downtown, the Muhammad Ali Center, Waterfront Park, and Whiskey Row dining are must-do attractions.
Discover Louisville includes:
- A 4-night stay at the 4-star Louisville Marriott Downtown in a Guest Room
- A 6-day Alamo hire car in a Nissan Versa (or similar)
From $1,359* per person twin share.
Explore Kentucky Self-Drive
For 10 fun-filled days, your clients can enjoy a whirlwind adventure around Kentucky’s top attractions. There’s bourbon culture, of course, in Lexington’s Distillery District, at Louisville’s Angel’s Envy and Old Forester distilleries, and at the Kentucky Bourbon Distillery, where they can sip straight from the barrel!
For other wow-worthy inclusions, suggest the National Corvette Museum, laps in a Corvette at NCM Motorsports Park, and a chance to stand where ‘The Greatest’ once stood, at the Muhammad Ali Center.
Explore Kentucky Self-Drive includes:
- A 1-night stay at Aloft Newport on the Levee; Days Inn by Wyndham Lexington Southeast; Holiday Inn Express Berea; Baymont by Wyndham Bowling Green; Best Western Paducah Inn; and Best Western Plus Owensboro
- A 3-night stay at Hampton Inn Louisville Downtown
- An 11-day Alamo hire car in a Nissan Versa (or similar)
From $1,979* per person twin share. All accommodation is 3-star in standard rooms.
Bourbon, Bluegrass & Horse Country Self-Drive
This 16-day round-trip itinerary departs Nashville for Tullahoma, Pigeon Forge, Lexington, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Owensboro.
Regional highlights include Nashville’s live music, honky-tonks, and Southern eats on Broadway Street, the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, a scenic drive into the Great Smoky Mountains or fabulous Dollywood visit.
Lexington’s historic downtown is fun to explore, while the Kentucky Horse Park or visiting a thoroughbred farm connects to the state’s derby heritage.
In Louisville, Whiskey Row offers a wealth of urban distilleries, while Owensboro reveals how it became the nation’s bluegrass capital at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Bourbon, Bluegrass & Horse Country Self-Drive includes:
- A 5-night stay at Days Inn by Wyndham Lexington Southeast
- A 2-night stay at Comfort Inn & Suites Nashville Downtown-Stadium; Econo Lodge Downtown in Louisville; and Best Western Plus Owensboro
- A 1-night stay at Hampton Inn Tullahoma; Best Western Plaza in Pigeon Forge; Quality Inn & Suites, Cincinnati; and Super 8 by Wyndham Indianapolis
- A 17-day Alamo hire car in a Nissan Versa (or similar)
From $2,365* per person twin share. All accommodation is 3-star in standard rooms.
Discover more
For more inspiration and curated packages, discover how bourbon is just the beginning on Viva Holidays’ dedicated Louisville campaign page.
To get more destination information and marketing assets, visit Viva Holidays’ dedicated agent platform, then book on Mango, their online reservations system.
This article is brought to you by Viva Holidays, Brand USA, and Louisville Tourism.
