Frankfort, Kentucky

You can’t tell Frankfort’s story without telling Kentucky’s story — and vice versa. Perfectly positioned on the shores of the Kentucky River between Louisville and Lexington, and home to one of the most vibrant and diverse university populations in the state, Frankfort embodies the essence of everything that makes Kentucky special, all in one small but spirited package. From natural charm and beauty to world-renowned bourbon and culinary experiences, there’s something here to satisfy any palette.

No place in Frankfort better represents its balance between charming history and fresh ideas than our Historic Downtown, home to modern boutique shops, galleries and restaurants where you’ll find red brick streets filled with visitors and residents alike enjoying live music, special events, good food and great times. The city offers a microcosm of Kentucky comfort food, candy, music, art and southern hospitality, as well as natural bounty that makes Frankfort a paradise for every type of outdoor enthusiast—boaters, swimmers, hikers, bikers, golfers and beyond.

As surely as Frankfort is making modern history, it’s also deeply rooted in Kentucky’s past and proud traditions. Here you can visit the burial site of legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone, walk the capitol grounds where Martin Luther King, Jr. marched in 1964, pay respect to Frankfort’s African American Civil War heritage at Greenhill Cemetery, and celebrate our city’s LGBTQ heritage at the annual Capital Pride Festival.

Frankfort represents the very best of Kentucky — capitol halls and bourbon balls, rolling hills and rushing rivers, southern hospitality and global connections. Frankfort is big decisions and small town charm, calloused hands and cutting-edge technology, historic buildings and civic sophistication. It’s beauty, big ideas and flowing bourbon stills. Frankfort is Kentucky Distilled.