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Greensboro is a city in North Carolina. It is named after Nathanael Greene, a Patriot general who fought a battle here during the Revolutionary War. Population is about 250,000. The famous author William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, was born here. It can be sleepy and genteel but is enjoying a newfound reputation as a great place for young people. Downtown especially is experiencing a surfeit of bars, music venues and restaurants.

Get in

By plane

Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO  IATA), [1] (PTI as the locals refer to it), has around 75 daily flights to most major hubs on the east coast.

By train

Greensboro is served by Amtrak through J. Douglas Gaylon Depot downtown. The Piedmont/Carolinian makes daily stops in Greensboro and offers service from Charlotte to Washington, D.C. and New York City. The Crescent travels from New Orleans to New York City also serves Greensboro.

By car

Greensboro is served by four interstate highways, I-40 goes east-west, I-85 goes north-south, and when completed I-73 will go north to Michigan and south to Myrtle beach, and I-74 willl go north to Cincinnati and the Quad Cities. US highways 29, 70, 220, and 421 travel through Greensboro.

Get around

Greensboro offers public bus service through the Greensboro Transit Authority [2], but also provides 30 minute service on all 14 routes Monday through Friday from 5:15AM-6:30PM, and evening service every hour from 7:30PM-11:30PM with 7 buses with two or three combined routes running 'hourly'. On weekends, on Saturday from 6AM-10PM with evening service starting at 7PM until 10PM; however, the same evening service ran during the week and Saturday runs only from 6AM-6PM.

College students can ride the HEAT bus system for free by showing a valid college ID. There are 7 HEAT routes that carry the college community and the general public; non-students ride for the regular bus fare of $1.10 or a GTA bus pass

PART (Piedmont Area Regional Transportation) provides bus service between several cities around Greensboro, including but not limited to High Point, Winston-Salem, Mt Airy, Chapel Hill, Durham, Asheboro, Lexington. For details on route schedules and prices you can check the website [3]

See

  • Take a look around the campus of UNC-Greensboro [4]. Good people watching and Weatherspoon Art Museum [5] is fun on a rainy afternoon.
  • Visit the site of the historic Woolworth's Sit-In, a landmark in the 1960s civil rights movement. Elm Street south of Market, downtown.
  • Take a walk through Fisher Park, a 100-year old neighborhood surrounding a central park. Elm Street north of Fisher Avenue, downtown.

Do

  • The International Civil Rights Center and Museum. "The International Civil Rights Center & Museum is an archival center, collecting museum and teaching facility devoted to the international struggle for civil and human rights. The Museum celebrates the nonviolent protests of the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins, which served as a catalyst in the civil rights movement. The Museum complex includes 30,000 square feet of exhibit space and is located in the historic 1929 F.W. Woolworth building in Greensboro, N.C." 
  • Greensboro Historical Museum. A nice way to spend an afternoon, the Greensboro Historical Museum has excellent collections on the city's varied history including a collection of Civil War weapons and artifacts. It also has a large number of exhibits for children. Free admission. Closed Mondays. 
  • Blandwood Mansion [6]. - Greensboro's National Historic Landmark home of Governor John Motley Morehead, and America's oldest Tuscan Villa residence. Features period furnishings, art, and rose gardens. Open to public tours.
  • Greensboro Cultural Center at Festival Park
  • War Memorial Auditorium - Home of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (GSO) and the Greensboro Pops
  • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. Old Battleground Rd in North Greensboro. A beautiful park with jogging/bike trails, a small visitors center, and interesting information on the revolutionary war battle that occurred there. There is also a yearly reenactment of the battle on the weekend closest to March 14th. 
  • Grasshoppers Baseball Game at First Horizon Park- If it's baseball season and the Hoppers are at home you will regret not going to a game. The team built one of the newest and most beautiful ballparks in the southeast. There are areas for children and seating on the grass, in the stands, boxes, and standing at the huge outdoor bar by left field. Thursdays are extremely packed due to the cheap beer and you may want to consider that (although usually only the bar area is shoulder to shoulder). The atmosphere is very family oriented and easily accessible as the park is downtown. Parking can sometimes be a problem but if you're willing to walk 10 minutes then free parking is not a problem.
  • Hit the Lakes- Lake Brandt, Lake Higgins and Lake Townsend all offer canoeing and kayaking, Lake Higgins also allows fishing

Buy

  • Downtown. There are a number of unique shops along South Elm Street downtown, including numerous art galleries, boutiques and cafes.
  • Four Seasons Town Center. An indoor 3-story mall adjacent to Koury Convention Center offering over 180 stores and restaurants anchored by Belk, JC Penny's and Dillard's. Be aware that there has been a sharp rise in crime around the mall in recent years including car theft due to its proximity to the highway. Use common sense and stay safe. 
  • Friendly Shopping Center. A 75-acre open village shopping center with over 1 million square feet of stores, it is anchored by Belk, Macy's and Sears and offers more local stores than the mall. Next door to Friendly Shopping Center is their new addition: The Shops at Friendly Center. Stores include REI, Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers, Coldwater Creek and more. Restaurants include P.F. Chang's, Flemings's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Ben & Jerry's, and Mimi's Cafe. The large Harris Teeter grocery store offer hot bars, pizza, sushi and a great salad bar. 

Eat

Highly Recommended

  • L'Italianos - Buy it by the slice or get a whole pie. Located on South Elm Street in downtown.
  • Positanos - An authentic sit-down Italian trattoria whose food distinguishes itself from the rest. Located off Lawndale Drive, parallel to Battleground Avenue in the Target shopping center.
  • Sapporo - Quality sushi, if not the best in Greensboro at very reasonable prices. Located on Battleground Avenue in the Earth Fare shopping center.
  • Saffron - Excellent Indian cuisine that is hard to find in North Carolina. Has a lunch buffet seven days a week at a very reasonable price. Table service is by far the best in the Triad. Noteworthy vegetable samosas. Located on Lawndale Drive, above Wendover Avenue.
  • Natty Greene's - Downtown pub with several very good microbrews.
  • Stamey's Barbeque. BBQ since 1930, located across the street from the Greensboro Coliseum . A second location is on Battleground Ave. Stameys BBQ, along with Brushy Mountain BBQ in Wilkesboro, Hannahs in Lenoir, Short Sugars in Reidsville & Danville VA, these are the top BBQ places in all of North Carolina.
  • Sticks and Stones. Across the street from Lindley Park Filling Station at the intersection of Walker Ave and S Elam Ave. Excellent brick-fired pizza, salads, and regional microbrews. 
  • Tripp's - A small North Carolina chain that is based out of Greensboro. Two locations are on New Garden Road near Bryan Blvd and West Wendover Avenue near Wal Mart. Lunch and dinner entrees are generally very good, portion sizes are fair and the prices are reasonable. For dessert, Tripp's serves Carnegie Deli cheesecake shipped directly from New York City. Best non-southern dessert to be found in the Triad.

Other recommendations

  • Bert's Seafood - Excellent selection of seafood dishes but on the pricey side.
  • Sriri Siam - Best Thai restaurant. Tucked behind Pizza Hut on Guilford College Rd. Offers an excellent and lengthy list of lunch specials.
  • Pho Hien Vuong or Saigon - Good Vietnamese.
  • The Melting Pot - High-quality fondue restaurant
  • Sushi Republic, Tate Street on the edge of UNCG campus. (previously Sushi 101) - Owned by two Korean brothers. There are some very interesting and delicious concoctions offered on their menu.
  • Fishbones, corner of Walker and Elam streets. Possibly the best bar food in town. A 2 minute drive or 15 minute walk from UNCG. A variety of imported beer, liquor, and wine and has outdoor seating.
  • Ghassan's - Best steak sub in town. Also serve a variety of middle eastern dishes such as kabobs, falafel, hummus, and gyros.
  • Green Valley Grill. Located adjacent to the O.Henry Hotel, they feature seasonal food using old-world European culinary sensibilities and flavors. Their wine list features 50 wines by the glass and wine flights. 
  • Print Works Bistro. Traditional and modern versions of classic dishes popular in European Bistros. Honest drinking bar. Adjacent to Proximity Hotel. 

Drink

  • Natty Greene's - Downtown microbrewery. Very large place and crowded on the weekends.
  • M'coul's Public House, corner of Elm and Mcgee streets. Irish bar downtown with over 17 beers on tap from around the world as well as a large selection of scotch and whiskey. Two levels, both with outdoor seating. One of the best places downtown to see a sunset. Large menu including: salads, sandwiches, and traditional Irish fare. Most food costs between US$7-12. A very diverse demographic frequents this restaurant/bar. The upstairs bar is smoking, tends to be the rowdier section and can get quite crowded on the weekend. The downstairs bar is non-smoking and is much more relaxed and "Irish" looking. There is a fiddle player and acoustic guitar pair on Friday nights that plays downstairs (outside when the weather permits).
  • Old Town Draught House - Located on Spring Garden St. directly on the edge of UNC-G campus. Popular with students, professors, and locals that want to have a good sandwich and cheap beer. Great food specials daily and very popular on Wednesday nights.
  • Green Bean Coffee Shop - Downtown next to Natty Green's. Has WiFi available and sells beer and wine along with excellent coffee and baked goods.
  • Cheesecakes by Alex, Elm St. downtown. Serves exceptional cheesecake, cookies, and other baked goods as well as coffee. Also has WiFi.
  • Tate Street Coffee. A local favorite, Tate Street Coffee is a hot spot of college students from UNCG during the school year. Located on Tate street right off UNCG campus, it's known for both its delicious coffee as well as the free jazz shows every Thursday night. 
  • Vintage 301, 301 Martin Luther King Jr Dr (Just off Elm between Natty Greenes, and Mellow Mushroom), ☏ +1 336 333-3190. 4-12 Tue-Fri, 10:30am-2am Sat, Sun (10:30-4) Brunch. Great tapas restaurant in downtown Greensboro just off Elm St in the historic and award winning Southside Neighborhood. Great food, patio seating, & view. The beer list, and wine list have won multiple awards, as has the Chef. Surprisingly affordable, some plates start at $5. Brunch prices $2-$7, dinner prices $4-$18. An absolute must for any visit to Greensboro. 
  • Westerwood Tavern - Great place to experience local culture and drink with the natives. All your dive-bar hallmarks: cheap beer, pool table, patio, and interesting characters. By the tracks on 508 Guilford Avenue.

Sleep

  • O.Henry Hotel, 624 Green Valley Road, ☏ +1 336 854-2000. AAA Four Diamond Hotel located in central Greensboro by Friendly Shopping Center. Locally owned, features afternoon tea, free full breakfast. 
  • Proximity Hotel, 704 Green Valley Road, ☏ +1 336 379-8200. Sustainable practices include water heated by 100 solar panels, huge windows with abundant natural light and plenty of fresh air circulating into guest rooms. 

Stay safe

Greensboro is a charming southern city but has its share of crime just like any other large area in the state. Common sense is your best friend; don't ever leave your car unlocked or with valuables visible. Walk in well-lit places at night, especially downtown. The South and East sides of the city are a bit rougher than the rest, and Lee Street in particular is rather sketchy. Best to drive through if you don't have specific business there. When going to places late night on High Point Road, be aware of your surroundings--this is one of the areas that has seen the most increase in late-night crime. Cops are everywhere and generally helpful but remember they are VERY serious about what they do.

Go next

  • Old Salem - Twenty-mile west drive to Winston-Salem for a recreation of Moravian life in the early 1800s. Try the Moravian cookies.
  • Seagrove - Forty-mile drive south to a community of more than 90 potters. All styles and price ranges available. Makes great Christmas gifts.
  • Asheboro - North Carolina zoo.
  • Hanging Rock State Park - Gorgeous mountain park offers camping, picnicking, and hiking trails with various levels of difficulty. Several waterfalls.
Routes through Greensboro
Lynchburg ← Danville ←  N  S  → High Point → Charlotte
Charlotte ← High Point ←  W  E  → Burlington → Raleigh
Asheville ← Winston-Salem ←  W  E  → Burlington → Durham
Durham ← Burlington ←  N  S  → High Point → Charlotte
Danville ← Reidsville ←  N  S  → High Point → Lexington
Lexington ← High Point ←  W  E  → Burlington → Durham
Bristol ← Winston-Salem ←  W  E  → Sanford → Wilmington


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