Sightseeing & City Tours

Reno is small enough to understand in an afternoon and strange enough to be worth the effort. The compact downtown, the Truckee running through it, and the mountains on three sides make orientation quick.

The Reno Arch on Virginia Street is the photograph everyone takes, and the current one is not the original — the sign has been replaced several times since the first went up in 1926. The 'Biggest Little City in the World' slogan came from a 1929 contest.

Beyond the Arch, the things worth seeing are spread out: the riverwalk, the public art that Burning Man has left scattered around the city, the murals through Midtown, and the view from anywhere on the west side looking back at the Sierra.

A guided city tour is most useful on a first visit and least useful if you have a car and a day. Reno rewards wandering more than most cities its size.