Once dubbed ‘The Magic City’, quirky Eureka Springs is a brilliant historic community with a fabulously liberal, artsy vibe, nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Accommodation options are plentiful, and fit for a whole array of budgets. Most of the best places to stay in Eureka Springs are characterful B&Bs, promising an intimate hideaway to cosy in to after sampling the city’s lively cafe, bar and restaurant scene.
Featuring in Native American legends as the site of the Great Healing Spring, Eureka Springs flourished as a nineteenth-century spa city and tourist destination, promoted as a place of magical healing. Tucked up in Arkansas’ north-western corner, the secluded city boasts steep winding streets lined with brightly painted Victorian houses built from local stone and offering impressive views of the mountains and forests.
Beyond the city limits lie the Ozarks, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. Discover the region on horseback with an expert guide or try mountain biking and hiking along picturesque trails. There’s fishing to be done on the White River or the Kings River, too, as well as water sports on nearby Beaver Lake — also a popular camping spot.
The entire pint-sized downtown area of Eureka Springs is on the USA’s National Register of Historic Places, and is the perfect place for history buffs, art aficionados or funky music and bric-a-brac lovers to explore. Don't miss the Eureka Springs Historical Museum, a ghost tour of the Crescent Hotel, and a glimpse of the iconic Christ of the Ozarks statue. Peer into craft emporiums, fine art galleries, fun boutiques and music shops before picking a perch for an ice cream or an award-winning craft beer from a local brewery. Food is big in Eureka Springs, and there’s a whole range of eclectic independent options — from roadside barbecues to Indian curries, Bavarian cuisine to gourmet pizza — set to satisfy travellers of all ages and tastes.
With soothing spas and alternative treatments aplenty, Eureka Springs is also a wonderfully relaxing and romantic destination. Do look into the annual programme of events before you travel, as it’s worth timing your trip to hit a dreamy food festival or to catch a live blues gig. Whether you’re a couple looking for a rejuvenating getaway, or a wacky art lover keen to soak up the area’s great vibes, the best places to stay in Eureka Springs offer cosy rooms in carefully restored Victorian homes with crackling log fires and local recommendations aplenty.