Overview
Quincy is a small city of 40,000 in Adams County, Western Illinois. It is near the westernmost point in Illinois on the Mississippi River, and is home to some of the most impressive historic architecture in the region.
8 sights · 1 things to do · 4 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Quincy
Governor John Wood Mansion
A Greek Revival mansion built in 1835.
Quincy Museum
The corner of Maine and 16th streets, where the museum lies, once made the cover of National Geographic as one of the ten most architecturally significant corners in the United States.
Woodland Cemetery
Created in 1857, Woodland Cemetery boasts magnificent views of the Mississippi River, mature trees and landscaping, and ornate grave markers and mausoleums. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Pla…
Villa Kathrine
A Moorish-style castle on the bluffs of the Mississippi.
Granite Bank Gallery
One of Quincy's architectural gems, this spot is definitely worth a stop. The bank interiors have been preserved, right down to the massive safes. A coffee shop (Washington Perk) offers beverages, pastries, and sandwiche…
Dr. Richard Eells House
View a documented Underground Railroad station.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Apr. (climate data from nearby Peoria)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- UIN Quincy Regional Airport Baldwin Field, Quincy — 11 mi away. Directions
- BRL Southeast Iowa Regional Airport, Burlington — 60 mi away. Directions
- STL St. Louis Lambert International Airport, St Louis — 99 mi away (major hub). Directions
Quincy is served by Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field, to the east of the city. It is easily accessible from the city center by going east on Illinois Route 104 (Broadway St.).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $9 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Governor John Wood Mansion, Woodland Cemetery, Granite Bank Gallery
- Lunch Gem City Pizzeria & Mexican
- Afternoon Historical Society of Quincy & Adams County, All Wars Museum
- Dinner Maid-Rite
Day 2
- Morning Quincy Museum, Villa Kathrine
- Lunch Tiramisu´
- Afternoon Dr. Richard Eells House, 18th and Maine Streets
- Dinner Best Buffet
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Downtown Quincy is where many locally-owned restaurants are. Most of the restaurant chains have a location on Broadway Street, the main drag that cuts straight through the middle of the city.
For those who want (or have) to make their own food, Quincy has plenty of grocery stores to choose from.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
Quincy is served by Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field, to the east of the city. It is easily accessible from the city center by going east on Illinois Route 104 (Broadway St.).
By train
Quincy is served by Amtrak which comes into the Quincy Amtrak Station (QCY) at North 30th Street and Wisman Lane. Amtrak has two trains daily, originating in Chicago and terminating in Quincy. As of 12/2011, the trains depart Chicago at 7:35AM and 5:55PM and take approximately 4.5 hours.
By car
If coming from St. Louis, you can take I-70 west towards Kansas City. At exit 210B, take the ramp right for US-61 North towards Hannibal. Stay on US-61, and in Hannibal, take the ramp right for I-72 East / Mark Twain Avenue East towards Springfield IL. / Downtown Hannibal. At exit 4B, take ramp left for I-172 North towards Quincy. Get off at exit 14, Broadway St., to get to the center of town. This trip takes roughly two and a half hours with traffic.
If arriving from Chicago, take I-55 / Stevenson Expressway towards St. Louis. At Springfield, keep right and stay on I-72 West. Keep straight onto I-172 North. This trip takes about four and a half hours with traffic.
Get around
Quincy is best explored by car or on foot. There are many sidewalks in some of the historic districts, but parts of Broadway are not so pedestrian-friendly.
See
Quincy has four major historical districts. The Quincy Historic Business District displays a wide variety of architectural styles and shows the wealth of the years 1850-1930 when Quincy was the most important river town in Illinois. Quincy’s East End Historic District contains every formal style of architecture found in the Midwest from 1830-1930. This East End area has a collection of Italianate, Greek Revival, Romanesque, Queen Anne and Prairie designs. Quincy’s South End Historic District was the home of Quincy’s German population. The sturdy homes, some ornate and others very simple, stand as reminders of Quincy’s German heritage. The fourth major historical area is Quincy’s North End, containing a collection of Italianate, Queen Anne and Renaissance Revival designs found in the Midwest from 1858-1930.
See Granite Bank Gallery
One of Quincy's architectural gems, this spot is definitely worth a stop. The bank interiors have been preserved, right down to the massive safes. A coffee shop (Washington Perk) offers beverages, pastries, and sandwiches, and is a great place to hang out and relax (free Wifi, too). The gift shops offer mostly overpriced knick-knacks. Fun to browse, but keep your wallet closed.
See 18th and Maine Streets
Described as one of the top ten architecturally significant intersections in the U.S. by "National Geographic", this spot in one of Quincy's historic districts showcases four distinctive residential architecture styles. A walk through the surrounding neighborhood provides additional examples of late 19th and early 20th century architecture.
Do
Do Woodland Cemetery
Created in 1857, Woodland Cemetery boasts magnificent views of the Mississippi River, mature trees and landscaping, and ornate grave markers and mausoleums. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and contains the graves of many early Quincy and Illinois civic and business leaders.
Buy
Eat
Downtown Quincy is where many locally-owned restaurants are. Most of the restaurant chains have a location on Broadway Street, the main drag that cuts straight through the middle of the city.
Eat Gem City Pizzeria & Mexican
A Quincy institution that has been around for decades, Gem City Pizzeria is a favorite of the locals. In addition to pizza and other Italian dishes, the menu also offers Mexican specialties. If you go on the weekend, be prepared to wait for a table. Carry-out and delivery are also offered, however.
Within Quincy
Eat Maid-Rite
Come to this local landmark to taste one of their unique loose meat ground beef sandwiches, a.k.a. Maid-Rites. This is the very first Maid-Rite in the franchise, and it is a great place for a cheap meal.
Eat Tiramisu´
A great place to get authentic Italian cuisine at reasonable prices.
Eat Best Buffet
The best Chinese buffet in town.
Outside Quincy
For those who want (or have) to make their own food, Quincy has plenty of grocery stores to choose from.
Sleep
As with restaurants, the Broadway area is also a great place to find a hotel.
Go next
On the way out, you can follow the Great River Road north of Quincy towards Nauvoo, Illinois, and visit the sights there. Alternatively, you can drive south to Hannibal, Missouri, and see the Mark Twain sights
Nearby
Hannibal
City / town · 14 listings · 16 mi away
Plymouth
City / town · 1 listings · 36 mi away
Nauvoo
City / town · 11 listings · 43 mi away
Bowling Green
City / town · 1 listings · 43 mi away
Fort Madison
City / town · 2 listings · 48 mi away
Macomb
City / town · 5 listings · 53 mi away
Arenzville
City / town · 1 listings · 55 mi away
Mexico
City / town · 4 listings · 59 mi away
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