Downtown Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

Background Image

Downtown Knoxville - Knoxville, TN

Area Guide

Share Guide

Beautiful, offbeat, and fun: Get wowed by Downtown Knoxville

Historic University Walkable Riverfront Nature Hiking Mountains

From the beauty of the Tennessee River to the fun-filled Market Square, Downtown Knoxville is a neighborhood in motion. Those who might want to see it all (or just take an amazing selfie) head to the iconic Sunsphere for a 360-degree panorama of downtown, the river, and (on a clear day), the Smoky Mountains. The Sunsphere, which resembles a golden disco ball on stilts, was built for the 1982 World’s Fair and stands 266 feet tall.

But as impressive as the Sunsphere may be, it’s just the beginning of Downtown Knoxville’s not-so-hidden treasures. Other amazing destinations include the historic Blount Mansion, the Bijou Theater, Old City Hall, and the James White Fort. For those who enjoy a little shopping and dining with their historic destinations, Market Square, Old City, and Gay Street are sure to be a hit.

Downtown Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee, Zoo Knoxville, and boat cruises on the Tennessee River. After a day of shopping in Market Square, be sure to stop by the landmark Oliver Hotel and have a drink at the Peter Kern Library – you’ll be glad you did! With a cozy feel of a bygone era, you’ll have to discover the “secret” way in (look for the red light in the alley).

Explore the Neighborhood

The Sunsphere at World's Fair Park

The playground at World's Fair Park is great for kids

The Cradle of Country Music Park was developed in 1986

The 100 Block of Knoxville's historic Gay Street is filled with shops and restaurants

The popular Balter Beerworks is located downtown

Try the award-winning, small-batch craft brews at Knox Whiskey Works

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Downtown Knoxville is $1,352 for a studio, $1,591 for one bedroom, $2,369 for two bedrooms, and $2,067 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Downtown Knoxville has decreased by -1.7% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 497 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,352/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 679 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,591/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 1,056 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $2,369/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,149 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $2,067/month

    Average Rent

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Three Rivers Rambler
  • Frank H. McClung Museum
  • John Tarleton Park
  • Ijams Nature Center
  • Marine Park (Tennessee River)

Airports

  • McGhee Tyson

Top Apartments in Downtown Knoxville

Houses for Rent in Downtown Knoxville

Property Management Companies

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.