A Perfect Two-Day Iowa City Itinerary

Posted on February 23, 2026

Whether you’re coming to Iowa City for a campus visit or just to check out the vibes, we’ve created a two-day itinerary that covers it all.

Day 1: Downtown + Campus Core

Breakfast at Pullman Bar & Diner
Grab a booth and order the Glazy Susan or one of their breakfast specials. Don’t forget to order their award-winning coffee. It’s the kind of coffee that makes you feel ready for a full day of wandering.

Stroll the Pedestrian Mall
This is the heart of downtown and the best place to window shop, explore local businesses, and take in the energy of the city.

• Raygun: Midwest merch you didn’t know you needed
• Prairie Lights Books: Browse the shelves, head upstairs to the café, flip through a new book, and enjoy some people watching.

Lunch at Oasis Falafel
A longtime Iowa City staple. After eating, wander the streets for art and stop by local shops at Northside Marketplace for handmade Iowa finds:

• RSVP
• Artifacts
• Prairie Kitchen Store

River Walk + Museums
Take a slow stroll along the Iowa River to the Stanley Museum of Art or swing by one of the Pentacrest museums. This part of the day is all about slowing down, taking in the scenery, and experiencing the arts and architecture that surround campus.

Afternoon Extras

• Yotopia: frozen yogurt that’s worth the brain freeze
• Iowa Book: Hawkeye gear and souvenirs (yes, you’ll probably buy something “just because”)

Dinner + an Evening Show
Pick a downtown dinner spot that fits your mood. Then cap the night with live arts at:

• Englert Theatre
• Hancher Auditorium
• Riverside Theatre

It’s the perfect way to experience Iowa City’s arts scene before calling it a night.

Day 2: Brunch + Green Space + Hidden Corners

Brunch (10:30 a.m. is the move)

• Bluebird Diner: Classic comfort food that hits like a warm hug
• Dandy Lion: Pastries and latte energy for your cozy vibes

City Park
Green space, river views, and enough room to toss a frisbee, nap, or just stare at the clouds pretending finals don’t exist. A perfect mid-day reset.

Lunch, Your Way
Quick + satisfying:

• Saj Grill
• Estela’s Fresh Mex
• Nodo

Heartier, shareable plates:

• Pop’s BBQ
• Graze Gourmet To-Go

Indie Movie Stop
Check out FilmScene, which partners with the University of Iowa’s Bijou Film Board to screen independent and student-supported films. Pretend you’re a cinephile.

Dinner Downtown
Feeling fancy?

• Baroncini Ristorante Italiano and Pizza
• Basta Pizzeria Ristorante
• Iowa Chop House
• St. Burch Tavern

Keeping it low-key?

• Formosa Sushi
• The Wedge Pizzeria
• Thai Flavors
• Pagliai’s Pizza

See you in Iowa City.

Bonus: Check out the Downtown Iowa City calendar for your visit days, as well as the Think Iowa City calendar for some exciting events in and around the city.

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If Your Academic College Was a Coffee, This Is What It’d Be

Posted on February 12, 2026

Choosing an academic college at Iowa isn’t just about a major. It’s about how you learn, how you think, and what your day-to-day academic life looks like. If those differences were coffee orders you’d pick up around Iowa City, here’s how each college would order.

Tippie College of Business- Cold Brew

Cold brew isn’t the loudest thing on the menu, but it’s one of the most intentional. It takes time to develop and delivers steady, lasting energy, which mirrors Tippie’s academic approach. While business can be studied anywhere, Tippie focuses on building skills that hold up over time through collaborative coursework, hands-on projects, internships, student organizations, and real-world problem solving. Flexible pathways let you explore majors, double up, or follow your passions. Like cold brew, Tippie isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about preparation that lasts.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences- Latte

A latte can be hot or iced, sweet or simple, vanilla or caramel, just like a CLAS education—you get to mix and match your majors, explore your interests, and discover what inspires you. With more than 70 majors and endless ways to combine them, students can experiment across disciplines, dive into hands-on projects, labs, studios, and study abroad opportunities, while building communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that prepare them for any path. Like a latte, CLAS is flexible, customizable, and full of possibilities, crafted to match your curiosity and fuel your next steps.

College of Engineering- Cortado

A cortado blends espresso and milk in perfect balance, just like at the College of Engineering—half technical mastery, half creative problem-solving. With eight undergraduate degrees, students dive into hands-on learning through research, internships, co-ops, and study abroad, gaining real-world experience from the start. The small-college environment fosters collaboration, strong bonds, and a welcoming community. Cutting-edge work in medical imaging, sustainability, and biotechnology prepares students for innovative careers, while communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills help them thrive.

College of Education- Mocha with Whipped Cream

A mocha is warm, a little sweet, and makes you feel cared for, the perfect pick-me-up for anyone ready to help others succeed. That is College of Education energy: supportive, encouraging, and full of collaboration. Students brainstorm lesson plans one minute, coach peers the next, and tackle big challenges in classrooms, counseling centers, or research labs. With over 80 programs to explore, there is room to mix, match, and add your own flair, like drizzling caramel over your mocha. It is nurturing, energizing, and leaves you ready to make an impact, one thoughtful sip at a time.

College of Nursing- Artisan Drip

Drip coffee isn’t instant—it takes time, care, and precision to brew the perfect cup. That is the College of Nursing. With nationally recognized programs and world-renowned faculty, students are trained for real clinical settings from the start. Whether pursuing the pre-licensure BSN or advancing through the RN-BSN pathway, nursing students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for the realities of patient care. It is focused, hands-on, and deeply impactful.

College of Public Health- Macchiato

A macchiato is small but bold, layered with purpose, and not messing around. That fits the College of Public Health. As a top-ranked public institution and the only accredited school of public health in Iowa, this college focuses on impact over flash. Students get hands-on experience locally and globally, tackling real public health challenges that affect communities every day. Whether preparing for careers in public health practice or future paths in medicine, law, or research, students leave with a strong foundation and a clear sense of direction. Like a macchiato, it is concentrated, intentional, and powerful in every sip.

College of Pharmacy- Quad Espresso

A quad espresso is intense, focused, and chosen by people who know exactly what they are signing up for. That fits the College of Pharmacy. It is a close-knit Pharmily with the resources of a major research university, where hands-on, experience-based learning begins on day one. Ranked among the top PharmD programs in the nation, students learn in a state-of-the-art facility, collaborate across health sciences, and gain experience through preceptors in the U.S. and abroad. The result is a program that values leadership, service, and carving your own path.

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Which Iowa Dining Hall Are You, Based on Your Aesthetic?

Posted on January 30, 2026

A highly scientific analysis based on vibes, not nutrition facts.

At the University of Iowa, dining halls are more than places to grab food. They’re personality hotspots. Each one has its own energy, crowd, and main character potential. Whether you’re choosing based on mood, schedule, or pure instinct, here’s which Iowa dining hall matches your aesthetic.

Catlett Market Place

Aesthetic: clean, minimalist, coquette, preppy
Location: Catlett Residence Hall, east side of campus

Catlett Market Place is bright, modern, and organized—perfect for anyone who loves structure with a side of variety. With nine stations offering made-to-order pizza, burgers, fresh salads, and breakfast all day, meals feel both convenient and thoughtfully prepared.

Catlett is all about balance: a place where you can grab a quick snack between classes or linger over a meal while catching up with friends. The atmosphere is calm and inviting, with plenty of space to recharge, focus, or people-watch. If clean lines, thoughtful options, and an intentional vibe are your style, Catlett is the dining hall for you.

Burge Market Place

Aesthetic: eclectic, bold, high-energy
Location: Burge Residence Hall, east side of campus

Burge Market Place is always buzzing. Multiple stations feature made-to-order meals, rotating soups, freshly baked breads, and specialty rotisserie meats. It’s the place for students who like variety, options, and a dining hall that never feels the same twice.

It’s entirely nut-free, with the Thrive station offering meals free from gluten and the top allergens, including fish, shellfish, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, and milk. Everything at Thrive is prepared in a controlled environment to avoid cross-contact. If variety, creativity, and a dash of chaos are your style, Burge has you covered.

Hillcrest Market Place

Aesthetic: cottagecore, artsy, dark academia, coastal
Location: Hillcrest Residence Hall, west side of campus

Hillcrest Market Place blends comfort, style, and variety. Nine stations serve made-to-order burgers, homestyle entrees, deli sandwiches, BBQ, and Asian dishes, all in a calm and inviting atmosphere. If reflective moments, quiet conversation, or soft indie film vibes are your thing, Hillcrest is the aesthetic match.

Not feeling any aesthetic?

Market2Go
Location: wherever your heart desires

For those who need meals on the move, the Market2Go program is perfect. Included in the meal plan, it lets you take meals to-go—whether to a residence hall room, the library, or the next class—while helping reduce waste.

This option fits anyone who values flexibility without giving up access to fresh, made-to-order meals.

Which One Matches You?

Many Hawkeyes move between dining halls depending on mood, schedule, or appetite. Some days call for the organized calm of Catlett, others for the bold variety of Burge, or the reflective comfort of Hillcrest. And sometimes, it’s just Market2Go and eat wherever life takes you.

At Iowa, dining halls aren’t just meals—they’re part of the student experience, community, and routine.

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The Iowa Honors Experience

Posted on January 6, 2026

Looking  for a Community That Pushes You Further?

If you’re searching for a campus community that values curiosity, active learning, and exploring beyond the classroom, the University of Iowa Honors Program might be the perfect fit. Honors adds an extra layer to your academic and social experience, connecting you with students who love to challenge themselves and dive deeper into learning.

What Do Honors Students Actually Do?

Before classes even begin, you’ll kick things off with Honors Primetime, a one-credit workshop during On Iowa! welcome week. It’s designed to help you explore campus and Iowa City while meeting Honors faculty, staff, and connecting with other new Honors students.

Primetime topics change each year and range from children’s literature and steel drums to tree identification, Iowa City’s music history, and leadership. It’s a low-pressure way to start college while getting plugged into the Honors community from day one.

Once the semester begins, you’ll take Introduction to Honors, a course that helps you understand the program, explore opportunities, and connect with the Honors community.

Many first-year students begin with an Honors First-Year Seminar, which is a small, discussion-based course built around big questions.

One of our tour guides, Nina, took Solving the Grand Challenges of Sustainability. The class sparked conversations about climate change, sustainable agriculture, and population growth, and ended up shaping her academic path. She later added two majors—Environmental Policy and Planning and Geographical and Sustainability Sciences—all because of that early Honors experience!

Honors Courses and Beyond

Honors sections are offered for many classes you’d already take, like Principles of Chemistry for science and engineering majors. You’ll attend the same lecture as everyone else, but your discussion section will be all Honors students, which means smaller groups, deeper conversations, and more engagement.

If you want more flexibility, you can contract a class for Honors credit by working with your professor on an extra project. This is a favorite option for second-year students who’ve built strong faculty relationships. One student, Emma, contracted a Linguistics class to study accents. That project grew into a long-term research opportunity she’s still pursuing today!

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Honors isn’t just about coursework. It’s about experiences. You’ll complete experiential learning and reflection activities that might include research, internships, study abroad, volunteering, or even serving as a teaching assistant.

Take Patrick, for example, he completed a global internship in Prague the summer before his junior year, then spent eight weeks student teaching near Iowa City and another eight weeks in New Zealand. These experiences gave him professional skills, cultural insights, and unforgettable memories—all for Honors credit!

Community and Support

Honors students are supported through peer mentors and the option to live in Honors housing in Catlett Residence Hall. Living in Honors housing is optional, and Honors students live across campus in many residence halls and Living Learning Communities.

Housing applications open in January, with Honors admissions notifications released in late February.

How to Apply

There are no strict minimum requirements for Honors admission. Applications are reviewed holistically, looking at your transcript, activities list, and essay. We’re looking for students who engage fully and show strong self-reflection.

The application opens in September in your Admissions Profile on MyUI. If you don’t see it, contact your admissions counselor to have it added. The deadline for incoming first-year students is January 16, 2026, at 12 p.m. CST.

Learn more about the application process.

Why Honors?

If you want an education that goes deeper, with more opportunities, support, and connections, the Honors Program is for you. You’ll benefit from smaller, discussion-based courses, research and experiential learning, and meaningful relationships with faculty and peers. Honors opens doors to mentorship, leadership, and undergraduate research — experiences that prepare you for graduate school, professional programs, and impactful careers.

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8 People You Probably Didn’t Know Attended Iowa 

Posted on July 31, 2023August 2, 2023

Jake Johnson 

Any “New Girl” fans? Jake Johnson, AKA the beloved Nick Miller, attended the University of Iowa for two years. He studied Creative Writing and even wrote a play that got him into NYU’s Tisch School of Arts. 

(Mary) Flannery O’Connor 

Best known for her short stories, such as “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” Flannery O’Connor attended the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 1946. You can find a Literary Walk Plaque on Iowa Avenue in her honor. 

Jean Seberg 

For those who have not heard of Jean Seberg, her story is heartbreaking and worth reading about. She was an American actress, considered an icon of the French New Wave, and appeared in 34 films in her short life. 

After growing up in small-town Iowa, she enrolled at the University of Iowa and took up Filmmaking. 

Tom Brokaw 

Although he graduated from the University of South Dakota State, Tom Brokaw started college at the University of Iowa. He was the anchor of NBC’s “Nightly News” for over 20 years, and in 2010, he was awarded an honor doctorate from Iowa. Thanks to his donation to the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections and Archives in 2016, we have an extensive collection of his papers. 

Ashton Kutcher 

He may be known for his on-screen presence and modeling career, but that all began while he was a student at the University of Iowa. He was a Biochemical Engineering major when he was approached downtown in The Airliner Bar by a model scout. He may have left before graduating to pursue modeling, but we hear he’s still a die-hard Hawkeyes fan. 

Gene Wilder 

 You probably know him best for his perfectly eccentric portrayal of Willy Wonka back in the ‘70s. But did you know he was a student at the University of Iowa first? Wilder graduated with a BA in Communication and Theatre Arts back in 1955. It didn’t take long for him to make a name for himself in Hollywood, where he was best known for his comedic roles. 

Tom Arnold 

Not only did Tom Arnold grow up in Iowa, but he also attended college here as well. Arnold was a Business Administration and Writing student here at the University of Iowa who went on to become a successful actor, comedian, and television host. 

John Irving 

Another writer whose plaque graces our Literary Walk on Iowa Avenue. John Irving attended Kurt Vonnegut’s workshop in 1965 at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in Dey House. Fun fact: He’s also a member of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. 

Iowa’s Center for Advancement has a great article that highlights his career. 

 

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At Iowa, you should study what draws and interests you. You can do great things no matter your major, even if you attend college in the Heartland. You never know what, or who, you will find in Iowa City! 

 

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5 Lesser-Known Perks of Living in Iowa City

Posted on July 12, 2023July 12, 2023

When you decide to become a Hawkeye, you aren’t just choosing to study at a top university. You’re also choosing to live in a top college town – Iowa City!

There are plenty of reasons why you’ll love it here. Sure, we could tell you about our restaurants serving all types of delicious cuisines, our amazing public library, and downtown events hosted throughout the entire year. But what about some lesser-known perks that make Iowa City the best college town?

Target

Want a quick grocery haul without having to drive? Target. Move into the residence halls and realize you need extra hangers? Target. It’s a convenient, downtown stop as you settle into your new campus. Plus, with over 70 other locally owned shops, you’ll have access to everything you need within walking distance.

50+ Sidewalk Cafes

You certainly won’t have to search – or walk – for long to find a cozy coffee shop. Whether you’re looking for the perfect drink or a quiet spot to study, you’ve got plenty of local cafes to choose from (plus some old favorites like Starbucks and Dunkin’s).

Farmer’s Market

Every Saturday from May to October, our Parks and Recreation Department hosts an open-air market with tons of local vendors. It has everything from fresh produce to live music, plus handmade crafts that totally fit the artsy vibes of the entire city.

Free Downtown Iowa City Transit Bus

While the CAMBUS is perfect for getting around campus (especially on a rainy day), the Iowa City Transit bus is a great way to explore different areas of Iowa City that are a little further away. It can be especially helpful if you choose to live off-campus at any point while at the university. Just hop on and enjoy the free ride!

Easy to Navigate

This might not seem like a big deal, but the quicker you feel like you know your way around, the quicker you’ll feel at home. During your first week at Iowa, you’ll have the chance to participate in various On Iowa! events that lead you through our pedestrian-friendly downtown. It won’t be long before you’ll have a list of favorites and recommendations when friends or family come to visit!

 

Of course, there’s plenty more to discover about Iowa City. But you’ll have to discover those perks for yourself once you become a Hawkeye 😉

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3 Reasons NOT to Choose Iowa

Posted on April 1, 2023March 13, 2023

There are a lot of great reasons to choose Iowa (really, a lot), but today let’s talk about why you shouldn’t choose Iowa:

1. You’re scared of birds.

Ornithophobia: the fear of birds. Maybe a goose chased you. Perhaps a seagull stole your sandwich. We’re not here to judge. But we should point out that our mascot is a rather large bird. While Herky would never intentionally scare a fellow Hawkeye, we get it.

2. You HATE black and gold.

We’ll admit it, our color palette isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer red, and well, we don’t. We like to sparkle in our gold. And with the unbeatable Hawkeye spirit, you’ll have no choice but to indulge in that black and gold drip.

3. You think the Old Capitol building might be haunted.

Old Cap is an icon. A landmark. A site of historical importance. You’ve seen hundreds of pictures of the gleaming golden dome. It’s a rite of passage to capture your own Old Cap pic. But sometimes, pictures seem to just… appear. Old Cap has that ✨magic✨. It’s giving spectral presence, and like Scooby-Doo, you’re outta here.

All jokes aside, the University of Iowa is a phenomenal place to call home, and we hope you’ll join us, Future Hawkeye. If you’ve had a chuckle (or rolled your eyes) at this post, then you’re our kind of person.

The number one reason you should be a Hawkeye? Because Iowa feels like home.

Drop a comment to share the reason you’ve decided to be a Hawkeye!

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