Riverside sits on the Santa Ana River in the Inland Empire, where State Route 91, State Route 60 and Interstate 215 meet. The Mission Inn fills a full block of its downtown, Mount Rubidoux rises beside the river, and citrus groves still grow in Arlington Heights. Housing runs from the pre-war houses of the Wood Streets to post-war homes around Magnolia Center and large-lot homes among the Arlington Heights groves.
Getting around
Metrolink stops at three Riverside stations: Riverside - Downtown at 4066 Vine St (Riverside, Inland Empire-Orange County and 91/Perris Valley lines), Riverside - La Sierra at 10901 Indiana Ave and Riverside - Hunter Park at 1101 Marlborough Ave. Amtrak's Southwest Chief also stops downtown. Riverside Transit Agency runs local buses and the weekday RapidLink Gold Line between UC Riverside and the Corona Transit Center along Magnolia and University avenues. Ontario International is the nearest commercial airport.
Neighborhoods to know
Downtown. A street grid laid out in 1870, more than a dozen National Register sites and more than thirty city landmarks. Spanish Colonial Revival, Mission Revival, Beaux Arts and bungalow buildings stand along tree-shaded blocks and the Main Street pedestrian mall.
Wood Streets. Narrow, tree-lined streets on a tight grid south of the Tequesquite Arroyo. Nearly all of the houses were built before World War II, in a mix of early twentieth century styles.
Arlington Heights. The city's largest neighborhood by area, often called the Arlington Greenbelt, with single-family homes on lots of about five acres or more, working groves and historic Victoria Avenue, lined with palms, pepper trees and roses.
Magnolia Center. A flat commercial district with mostly post-war housing, Riverside Plaza and the Brockton Arcade, a 1956 shopping center that keeps much of its Mid-Century Modern design.
Canyon Crest. Hilly terrain and modern subdivisions around Canyon Crest Town Centre, built on the site of a former citrus nursery, close to the Box Springs Mountains and Sycamore Canyon Park.
Things to do in Riverside
The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, 3649 Mission Inn Ave. A block-long historic hotel with mission-style architecture, bells and tiled fountains, in the downtown Arts and Culture District.
Mission Inn Museum, at the hotel. Guided tours that cover the building's history and architecture.
Mount Rubidoux Park, 6927 Magnolia Ave. 161 acres with 3.5 miles of paved road closed to cars, dirt trails and views over downtown. Open dawn to dusk, with parking at Ryan Bonaminio Park.
California Citrus State Historic Park, 9400 Dufferin Ave. More than 250 acres of groves, historic buildings, trails and vista points, with a visitor center open Friday through Sunday and free grove tours.
Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Ave. Exhibitions a short walk from the Mission Inn, open Wednesday through Sunday. One ticket also covers The Cheech.
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture, 3581 Mission Inn Ave. Exhibitions of Chicano art, down the street from the Riverside Art Museum, with the same hours and ticket.
UCR Botanic Gardens, 1 Botanic Gardens Drive. Gardens, woods and hiking trails, open weekdays and on the first and third Sundays, with a suggested $5 donation.
Events and markets
Festival of Lights. When: Switch-on ceremony Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 5 p.m., then November 22 through December 31, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Where: The Mission Inn and surrounding streets. Holiday lights at the hotel and around downtown, with an ice rink at Mission Inn Avenue and Orange Street.
Riverside Downtown Farmers Market. When: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Main Street between 5th and 6th streets. Local growers and food makers on the pedestrian mall.
Riverside Artswalk. When: First Thursday of each month, 6 to 9 p.m. Where: The Arts and Culture District downtown. A monthly evening art walk through the district.
Mission Inn Run. When: Each October; the next date has not been posted. Where: Starting downtown near 3696 Main St. A long-running road race through downtown and nearby historic streets.
Riverside Lunar Festival. When: Each January; the next date has not been posted. Where: Downtown Riverside. A free weekend of live performances, displays and hands-on activities for Lunar New Year.
Coffee in Riverside
Arcade Coffee Roasters, 3870 Main St, Suite 101, plus 3672 Chicago Ave and 5225 Canyon Crest Dr. A local roaster with kitchens at each shop, open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Crave Coffee and Tea, 3590 Central Ave, Suite 101. Espresso drinks, cold brew, chai, and bagels and breakfast sandwiches.
Daily Brew Coffee House, 2955 Van Buren Blvd. Small-batch beans roasted in house and a from-scratch bakery, open daily from 5:30 a.m.
Bricks and Birch, inside Riverside Food Lab at 3605 Market St. Pastries and coffee alongside wood-fired pizza.
Places to eat
Riverside Food Lab, 3605 Market St. A downtown food hall with tacos, ramen, sushi, chicken, smash burgers and ice cream under one roof.
Bella Trattoria, at the Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Ave ($$). Pastas, Napoli-style pizzas and focaccia with patio seating, open Friday through Sunday.
Market Broiler, 3525 Merrill Ave. A seasonal seafood menu with halibut and lobster tail, plus a bar and terrace.
Mario's Place, 3646 Mission Inn Ave ($$$). Italian dinners with crudo, pizzas, pastas and larger main courses, across the street from the Mission Inn. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Mission Inn Restaurant, 3649 Mission Inn Ave ($$$). Salmon, grilled ribeye and rigatoni with spicy sausage, served indoors under vaulted ceilings or on the Spanish Patio, with a Sunday brunch buffet.
Las Campanas, 3649 Mission Inn Ave ($$$). Mexican plates, tacos and a tequila bar in a garden patio with twinkling lights.
Hours, prices and event details checked November 2026.
Riverside questions
When is the Festival of Lights in Riverside?
The 2026 switch-on ceremony is Saturday, November 21 at 5 p.m. at Orange Street and Mission Inn Avenue, and the festival runs November 22 through December 31, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Can you drive up Mount Rubidoux?
No. The paved roads are closed to vehicles, so the climb is on foot or by bike. The park is open from dawn to dusk, and parking is at the adjacent Ryan Bonaminio Park.
Is there a city transfer tax in Riverside?
Yes. Inside the City of Riverside the total documentary transfer tax is $1.10 per $500 ($2.20 per $1,000), double the $1.10 per $1,000 charged elsewhere in Riverside County.
Escrow notes for Riverside
Transfer tax. Riverside County charges $0.55 per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000). Inside the City of Riverside, the County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder lists a total rate of $1.10 per $500 ($2.20 per $1,000), which includes the city's own tax. A Riverside mailing address doesn't settle whether a property is inside the city, so check the property tax bill. As of November 2026. Source: official page.
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About this guide. Cal West Escrow wrote this guide to share general local information. No business paid to be included, and we do not accept free goods or services for mentions. A mention is not an endorsement, and hours, prices and events change, so check with each business before you go. Business names and trademarks belong to their owners. Transfer tax and other escrow notes are general information as of November 2026, not legal or tax advice. Cal West Escrow is committed to fair housing: this guide describes places, not people, and is not meant to suggest who should live anywhere.