About
Des Moines is the capital and largest city of Iowa, in the United States of America. It sits in the central part of the state, and it is the place most visitors arrive at when they come to explore Iowa's towns and countryside.
The city is known as a major insurance center, and that role shapes much of its character. Its business district is busy with offices and companies, so a stay here often feels more like that of a working capital than a small country town. Visitors who enjoy seeing how a city's economy looks on the street will find something to notice in its downtown.
Des Moines is also called the Hartford of the West, a nickname that links it with the insurance trade of the eastern United States. Some travelers mention the name as a way to remember the city, while others simply take it as one more fact about a place that has its own identity.
Planning a visit
Because Des Moines is a state capital, it works well as a base for a short trip. Visitors can combine time in the city with day trips into the rural landscapes that surround it.
- Spend time downtown to see the business and government heart of the capital.
- Plan around the city's office and business rhythm if you want to see it at its busiest.
- Use Des Moines as a starting point for exploring other parts of Iowa.
Whether Des Moines suits you depends on what you want from a trip. If you are interested in a state capital with a strong commercial character, and in using it as a gateway to Iowa, it is a straightforward place to visit.