Perched within the heartland of Ohio, Columbus is an epic city to visit in the US. Not only that, there’s a heap of the best things to do in Columbus dotted all across the city. With gorgeous spots like the Museum of Art, cool little bars and an epic downtown area, Columbus has a little something for every type of visitor.
You’re going to have a great time, regardless of whether you’re staying for a day or a long weekend trip to Columbus. It’s so much fun and easy to visit as part of a wider road trip around the state.
So, to make your trip nice and easy, I wanted to share some of the best things to do in Columbus that I love! This way, you can focus on the all-important task of having fun!
Take a look, below, at some of the top places in Columbus. Have an amazing trip!
1.) North Market
First founded way back in the 1800s, North Market is locally thought of as one of the best markets in the state. It’s totally amazing! Filled with everything from; freshly Baked pastries, hand-cut flowers and local cheeses make it the perfect place to stop for a stroll and for a yummy lunch.
Now, North Market isn’t the biggest in the world, but don’t let its sizer put you off. It’s got a heap of stalls that have some yummy cuisines that’ll suit most tastes. Make sure to stop at Black Radish Creamery and Fox’s for their yummy bagels.
Now, one thing to note, North Market can get busy, especially on weekends. If you’re fancying fewer crowds, arrived early morning or just before closing. We love it.
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2.) German Village
One of the best things about exploring any city is to stroll through its different neighbourhoods. Colombus is no exception!
Our favourite neighbourhood is German Village, and not just because of the beautiful Schiller Park. You see, in German Village, you will get to wander around the Germanic roots of Colombus which is totally perfect for a few hours’ exploration.
Once here, you can check out Schmidt’s Restaurant and Sausage Haus for tasty bratwurst, cream puffs and schnitzel. Oh my gosh, the schnitzel is everything.
Also, if you time your visit well, you’ll also get to experience the German Village Oktoberfest or the Haus and Garden Tour. These events are held annually, so you might want to take this into consideration when you start planning your itinerary or your trip in general.
Oh, and don’t forget about The Book Loft; it’s a destination in its own right! There are so many rooms, and it can feel overwhelming if you’re looking for something in particular, but it’s totally great.
3.) Huntington Park
Had enough of strolling the streets? Then head over to one of the biggest sports parks in Columbus called Huntington Park. It’s one of the best spots to watch a game and can hold thousands of people inside.
Home to the Clippers, it’s a totally great place to grab a ticket and make an evening of it. Oh, and don’t forget to pop over to
Wario’s Beef and Pork for their yummy sandwiches. Visiting is one of the best things to do in Columbus when you’re hungry; trust me, you’ll leave stuffed.
4.) Ohio Theatre
Look, the Ohio Theater is not just beautiful but it also hosts some of the best events and music events in the state. It’s one of the best things to do in Columbus, for all the different events. You’ve got everything from live theatre productions, classic films, ballet performances, and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
Founded around 100 years ago, Ohio Theatre is one of the most famous structures and places in Columbus. Trust me, it’s beautiful.
5.) Columbus Museum of Art
If you love museums or galleries, then you’ll totally love the Columbus Museum of Art. It’s one of the most visited places and one of the best things to do in Columbus, especially if you love art.
Featuring permanent exhibitions and art pieces, collections and exhibits, it’s a space where you can spend hours exploring.
Visiting with the family? Head over to the Wonder Room which is totally fun for kids and has oodles of interactive exhibits that make for a totally fun day.
Afterwards, Pop into the café near the museum called Schokko Art Café which you can visit for a small bite. It’s well worth it.
Oh, and to make things easier, grab this Columbus Attractions Pass that’ll discount your entry into lots of places in Columbus. It’s a great way to save money on your trip.
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6.) Wexner Center for the Arts
Now, the Wexner Center for the Arts is a public gallery that has a goal to fuel creative expression that’s totally great to see.
Inside, it offers unique experiences regardless of the art form and is totally fun to see. Not only that, the Wexner Center for the Arts serves as a venue for visitors to embrace films, exhibitions, art and events that make it totally lovely for an hour’s visit. They also have a pretty cool artist residency program which houses heaps of exhibits to see.
Oh, and don’t forget that on Thursday, after 4 in the afternoon, visits are totally free.
7.) Easton Town Center
Love a good shopping spree? Well, you’ll want to get yourself over to Easton Town Center. It’s one of the best things to do in Columbus if you want to shop the day away.
From popular brands and local stories, Easton Town Center features them all. Best of all, it is an open-air shopping district where you can check out a lot of restaurants and sit outside on a nice sunny day.
Although it’s outside of the city centre, it’s really easy to visit by cab or with a rental car. Plus, nearby, you’ve got Blendon Woods Metro Park that’s totally lovely for a stroll.
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8.) Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Fancy a chilled time in the city? Then head over to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens that’s one of the best things to do in Columbus.
With over 400 species of plants within the conservatory, it’s a perfect place to relax and explore some of the natural collections in the city. Not only that, but certain exhibitions are also held yearly in this place, with themes including Origami in the Gardens and Blooms and Butterflies. We love it.
Oh, and don’t forget to grab some fish and chips from the Old Bag of Nails that’s close by.
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9.) Ohio Stadium
Ohio Stadium is perfect for football lovers, especially with it being the home of the Buckeyes in Columbus. For visitors and locals, head over to the stadium and soak up the atmosphere to watch a weekend game with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The vibe is totally electric and a great experience… even if you don’t know the rules of football itself.
Afterwards, don’t forget to head over to Cazuelas Mexican Cantina. It’s a relaxed and totally chilled spot, but their dishes are so good. Plus, they make a totally delicious margarita.
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10.) Pizzuti Collection
Haven’t had enough of the art in Columbus? Then visit the Pizzuti Collection which is one of the best things to do in Columbus whilst exploring the area surrounding Goodale Park.
Now, part of the Columbus Museum of Art, it is relatively small compared to its bigger sibling but its three floors are totally amazing to see.
The museum has a beautiful garden outside, too, so if you need a break from exploring the inside of the place, you can take in the fresh air as you spend some time outside of it. The museum is closed on Mondays, so if you want to check out this place, make sure you go here on other days of the week.
Oh, and don’t forget, if you have a CMA membership or if you visit on Sundays, the visit is free of charge.
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