Columbus, Ohio

Ohio's capital, with Jack Hanna's Columbus Zoo, German Village and the Short North Arts District; to the east are the World Heritage–listed Newark Earthworks, and to the southeast, hiking in the gorges of Hocking Hills.

Columbus is the capital and largest city of Ohio, located in the center of the state where the Scioto and Olentangy rivers meet. With a metro population of about 2.2 million, it is home to Ohio State University and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest. The city's sights line up along High Street from north to south: downtown has the Ohio Statehouse, the Scioto Mile riverfront parks, the Columbus Museum of Art and the Topiary Park, while across the river on the west bank are the COSI science center and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum; heading north you'll pass North Market, the Short North Arts District and Ohio State University; to the south is German Village with its red-brick cottages. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, north of the city, is the top attraction and takes a full day. For day trips east, visit the Newark Earthworks (part of the World Heritage–listed Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks) and the Dawes Arboretum; about an hour's drive southeast, Hocking Hills State Park (Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls) is the most popular outdoor day trip and is listed in this guide under the Chillicothe destination. The best time to visit is May–Oct; autumn has the most atmosphere, with fall foliage and college football season (hotels fill up and prices rise on Saturday game days); winters are cold and snowy. The free CBUS circulator runs along High Street downtown, but you'll need a car for the zoo and the surrounding area. John Glenn Columbus International Airport is about 15 minutes' drive from downtown. Plan on 2 days, or 3 with Hocking Hills.

Top sights

• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – A top-tier American zoo long led by TV personality Jack Hanna, with exhibits arranged by continent. Polar bears, gorillas, and the African…
• German Village – Red-brick cottages and cobbled streets left by 19th-century German immigrants. The Book Loft, a maze of bookshops, and Schiller Park are th…
• Short North Arts District – Light-up arches over High Street connect galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. It is Columbus’s most vibrant arts and nightlife district.
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens – A Victorian glasshouse built in 1895, with tropical rainforest, desert, and Himalayan ecosystems, and a large collection of Dale Chihuly gl…
• COSI (Center of Science and Industry) – One of the top interactive science centers in the U.S., with a dinosaur hall, space and ocean exhibits, and a high-wire unicycle show that…
• Scioto Mile – A riverside greenway and fountain plaza along the Scioto River in downtown, with skyline views and shared bikes to rent. It is especially l…
• Ohio Statehouse – A Greek Revival state capitol completed in 1861, with a distinctive flat-topped drum instead of a dome. Free guided tours take you through…
• North Market – An indoor public market founded in 1876, with more than 30 vendors selling local snacks, ice cream, and international food. It is the city'…
• National Veterans Memorial and Museum – A national museum that opened in 2018 and is the only one in the U.S. dedicated to veterans from all branches of the military and every era…
• Columbus Museum of Art – A municipal art museum with American modernist and European Impressionist works. Its collection of paintings by George Bellows is especiall…
• Ohio State University & Ohio Stadium – One of the largest universities in the U.S. The 100,000-seat 'Horseshoe' stadium is a shrine to college football, and the whole city lights…
• Ohio History Center & Ohio Village – A state history museum housed in a brutalist building, with an outdoor Ohio Village that recreates 19th-century small-town life, staffed by…
• Topiary Park – A park where shrubs are clipped to recreate Seurat's painting 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte', a one-of-a-kind 'livin…
• Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum – The world's largest cartoon collection, housed at The Ohio State University, displaying original newspaper comic strips such as 'Peanuts'…
• Inniswood Metro Gardens – A free botanical garden in the northern suburb of Westerville, with a rose garden, rock garden, and Secret Story Garden, ideal for a leisur…
• Newark Earthworks – Part of the 'Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks' UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant circular and octagonal earthen walls built about 2,000 years…
• The Dawes Arboretum – A large tree arboretum near Newark, best known for its Japanese garden, rhododendron valley, and a giant 'DAWES ARBORETUM' sign formed from…

Where to eat

• Schmidt's Sausage Haus – A century-old family restaurant in German Village, where the Bahama Mama sausage was named Columbus's official food and…
• Agni – A fire-cooked tasting menu restaurant by local chef Avishar Barua, blending Bengali and Midwestern flavors and winning…
• Lindey's – A German Village tavern that opened in 1981, a go-to for Columbus celebrations, famous for its lobster bisque and Post…
• Katalina's – A brunch spot in a century-old converted gas station, serving Latin-inspired dishes; its stuffed pancake bites were fea…

Itineraries

• Detroit, Lake Erie & Southern Ohio – Travel east from the Motor City along Lake Erie, through the Rock Capital to the Hocking Hills gorges.