I’m so glad I had the opportunity to travel to this Ohio gem! Columbus had so much to offer from history and beautiful architecture to amazing dining and more. In this blog post, I’m sharing 10 things to do in Columbus for anyone who may be planning a trip or maybe even those who are moving there. A lot of these activities are actually free but I’ve also included an amazing Pinterest worthy cafe that is super popular and some cute local boutiques!

German Village

I loved exploring in this charming, historic Columbus neighborhood, German Village. The beautiful brick houses that line the cobblestone streets of this area were built by 19th century immigrants! The most popular streets are Beck, Mohawk, and Deshler. I ended up snapping a lot of photos on Beck Street, photographed above. You’ll also find German pubs, book shops, art galleries, and artisan restaurants + coffee shops here.

The Book Loft Of German Village

The Book Loft located in German Village is one of the nation’s largest independent book stores housed in a Pre-Civil War building with 32 book filled rooms! In addition to books, they also sell t-shirts and other gifts so there is definitely something for everyone. This classic book store is also perfect for a bookish photo opp! 😉

Address: 631 S 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43206

Main Street Bridge

The pedestrian walkway on Main Street Bridge offers amazing views of the Columbus city scape and the Scioto River. There are several other beautiful bridges along the waterfront, but this bridge is one of a kind with it’s sweeping arch design so it’s very easy to recognize. I walked to the bridge from my hotel early in the morning to shoot some photos of this stunning view.

The Scioto Mile

Main Street bridge is located on the Scioto Mile, a beautiful stretch to walk along the river with amazing views of the Columbus! I would definitely spend some time here on a visit to the city, it would be perfect location for a picnic with lot’s of photo opps as well.

Short North Arts District

This hip, culturally rich neighborhood is know as the “art and soul” of Columbus! It spans across the main strip of North High Street between downtown and Ohio State’s campus with 17 lighted arches lining the area. The arts district is filled with colorful murals, art galleries, vintage shops, record stores, and amazing restaurants + coffee shops.

Short North Gothic Mural

The Short North Gothic Mural, painted by Steve Galgas and Mike Altman, is a twist on the Grant Wood’s well-known and iconic classic, American Gothic! This mural is located on the side of Jeni’s Ice Cream, right off of High Street, the main street in Short North. It’s a great mural to capture and a very iconic Columbus mural!

Address: 714 N High Street, Columbus, OH

North Market

North Market, located between downtown and the Short North Arts District is an 145 year old food hall and public market with vendor stalls from Ohio’s best independent merchants, farmers, and makers. It has a very vibrant feel with colorful neon signs, delicious foods, and other goods like flowers, spices, and more. It has an upper floor that offers lots of seating as well as views of the market below. I loved the open industrial feel of this amazing market!

Address: 59 Spruce St, Columbus, OH 43215

Columbus Museum Of Art

Founded in 1878, the Columbus Museum of Art was the first art museum registered in the state of Ohio. It’s located in downtown Columbus and offers special exhibitions and events throughout the year. I was able to check out the amazing Raphael exhibition during my visit but my favorite art work was located in folk art rooms next to Derby Court on the second floor. The museum also has a cafe, sculpture garden, and a museum store.

Address: 480 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215

Fox In The Snow

This popular Columbus cafe, Fox In The Snow, has been named one of the “The Best Coffeeshops In America” by Food and Wine Magazine! They have two beautiful locations in the city serving up delicious rustic style baked goods and hand poured drinks. The vanilla latte I ordered was crafted to perfection and I also tried their out of this world Morning Bun filled with yummy whipped chocolate. The ivy covered building located near the Italian Village looks magical and inviting + the interior had an airy, industrial feeling to it that I loved. I wish I could have checked out their other location too!

Address: 1031 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43201

Shop Local Boutiques

I love checking out local boutiques when visiting a new city! I popped into a ton of cute shops while exploring the Short North Arts District where there is an abundance of cool boutiques, restaurants, and more. A few shops that I absolutely loved were Pivot, Rowe Boutique, and Artisan De Luxe. Check out this blog post for more Columbus boutiques!

XOXO