Overview
Downtown is a district of Columbus, Ohio that includes the Arena district and Short North.
12 sights · 24 things to do · 12 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 11 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Downtown
Ohio Statehouse
This is the Ohio Capitol building, built before the Civil War. It still houses the state legislature, and is surrounded by a large green with various monuments.
Scioto Mile
COSI
COSI is an expansive museum with cool and interactive science and technology exhibits. Has a theater and planetarium.
Columbus Museum of Art
Hosts a number of galleries and changing exhibits. Has a good restaurant.
Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center
The Central Ohio Fire Museum is in an old restored engine house built in 1908 (N°16 Engine House). They display a collection of hand-drawn, horse-drawn, steam pump, and motorized fire pumps, ladders, and hooks. It propos…
National Veterans Memorial and Museum
A national museum dedicated to the experiences of American military veterans. Has artifacts related to daily military life, such as rucksacks, letters, and rations. Video screens display recorded stories given by veteran…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Columbus)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 6 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LCK Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus — 11 mi away. Directions
Downtown Columbus is intersected by High St. (SR 23), running N/S and Broad St., running E/W. Broad St., can be accessed from I-71 downtown.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $13 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge, Bed & Breakfast in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Studios on High Gallery, The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, ComFest
- Lunch North Market
- Afternoon Columbus Blue Jackets, Express Live!
- Dinner Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
- Evening Bodega Cafe
Day 2
- Morning Ohio Statehouse, The Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre
- Lunch Spaghetti Warehouse
- Afternoon COSI, National Veterans Memorial and Museum
- Dinner Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace
- Evening 614 Bar and Grill
Day 3
- Morning Columbus Museum of Art, Broad Street United Methodist Church, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Columbus
- Lunch Flatiron Bar and Diner
- Afternoon Kelton House Museum and Garden, St. Joseph Cathedral
- Dinner Martini Modern Italian
- Evening Land Grant Brewing Company
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Downtown Columbus is primarily dominated by a few distinct neighborhoods, all of which are connected by High Street.
Place Downtown
Downtown proper is the core of Columbus. The Ohio Statehouse lies in the center, surrounded by offices and cultural amenities, as well as other major public institutions.
Place The Arena District
The arena district is dotted with major sports and entertainment venues.
Place The Short North
A neighborhood of galleries, restaurants and cafes lining High Street, which is the main north-south thoroughfare in Downtown Columbus. The Short North lies just north of the downtown on the north side of I-670. The Short North runs until about Third Avenue. The overpass of I-670 has a "cap" over the freeway with restaurants and shops. Check out the Gallery Hop the first Saturday of every month when the galleries stay open late and the streets and bars are definitely hopping.
Get in
By car
Downtown Columbus is intersected by High St. (SR 23), running N/S and Broad St., running E/W. Broad St., can be accessed from I-71 downtown.
Get around
By car
Downtown Columbus is intersected by High St. (SR 23), running N/S and Broad St., running E/W. Broad St., can be accessed from I-71 downtown. Roads are well maintained and traffic is usually not too bad except during "rush hours" when people are going to or leaving work. Rush hour can be avoided in your tavern of choice where they offer "happy hour" as an alternative to "road rage".
By bus
By bike
Downtown Columbus is fairly bike able
- .
By foot
Walking downtown Columbus should be considered safe before mid-night, it is mostly flat, with wide well maintained sidewalks. Bus stops are at regular intervals where you may encounter some homeless in the mix, who may approach you for money or maybe smokes. Usually they present no problem and should be ignored.
See
Architecture
See Scioto Mile
Museums
See Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center
The Central Ohio Fire Museum is in an old restored engine house built in 1908 (N°16 Engine House). They display a collection of hand-drawn, horse-drawn, steam pump, and motorized fire pumps, ladders, and hooks. It proposes also a fire safety education for any age.
See National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM)
A national museum dedicated to the experiences of American military veterans. Has artifacts related to daily military life, such as rucksacks, letters, and rations. Video screens display recorded stories given by veterans. Offers a recording booth for veterans or their families to share their stories with the museum. The outdoor section includes a garden for peaceful reflection.
Artwork
Do
Arts
Sports
Do Columbus Blue Jackets
The Ice Hockey team of Columbus. A civil war era cannon is fired if the Blue Jackets win.
Events
Do Greater Columbus Convention Center
Attached to Hyatt Regency. Parking for Convention Center is adjacent to Hyatt. Food court and shopping. More shopping and restaurants across High Street. Most amenities for convention visitors are to the North on High Street. North atrium holds a 14 foot "sculpture" that projects visitors' faces, called "The Giant Head.".
Do The Arnold Fitness Classic
Greater Columbus Convention Center hosts the Arnold Sports Festival annually in early March, a three-day event featuring a wide range of competitions, from martial arts and cheerleading to powerlifting. The festival attracts fitness enthusiasts from all over, with plenty of free supplement samples, and keynote speeches by notable figures like former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Do Origins International Game Expo
Origins is run by the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) as one of their two shows for the adventure gaming industry. (The second show, the GAMA Trade Show, is for game manufacturers and retailers only.) Origins is specifically chartered to serve adventure gaming in general, including wargames and miniatures gaming, which tend to be less well represented at Gen Con and Dragon*Con. Board games, trading card games, and role-playing games are also popular at Origins. It is usually compared in size with E3 and GenCon, and is famous for its Origin Awards. The Origins Award is commonly referred to as a Calliope, as the statuette is in the likeness of the Muse of the same name. Academy members frequently shorten this name to "Callie."
Parks and activities
Buy
Because Downtown Columbus is much more dense than the rest of the city, the strip malls and shopping malls that are common in Columbus begin to drop off as you get closer to the city core. Most shops in Downtown Columbus are boutiques and niche shops focusing on specific needs.
Eat
Budget
Eat North Market
One block north of Nationwide Arena one block west of Greater Columbus Convention Center. Shop for meats, cheeses, fish, baked goods, produce, ethnic foods, gourmet products, flowers and unique gifts, while enjoying some of the best people watching in the city. Inside dining 2nd floor as well as outside tables. Great food choices at reasonable cost. Caution, if parking in their lot, make sure you get parking ticket stamped by merchant or pay $10 surcharge to get out of parking lot.
Eat Spaghetti Warehouse
Downtown. Italian cuisine, homemade Italian specialties, spaghetti, lasagna, soups, salads. Lunch and dinner: daily. Children's menu. Cocktails. Entrees: $4.99-14.99. Update: Temporarily closed in Aug 2023; expected to reopen in a new location by Nov 2023.
Eat Tommy's Diner
Home-style and Greek cuisines, pot roast, chicken and dumplings, roast turkey and dressing. Breakfast and lunch: daily. No children's menu; no alcohol. Entrees: $2.75-7.95. A bit hard to find, but well worth the effort.
Eat Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace
A hot dog restaurant with a full bar. Has over several dozen hot dog toppings.
Eat The Lox Bagel Shop
Delicious, comfy bagel shop serving sesame, everything, sea salt, and plain bagels. Standard spreads like cream cheese and jam as well as creative sandwich fillings like fried cauliflower. Their nori-cured carrot "vegan lox" is plant-based cuisine at its best: reminiscent of lox but not really an imitation of it; instead it's a delicious food of its own.
Eat Mikey's Late Night Slice
Pizza place serving whole pies and by the slice. Vegan options. Multiple locations in Columbus.
Mid-range
Eat Flatiron Bar and Diner
No reservations. Cajun and Creole cuisines, gumbo, pulled pork. Lunch: Monday-Friday; dinner: Monday-Saturday. No children's menu; patio smoking; cocktails. Entrees: $10-24.
Eat North Star Cafe - Short North
Has a number of vegetarian friendly items. They are known for their beet and bean veggie burger, Asian fusion burritos, their own house sodas, and bowls.
Splurge
Eat Confluence Park
Built directly at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Stunning views of the rivers and skyline. American cuisine, steaks, seafood.
Eat Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
Fine aged steaks and chops, fresh seafood and creative chef specialties.
Drink
Drink Bodega Cafe
Located in the Short North district, they have 50 beers on draft with a killer happy hour (4-8PM weekdays) which is half off all their beers on tap.
Drink 614 Bar and Grill
Sports bar for catching Buckeye games, etc.
Drink Land Grant Brewing Company
A brewery with a taproom. Free tours available on Saturdays at 3AM
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Stay Drury Inn & Suites Columbus Convention Center
Splurge
Bed & Breakfast
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