Download GPX file for this article
39.95936-82.99956Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Downtown is a district of Columbus, Ohio that includes the Arena district and Short North.

Downtown

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.

By bus

  • Greyhound Station, 111 East Town St, +1 614 228-2266, [1]. Hours: 24 hours a day.
  • Megabus, +1-877-462-6342, [2]. Service to Columbus from Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago. Fares start at $1. Buses arrive and depart downtown Columbus at the COTA Express Transit Terminal, located at West Spring Street and North Wall Street. Buses also serve Ohio State University from a stop at the north side of the Neil Drive loop next to the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Neil Drive is located northwest of Neil Avenue and West 12th Avenue.

By plane

  • Port Columbus International Airport (CMH IATA), 4600 International Gateway, ☏ +1 614 239-4083. Port Columbus is served by all the major airlines, with direct flights to most major American cities. Aside from rental cars, the airport can also be reached by the #92 bus, or by taxi. A taxi ride to downtown is only 10 minutes and will cost approximately $25. Depending on your schedule and where you are connecting to, it may be worthwhile to check flights to Dayton as well, as they are often cheaper. 

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

The COTA bus service [3], while not by any standard one of the greatest in the nation, can take you to most important places in the city, which should be about 5 blocks away from any conceivable location you need to go to. This service costs $2 for an express bus and $1.50 for a normal bus. Transfers are free; ask for one from the bus driver when you pay your fare.

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

  • Ohio Statehouse, Address, ☏ +1 614 221-4848. This is the Ohio Capitol building, built in pre-Civil War time. It still houses the state legislature. Admission: Free tours for individuals. 
  • COSI, 333 West Broad Street, ☏ +1 614 228-COSI (2674). Monday : Closed, Tuesday : Closed, Wednesday-Sunday : 10-17:00. Closed on major holidays.. COSI is an amazing museum, where kids will want to stay forever because of the cool and interactive science and technology exhibits. Admission: Members: Free, Adults: $19, Kids 2-12: $14, Seniors 60+: $17, Children 1 and under: Free, Admission is reduced down to $11.50 and includes a movie on the last Friday of every month between 5pm and 9pm. Additional admission fees may be required for special exhibitions.. 
Discovery Park
  • Santa Maria (At the corner of Marconi & West Broad Street, at Batelle Riverfront Park.), ☏ +1 614 645-0351, . Santa Maria is a full sized replica of Christopher Columbus' flagship. Adults: $3.50, Senior Citizens: $3, Children (5-17): $2. 
  • Studios on High Gallery, 686 North High Street, ☏ +1 614 461-6487, . Mon-Sat.: Noon - 18, Sun.: 13:00 - 18. 
  • pm gallery, 1190 North High Street (Just south of the intersection of Fifth Ave. and N. High St.), ☏ +1 614-299-0860. Tues-Sat 11-6, Sunday 12-5. North American fine crafts and art. Most of the fine art is locally produced, the fine craft is made by artists from across the country and Canada. You an find blown glass, hand thrown pottery, paintings, etchings, photography, jewelry and much more. 
  • Goodale Park (Just north of I-670, west of High St). Great for kids. Home to Comfest every June. Jazz in the park on Sundays in the summer. 
  • Doo Dah Parade. A costume parade that occurs on the 4th of July. 
  • Scioto Mile, Civic Center Dr and W. Rich St.. 

Do

Cirque Du Soleil

Buy

Not that there is no place to shop in Downtown Columbus, but places like the City Center are scheduled to close and most consumer items and general merchandise are better sought out at the numerous shopping malls that are off I-270. The downtown today is dedicated to office space, government, banking and a somewhat limited retail and restaurant offerings. Many of the previous retail buildings are being converted to condominium offerings. AKA gentrification.

Eat

Budget

  • Betty's Food & Spirits, 680 N. High St, ☏ +1 614 228-6191. Short North. No reservations. American eclectic cuisine, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, tortilla-encrusted salmon. Lunch and dinner: daily. No children's menu; cocktails. Entrees: $7-$14. No wheelchair access. 
  • North Market, 59 Spruce St. 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. 
  • Spaghetti Warehouse, 397 W. Broad St, ☏ +1 614 464-0143. Downtown. Italian cuisine, homemade Italian specialties, spaghetti, lasagna, soups, salads. Lunch and dinner: daily. Children's menu. Cocktails. Entrees: $4.99-$14.99. 
  • Tommy's Diner, 914 W. Broad St, ☏ +1 614 224-2422. 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. 
  • Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace, 248 South 4th Street, ☏ +1 614 824-4673. A hot dog restaurant with a full bar. You can select from over several dozen hot dog toppings. 

Mid-range

Splurge

  • Confluence Park, 679 West Spring Street, ☏ +1 614 469-0000. Built directly at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Stunning views of the rivers and skyline. American cuisine, steaks, seafood. $16.95-$42.95. 
  • L'Antibes, 772 North High Street (Short North), ☏ +1 614 291-1666, . Tu.-Th.: 5PM - 9PM. F.-Sa.: 5PM - 10PM. Su.: 11AM - 3PM. L'Antibes is an intimate French restaurant with a great menu and great service. 
  • Rigsby's in the Short North has been an anchor restaurant in that neighborhood for 20 years. Excellent food and service. It's not quite as hip and trendy as it once was. Nevertheless, the Mediterranean-inspired menu rarely disappoints.

Drink

Sleep

Budget

  • Comfort Suites, 1690 Clara St, ☏ +1 614 586-1001, fax: +1 614 586-1002. I-71, Exit 111. 

Mid-range

  • Residence Inn Columbus Downtown, 36 E. Gay Street, ☏ +1 614 222-2610, fax: +1 614 222-2611. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 12PM. A restored historic all-suite hotel. Guestrooms include kitchens. Free breakfast, Free WiFi. 
  • Clarion Hotel & Suites Conference Center Columbus, ☏ +1 614 888-7440, fax: +1 614 888-7879. 900 E. Dublin-Granville Rd. An upscale hotel providing affordable accommodations to both leisure and business travelers visiting Columbus - situated near Historic Worthington and downtown Columbus. Secure Online Reservations. 
  • The Columbus, A Renaissance Hotel, 50 North 3rd Street, ☏ +1 614 228-5050, fax: +1 614 228-2525. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. A comfortable hotel in the downtown area. Rooms are spacious and the beds are very comfortable. The hotel has an outside pool that is despite being heated open seasonally. 
  • Courtyard by Marriott Columbus Downtown, 35 West Spring Street, ☏ +1 614 228-3200, fax: +1 614 228-6752. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. A comfortable downtown Columbus hotel ideally located in walking distance to Nationwide Arena District. Free WiFi 
  • Courtyard by Marriott Columbus Airport, 2901 Airport Drive, ☏ +1 614 475-8530, fax: +1 614 475-8599. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. Ideal business and leisure hotel in the Columbus Airport Area. Free Airport Shuttle. Free Wifi. Indoor pool and fitness center. Just 5 miles to Easton Town Center 

Splurge

  • The Columbus, A Renaissance Hotel, 50 North 3rd Street, ☏ +1 614 228-5050, fax: +1 614 228-2525. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon. A comfortable hotel in the downtown area. Rooms are spacious and the beds are very comfortable. The hotel has an outside pool that is despite being heated open seasonally. 
  • Hyatt Capitol Square, 75 E. State St, ☏ +1 614 228-1234, toll-free: +1-800 233-1234, fax: +1 614 469-9664. across fromt the state capitol building. 
Downtown North of Broad

-->

Bed & Breakfast

Cope

Religion

Connect

This district travel guide to Downtown is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=Columbus/Downtown&oldid=2953729"