How to Have the Best 3-Day Weekend in Columbus, Ohio

Situated along the banks of the Scioto River, Columbus, Ohio, is home to a thriving art and culinary scene. Enjoy visiting the many museums and cultural sites of downtown Columbus before strolling through quaint German Village, home to historic pubs and cafés as well as the state’s Greek Revival Capitol building.

You can spend an afternoon at the Wexner Center for the Arts, known for its excellent collection of contemporary art, or dip in and out of the city’s many shops, coffeehouses, vintage stores and breweries. Dine at one of the buzz-worthy restaurants of Short North before arriving at Ohio Village, a living-history museum that depicts late-19th-century life in the Buckeye State.

As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.

Friday: Explore German Village, Scioto Mile and Short North Arts District

Begin your first day in Columbus with a journey through the past in the city’s historic German Village.

At Sycamore, a brick-walled tavern, order a coffee-cake muffin with a milky cortado or an egg sandwich with candied bacon, aioli, tomato, arugula and white cheddar. Known for its stately brick houses built by 19th-century immigrants, the area has cafés, old-fashioned candy shops and trendy galleries intent on propelling the city’s booming modern art scene.

Bibliophiles should not miss the Book Loft, a 32-room maze of new and used titles and one of the largest independent bookstores in the country.

From here, visit the Ohio Statehouse before taking a leisurely walk or bike ride along the Scioto Mile, a green space situated along the free-flowing waterway of the same name.

Afterward, head to the National Veterans Memorial & Museum, which provides a sweeping overview of U.S. military history while honoring veterans past and present. If there’s a game going, you can also choose to cheer on the home team at Huntington Park.

For lunch, wander through North Market, a bustling, 145-year-old public market. Options include everything from Polish kielbasa sandwiches and fragrant Vietnamese pho to vegan soul food from family-owned Willowbeez SoulVeg.

Spend the remaining balance of your day in Short North, Columbus’ most popular arts district, where you can take in contemporary art in galleries housed in converted warehouses.

Consider this your must-visit list: Hammond Harkins Galleries (representing the estates of two of the city’s most prominent artists: Dennison W. Griffith and Aminah Robinson), Sarah Gormley Gallery (rotating shows of emerging artists), and Lindsay Gallery (dedicated to folk and outsider art).

When hunger strikes, continue your international culinary tour with a meal at Rooh Columbus, where executive chef Sujan Sarkar creates everything from sweet-potato chaat to Kerala fried chicken served with a curry aioli. Try the lamb biryani or the short ribs rubbed in Madras curry with a side of saffron rice and cooling yogurt raita.

Still up for a party? Hit Skully’s Music-Diner for fun theme nights, live music, drinks and dancing.

Saturday: Experience Downtown Columbus’ Art and Brewery Scene

Start the day with a matcha latte and avocado toast at Emmett’s, a popular café near Columbus Commons — a breezy park that hosts free alfresco yoga classes. Formerly a shopping mall, the six-acre green space now includes a performance stage, carousel, playgrounds and local food vendors.

Join in on a class (if you’re lucky enough to catch one), stroll the four-season gardens, check out the carousel and spend your afternoon dog-watching. There are also a number of playground areas, if you have kids in tow.

After you feel properly centered, visit Market 65 Local Eatery for lunch. This restaurant offers healthy, farm-to-table dishes, including build-your-own wraps and salads, like the “65 Caesar,” which comes with roasted Buffalo cauliflower and house-made dressing.

Post-lunch, spend a few hours at the Columbus Museum of Art. Formed in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, this expansive museum features collections of both American and European modern and contemporary art.

Not an art lover? Travel a couple miles east of downtown to the lush Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. This horticultural and educational institution is filled with flowers, greenery and Chihuly glass.

Come evening, it’s time for a performance at the historic Ohio Theatre, an opulent, 2,791-seat Spanish Baroque-style theater that’s home to the renowned Columbus Symphony Orchestra. After the show, tuck into a burger or house-made falafel at Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, a laid-back, family-owned establishment that offers its own limited-run seasonal beers on tap.

Sunday: Enjoy Columbus’ Best Brunch Spots, Shopping, History and Riverview Dining

Sunday brunch can be a big deal in Columbus: Some of the best offerings can be found at Skillet, Drunch Eatery + Bar or HangoverEasy, a cheeky eatery known for its “Walk of Shame” — a glazed doughnut topped with bacon, sausage and a fried egg draped in American cheese.

If you’re game for a little retail therapy, walk off breakfast while you window-shop at Easton Town Center, an upscale mall and entertainment complex that’s home to Ohio’s largest movie theater and walker-friendly, open-air squares, fountains and parks.

In the afternoon it’s time to explore the Ohio History Center, which includes a museum, archive library and the Ohio Village, a living-history village where costumed interpreters depict life in 1890s Ohio.

There’s an old schoolhouse, hotel and tavern, a church, pharmacy, blacksmith shop, toy store, barbershop and even a funeral parlor. If you happen to visit when there’s a baseball game scheduled, cheer on the home team (delightfully named the Ohio Village Muffins), as they play the 19th-century version of the game.

For a swanky send-off, reserve a table at Milestone 229, an upscale restaurant with a state-of-the-art, glass-enclosed outdoor dining terrace and floor-to-ceiling views of Columbus’ shimmering skyline and the Scioto River.

It’s not just about the view, though: Order free-range chicken and Ohio beef paired with produce-heavy sides and skillet macaroni and cheese made with hickory smoked bacon. End your trip on a sweet note, with a spoonful (or two) of the restaurant’s luxurious toffee bread pudding or a boozy Godiva-chocolate martini.