Columbus is a city that has way more going on than you’d expect — vibrant neighborhoods, incredible food, quirky shops, and plenty of green spaces to escape into. A weekend in Columbus Ohio gives you enough time to sample the food scene, explore several neighborhoods, and see why locals love this city. Here’s how I’d spend two days in Columbus.
Start your weekend with a bang at The Woodbury, where breakfast is anything but boring. The candied bacon crepes are a showstopper — three crepes stuffed with sweet-and-salty candied bacon, topped with fresh fruit, vanilla buttercream, and a drizzle of jelly sauce.
If you want something more savory, order the Chicken Hotcakes Tacos: fluffy pancakes with crispy fried chicken, chili aioli, strawberry salsa, and Milligan’s maple syrup.
If you’re in a hurry or prefer a grab-and-go vibe, swing by The Lox. Their bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel is simple but perfect. If you’re a salmon lover, the lox bagel is piled high with salmon, capers, and cream cheese.
Walk off breakfast by exploring the Short North Arts District, one of Columbus’s most colorful neighborhoods. This area is full of murals, boutiques, coffee shops, and art galleries. Spend a few hours strolling, snapping photos of the murals, and popping into shops.
You’ll probably be using your phone constantly for maps and photos, so a Clutch Powerbank is handy for a full day of walking around Columbus.
When lunch rolls around, make your way to Wario’s Beef & Pork, where the sandwiches are legendary — and huge. Order a Caesar salad, one sandwich to split (the steak sandwich or the Warrior’s Way are my picks), and a side of potatoes if you’re extra hungry.
Park behind Wario’s (around $1.35 an hour last time I was there), then take a walk through the Arena District. It’s lively, walkable, and full of great energy.
If food is a major part of your trip like it is for me, my The Ultimate Columbus Foodie Guide has even more restaurants to add to your weekend.
Just a short walk from Wario’s, North Market is a must-stop.
Grab a scoop of Jeni’s Ice Cream — the Brown Butter Almond Brittle and Wildberry Lavender are my go-to flavors — and get it in a butterscotch waffle cone.
If you’re still hungry, try Mo Mo Ghar, a Tibetan and Nepalese food stall featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Order the Johl Mo Mo (steamed chicken dumplings with spicy tomato sauce) or the Choila Set (spiced chicken salad with rice, potatoes, and black-eyed peas).
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
Spend your afternoon in German Village, where the brick-lined streets and historic homes feel like stepping back in time. Pop into the boutiques, wander the cobblestone alleys, and make sure to stop at The Book Loft — 32 rooms of books, winding hallways, and hidden nooks that make you feel like you’re in a literary treasure hunt.
End your first day with dinner at Lindey’s, one of Columbus’s most iconic restaurants. The portions are just right for a three-course meal, and the menu changes seasonally.
Make a reservation two to three weeks in advance if possible — by 5:30 or 6 pm, it’s tough to get a table without one. If you don’t have a reservation, try for open seating at the bar or patio.
Don’t skip the bread and butter — it’s baked fresh in Grandview and perfectly salty.
I wrote Unforgettable Dining at Lindey’s Columbus Ohio if you want more menu tips and reservation information before you go.
Start your second day with coffee and one of the best pastries in Columbus at Fox in the Snow Café. Their cinnamon roll is huge and perfectly gooey, and the coffee is strong and smooth — ideal fuel for another day of exploring.
You can read more about what to expect in my Fox in the Snow Dublin Review Worth the Hype.
If you’re visiting Columbus on a Saturday, stop by the Dublin Farmers Market or the Worthington Farmers Market — the Worthington one is bigger and full of local vendors and fresh produce.
My Guide to Columbus Farmers Markets can help you decide which one fits your weekend plans best.
A Nano Bag is also useful for markets because it takes up almost no room until you inevitably find something you want to buy.
If you prefer nature, spend your morning at one of Columbus’s many parks:
If you need a midday meal, head back to North Market to try something you missed yesterday or grab a casual lunch before heading out for more exploring.
Save your second night for Watershed Kitchen & Bar, a moody, romantic spot attached to a working distillery. Schedule a distillery tour ahead of time if you want to see behind the scenes.
Portions here are generous, so I recommend splitting an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert.
My personal ratings:
End your weekend in Columbus Ohio with a stroll along the Scioto Mile. The city lights reflecting off the river make it the perfect way to wrap up your trip.
Columbus is a city that’s equal parts creative, delicious, and welcoming. In two days, you can explore its neighborhoods, eat incredible food, discover hidden shops, and enjoy some of the best urban green spaces in the Midwest.
Whether you stick to the city center or branch out to nearby markets and parks, a weekend in Columbus Ohio balances plenty of exploring with time to slow down, enjoy a great meal, and actually experience the city.
And if two days only leave you wanting more, Columbus is an easy city to turn into a longer trip.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
Still deciding where to stay? Compare Columbus hotels on Booking.com, or start with my Where to Stay in Columbus, Ohio for my Columbus hotel recommendations.
If you want to add a tour or another activity to your weekend, browse Columbus options on Viator.
For more sightseeing ideas, see my Top 5 Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio.
Want to explore beyond Columbus? My The Best Day Trips from Columbus, Ohio has ideas for places you can easily add to a longer trip.
If two days aren’t enough, use Spend a Week in Columbus, Ohio to plan a longer stay.
Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
