24 Hours in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus was probably our favorite city that we visited on this road trip, and it was also the last. We had been to Columbus once before, about 2 years ago, when we did a different USA road trip, but we only stayed the night and didn’t get a chance to fully see the city. When we came back this time we made sure to spend a few days here so we could fully experience Columbus and we were not disappointed! Columbus is such an amazing city with a lot of culture and a great LGBTQ+ scene. Even though we visited during COVID, the city still felt very normal and very safe. Read on to see why we love Columbus so much!

How is Columbus Handling COVID-19?

Columbus had great measures in place for COVID-19. All shops, restaurants, and even the streets encouraged social distancing with markers on the floor. Everyone was wearing a mask, and you needed to wear a mask to enter every shop & restaurant. Columbus had a lot of outdoor seating at most restaurants as well. We felt very safe visiting Columbus during the pandemic and would definitely recommend it as a place for people in the USA to visit if they are worried about traveling during COVID.

Where to Stay in Columbus

We stayed at the Hilton Downtown Columbus and we had an amazing experience. As we said in our Des Moines blog post where we also stayed at a Hilton, they have great measures in place in regards to COVID-19. Hilton has implemented a CleanStay program in partnership with Lysol to make sure each and every hotel room is completely sanitized. You can read more about their CleanStay program here, or watch our YouTube video below to see it for yourself!

Hilton Downtown Columbus is in the perfect location to everything you want to see in the city. We walked almost everywhere, or used electric scooters to get around. The design of the Hilton Downtown Columbus is really cool too — you’ll have to watch our YouTube video to see! If you need somewhere to stay in Columbus, you absolutely have to stay at Hilton Downtown Columbus!

Best Things to Do in Columbus

Walk through the Short North District and admire the amazing street art
Explore the German Village and have some authentic German cuisine
Grab a discounted book at iconic Book Loft
Pop into some local shops in the Short North
Shop local produce & more at the North Market
Take a stroll through Topiary Park
Visit the Franklin Park Conservatory and Gardens

Where to Eat & Drink

Northstar
One Line Coffee
Bakersfield
Union Cafe (LGBTQ+ Bar & Restaurant)
Portia’s Cafe
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters
Brassica

The LGBTQ+ Scene in Columbus

Columbus is a very welcoming city for the LGBTQ+ community. There are pride flags everywhere, equality signs in shops, and queer owned establishments you can support. Since we visited during COVID-19, we didn’t get to experience a lot of the LGBTQ scene this time, but we did when we visited Columbus in 2018. It’s one of those cities where you will see other LGBTQ+ couples and will feel comfortable being who you are. Everyone is welcome in Columbus, and that’s one of the reasons why we love it so much.

If you want to see what else you have to do with 24 hours in Columbus, make sure you check out our YouTube video! We show you everything you have to do if you have limited time in the city!