Solo travel is a freeing experience. You can explore a new city on your own terms, check out a band you’ve been wanting to see, eat whatever you want, whenever you want it or spend a day in bed in your pajamas, inhaling Pistacia Vera macarons and watching reruns of The Bachelor without your boyfriend rolling his eyes.
Named a top destination for female solo travel by Glamour in 2024, Columbus is a great place to plan your next adventure for one. Use these must-do activities as your starting point and you’ll be saying #yesColumbus in no time.
Inside one of the biomes at Franklin Park Conservatory. Photo source, Facebook.
Stroll through Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Spread across 40 acres of indoor-outdoor gardens, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a real-life fairytale. Along with over 400 types of plants, it has the largest collection of Dale Chihuly glass art in a botanical garden, a permanent James Turrell light art installation with 7,000 LED lights, glass conservatories, butterfly gardens and jaw-dropping seasonal decor. Don’t miss its colorful spring tulips, fall pumpkin harvest, holiday carolers, trees strung with millions of Christmas lights, winter ice skating rink or year-round gardening and conservation classes. A great way to check it out solo is to buy a ticket to the venue’s themed monthly “Cocktails at the Conservatory” night, a 21+ event with local brewers, distilleries, wineries and fun activities.
Famed flavor, Brambleberry Crisp, from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Photo source, Facebook.
Eat Jeni’s Ice Cream
There’s no better place to enjoy a scoop (or three) of Jeni’s Ice Cream than in the city where it was born. If you haven’t tried the unique, dare we say “gourmet” ice creams of James Beard Award-winner Jeni Britton, you’re in for a treat – literally. Using only local, seasonal ingredients and fresh milk from family-owned farms, Jeni’s serves up scrumptious bites of sugar-coated nostalgia. Try the Brambleberry Crisp, a mix of Madagascan vanilla ice cream swirled with purple jam and a cinnamon-brown sugar oat streusel topping. Like so many of Jeni’s creations, it nods to her childhood. The purple jam is made of brambly berries, much like the ones Jeni grew up picking in the Appalachian Mountains, and the streusel topping comes from a family recipe.
The Ohio State University mascot, Brutus Buckeye. Photo source, Facebook.
Cheer on a Columbus sports team
Sports are no joke in the Midwest. Here in Columbus, we love our four professional hometown teams: the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL), Columbus Clippers (MiLB), Columbus Crew (MLS) and Columbus Fury (PVF). Park in the Arena District and you can walk to all of their games – they play at Nationwide Arena, Lower.com Field and Huntington Park – along with a slew of bars and restaurants before and after. Of course, we can’t talk about Columbus sports without mentioning THE Ohio State University football team, 2024 National Champions who play at Ohio Stadium. If you want to go to a home game, do it right; buy a ticket early, dress in OSU colors and get ready to scream-spell “O-H-I-O” a lot.
North Market boasts vendors from around the world. Image source, Experience Columbus.
Eat through North Market
Did you know North Market was named one of the 10 best public markets in America in 2024 by USA Today? Regarded as one of Ohio’s top public markets, this 149-year-old food lover’s dream has 35 year-round vendors, seasonal outdoor farmers markets and local pop-ups selling everything from raw meat and seafood, cheese and Ohio-grown produce to baked goods, prepared foods, handmade pastas, flowers and more. Try the made-from-scratch Nepalese dumplings at Momo Ghar, smoked Ohio BBQ brisket from Barrel & Boar or the sashimi-grade salmon at COLO Market & Oyster Bar. Walk upstairs for Nashville Hot Chicken wings with a cayenne-infused rub from Hot Chicken Takeover, then cool off with an Ohio craft beer at The Barrel and the Bottle.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to more than 600 species. Photo source, Experience Columbus.
Visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a great place to spend a day on your own. Divided into eight geographic areas, the zoo offers animal encounters, educational events and more than 600 animal species, from polar bears and koalas to manatees, reindeer, penguins, sharks and more. If you’re there during the holidays, check out Wildlights – it’s when the zoo stays open late and comes alive with millions of LED lights, animated light shows, Christmas music and holiday activities. Done with the zoo? Float through the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park, play golf at Safari Golf Club or go on a safari at The Wilds. They’re all part of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium family.
The Columbus Coffee Trail celebrates the dozens of local coffee roasters in the city. Photo source, Experience Columbus.
Sip along the Columbus Coffee Trail
Need a little pick-me-up? Celebrating its 10th anniversary, grab a cup of Joe at one of the 25+ independently-owned coffee shops on the Columbus Coffee Trail. Get the pass here and check in at each stop to earn rewards points and prizes.
German Village is one of the most idyllic neighborhoods in Columbus. Photo source, Experience Columbus.
Explore German Village
German Village is a charming oasis of brick-lined cobblestone streets, historic buildings, manicured gardens and some of the best restaurants in town. Stop by Schmidt’s Sausage House for schnitzel and award-winning cream puffs. Just across the street, shop for Ohio-made art and trinkets at The Red Stable (it’s located in a horse livery built in the 1870s). Keep walking until you reach the Book Loft, a renowned independent bookstore with a maze of 32 rooms that you have to use a map to get through. If the weather’s nice, visit Schiller Park and catch a free Shakespeare performance. For dinner, plan ahead and book a table at Chapman Eats Market. It’s helmed by chef-owner and James Beard Award-semifinalist BJ Lieberman and made The New York Times list of “Top 50 restaurants in America” in 2021.
Ginger Rabbit serves up a gin-forward cocktail menu. Photo courtesy of Ginger Rabbit.
Get jazzed at Ginger Rabbit
That A-list chef, BJ Lieberman, we just mentioned? He also owns a sultry, underground jazz club in Short North with speakeasy vibes, Art Deco glam, gin-forward cocktails and a menu of small plates that pack a punch. Check out the Ginger Rabbit website to see who’s on stage and buy a ticket to pick your table. There are two shows every Tuesday through Saturday, plus cheaper Friday and Saturday night “Power Hour” shows from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. When you go, order a French 75 and the Marconi almonds with black truffle and rosemary – it’ll be a night that’s music to your ears and your palate.
Nationwide Arena is one of Columbus' largest entertainment venues. Photo source, Nationwide Arena's website.
See a show
Speaking of shows, did you know Columbus has an amazing performing arts scene? See a new band at Natalie's Grandview or KEMBA Live!. Watch the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Disney on Ice or comedians like Nate Bargatze and Tom Segura at big venues like the Schottenstein Center or Nationwide Arena. Go to the Ohio Theater for off-Broadway tours and Columbus Symphony Orchestra concerts. Or, follow the Columbus Live Music Trail and see what’s playing at 40+ live music venues across the city, from indie record shops and dive bars to sold-out arenas. If you do, make sure you check in on the CBUS Rewards app when you get there. You’ll earn rewards points just for going.
Explore by yourself at the Columbus Museum of Art. Photo source, Facebook.
Get creative at the Columbus Museum of Art
Art museums are great places to explore solo. See art through centuries at the Columbus Museum of Art, where you’ll find works by both local Columbus-born artists (like Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, Elijah Pierce and George Bellows) and big-name 19th- and 20th-century artists from America and Europe. Peruse the rotating exhibits of Impressionist, German Expressionist, photography, Cubism and folk and contemporary art, and make your own at interactive art stations throughout the museum. Be sure to walk through the Sculpture Garden, where there’s a sculpture made entirely of – wait for it – sound. Pro tip? Go on Sunday when general admission is free.
Planning a solo vacation? Visit Columbus and check out all the food, fun, culture and adventure our Midwestern gem has to offer. Once you finish this list of must-dos, get more ideas from these 25 reasons to visit Columbus in 2025 and book your hotel. Wherever you go, share your trip using the hashtag #yesColumbus and let us follow the fun.
