Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
German Village, Columbus, OH

Photo: Aaron Turner, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffDate NightFree

German Village

588 S 3rd St · Columbus, OH

Why you should go…

German Village is a historic neighborhood just south of downtown Columbus, settled by German immigrants in the 1800s. You stroll preserved brick sidewalks past red-brick homes, stopping at restaurants, coffee shops and stores along the way. The Book Loft fills 32 rooms of a pre-Civil War-era building with books, and 23-acre Schiller Park has a statue of Friedrich Schiller, gardens and an amphitheater. The German Village Society runs a visitors center and walking tours.

  • #historic district
  • #brick streets
  • #walking tour
  • #bookstore
  • #german heritage

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to German Village, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    COSI

    $25–$50

    Hands-on science museum on the Scioto riverfront with a planetarium, a dinosaur gallery and themed exhibit halls.

    1.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

    $25–$50

    Glasshouse biomes, outdoor botanical gardens, a children's garden and Chihuly glass art inside Franklin Park.

    2.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Ohio Stadium

    $25–$50

    See the Horseshoe, Ohio State's 1922 football stadium, with its Pantheon-style rotunda and stained glass murals.

    4.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Family Favorite

    Dublin, Ohio

    Free

    A Columbus suburb famous for championship golf and the world's largest Irish festival.

    12 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Tour eight regions of animals from Heart of Africa to Polar Frontier, plus an aquarium and a 1914 carousel.

    16 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Pickaway County

    Free

    Visitor bureau for Pickaway County, Ohio, home of the Circleville Pumpkin Show and area parks and history.

    24 mi awayMore like this