Columbia travel guide
Columbia Tourism | Columbia Guide
You're Going to Love Columbia
With a population of 129,272, Columbia is the largest city in South Carolina, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Columbia deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Columbia
Tours
Shopping
Other activities
Where to Eat in Columbia
If you’re looking for affordable options, Solstice Kitchen (841-4 Sparkleberry Lane) and Cola's Restaurant (1215 Assembly Street) are great picks.
When to visit Columbia
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Columbia in July, when the average temperature is 82.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 93.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 33.8 °F, with an average temperature of 44.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 5.5″. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Columbia, with an average rainfall of 2.6″.
How to Get to Columbia
Plane
When flying to Columbia, you’ll arrive at Columbia Metropolitan (CAE), which is located 10 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Columbia include American Airlines, Delta and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Columbia departs from Allentown and takes around 4h 58m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Columbia. The train journey from Columbia to Winter Park takes 8h 18m and costs around $75 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Richmond, expect to pay about $148 for a 8h 18m trip. The train station in Columbia is called Columbia, and is located 0.9 km from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Columbia is to pick up a car rental from Atlanta, which is about 311 km from Columbia. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Hertz, among others, in Atlanta.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Columbia, including Wanda Coach, Megabus and Tornado Bus. From North Charleston, the bus ride to Columbia takes 257 km and will cost you around $80. From Baltimore, the ticket costs about $200 for a journey of 998 km. The most popular bus station is Columbia Bus Terminal - 710-A Buckner Rd, located 7 km from downtown Columbia. Columbia Sunoco is also a commonly used station, and is 7 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Columbia
Where to stay in Columbia
Average rates range from around $171 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $195 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia/Southeast-Ft. Jackson and La Quinta Inn By Wyndham Columbia Se / Fort Jackson.
Where to stay in popular areas of Columbia
Most booked hotels in Columbia
Renting a car in Columbia
Renting a car in Columbia costs $72 per day, on average, or $143 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Ace are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Columbia is the Hertz branch at 4016 Fernandina Road, which is 12 km from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 1% more expensive than at Columbia Metropolitan.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Columbia (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Columbia is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Hyundai Veloster or similar) are, on average, 48% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.