Columbia (South Carolina)

By car

Columbia is easily reached by Interstate 20, Interstate 26 and Interstate 77, or by U.S. Highway 1.

By plane

• Columbia Metropolitan AirportThere are non-stop flights to Columbia Metropolitan Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Newark, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.

To get from the airport to downtown using public transport, Comet Bus Route #28 operates weekday-only service from the Midland Tech Airport campus, a few blocks from the airport. The bus leaves 3 times per day: at 7:39AM, 1:04PM, and 4:59PM. The journey downtown costs $1.50 and takes 30 minutes.

By train

An Amtrak station is located at 850 Pulaski Street in the Vista. Columbia sits on the main north-south line on the East Coast. Trains depart daily for Miami and New York; however, most of the trains pass though Columbia at night and are frequently delayed.

By bus

Megabus. Service from Atlanta, Athens, Fayetteville, Durham, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. Buses stop at the Sumter Street Transit Station at the corner of Sumter Street and Laurel Street.

Most people use a car to get around Columbia, but more pedestrian-friendly areas of the city include downtown, The Vista, the University Hill/USC area, and Five Points. There is bus service around town provided by provided by CMRTA. It is generally geared towards locals rather than tourists. In 2017 however, the city began a free bus route called the Soda Cap Connector, which provides bus transit between downtown hotspots. Taxi service is also available 24/7 if you call in advance, and can usually be hailed on the street in Five Points and The Vista at night. Columbia also has an active Uber and Lyft population.

Siebels House and Garden One of the best gardens in the city. It's free to walk through and surrounds the oldest house in Columbia.

• Fort JacksonFort Jackson is one of the major draws of visitors to Columbia. Essentially, there are three types of visitors to Fort Jackson: 1. the miserable private going through Basic Combat Training; 2. friends and family of graduating basic trainees; 3. A.I.T. (Advanced Individual Training) students. For those visiting for B.C.T graduation, graduation will be held at Hilton Field or, in the case of inclement weather, the Solomon Center. You should not surprise the soldier you're visiting, because he/she must report whether he/she is going home with a family member or by government expense. Failure to alert your soldier will cause him/her to be required to leave on government transportation. Furthermore, leave contact info with your soldier, so his/her drill sergeants can alert you to any changes in plans.

• Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens

  phone: +1 803 252-1770
  address: 1615 Blanding Street
  One of the few houses left from antebellum Columbia, it was built in 1818 and has many authentic furnishings.

• South Carolina Statehouse

  phone: +1 803 734-2430
  address: 1100 Gervais St
  With a copper dome and bronze stars marking places where Sherman's cannonballs struck, the Statehouse is well worth the trip for fans of history and architecture alike. Though the Confederate flag no longer flies on the top of the dome, it stands atop a memorial directly in front of the building at the intersection of Gervais and Main. The grounds include several monuments and a small Italianate rose garden.

• Riverbanks Zoo

  address: 500 Wildlife Parkway
  Riverbanks Zoo has grown tremendously in the past decade. Recent additions include a gorilla habitat and koala bears donated from their native Queensland. Considered to be in the top ten US zoos, it has the added benefit of being small enough for those with difficulty walking to manage. Children will enjoy the petting zoo, pony rides, and demonstrations.

• South Carolina State Museum

  phone: +1 803 898-4921
  address: 301 Gervais Street
  This museum is often visited by South Carolina school groups, and tourists on rainy days. Children may enjoy the hands-on exhibits, but parents will note that this place is long on reproductions and short on explanations. Come prepared for lessons on history, geography, industry, and economics. The gift shop has many South Carolina themed items.

• Confederate Relic Room and State Military Museum

  phone: +1 803 737-8095

Edventure Children's Museum

phone: +1 803-779-3100

address: 211 Gervais St

Lots of fun for those with small children.

Columbia Museum of Art

phone: +1 803 799-2810

South Carolina's premier international art museum has 25 galleries of extraordinary collections of European, American and Asian fine and decorative art that span centuries. The museum's collection includes masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance through the 18th century from the Samuel H. Kress Collection, a strong collection of European and American furniture and decorative arts, as well as modern and contemporary art, art glass, and 20th-century design. Of particular interest are Sandro Botticelli's Nativity, Canaletto’s View of the Molo, Claude Monet's The Seine at Giverny, and art glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The museum’s collection of Asian art and Antiquities has grown through generous gifts to the collection, including an impressive collection of Korean and Chinese ceramics and Roman portrait heads. The museum also offers changing exhibitions from renowned museums and educational programs that include group and public tours, lectures, films, and concert series. The Museum Shop is open during museum hours.

Thomas Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home

• South Carolina Gamecocks

  phone: +1 803 777-4274
  address: Rice Athletics Center, 1304 Heyward St. (central ticket office)
  One of Columbia's great institutions is University of South Carolina sports. The Gamecocks compete in 9 men's and 12 women's sports, almost all in the Southeastern Conference. As with most large schools, their hot-button sports are traditionally football and men's basketball, although their most nationally competitive have been women's basketball (in which they routinely lead the entire NCAA in attendance, and often outdraw the men) and baseball. Most athletic facilities are on campus, with the best-known venues being Williams-Brice Stadium (football), Colonial Life Arena (both basketball teams), and Founders Park (baseball).

• Nickelodeon

  address: 1607 Main Street
  For independent film in Columbia, this is your place. Also has several film festivals throughout the year and is a comfortable movie theater.
• Kayaking. Columbia has some of the best kayaking available in an urban area in the US. Put in the Saluda River at north end of the Riverbanks Zoo parking lot, get out in the Congaree just past the Gervais Street bridge, on either side.
• St Patrick Day Festival An Irish celebration that is in Five Points. Features an elaborate parade. There's a wide variety of family entertainment like petting zoos and rides for kids. There's three stages of music by local and national musicians, and great food from local restaurants and caterers.

• Melton Memorial Observatory

  phone: +1 803 777-4180
  address: 1429 Greene St.
  The Melton Observatory is open to the public every Monday night when the sky is clear. Drop by to see planets, stars, nebulae, or whatever else is visible in the night sky.

• Ganden Kadampa Buddhist Center

  address: 1202 Main St. #200
  Ganden Buddhist Center is a great place to learn about meditation and Buddhism. The Center is right across from the state capitol building and offers classes nearly every day of the week.

• Three Rivers GreenwayThis series of trails is popular with joggers, dog walkers, bikers, skaters, etc. One can walk along almost the entire riverfront on the east and west sides of the river. Access via Laurel Street or Gervais Street. Beautiful views of the 3 rivers (Saluda and Broad combine to form the Congaree).

• University of South CarolinaThe campus is just south of the Statehouse. The oldest part of campus, known as "The Horseshoe", survived the burning of Columbia and has lovely buildings dating from 1805.

• Five Points

  address: 532 Congaree Avenue
  District of Columbia that features a wide selection of primairly locally-owned shops and boutiques, including a unique bookstore and music store. A must-visit for shoppers in Columbia.

• Dutch Square Mall

  address: 421 Bush River Rd
  Older, smaller mall that is good for bargain hunters at stores such as Burlington Coat Factory.

• Richland Mall

  address: 3400 Forest Dr
  Upscale shopping center including stores such as Belk, Barnes & Noble, and a Regal Cinemas.

• Columbiana Centre

  address: 100 Columbiana Circle, 29212
  Columbia's largest shopping mall, anchor stores include Sears, Belk, Dillard's and J.C. Penney

• Columbia Place Mall

  phone: +1 803 788-4678
  address: 7201 Two Notch Road, 29223
  Mid-market mall on Columbia's north-central side, including Sears, Burlington Coat Factory and the only Macy's department store in the region

Some of the most popular restaurants include, the Blue Marlin, which features seafood prepared in the South Carolina Lowcountry tradition; Dianne's on Devine, an upscale fine dining restaurant offering Italian dishes; the Hampton Street Vineyard, best known for its extensive selection in fine wines; and SakiTumi Grill & Sushi, which specializes in Pacific Rim cuisine. In all, Columbia offers over 450 dining options. Terra in the West Bank/State St. area in West Columbia is a new upscale eatery that has caught the attention of locals.

• Rockaway's

  address: 2719 Rosewood Drive
  Columbia Institution, best burgers in town and pimiento cheese fries. It's an unassuming brick building with metal shutters on Rosewood across from the Rite Aid. The service sucks and the wait staff is lacking but that is part of the experience.

Budget

Passable regional chain restaurants have locations in and near town, including Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Mellow Mushroom Pizza, Moe's Southwest Grill, Atlanta Bread Co, Firehouse Subs and Sonic Drive-In (many 24-hr).
Other cheap eats include:

• Blue Cactus

  address: 2002 Greene St. #H
  A sassy, quirky slow-food cafe serving up Korean and Tex-Mex food, with an impressive hot sauce collection. Family run with lots of character.

• Beezer's

  address: 919 Sumter St. #B
  Undergrad guilty pleasure, features cheap salads and variety of simple but decent subs. Open late, usually until 3AM, also delivers.

• Groucho's Deli

  address: 611 Harden St.
  Original store of the mainly S.C.-based chain, serves liberally decorated deli sandwiches with tart dipping sauces.

Mid-range

• Delhi Palace

  address: 1029 Briargate Cir
  Those in the know visit for the inexpensive but tasty Indian buffet.

• Nonnah's

  address: 930 Gervais St
  Quirky drinking establishment is famous for its desserts.

• Pasta Fresca

  address: 3405 Forest Dr
  Large portions of superior Italian fare at reasonable prices make this one popular with people who dine out for food rather than linen tablecloths.

• Yesterday's

  address: 2030 Devine St
  Good moderately priced restaurant. Mostly American and Southern food. One of the more fun places to go in Five Points, with a large beer selection and plentiful food for a reasonable price.

Splurge

Columbia has a diverse, extensive array of restaurants to choose from, most notably those in the historic Congaree Vista district, Five Points, and along Devine Street.

• Blue Marlin

  address: 1200 Lincoln St
  One of the better seafood restaurants in Columbia, Blue Marlin specializes in Lowcountry style seafood such as shrimp and grits as well as she-crab soup.

• California Dreaming

  address: 401 Main St
  Good service; excellent salads and steaks, in addition to good desserts and a nice bar.

• Ristorante Divino

  address: 803 Gervais St
  Fabulous Northern Italian cuisine. Wine cellar on premises. Jackets recommended. Reservations are suggested.

• Hampton Street Vineyard

  address: 1201 Hampton St
  Outstanding food selection. Also has an excellent wine service and good service in general. Reservations are recommended for the restaurant is fairly small inside and is pretty popular.

• Mr. Friendly’s

  address: 2001-A Greene St
  People dress up to visit the celebrated (and busy) Mr. Friendly’s, known for its meaty Southern cuisine.

• Solstice Kitchen & Wine Bar

  address: 814-4 Sparkleberry Lane
  Describes itself as "New American," with an internationalist approach to Southern delicacies, Solstice is a trendy and professional restaurant in the Northeast. Owned by the same owner as the venerable Mr. Friendly's.

• Terra

  address: 100 State St., West Columbia
  Winner 2008 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Makes a strong effort to support local farmers and uses as many locally grown ingredients as possible.

• Five Points. Located around the intersection of Harden Street, Greene Street and Saluda Avenue, this neighborhood has numerous bars and eateries catering to the University of South Carolina students. It gets especially boisterous on Thursday nights. There are a few bars in this area that you'll find a more mature crowd and not so much the college scene. Places such as Speakeasy, BarNone, and Group Therapy generally cater to the recently graduated drinkers.
• The Vista. For the more mature crowd, dozens of bars and restaurants centered on the corner of Lincoln and Gervais. Carolina Ale House Rooftop Bar and Wild Wing Cafe make for a great place to go and watch sporting events as well as some great live music. Blue Tapas Bar and Cocktail Lounge is a good place for a special occasion outing with great service and really good drink specials during the week.

• Comfort Inn & Suites

  address: 7337 Garner's Ferry Road
  Comfortable hotel with a exercise room, pool, and free wi-fi connection.

• Embassy Suites Columbia - Greystone

  address: 200 Stoneridge Drive
  Just off of Interstate 126.

• Graduate Columbia

  phone: +1-803-779-7779
  address: 1619 Pendleton Street

• Hilton Columbia Center

  phone: +1 803 744-7800
  address: 924 Senate Street
  This hotel is in the Vista in walking distance of bars, restaurants, the State Museum, the Convention Center, and the central business district. It is a 4 diamond-rated AAA hotel and the on-site restaurant is Ruth's Chris.

• Holiday Inn Express Harbison

  phone: +1 803-732-2229
  address: 211 Lanneau Court
  Amenities include free breakfast, free internet, a business center and a fitness center. Microwave and refrigerator in each guest room. Free pass to Gold's Gym, across the street from Columbiana mall, directly next door to Bailey's Sports Grill and Carmike movie theater

• Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel

  phone: +1 803 988-1400
  address: 1400 Main Street
  Located in an architecturally pleasing building, but that's about the only good view of the hotel - the area surrounding the hotel essentially offers views of parking garages. Located in the central downtown area of Columbia.

• Staybridge Suites Columbia

  address: 1911 Huger St
  Extended-stay suites. Free breakfast, 24-hour fitness center, indoor pool. Free internet, free evening reception Monday - Thursday, business center. Spacious guest rooms offer a fully equipped kitchen (microwave, refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, cooking utensils), flat screen TV and free internet.

• Congaree National Park

  phone: +1 803 776-4396
  address: 100 National Park Rd
  Located about twenty miles south of the city, Congaree National Park, the nation's newest, doesn't even have admission gates yet, leaving you the pleasure of federally-protected landscape without the price. One of the last old-growth forests in the southeast, the swamp actually isn't a swamp at all, but a floodplain of the nearby Congaree River. Wild pigs, deer, turkey, alligators, and other wildlife abound; the largest cypresses in the world are located here. The cypress knees and tupelo trees create something that looks like a set of Lord of the Rings. The boardwalk is several miles long and handicapped accessible; the park contains great hiking trails and even the opportunity for canoeing (rent in Columbia). The visitor's center has useful information and a helpful staff, but if you're planning on returning to your car after five, be sure to leave it in the overnight parking lot near the entrance of the park.