German Village
German Village
4.5
About
A highway bridge over Interstate 70 is all that separates the German Village Historic District from downtown Columbus, but as one looks east from the interstate, the difference between old and new is glaring. A 20+ story structure sits just north of the interstate bridge, and just south, in German Village, no structure is higher than three stories. Five blocks south, the spire of St. Mary Church stands 197’ off the sidewalk and towers over everything around it. Structures and sidewalks are orange masonry, and many streets (about half) are still brick pavers. German Village does not have a recreated sense of history or kitschy Bavarian feel ~ rather, it is a neighborhood with architecture dating from the 1840s-1890s that has been preserved, and its use as a shared residential and commercial neighborhood has been maintained. People walk to their destinations, park on the street due to the overwhelming absence of driveways, and live life at a very pedestrian level. The neighborhood is extremely dense ~ very often only inches separate neighboring structures, and many structures were built for multi-family use. German Village is notably different because its appearance has changed so little.
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See what travelers are saying
- Ken ERidgecrest, California30 contributionsLots of old brick!This place is charming. Red brick is everywhere, including the streets. Our GPS kept getting lost in this area. The streets are very narrow and parking is difficult to find. I would suggest to have an outside shuttle bus take tourists to the various places to give the residents in the area some relief from the daily influx of tourist vehicles.Visited June 2023Written July 9, 2023
- eric j1 contributionA Stroll through the German Village.My partner and I stopped in the German Village on our way home to Baltimore. We had a wonderful and relaxing morning stroll through community of eye appealing homes, many of which were adorned by flowers boxes. The streets of brick also gave the German Village an authentic fell. We would certainly come back to check out the restaurant offerings when we pass by again.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten August 18, 2023
- snsTravelsTaneytown, Maryland16 contributionsStop by the visitor center before you go!We visited the German Village when we were in Ohio. We stopped at the Visitor’s Center first and got a map and wonderful recommendations before heading out to explore the village. They also have restrooms there you can use (which was great given that we’d been driving for awhile). If you’re in the area, don’t miss visiting! It was one of my favorite parts on our brief visit to Ohio. The architecture and atmosphere is beautiful. Note, parking can be challenging but we did find spots each time (being adept at parallel parking is a must when visiting).Visited April 2024Traveled with familyWritten March 31, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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pacimovic
Seaford, New York44 contributions
Aug 2021
As a neighborhood, German Village is really a great place to live within a major US city. I would caution tourists, as an attraction on itself, its kind of let down. The restaurants and shops in the area are actually quite far apart, so do not expect to find a central tourist spot, but expect to park on the street if you can find a spot...and then walk around and hit the spots you want to hit. Unlike High Street, this is a quiet neighborhood that does not cater to tourists. There are some nice historic homes and cobblestone streets, but its not a place you would necessarily go for any specific reason other than to enjoy the aesthetics and quaintness of German Village. As an out of towner, this is not a day trip, make a dinner reservation and have a stroll before or after to capture the vibe. We walked from Schiller park and dog-watched for a bit and had dinner a few blocks away. It was a nice night and we enjoyed it.
Written September 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PACoxM
Oakland, MD57 contributions
Sep 2020 • Friends
quaint little shops. nice hike atound park. pleasant walk through. got to so Schmidt's restaurant for creampuffs and the red barn for shopping for handmade gifts made locally
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer B
5 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
We absolutely loved walking around German village! From the beautiful
homes with exceptional character to the red brick roads. Fall is a perfect time to go as nearly every house was decorated for Halloween or with pumpkins and mums. We are at Schmidt’s which we highly recommend and at stopped at two shops near by which we also recommend. A perfect neighborhood for a couples. Not many shops; but still a blast to take in.
homes with exceptional character to the red brick roads. Fall is a perfect time to go as nearly every house was decorated for Halloween or with pumpkins and mums. We are at Schmidt’s which we highly recommend and at stopped at two shops near by which we also recommend. A perfect neighborhood for a couples. Not many shops; but still a blast to take in.
Written October 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken E
Ridgecrest, CA30 contributions
Jun 2023
This place is charming. Red brick is everywhere, including the streets. Our GPS kept getting lost in this area. The streets are very narrow and parking is difficult to find. I would suggest to have an outside shuttle bus take tourists to the various places to give the residents in the area some relief from the daily influx of tourist vehicles.
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colleen Lindsay
Crossville, TN80 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
The morning started off rather rainy, but by the time we arrived in German Village the sun was out! Good omen-right?’🤣 We had a fantastic lunch at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus! Incredible food and great baked goods as well. Across the parking lot is their candy store! They also sell classic German foods and gifts. I walked around the neighborhood and enjoyed seeing the older homes, various shops and a beautiful dog friendly park.
Written April 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GrumpyandtheOldLady
New York City, NY610 contributions
Sep 2020
We were in the German Village section for lunch at Schmidt's Sausage Haus und Restaurant (separate review.) They had a wait list, so we spent our time wandering the streets and stopping in the shops. This is a lovely area and we found very nice, locally made items in the shops. We purchased several pieces as gifts for friends. It was (almost) too bad our wait time for a table wasn't longer.
Written September 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
the5thman
Isles-les-Villenoy, France36 contributions
Feb 2023
German Village is a neighborhood, not an attraction. It has a few stores scattered throughout several square blocks but does not have a central olde town business district that I was expecting. The most exciting place seemed to be a series of several book stores all grouped in one area, but the line to get in was quite long and I didn't wait. The neighborhood is nice to walk thru with brink sidewalks and streets, beautiful homes, and a few scattered shops. There is a very nice park with a pond and a nice walk around the perimeter.
But be aware that good footing is a benefit throughout the neighborhood due to the unbalanced brick sidewalks from the bricks being dislodged from tree roots.
But be aware that good footing is a benefit throughout the neighborhood due to the unbalanced brick sidewalks from the bricks being dislodged from tree roots.
Written February 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MoMan
Richardson, TX300 contributions
Dec 2020 • Family
Nothing like Frankenkmuth, MI... but a nice refreshing change from the big citu hussle. We visited the famous Book Loft and the kids loved it. It’s two conjoined houses with 32 rooms converted to a convoluted multilevel Book store. Definitely worth the experience. Followed that with hoagies and lamb kebobs at the nearby Jasmine cafe. Lovely!
Written December 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2berries
Lake George, NY277 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Nice neighborhood with some history. We spent about 10 minutes watching a video at the visitor center and the gentlemen at the center were informative. We drove around and walked some of the cobblestone streets. Enjoyed a local coffee and pastry but that was about it. Not a must see but something to do if time available
Written November 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
snsTravels
Taneytown, MD16 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
We visited the German Village when we were in Ohio. We stopped at the Visitor’s Center first and got a map and wonderful recommendations before heading out to explore the village. They also have restrooms there you can use (which was great given that we’d been driving for awhile).
If you’re in the area, don’t miss visiting! It was one of my favorite parts on our brief visit to Ohio. The architecture and atmosphere is beautiful. Note, parking can be challenging but we did find spots each time (being adept at parallel parking is a must when visiting).
If you’re in the area, don’t miss visiting! It was one of my favorite parts on our brief visit to Ohio. The architecture and atmosphere is beautiful. Note, parking can be challenging but we did find spots each time (being adept at parallel parking is a must when visiting).
Written March 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
will be passing through Columbus tomorrow and wonder what restaurant might serve Wiener schnitzel.
Bonnie M
Mantua, OH193 contributions
I'd go to Schmidt's. Fantastic authentic German food.
BonnieInPA
Pittsburgh, PA94 contributions
Where can you park in German Village? Are there meters? Is there any free parking?
robinbohlin
Fort Worth, TX23 contributions
Yes, there is street parking especially around the park but on a beautiful day it is nice walking from general hotel areas.
Are they open on Sundays
Duke-3333
Cohasset, MA63 contributions
Yes. 11am to 10pm on Sundays.
sandy4409
Parkersburg, WV61 contributions
where is good parking?
Julia O
Celebration, FL1,030 contributions
I would not park in a business parking lot unless you are patronizing the business. Towing regulations are posted and do occur. There is no large public or private parking lot; this is essentially a neighborhood; many streets are brick and have parking on both sides, becoming one lane. I would drive around a bit: north/south on 3rd or Mohawk, from the freeway to Whittier, to see shops, restaurants, architecture that’s of interest to you, then find a parking space (note: some have time limits... no meters, but time limits.) it’s unlikely you would want to stay in one for more than a couple hours at a time. Schiller Park is nice enough and there is some parking around it, but it’s at the south end of the area. Be careful of slippery, uneven streets. Also, some more dicey neighborhoods are just a block or so from the village... indeed, there’s always some discussion about where German Village ends....be as sensible as you would be in any urban area. Maybe it’s from High Street to Parsons Avenue, east to west, but maybe it’s smaller....
Cheryl J
Hubertus, WI8 contributions
What restaurant are you referencing in this review?
kelsmuir25
Tacoma, WA24 contributions
Schmidts is iconic and you can't go wrong. It can be busy on the weekends and very loud. However, if you want upscale, hit up lindeys or barcelonas. If you want middle of the road prices with top notch food, pop over to rockmill tavern. (On the edge of German village and the brewery district) Can't go wrong with any of the above.
Katrina M
New Smyrna Beach, FL5 contributions
Is it walkable? Is there a parking fee? What type of shops and restaurants? How far from The Statehouse?
knowledgeseeker64
Columbus, OH20 contributions
It is walkable, but covers a large area. Although German Village is close to the Statehouse it is better to drive. Parking can be found throughout the neighborhoods. There are many German style restaurants, and small shops. Springtime, and summer are a great time to visit to see the beautiful gardens grown by the residents.
Phil G
Toowoomba, Australia238 contributions
I' will be in Columbus Ohio the 2nd week of December. (get there on the 12/5/16
I'm working so won't have a lot of spare time, but I am keen to have a quick look around. In particular, as an Aussie, I want to see/try anything quintessential American. Food, drinks, or experiences.
Any ideas for a short trip in December?
shamrockarse
Greenville, OH522 contributions
The village is charming and the restaurant is delicious. Considering the size of the servings (enormous) be sure to leave room for one of the cream pastries or at least get one to go. I did the village and restaurant while there on business with just an evening free. It's plenty of time.
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Claim your listingGerman Village - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about German Village
- Hotels near German Village:
- (0.03 mi) Cute & Charming Vintage Townhome in German Village
- (0.14 mi) Holiday Inn Express Columbus Downtown, an IHG Hotel
- (0.25 mi) Vintage Townhome with Attic Loft - Prime German Village Location, Walk to All!
- (0.27 mi) Modern Organic Oasis in Heart of German Village | Prime Location, Walk to All!
- (0.94 mi) The Junto
- Restaurants near German Village:
- (0.03 mi) Cento
- (0.07 mi) Pistacia Vera
- (0.09 mi) Lindey's
- (0.06 mi) Stauf's Coffee Roasters
- (0.09 mi) Starbucks
- Attractions near German Village:
- (0.07 mi) Book Loft
- (0.08 mi) Tiki Botanicals
- (0.13 mi) Schwartz Castle
- (0.28 mi) Shadowbox Live
- (0.18 mi) Club 185