German Village
German Village
4.5
Historic Sites • Neighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas
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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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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,163 reviews
Excellent
675
Very good
365
Average
96
Poor
18
Terrible
9
Jennifer B
3 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.
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.
travelerS_Korea
Columbus, OH127 contributions
Jul 2019
A very trendy place, although the buildings themselves aren't unique as they were originally built for German workers in various city industires (esp. breweries). There are periodic Haus und Garten shows where people who have spent beaucoup bucks show off what they can do in 1500 square feet. It's a pleasant place for a stroll with Schiller Park in the middle and a sprinkling of German-run or themed restaurants, esp. Schmidt's Sausage Haus (125 years old) with its cream puff and Juergens Restaurant with authentic German foods. Prepare for cobble stone streets and one-way traffic.
Written April 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Annemarie K
Ypsilanti, MI26 contributions
Oct 2020
Houses are fully remodeled and look like out of a painting or picture gallery. There are a few restaurants with German food and a few gift shoots but it’s mostly a residential area, no real shopping. Wear comfortable shoes as the sidewalks and streets are mostly brick and cobble stone.
Written October 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ted Chastain
Dallas, GA7 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
My wife and I have made few trips to the Bavarian part of Germany. This past March we went to Bad Zwischenahn in the north west area. We visited friends for a week. We went to an 800 year old church and ate lunch in a 300 year old restaurant. Bad Zwischenahn is a quaint lake side resort village with beautiful scenery and great restaurants. It is also convenient to travel to the Netherlands from also.
Written March 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Colleen Lindsay
Crossville, TN68 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.
PACoxM
Oakland, MD54 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.
GrumpyandtheOldLady
New York City, NY534 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.
MoMan
Richardson, TX272 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.
Bonnie M
Mantua, OH120 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
German Village has tons of character and charm. Lovely small and large homes tightly packed together. We were transported! The brick streets added to the nostalgic feeling. If you have mobility issues it would be very difficult to navigate. And no high heels, either! Comfortable walking shoes are on order here. But we enjoyed every minute of our visit. Check out Schiller Park, which is close by.
Written April 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
will be passing through Columbus tomorrow and wonder what restaurant might serve Wiener schnitzel.
Bonnie M
Mantua, OH120 contributions
I'd go to Schmidt's. Fantastic authentic German food.
BonnieInPA
Pittsburgh, PA103 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, MA68 contributions
Yes. 11am to 10pm on Sundays.
sandy4409
Parkersburg, WV65 contributions
where is good parking?
Julia O
Celebration, FL1,103 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, WI7 contributions
What restaurant are you referencing in this review?
kelsmuir25
Tacoma, WA25 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, FL6 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, Australia229 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, OH444 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.
German Village (Columbus) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about German Village
- Hotels near 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!
- (0.43 mi) The Westin Great Southern Columbus
- (0.90 mi) Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection
- Restaurants near German Village:
- (0.07 mi) Pistacia Vera
- (0.09 mi) Lindey's
- (0.06 mi) Stauf's Coffee Roasters
- (0.09 mi) Starbucks
- (0.10 mi) El Lugar
- Attractions near German Village:
- (0.03 mi) Caterina Ltd
- (0.07 mi) Book Loft
- (0.08 mi) Tiki Botanicals
- (0.13 mi) Schwartz Castle
- (0.31 mi) Shadowbox Live