A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Mystic for Attractions, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Columbus or Mystic?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Columbus or Mystic? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Columbus

Columbus is a friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Mystic

Mystic is a charming, quaint, and laid back town. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Columbus and Mystic: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbus or Mystic?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Mystic. Although Columbus and Mystic are both popular with visitors, Mystic has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Mystic is more touristy than Columbus and is known for its New England charm and local character. It is also home to the Mystic Seaport Museum. Columbus is popular for its youthful energy and its growing arts scene.

How is Columbus different from Mystic?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Mystic and Columbus. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbus or Mystic?

Mystic is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Columbus is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Mystic offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

Columbus offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular museums around town include the Center of Science and Technology, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Center.

Is the Food Better in Columbus or Mystic? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Mystic is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Mystic. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Columbus. Hearty and heavy comfort food is the mainstay in this town. There's pizza, casseroles, sausage, and milkshakes around town.

Is Columbus or Mystic Better for Nightlife?

The good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Columbus and Mystic.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Columbus. The live music scene is growing. There are also a growing number of breweries around town.

Mystic has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

Is Columbus or Mystic Better for Beaches?

Mystic is a very popular place for its beaches. However, Columbus is not a beach destination.

Mystic is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

Columbus is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbus or Mystic?

Mystic is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Columbus is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Mystic. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

Columbus offers some nice shopping areas. In addition to the standard shopping malls and retail outlets, there are some interesting shops in the Short North Arts District, German Village, and Easton Town Center.

Is Columbus or Mystic Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Columbus or Mystic.

Columbus is a very family-friendly destination. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a highlight for many families. Right by it is the Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. For hands-on science-based activities check out the Center of Science and Industry. Kids will also love the Legoland Discovery Center or the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory. There are also many outdoor parks, greenways, and playgrounds to visit.

Mystic is a very kid-friendly city. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

Is Columbus or Mystic Better for Couples?

Mystic is a popular place for romance. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Mystic is a nice destination for couples. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Most people don't think of Columbus as a couple's destination. You'll find restaurants and music venues that make for a nice date night. There are also wine tours and other entertainment options.

Is Columbus or Mystic Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Columbus is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbus. While there's a bus system, you'll really want to have a vehicle to get around town efficiently.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

Is Columbus or Mystic a more walkable city?

Columbus is a good destination for its walkability. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

Columbus is somewhat walkable. The older neighborhoods are the most walkable, but if you want to get around town, you'll need to have a car.

Mystic is generally not very walkable. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbus Worth Visiting? and Is Mystic Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Mystic or Columbus?

How long in Columbus or Mystic?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Columbus and Mystic. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Mystic than in Columbus. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbus, and 2-3 days is enough time in Mystic.

Families should spend more time in Mystic than Columbus. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Mystic, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Mystic than Columbus. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Mystic that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Columbus than Mystic if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Columbus.

One day in Columbus or Mystic?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Columbus. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The town of Mystic offers food and shopping. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbus or Mystic?

Columbus is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Mystic is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Mystic, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbus or Mystic?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbus. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Mystic is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Columbus or Mystic?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the down-to-earth destination of Columbus. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Mystic is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Mystic, we can see that Mystic is more expensive. And not only is Columbus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbus and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Mystic would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mystic than you might in Columbus.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbus Expensive? and Is Mystic Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbus or Mystic?

Columbus has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Mystic, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Columbus or Mystic?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbus or Mystic in the Summer?

Both Mystic and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Columbus for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Mystic because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Columbus is around the same temperature as Mystic in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Mystic fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in Mystic. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbus. Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Mystic during summer. Columbus gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Columbus. In July, Columbus usually receives more rain than Mystic. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Columbus or Mystic in the Autumn?

Both Mystic and Columbus during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Columbus because of the shopping scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Mystic this time of year.

In the autumn, Columbus is a little warmer than Mystic. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbus in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Mystic averages at about 53°F (12°C).

In Mystic, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Mystic. Columbus gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 211 hours of full sun.

Columbus usually gets less rain in October than Mystic. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbus or Mystic in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Mystic. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbus this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Mystic for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Mystic. It's quite cold in Columbus in the winter. In January, Columbus is generally much warmer than Mystic. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 30°F (-1°C), and Mystic fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

Columbus usually receives less sunshine than Mystic during winter. Columbus gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Columbus usually receives less rain than Mystic. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Columbus or Mystic in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Mystic. Additionally, many visitors come to Mystic in the spring for the beaches.

Columbus is a little warmer than Mystic in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Mystic fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mystic. In the spring, Columbus often gets less sunshine than Mystic. Columbus gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 225 hours of full sun.

Columbus usually gets less rain in April than Mystic. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Mystic and Columbus