Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Columbia?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Columbia?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Columbia, South Carolina? Most people spend one to two days in Columbia during their visit. After all, the suburban city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, take advantage of the local nightlife, and go shopping.

Columbia is the capital city of the state of South Carolina. The city has some trendy shopping areas as well as some interesting museums. Most people don't spend much time visiting Columbia, but there are a number of ways to pass a day or two.

Do you have one or two days to visit Columbia? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Columbia?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the suburban city of Columbia, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, take advantage of the local nightlife, and go shopping. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside one to two days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Columbia

You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. As the state capital, there are some decent museums around town like the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Military Museum, the South Carolina State Museum, and the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Columbia?

Two days or a full weekend in Columbia is often considered the right amount of time to spend here, as many tourists take around one to two days for their trip in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the museums and landmarks, the nightlife, and the many shops. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.

Columbia, SC Columbia, SC

How to spend 2 days in Columbia

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Columbia will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

Shopping in Columbia is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. You'll find independent and locally owned shops along Devine Street and in the Five Points area. Also interesting are the Vista, which is a warehouse district, and Trenholm Plaza.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Columbia, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.