Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Columbia travel guide

Columbia Tourism | Columbia Guide

You're Going to Love Columbia

With a population of 99,615, Columbia is a must-see destination in Maryland, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Columbia has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Columbia

If you’re looking for affordable options, Glenwood's - Stanford Grill: Columbia (8900 Stanford Boulevard) and The Food Market - Columbia (10480 Little Patuxent Pkwy) are great picks.

When to visit Columbia

Columbia in August
Estimated hotel price
C$ 188
1 night at 3-star hotel
Columbia in August
Estimated hotel price
C$ 188
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Columbia

Plane

When flying to Columbia, you’ll arrive at Baltimore/Washington Airport (BWI), which is located 10 miles from the city centre The shortest flight to Columbia from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 1h 29m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Columbia, followed by Acela. The train journey from Columbia to Baltimore takes 0h 28m and costs around C$ 8 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Philadelphia, expect to pay about C$ 15 for a 2h 01m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Columbia is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 185 miles from Columbia. You’ll find branches of Budget and Turo, among others, in New York.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Columbia, including Washington Deluxe, OurBus and CoachRun. From Richmond, the bus ride to Columbia takes 115 miles and will cost you around C$ 64. From Harrisburg, the ticket costs about C$ 31 for a journey of 195 miles. Columbia’s bus station is located 3 miles from the downtown.

Plane

When flying to Columbia, you’ll arrive at Baltimore/Washington Airport (BWI), which is located 10 miles from the city centre The shortest flight to Columbia from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 1h 29m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Columbia, followed by Acela. The train journey from Columbia to Baltimore takes 0h 28m and costs around C$ 8 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Philadelphia, expect to pay about C$ 15 for a 2h 01m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Columbia is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 185 miles from Columbia. You’ll find branches of Budget and Turo, among others, in New York.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Columbia, including Washington Deluxe, OurBus and CoachRun. From Richmond, the bus ride to Columbia takes 115 miles and will cost you around C$ 64. From Harrisburg, the ticket costs about C$ 31 for a journey of 195 miles. Columbia’s bus station is located 3 miles from the downtown.

Airports near Columbia

FDKFrederick
FMEFort Meade Tipton

Airlines serving Columbia

KLM
Good (1,477 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,830 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,359 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,288 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,158 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,555 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,508 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,727 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,548 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,733 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,856 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,179 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,375 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,183 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,431 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,232 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,134 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,908 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (200 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (298 reviews)
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Where to stay in Columbia

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Extended Stay America Select Suites - Columbia - Gateway Drive and Extended Stay America Suites - Columbia - Columbia Corporate Park.

Where to stay in popular areas of Columbia

Most booked hotels in Columbia

See all
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbia
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
C$ 167+
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Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia South
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
C$ 147+
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Hampton Inn Columbia
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
C$ 139+
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Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore at BWI Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
C$ 161+
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Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
C$ 158+
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La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Baltimore Bwi Airport
3 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
C$ 112+
View

Renting a car in Columbia

Expect to pay C$ 1.51 per litre in Columbia (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 18.01 and C$ 24.01. The most frequently booked car type in Columbia is Intermediate (Hyundai Elantra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Sentra or similar) are, on average, 59% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Expect to pay C$ 1.51 per litre in Columbia (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 18.01 and C$ 24.01. The most frequently booked car type in Columbia is Intermediate (Hyundai Elantra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Sentra or similar) are, on average, 59% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.