How Safe Is Columbus for Travel? (2019 Updated) ⋆ Travel Safe

Safety Index:

Columbus is the capital of the American state of Ohio and is located centrally within the state in the Mid-Ohio region.

It is an easy city to live in.

Good infrastructure (for the most part) with freeway access just about everywhere and with authorities actively trying to repair some of the damage to the inner neighborhoods caused by the freeways.

There is also a strong movement to make the city way more bike friendly

There are a few good theaters, and frequent concerts.

All the major Broadway shows do come through Columbus, eventually. They also have opera and classical performances too.

Warnings & Dangers in Columbus

OVERALL RISK : MEDIUM

Overall, Columbus is safe to visit if you avoid some parts of the country. Still exercise caution as petty and violent crimes do exist although they aren't too common.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : LOW

Transportation is mostly safe in Columbus. You might encounter a reckless driver here and there and pickpockets in trains and bus stations, but no more than in any other city.

PICKPOCKETS RISK : MEDIUM

Petty theft is the most prominent form of crime in Columbus. This mostly includes pickpockets and shoplifting and theft of laptop computers, phones, and other items from automobiles is a common occurrence.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : LOW

Ohio is susceptible to natural disasters of all kinds: whether it's floodings, wild fires, tornadoes, tsunamis or heavy snow natural disasters - all these have happened in Ohio and have cost people their homes. However, they're not too common.

MUGGING RISK : MEDIUM

Violent crimes are an issue in areas that would not be frequented by tourists either way. Avoid certain areas of the city that are considered dangerous.

TERRORISM RISK : LOW

Excluding isolated mass shootings, Columbus hasn't been the target of any terrorist attacks recently, but the attacks shouldn't be ruled out. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK : LOW

There is the issue of scams in Columbus, but it isn't any bigger of an issue than in any other city. Always negotiate everything in advance, double check your change and never pay anything upfront. Never accept drinks from strange people or leave your drink unattended.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW

Columbus is safe for female solo travelers. Following basic precaution measures should completely minimize the chances of anything going wrong.

So... How Safe Is Columbus Really?

Columbus is a safe city to visit, but with a number of neighborhoods that should be avoided.

As for crime, it isn’t too big of an issue for the most part, but it happens from time to time.

Some areas do have a high number of petty crimes like car break ins and a bank robbery about once a year; however, overall crime is low.

All in all, if you stay away from the football madness and don’t do drugs or hang out where drug dealers are doing business or join a street gang, Columbus is really very safe.

There are street gangs in Columbus, the Bloods and the Crips are the major ones.

There are certainly parts of Columbus that can easily be considered unsafe; it usually works like this: you could walk around a few blocks where crime is extremely high and then a couple blocks over – you’re perfectly safe.

In general, anywhere within about a five block radius of campus is pretty safe.

Everyone living around there is a student and there’s a general feeling of safety, and everything is very well-lit

Grandview and Upper Arlington are more upscale and have great school districts if you have children.

Useful Information

Visas - The US is famous for its harsh policy for acquiring a tourist, let alone a resident visa. The US embassies usually ask for interviews before granting tourist visas, and tourists usually have to pay up to 160 USD to get a visa. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local US embassy for further information.
Currency - The United States dollar is the official currency in Columbus. Credit and debit cards are accepted nearly everywhere, and ATMs are widely available. The prices vary but you can plan on spending about 100 dollars per day.
Weather - Columbus has four distinct seasons, with winters ranging from harsh to mild, and summers/autumns being hot and humid. Columbus is a city with a significant amount of precipitation.
Airports - John Glenn Columbus International Airport is an international airport serving the city of Columbus, located some 9.7 km east of downtown Columbus.
Travel Insurance - Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Columbus, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance