Looking for a hotel in Columbia? Check out our guide to make your decision easy.
Whether you are in town for a UofSC football game, a conference in the Vista, a graduation ceremony at Fort Jackson or just looking for some Famously Hot heat, WELCOME! We have tried to make it easy to find a great hotel in Columbia with this guide to our neighborhoods and preferred properties.
This guide on hotels in Columbia shares our top picks for neighborhoods and places.
You can read more about Columbia neighborhoods here, but we’d recommend choosing a hotel in downtown Columbia if possible. As such, we have broken this into three areas: Main Street, The Vista and hotels on or near the UofSC campus. See below for all of the details!
Hotels in Columbia’s Main Street District / downtown
The Main Street area would be my vote on where to stay if visiting Columbia for the weekend. It’s a fun entertainment district to check out and you wouldn’t need to stray too far from your hotel. Especially if it’s a weekend because the Soda City Market happens every Saturday morning on Main Street. It’s the best!
You can read more about Soda City and other restaurants and shops in our guide to the Main Street District. We also have an overall guide to downtown Columbia if you want to get a lay of the land. Otherwise, see below for a list of hotels in Columbia’s downtown area.
Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel: A Main Street hotel with a Starbucks in the basement. A block down from Cantina 76 and Market on Main. Would be a great place to stay for the Saturday Soda City Market.
Holiday Inn Columbia Downtown: Right next door to the Sheraton hotel above and within walking distance to a ton of great restaurants. Around the corner from Sound Bites Eatery.
Marriot Columbia: Just around the block from the two properties mentioned above, with easy access to Main Street. East Bay Deli is nearby and is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch.
Hotel Trundle: A local hotel and Columbia’s first boutique hotel! Close to everything and the staff is so friendly.
Kasa Downtown Columbia: Across from Hotel Trundle and near The Grand on Main upscale bowling + eatery, Lula Drake Wine Parlor and Soda City Beer Garden.
Hotels in Columbia’s The Vista
The Vista is also located in downtown Columbia near the State House. It’s known for restaurants and nightlife and is home to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and the Colonial Life Arena. We have a guide to the Vista if you want to know more about this fun entertainment district.
The Vista is a great destination if you are attending a conference at the Convention Center or are attending a show or sports event at the Colonial Life Arena. There are several hotels nearby and a ton of restaurants. It’s also a great destination for Columbia’s nightlife scene.
Our list of hotels in the Vista is a bit lengthy. To keep it ordered, we have divided it by which side of Gervais Street the hotel is on.
Note: There are several lights where you can cross Gervais Street, so it doesn’t really matter which side of the street you stay on. Everything in the Vista is within walking distance and all of the hotels are close to great restaurants!
Hotels South of Gervais Street
Hilton Columbia Center: This is a great hotel near the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. It’s also next to the UofSC Alumni Center and within walking distance to the Colonial Life Arena. Nearby restaurants include Hickory Tavern, Five Guys, Menkoi Ramen House and Motor Supply Company Bistro. Ruth’s Chris Steak House is downstairs at the Hilton.
Hyatt Place Columbia/Downtown/The Vista: This hotel is right in the middle of the Vista on Gervais Street. There are a ton of restaurants nearby, including Blue Marlin (southern seafood), Motor Supply Company (upscale southern) and Di Vino Rossi (Italian.) Donut Guy and Cupcake DownSouth are just across Gervais and Kaminsky’s Dessert Cafe is on the same block.
Hampton Inn Columbia-Downtown Historic District: Hampton Inn is next door to the Hyatt Place mentioned above. It’s another great place to stay if you want to be in the heart of the Vista. There are several restaurants nearby including smallSUGAR, which is a favorite of ours for breakfast and lunch. Try their almond croissant!
Hotels North of Gervais Street
Aloft Columbia Downtown: Aloft is on the opposite side of Gervais as the properties mentioned above. Coa Agaveria y Cocina, an upscale Mexican restaurant, is located in the same building. It’s also within walking distance of everything else in the Vista, specifically Blue Marlin (southern seafood), Studio Cellar (wine, craft beer, appetizers) and smallSUGAR (breakfast + lunch.)
Cambria Hotel Columbia Downtown the Vista: Cambria is located on the north side of Gervais like Aloft and one block closer to the State House. It’s close to Cola’s (upscale American) and Mellow Mushroom (pizza), as well as Panera Bread and The Aristocrat (upscale gastropub with jazz music.)
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbia Downtown – The Vista: Another property on the outskirts of the Vista– but still within walking distance to several things. It’s only two blocks down from all of the action on Gervais Street. It’s also only one block over from the Aristocrat, an upscale gastropub with live jazz.
SpringHill Suites Columbia Downtown/The Vista: This hotel is on the outskirts of the Vista, but it’s close to the SC State Museum, the Trustus Theater and Publix (the Vista’s only grocery store.) It’s easily within walking distance to several of the Vista’s great restaurants, though. Gervais & Vine tapas bar is across Gervais in this area and is always such a treat!
Hotels on or near the University of South Carolina’s Campus
There are a few hotels close to the UofSC campus, our favorite being The Graduate Hotel. It’s just such a nice property!
If you are looking for a hotel near the UofSC football stadium, your closest bet is Gallus Stadium Park Inn. Williams Brice Stadium is off campus and would be a pretty lengthy walk from the other properties, though plenty of people do it.
If you are attending an event at the Koger Center, the Darla Moore School of Business or the Coliseum, check out Courtyard by Marriott Columbia Downtown at USC. It’s just across Assembly Street from these three destinations.
The Graduate Hotel: a beautiful (and Instagram-worthy) property located directly on the University of South Carolina’s campus.
Courtyard by Marriott Columbia Downtown at USC: near UofSC’s Darla Moore School of Business and The Coliseum.
Home2 Suites by Hilton: This property is across Gervais St from the University of South Carolina School of Law. There aren’t many restraunts in the immediate area, though the hotel is close to Main Street and Five Points.
Gallus Stadium Park Inn: The closest hotel to Williams Brice Stadium. It’s across from the South Carolina State Fair Grounds and is about a 15 minute walk to a UofSC football game.
