Richmond Historic Trolley Tour
A narrated trolley loop through Richmond's layered history, from Church Hill and Capitol Square to Monument Avenue and the James River, the easiest way to get the lay of the city in your first morning.
Virginia
Richmond
Richmond is the rare American capital where the founding era, the Civil War and a thriving modern food-and-art scene all share a few square miles.
Patrick Henry's church still stands on Church Hill, Thomas Jefferson's Capitol crowns Shockoe Hill, and the James River tumbles through the city in real whitewater, with hiking trails and a pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle just minutes from downtown. This guide books the city properly: a narrated trolley tour for orientation, free museums and gardens, Jackson Ward's Black history and murals, Carytown food tastings, craft breweries and ghost tours. Then it matches you to the right hotel, from the Jefferson's marble staircase to Shockoe Slip boutiques and value stays near Capitol Square.
Don't miss
Richmond Historic Trolley Tour
A narrated trolley loop through Richmond's layered history, from Church Hill and Capitol Square to Monument Avenue and the James River, the easiest way to get the lay of the city in your first morning.
Virginia State Capitol
Thomas Jefferson's neoclassical design, modeled on a Roman temple in France, still houses the oldest continuous legislative body in the Western Hemisphere. Free tours, a Houdon statue of Washington and hilltop Capitol Square.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
One of the great free general-admission art museums in the country, with a world-class Faberge collection, African, American and European galleries, and a sculpture garden on the Boulevard.
Maymont
A 100-acre Gilded Age estate on the James River with a Japanese garden, Italian garden, mansion, nature center and farm animals, free to enter and ideal for families.
Things to do in Richmond
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Virginia State Capitol
Thomas Jefferson's neoclassical design, modeled on a Roman temple in France, still houses the oldest continuous legislative body in the Western Hemisphere. Free tours, a Houdon statue of Washington and hilltop Capitol Square.
1 to 1.5 hoursDetails →
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
One of the great free general-admission art museums in the country, with a world-class Faberge collection, African, American and European galleries, and a sculpture garden on the Boulevard.
1.5 to 4 hoursDetails →
Maymont
A 100-acre Gilded Age estate on the James River with a Japanese garden, Italian garden, mansion, nature center and farm animals, free to enter and ideal for families.
2 to 4 hoursDetails →
Belle Isle and James River Hiking
Downtown Richmond sits on a real whitewater river. Hike the rocks, footbridge and trails of Belle Isle and the James River Park System, with a guided option that adds history.
Hollywood Cemetery
A 135-acre Victorian garden cemetery above the James River, resting place of two U.S. presidents, Jefferson Davis and thousands of Confederate soldiers, with some of the best views in Richmond.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
American Civil War Museum
A museum that tells the war from Union, Confederate and African American perspectives, housed at the historic Tredegar Iron Works on the James River, with the White House of the Confederacy nearby.
Virginia Museum of History and Culture
The state's historical museum on the Boulevard, with a major permanent exhibition tracing Virginia from the first people to the present, a deep research collection and rotating exhibitions.
Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
A museum in historic Jackson Ward telling the story of African Americans in Virginia, in a neighborhood once known as the Harlem of the South and home to Maggie L. Walker.
Richmond African American History Tour
A guided walking tour of the city's Black history, from Shockoe Bottom's slave-trading district to Jackson Ward's banks and theaters, led by a local guide.
St. John's Church
The 1741 church on Church Hill where Patrick Henry declared, Give me liberty, or give me death, in 1775. Tours of the sanctuary and summer reenactments of the Second Virginia Convention.
Church Hill Walking Tour with a Local Historian
A guided stroll through Richmond's oldest neighborhood with a local historian, covering colonial history, Civil War stories and the view that gave the city its name.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
The Jefferson Hotel
Downtown / Capitol Area
Richmond's grand dame since 1895, with a sweeping marble staircase, a statue-centered Palm Court and Beaux-Arts splendor a few blocks from Capitol Square.
Check rates →Quirk Hotel Richmond
Arts District / Downtown
An art-forward boutique hotel on West Broad Street, with a gallery, a stylish restaurant and bar, and an Arts District address within walking distance of Jackson Ward.
Check rates →Graduate Richmond
Downtown / University District
A playful, college-town boutique with local-history details, a lively social scene and a base for exploring downtown and the university district.
Check rates →Linden Row Inn
Court End / Downtown
Greek Revival rowhouses from the 1840s turned into a charming inn, with a walled garden, antique-filled rooms and a Poe legend, a short walk from Capitol Square.
Check rates →The Berkeley Richmond
Shockoe Slip
A boutique hotel in Shockoe Slip, steps from cobbled streets, restaurants and the riverfront, with a refined, intimate feel.
Check rates →Omni Richmond Hotel
Downtown / Riverfront
A full-service downtown hotel near the James River, the Canal Walk and Shockoe Slip, with spacious rooms, restaurants and event facilities.
Check rates →The Commonwealth Richmond
Capitol Square / Downtown
A convenient downtown hotel beside Capitol Square, well placed for the Capitol, Jackson Ward and the Canal Walk, with room types that suit longer stays.
Check rates →Hilton Richmond Downtown
Downtown / Broad Street
A large, reliable downtown Hilton near the convention center and Broad Street Arts District, with modern rooms, on-site dining and easy highway access.
Check rates →Delta Hotels Richmond Downtown
Downtown / Canal Walk
A modern downtown hotel near the Canal Walk and riverfront, with updated rooms, on-site dining and easy access to Shockoe Slip and the Capitol.
Check rates →Drury Plaza Hotel Richmond
Downtown
A value-focused downtown hotel known for its included hot breakfast and evening social hour, a practical choice for families and budget-minded travelers.
Check rates →Richmond guides
Richmond in Three Days: History, Neighborhoods and the River
A three-day itinerary that pairs Richmond's headline history with its neighborhoods, from Capitol Square and Church Hill to Carytown, the Museum District and the James River.
Where to Stay in Richmond: Neighborhoods and Hotels Compared
A guide to choosing a Richmond neighborhood and hotel, from historic downtown inns to Shockoe Slip boutiques and value-friendly chains, with tips on walkability, parking and seasons.
Eating and Drinking in Richmond: A Food and Craft Beer Guide
A guide to Richmond's food scene, from Southern classics and Carytown tastings to Scott's Addition breweries, with neighborhood tips and food-tour ideas.
Richmond History Trail: Civil War, Slavery and the Black Experience
A thoughtful guide to Richmond's Civil War and African American history, with the museums, neighborhoods and tours that tell the story from several perspectives.
Best Time to Visit Richmond: Seasons, Events and Weather
A season-by-season guide to Richmond's weather, crowds and events, with tips on what to do in spring, summer, fall and winter and when hotels fill up.
Richmond on a Budget: Free Museums, Gardens and Cheap Eats
How to see Richmond without overspending, with free museums, gardens and historic sites, low-cost tours, affordable food and hotel tips.
