Must-SeeVirginia State Capitol
Thomas Jefferson designed this temple, modeled on a Roman one in France, and Houdon's life-size statue of George Washington stands inside.
Richmond
Virginia's capital on the James River, where Patrick Henry cried for liberty and the Confederacy had its capital, now a city of street art and great beer.
Richmond's long history runs from Patrick Henry's 'Give me liberty or give me death' speech in 1775 to its years as capital of the Confederacy. The city now tells that story more fully, with its Monument Avenue statues of Confederate leaders removed.
It's also lively, with whitewater rafting downtown, murals everywhere and a famous free art museum.
- Best Time
- April to October
- Time Needed
- 2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- Amtrak from Washington takes about 2.5 hours; Richmond International is 20 minutes from downtown.
The Short List
11 sights, 7 of them free. Tick off what you've seen and rise from Sailor to Captain of Richmond.
Your Richmond list0 of 11 visited
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Must-See
Must-See
Must-SeeAmerican Civil War Museum
A balanced telling of the war from Union, Confederate and African American views, at the site of the Tredegar Iron Works. It also runs the White House of the Confederacy.
Must-SeeVirginia Museum of Fine Arts
A big, free museum open 365 days a year, with Fabergé eggs, a Tiffany collection, African art and a huge sculpture garden.
Worth a Detour
St. John's Church
Where Patrick Henry gave his 'Give me liberty or give me death' speech in 1775, and where actors reenact it on summer Sundays.
Worth a DetourBelle Isle and the James River
An island in the rapids, reached by a footbridge under a highway, with old prison camp ruins, rocks for sunbathing and America's only Class IV rapids through a downtown.
Worth a DetourHollywood Cemetery
A beautiful hillside garden cemetery above the James, with the graves of Presidents Monroe and Tyler and Jefferson Davis.
If You're Nearby
If You're NearbyPoe Museum
The world's largest collection of Poe artifacts in the city where he grew up, in an old stone house with an Enchanted Garden and resident black cats.
If You're NearbyMaymont
A 100-acre Gilded Age estate with a mansion, Japanese and Italian gardens, and bears, bison and otters in natural habitats.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
A lovely garden with a classical domed conservatory and spring tulips, north of the city.
Scott's Addition and Street Art
A former warehouse area packed with breweries, cideries and arcades, in a city with over 100 giant murals.
Petersburg National Battlefield
The nine-month siege that broke Lee's army, with trenches, the Crater and City Point, 25 miles south of the city.
Neighborhoods
- The FanTree-lined rowhouses and VCU students.
- CarytownA mile of independent shops and the Byrd Theatre.
- Church HillOld houses and views over the river.
- Shockoe BottomOld warehouses, nightlife and the slave trail.
- Jackson WardOnce the 'Black Wall Street', home of Maggie Walker.
Getting Around
Downtown is hilly but walkable. The GRTC Pulse rapid bus runs along Broad Street from Rocketts Landing to Willow Lawn, and buses are free. You'll want a car for plantations on the James and for the Lewis Ginter garden.
Plan Your Visit
- Day 1: the Capitol, American Civil War Museum and Tredegar, then Belle Isle. Day 2: the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Carytown and Scott's Addition breweries.
Know Before You Go
- Downtown streets are hilly near the river.
- The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is open 365 days a year.
Where to Stay
Stay downtown or in the Fan.
What to Eat
- Southern and soul foodMama J's and Croaker's Spot are local institutions.
- BarbecueZZQ and Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue are favorites.
- Virginia ham and peanutsSalty country ham biscuits and Virginia-grown peanuts.
- Craft beerHardywood and many others in Scott's Addition.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
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Traveler Reviews
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Go Next
Must-SeeWashington, DC
Monuments, the Capitol and the world's largest free museum complex, all on one great lawn.
Full Guide
Worth a DetourHistoric Triangle
Virginia
Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown: where colonial America began and where the Revolution ended.
Full Guide
If You're NearbyCharlottesville and Monticello
Virginia
Jefferson's hilltop home and university, surrounded by Virginia wine country.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Mid-Atlantic list.