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Virginia, United States

Richmond

Virginia's capital for garden lights and a grand hotel tree; 1-2 nights. Below: 2 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot, plus how Richmond fits into a longer trip.

Plan Richmond with friendsBrowse 9 places
Richmond, Virginia, United States
Places
9

2 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Williamsburg & Richmond

Best season
Late Nov – Dec

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

33°C / 91°F avg high

Coolest month
January

7°C / 44°F avg high

Wettest month
August

about 125 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Richmond

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Richmond across Capitol Square and Museum District. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Virginia State Capitol in RichmondPhoto: Ron Cogswell · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Virginia State Capitol

    Capitol designed by Thomas Jefferson after a Roman temple, with free guided tours.

    • Capitol Square
    • Free
    • 60 min
  • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in RichmondPhoto: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

    Free-admission art museum with Faberge eggs, American paintings and a large sculpture garden.

    • Museum District
    • Free
    • 2.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Richmond in Lakeside.

  • GardenFest of Lights in RichmondPhoto: Eli Christman · CC BY 2.0
    Do

    GardenFest of Lights

    Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's winter light show, with lit gardens, model trains and a glowing conservatory.

    Tip Timed tickets sell out on December weekends; book ahead.

    • Lakeside
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • After dark

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Richmond.

  • Maymont in RichmondPhoto: Rodney Martin · CC BY 2.0
    Outdoors

    Maymont

    Gilded Age estate on the James River with gardens, wildlife habitats and the Dooley Mansion, decorated for the holidays.

    Tip The grounds are free; the mansion has a suggested donation.

    • Maymont
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Morning

Eat

2 places to eat across Jackson Ward and Church Hill, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Mama J's Kitchen

    Jackson Ward soul food restaurant known for fried chicken, catfish and candied yams.

    Tip Expect a wait at dinner on weekends.

    • Jackson Ward
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Sub Rosa Bakery

    Wood-fired bakery in Church Hill milling its own grain for breads, croissants and pastries.

    Tip Go early; the best pastries sell out by late morning.

    • Church Hill
    • $
    • 30 min
    • Morning

Drink

1 bar or café in Scott's Addition for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Drink

    Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

    Richmond brewery whose seasonal Gingerbread Stout, brewed with local ginger and honey, arrives each winter.

    • Scott's Addition
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening

Shop

1 shop in Carytown for browsing and souvenirs.

  • Carytown in RichmondPhoto: Eli Christman · CC BY 2.0
    Shop

    Carytown

    Nine blocks of independent shops, cafes and the 1928 Byrd Theatre along West Cary Street.

    • Carytown
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon

Stay

Places to stay in Richmond in Monroe Ward.

  • The Jefferson Hotel in RichmondPhoto: amanderson2 · CC BY 2.0
    Stay

    The Jefferson Hotel

    1895 Beaux-Arts hotel whose marble staircase and stained-glass lobby hold a towering Christmas tree each December.

    Tip The hotel's holiday afternoon tea books up early.

    • Monroe Ward
    • $$$$

How to fit Richmond into a trip

Richmond is stop 2 of 2 on our Williamsburg & Richmond route. Follow it as-is or lift Richmond into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Richmond month by month

Average daily highs run from 7°C / 44°F in January to 33°C / 91°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 125 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Richmond weather and the best time to visit →

Near Richmond

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Richmond questions, answered

How many days do you need in Richmond?

Our route notes suggest 1–2 nights in Richmond. On our Williamsburg & Richmond route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 4-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 13 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Richmond best known for?

Virginia's capital for garden lights and a grand hotel tree; 1-2 nights. Standouts on our list: Virginia State Capitol (Capitol designed by Thomas Jefferson after a Roman temple, with free guided tours); Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Free-admission art museum with Faberge eggs, American paintings and a large sculpture garden); Maymont (Gilded Age estate on the James River with gardens, wildlife habitats and the Dooley Mansion, decorated for the holidays).

When is the best time to visit Richmond?

Our Williamsburg & Richmond route is best Late Nov – Dec. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (33°C / 91°F), the coolest in January (7°C / 44°F) and the most rain in August (about 125 mm).

What are the best things to do in Richmond?

Start with GardenFest of Lights, Virginia State Capitol, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Maymont. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 2 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Richmond?

Our picks: Mama J's Kitchen (Jackson Ward); Sub Rosa Bakery (Church Hill). Expect a wait at dinner on weekends (Mama J's Kitchen).

What is near Richmond?

The closest destinations in our guides are Williamsburg (about 71 km / 44 mi), Shenandoah (about 137 km / 85 mi) and National Mall & Downtown (about 154 km / 96 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Richmond with your crew

Open the Williamsburg & Richmond route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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