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Williamsburg & Richmond route inspiration

Williamsburg & Richmond

Colonial wreaths, tavern suppers, garden lights

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4 days through Williamsburg, Richmond.

Williamsburg & Richmond is a 4-day curated route with 2 destinations and 18 places to eat, see, and do. Preview stops and timing, then plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Williamsburg on the Williamsburg & Richmond route

    Destination 01

    Williamsburg

    9 places

    Colonial capital dressed in natural wreaths; 2 nights for the Historic Area and Christmas Town.

    • Grand Illumination

      Colonial Williamsburg's opening of the Christmas season, with candles in windows, music across the Historic Area and fireworks.

      Tip Arrive before dusk and stake out a spot near the Palace Green or the Capitol.

      DoHistoric AreaFree3 hrEarly December

    • Duke of Gloucester Street

      The Historic Area's main street, its doors hung with wreaths of fruit, pinecones, shells and dried flowers in December.

      Tip Walk it in the morning light, then again after dark when the windows are lit.

      SeeHistoric AreaFree2 hrMorning
    • Governor's Palace near WilliamsburgPhoto: David Broad · CC BY 3.0

      Governor's Palace

      Reconstructed residence of Virginia's royal governors at the head of the Palace Green, with formal gardens and a maze.

      Tip Included in a Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket.

      SeeHistoric Area$$75 minMorning
    • Bruton Parish Church near WilliamsburgPhoto: Michael Kotrady · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Bruton Parish Church

      Working Episcopal church from 1715 on Duke of Gloucester Street, known for its evening concerts and Christmas services.

      SeeHistoric AreaFree45 minEvening
    • Wren Building near WilliamsburgPhoto: David Broad · CC BY 3.0

      Wren Building

      The College of William & Mary's oldest building, begun in 1695, closing the west end of Duke of Gloucester Street.

      SeeCollege of William & MaryFree30 min
    • King's Arms Tavern near WilliamsburgPhoto: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0

      King's Arms Tavern

      Colonial Williamsburg tavern serving game pie, peanut soup and other 18th-century Virginia dishes by candlelight.

      Tip Book dinner well ahead for December.

      EatHistoric Area$$$1.5 hrDinner
    • Merchants Square near WilliamsburgPhoto: David Broad · CC BY 3.0

      Merchants Square

      Colonial Revival shopping street at the edge of the Historic Area, with shops, cafes and The Cheese Shop.

      Tip Pick up sandwiches at The Cheese Shop for a walk through the Historic Area.

      ShopMerchants Square$$1.5 hrAfternoon
    • Busch Gardens Christmas Town near WilliamsburgPhoto: Cjh1452000 · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Busch Gardens Christmas Town

      Busch Gardens Williamsburg's winter event, with millions of lights, holiday shows and Santa's workshop across the European-themed park.

      Tip Go on a weeknight and arrive at opening to see the lights come on.

      Do$$$4 hrAfter dark
    • Williamsburg Inn near WilliamsburgPhoto: SKM2000 · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Williamsburg Inn

      Colonial Williamsburg's 1937 Regency-style hotel, a short walk from Duke of Gloucester Street.

      StayHistoric Area$$$$
  2. 2
    Richmond on the Williamsburg & Richmond route

    Destination 02

    Richmond

    9 places

    Virginia's capital for garden lights and a grand hotel tree; 1-2 nights.

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

      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.

      DoLakeside$$2 hrAfter dark
    • The Jefferson Hotel near RichmondPhoto: amanderson2 · CC BY 2.0

      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.

      StayMonroe Ward$$$$
    • Virginia State Capitol near RichmondPhoto: Ron Cogswell · CC BY 2.0

      Virginia State Capitol

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

      SeeCapitol SquareFree60 min
    • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts near RichmondPhoto: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

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

      SeeMuseum DistrictFree2.5 hrAfternoon
    • Maymont near RichmondPhoto: Rodney Martin · CC BY 2.0

      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.

      OutdoorsMaymontFree2 hrMorning
    • Carytown near RichmondPhoto: Eli Christman · CC BY 2.0

      Carytown

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

      ShopCarytown$$2 hrAfternoon

    • 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.

      EatJackson Ward$$75 minDinner

    • 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.

      EatChurch Hill$30 minMorning

    • Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

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

      DrinkScott's Addition$1.5 hrEvening

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Williamsburg & Richmond.

Spend two nights in Colonial Williamsburg, where the Historic Area's doors are hung with fruit-and-greenery wreaths and the Grand Illumination opens the season with candlelit windows and fireworks. Walk Duke of Gloucester Street from the Wren Building to the Capitol, tour the Governor's Palace and eat by candlelight at King's Arms Tavern. Give one evening to Busch Gardens Christmas Town, ten minutes away. Then drive an hour to Richmond for the Jefferson Hotel's lobby tree, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and an evening at Lewis Ginter's GardenFest of Lights.

Good for Families and history lovers who want colonial Christmas traditions with a city weekend at the end.

When to go

Colonial Williamsburg decorates from late November, and the Grand Illumination is held in early December. Busch Gardens Christmas Town usually runs on select nights from November to the first days of January. Lewis Ginter's Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights runs from late November into early January, closed Christmas Day. Snow is occasional, not reliable; December days are usually 5-12 C.

Getting around

Fly into Richmond (RIC) or Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF), or take Amtrak's Northeast Regional to Williamsburg or Richmond Main Street Station. Williamsburg to Richmond is about an hour on I-64. The Historic Area is walkable, with Colonial Williamsburg shuttle buses around its edge; drive or ride-share to Busch Gardens and to Lewis Ginter, 15 minutes north of downtown Richmond.

Tips for your crew

  • Buy a Colonial Williamsburg ticket for building interiors; the streets, wreaths and Grand Illumination are free to walk.
  • Reserve historic tavern dinners and Christmas Town nights well ahead for December weekends.
  • Book GardenFest of Lights for a weeknight to avoid the longest lines.

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