Location: Williamsburg
Top Things to do in Williamsburg
Countries
Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia (VA)
Want a vacation full of thrills, adventure, fun and romance? Greater Williamsburg has just the thing — from the wild rides at Busch Gardens to the incredible living history museum at Colonial Williamsburg. Travelers can also set sail on the York River, and hike or bike their way through the area’s many trails. For quieter times, Riverwalk Landing offers no shortage of opportunities to indulge in culinary delights and premium shopping.
Restaurants in Williamsburg
1. Bassett Hall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 360 reviews
Home of Mr. and Mrs. John Rockefeller Jr. decorated in 18th-century furnishings.
Reviewed By kingbyriverk - Mid Coast Maine, United States
Tour the Rockefeller’s country home and see why they loved it. We learned quite a lot about the birth of Williamsburg as well from the knowledgeable guide.
2. Colonial National Historic Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 251 reviews
Reviewed By cfuller603 - Washington DC, United States
The Colonial Parkway is a 23 mile scenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown, with a turnoff at Colonial Williamsburg. It's a lovely drive with interpretive signs along the way. Best way to do it would be to go from Jamestown to Yorktown, after driving the 3 mile interpretive circuit at Historic Jamestowne. Lovely drive with different scenery between the rivers and through the land where the colonists farmed.
3. Virginia Musical Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By VirginiaNan
Easily accessible at the intersection of routes 60 and 199, the Virginia Musical Museum is packed with yesterday’s musical treasures. Nickelodeons and music boxes, amusement park attractions (you’ll love Laffing Sal), self-playing pipe organ, self-playing banjo, a hurdy-gurdy, a piano gallery—all these await you in spacious galleries on two floors. The museum also pays tribute to Virginia-born musicians in the Virginia Music Hall of Fame, with photos and bios of such notables as Patsy Cline, Ella Fitzgerald, Statler Brothers, Charlie Byrd, Carter Family and many more. You’ll see Ralph Stanley’s custom-made banjo and even a 1978 roadster owned by Wayne Newton. If you’re lucky, owner Buddy Parker will be there to fire up some of those antique music players. But even if he’s not, the label copy is excellent and tells you what you need to know (you just can’t hear it). This was my second visit, but not my last...
4. Jamestown-Scotland Ferry
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 663 reviews
Reviewed By kellydM575DY
A short (15ish minute) ferry ride across the James River affords a unique, from the water view of the Jamestown settlement much as it must have looked to settlers to the new world.
5. Colonial Williamsburg Wetherburn Tavern
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By bethanythorpe - Stafford, United States
My family loves living so close to historical places. The guided tour through this tavern was so informative. Our guide showed us some things and shared with us some historical tidbits that you would not get just walking through. It was a wonderful experience and one of my favorite parts of Colonial Williamsburg.
6. George Wythe House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 159 reviews
Reviewed By Beemoney97 - Pittsburgh, United States
George Wythe had some very interesting facts about his life that the two ladies were able to share with us. Definitely don't skip out on this house! It's a must see!
7. Historic Jamestowne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,335 reviews
Historic Jamestowne is the original site of the first permanent English settlement in America. Ongoing archaeology at the site of James Fort has changed our understanding of the struggles and triumphs of early 1600s life in Virginia. Living history programs and an archaeology museum tell the story of this dramatic rediscovery. The site is jointly administered by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia.
Reviewed By Seabiscuit47 - Washington DC, United States
This was a pleasant and educational surprise. It is well worth the short walk from the visitor center to the ruins, archeological dig and museum. The interpretive introduction by the volunteer, in character as John Rolfe was both fascinating and humorous. The archeology museum is a wonderful source of artifacts and reconstruction of 17th century life in the settlement. The small restaurant onsite serve nice sandwiches/wraps and has a patio on the banks of the river.
8. Colonial Williamsburg
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,204 reviews
Colonial Williamsburg is the only place that takes you back in time to the dawn of America. This isn't just a place where things once happened. They're happening, right now, here in the 18th century. We're the place where the idea of our country is being born; the place where the ideals we stand for as Americans are being defined. We are the 18th century "live," filled with the stories of the women, men, and children—free and enslaved—whose values and visions gave us a new world. Step back in time and meet the people who made America—sing with them, dance with them, eat with them, and have fun with them. For every person who wants to understand this country, this is your place.
Reviewed By 511lindam - Chapel Hill, United States
We stayed at the Williamsburg Lodge and loved everything about it! Williamsburg is great fun and I would recommend a multi day pass to explore all of Colonial Williamsburg!! Overall just a great place to visit for all ages!!
9. Public Hospital Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 504 reviews
The first mental institution in North America.
Reviewed By Y9641RRjoep - Bangor, United States
As others have indicated, the display is a small wing to the left as you enter. The self guided tour doesn't take long. We were asked to store our backpack and umbrellas in nearby lockers, although that was more for the patrons entering the museum downstairs. We came through here four days on our stay, the first to see the Hospital and displays, twice more to hear special programs in the auditorium (the Road to Yorktown with Hamilton and Washington was great!), and the final time to meet for the hour long Mental Health in America tour. For this last one, we unexpectedly spent more time in the museum than in the Public Hospital - but we learned a lot from our guide.
10. Governor's Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,486 reviews
The luxurious palace of the loyalist governor, complete with meticulously replicated late 18th century furnishings.
Reviewed By 857jillk - Hermon, United States
We recently spent a full day at CW and started off our day with the Governor's Mansion tour. I would highly recommend this, it was a great tour, very interesting, and they give you a lot of information that you can relate back to in subsequent tours in other areas of the park. It took about 20 minutes and it is all air conditioned. Unfortunately we went on a Sunday so the kitchen was closed.
