Richmond, Virginia Itinerary Ideas

Looking to plan a long weekend, family vacation or a romantic holiday in Richmond, Virginia? We’ve got ideas overflowing for things to do, events, and itineraries for foodies, beer lovers, history and architectural buffs, and outdoor enthusiasts. Spend a day focusing on a theme or mix and match to create your own custom journey.

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Richmond, Virginia, Quirk Hotel, Rooftop, bar, view, dining

The Rooftop Bar at Quirk Hotel

Kayaking on the James River

Touring the American Civil War Center

Richmond, Virginia, bike, tour, food

Take a food tour of the city's neighbourhoods by bicycle

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Kings Dominion amusement park

Richmond, Virginia, Quirk Hotel, Rooftop, bar, view, dining

The Rooftop Bar at Quirk Hotel

Kayaking on the James River

Touring the American Civil War Center

Richmond, Virginia, bike, tour, food

Take a food tour of the city's neighbourhoods by bicycle

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Kings Dominion amusement park

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Eat Your Way Through Richmond

Eating your way through the Richmond Region is one of the best ways to see, and eat, everything we have to offer. Start your first day in Richmond off with coffee and a croissant at Sub Rosa Bakery in Church Hill. Spend the afternoon touring and tasting on a food tour with Real Richmond Food Tours or River City Food Tours before dining at one of our local restaurants. Start day 2 with biscuits from Early Bird Biscuit Company or the Fancy Biscuit. Have lunch at Tarrant's and finish up with pie from Proper Pie. Dine at the Roosevelt or Peter Chang China Cafe and finish your evening with a decadent slice of cake from Shyndigz!

Taste the Richmond Region

With over 15 craft breweries, wine bars, distilleries, cideries and craft cocktail hotspots, there are almost as many ways to drink your way through Richmond as there are drinks! Start off your trip to the Richmond region by fuelling up with locally roasted coffee at Lamplighter or Rostov’s. Tour the brewing district in Scott’s Addition and sample brews from Ardent, Hardywood, the Veil, Buskey Cider, and Blue Bee Cider. Sip some local brews and wine on the patio with dinner at The Boathouse at Rockett’s Landing before walking to Stone Brewing Co’s only East Coast location.

Richmond Arts and Culture Trip

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is a perfect first stop for travellers looking to take in the arts and museums in Richmond. Spend the morning walking the galleries, free of charge, before having lunch at the café or a picnic on the grounds if the weather is nice. Scoot over to the Valentine and take in some local culture with a historic twist. On the way over, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for street art that covers many of the walls in Richmond. See if you can find Etam Cru’s “Moonshine”, a piece Buzzfeed called one of the best in the world. If you’re in town the first Friday of the month, make First Friday on Broad Street a stop for gallery openings, street performances, and a uniquely Richmond celebration of the arts.

Attractions and Museums

With over 400 years of history, there’s no shortage of museums and attractions in Richmond. Live like a pioneer at Henricus Historical Park. The Virginia Museum of History and Culture rotates compelling exhibits through that tell the story of the Old Dominion while the Virginia War Memorial honours the sacrifice of military heroes from one of the best vistas of the James River in all of Richmond. The Maggie L. Walker National Historic site tells the story of a pioneer in Richmond’s Harlem of the South, Jackson Ward.

Shopping in Richmond

The Richmond Region is full of boutiques, malls, vintage shops and outdoor adventure superstores. Spend your first day walking the shops in Carytown, a street lined with bookstores, funky boutiques, restaurants and chocolate shops. After lunch, head out to Short Pump Town Center and shop your favourite brands like LL Bean, REI and J Crew. Spend the next day at Chesterfield Towne Center before browsing the quaint shops in Ashland.

Get in the Game

Richmond has everything for the sports nut on vacation, or business. Start the morning with a brisk run around Belle Isle, or mountain biking at the skills park and trails there. Get some grub at Home Team Grill, and watch the games, before heading to Thunderbolt Indoor Karting for an evening of fast-paced electric cart racing. Spend the next morning on the links before taking in an evening game with the Richmond Flying Squirrels minor league baseball team.

Family Fun in Richmond

Kings Dominion should be the first stop for families looking for fun! Older kids will get thrills out of the Intimidator and Delirium. Planet Snoopy delights younger kids and everybody can swim and slide all summer at Soak City. Take the kids to Galaxy Diner for a fun meal and stroll the fun candy and chocolate shops in Carytown. Spend the rest of your time exploring the kids areas at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and getting up close and personal with animals at Maymont and the Metro Richmond Zoo.