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Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA

Photo: Humberto Moreno, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFamily Favorite

Colonial Williamsburg

101 Visitor Center Dr · Williamsburg, VA

Why you should go…

Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum covering 301 acres of Virginia's 18th-century capital. Costumed interpreters demonstrate colonial trades, and a ticket lets you inside historic buildings such as the Capitol and the Governor's Palace. Walking the streets is free, and Duke of Gloucester Street is closed to cars during the day. Of the roughly 500 restored or rebuilt structures, 88 are originals.

  • #living history museum
  • #colonial history
  • #historic district
  • #american revolution

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Colonial Williamsburg, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Busch Gardens Williamsburg

    $50+

    Ride coasters like Loch Ness Monster, Griffon and Pantheon in a theme park laid out as European hamlets.

    4.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Jamestown Settlement

    Under $25

    Board full-size replicas of the 1607 ships, explore a recreated James Fort and Powhatan village, and see 17th-century artifacts.

    6.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Historic Jamestowne

    $25–$50

    Walk the site of the 1607 James Fort, see the 17th-century church tower and watch archaeologists at work.

    6.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Yorktown Battlefield

    Under $25

    Tour the earthworks, Moore House and Victory Monument where the 1781 siege ended the Revolutionary War's fighting.

    11 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Fort Monroe

    Free

    Walk the moat and ramparts of a six-sided stone fort at Old Point Comfort, then visit the Casemate Museum and Chesapeake Bay beaches.

    29 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Free

    Chrysler Museum of Art

    Free

    A free art museum spanning 5,000 years, with one of the largest glass collections in America and live glassmaking demos.

    37 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums