Best Things to Do in Charlottesville, Virginia

A Unesco World Heritage site, the University of Virginia is known for its neoclassical architecture and red brick facades, designed by Thomas Jefferson and built by many free and enslaved carpenters, stone masons and laborers. Visit the well-recognized Rotunda, the University’s original library, and follow the iconic serpentine walls into the Pavilion Gardens, originally sites of hidden domestic labor, now public green spaces. The University Guide Service offers free and public tours daily. 

Make sure to spend time at the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers. Completed in Spring 2020, this  memorial – just outside of the University’s academic village – honors the thousands of enslaved people who lived and worked at UVA in the early 19th century. Later, stop in the University’s Special Collections Library, where you can see rotating exhibits and early printed copies of the Declaration of Independence.

Take a day trip to Monticello, Jefferson’s iconic house and plantation. Walk down Mulberry Row to learn about his complicated relationship with Sally Hemings, and hear the stories of other enslaved people who lived and labored on the plantation. Head down the hill to explore the Saunders Monticello Trails, 89 acres of walking paths and rustic trails. 

Pro tip: On your way back to the Charlottesville City proper, snag locally-sourced sandwiches and fresh cupcakes from Simeon Market. Other guides may tell you to go to the Michie Tavern, but honestly, it’s a tourist trap.

Take a leisurely drive through the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in the Appalachian mountains. If you’re looking for a moderate day hike, stop at Jones Runs Falls or Chimney Rock. Opportunities to see wildlife (from a safe distance!) are numerous: black bears lope down the forest slopes, and white-tailed deer linger along the roadsides at dusk.

Continue south of Shenandoah National Park and take a meandering drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, past deciduous forests and views of the valley. Stop at the Humpback Rock Visitor Center to visit a 19th-century settler cabin and hike the steep but short trail up to Humpback Rocks, one of the most stunning overlooks in the area. If you’re up for a longer hike, check out Three Ridges, a 14-mile loop with three peaks, swimming holes, and glorious vistas of the Shenandoah Valley. Mosey down to 12 Ridges Vineyard, where you can pretend to be Maria in the Sound of Music, albeit with a glass of rosé in your hand.

The Rivanna River runs through the heart of Charlottesville, and there are many ways to enjoy its easy flow. Rent tubes from the Rivanna River Company, who also hosts an outdoor summer concert series, and spend a day floating along the river’s current. A 20-mile trail system follows both banks – from Riverview Park, you can stroll over to Woolen Mills for coffee or beer and food. Whatever you choose, keep an eye out for cranes and other wildlife.

Love turning the page? Peruse new and used bookstores, including at New Dominion (Virginia’s oldest independent bookstore), Daedalus (three labyrinthian stories of used books) and Blue Whale Books (who also specialize in rare maps and historic prints).

Find yourself a fur coat to rival Macklemore’s at Low, a one-of-a-kind sixties cocktail dress at Arsenic and Old Lace, some fun party-wear at Darling + Dashing, or a pristine vintage Chanel handbag at Agents of Style.

One of the oldest artist-run cooperative art centers in the country, McGuffey is part-gallery, part-working artist studios. Wander the building’s three floors, check out the paintings, sculptures and glass work on display. If studio doors are open, chat with resident artists and makers. While you’re downtown and on a gallery kick, stop by 2nd Street Gallery and the Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative.

Grab a drink at classy speakeasy the Alley Light, or sit outside at one of the many restaurants and bars. Need a pick-me-up? Order espresso at the Mudhouse, Grit, or Lone Light Coffee. 

The sweetest little whimsical forest winery. There are plenty of other wineries in the area, but if you’re looking for an intimate, outdoorsy retreat with world class wines, this is the place for you. Make sure to try the Vin Gris de Pinot Noir, a tangy light wine made from red grapes. If you can’t choose just one, grab a flight and sit by the creek.

Potter’s Tasting Room is just south of Charlottesville in a beautiful, recently-renovated 100-year-old stone church. Their dry hard ciders are made using local Virginia apples and traditional production methods – just fruit and yeast. Don’t miss the Grapefruit Hibiscus, a flagship favorite, or The Haven – Barrel Aged (if you’re a lightweight, it will make your head spin). Sit outside around the firepits, or play board games in the main room if you’re looking for an activity to do while tipsy.

If you’re a fan of surprise, head to Rockfish. As a nano-brewery, they produce small batches, and beer styles change often. Hang out, chat, and try everything.

A local staple, the megalith Starr Hill is a far cry from its humble beginnings as Starr Hill Brewery and Music Hall on Charlottesville’s Main Street. With multiple tap rooms and brewing facilities around central Virginia, it’s hard to keep track of all the flavors, but if you like IPAs, don’t miss the Ramble On, a hazy and hoppy citrus parade.

Decipher is a 100% veteran-owned brewery, where you can chill with your pals around a firepit – and bring your pup. Make sure to try the Barley Late Kolsch, which won Best-in-Show and the Gold Medal at the 2022 Virginia Craft Brewers Cup.

Get your groove on with national alternative and roots acts at The Jefferson Theater. Built in 1912, the Jefferson was once a vaudeville house and movie palace, and the ornate interior has been preserved and renovated: stomp the night away under beaded chandeliers and proscenium stage lights. Recent shows include Lawrence (now touring with the Jonas Brothers), Sammy Rae & the Friends, and Big Thief.

By contrast, the Southern (affiliated with the Jefferson) is an intimate space with a capacity of 200. Quasi-underground, the music hall will bring you back to punk basement shows of your youth, only classier with better acoustics. Catch local and national acts here, recently including Darlingside (who’ve performed at the infamous Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival).

Miller’s might have been where the Dave Matthews Band began, but Nelly’s—Charlottesville’s favorite grimy, vaguely Irish dive bar—is where the folk Americana future is at. See local and regional acts most nights of the week, and a (usually) rowdy karaoke crew every Wednesday. In the winter, drink a glass of cider next to the fireplace and make friends with all the regulars.

Holly’s is one of those rare places that manages to do it all, and well. It’s a diner, bar and music venue where you can pop in on a show, grab a cocktail or dine on southern comfort food just after midnight. Their weekly open mic night–usually a variety of local professional musicians, so expect quality–is backed by a house band who can play pretty much any song.

Every summer, Charlottesville puts on Fridays after Five, a free weekly concert series that takes place at the Downtown Mall’s Ting Pavilion. These packed shows usually have local dance-able groups from a variety of genres. With a capacity of 3,500, the Pavilion also welcomes an eclectic mix of well-known national acts—in recent years, The Flaming Lips, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Modest Mouse have all graced the stage.

Vibe-wise, Al Carbon rests somewhere between urban sprawl hole-in-the-wall and local cult franchise. A Peruvian-Mexican culinary mashup, their marinated and charcoal-broiled chicken makes your tongue and wallet sing. Order the rotisserie chicken and sample all of the sides, including fried plantains, esquite with mayo, and a plethora of sauces. The tacos are also delicious: try the fish and al pastor.

Bobo food rookies may overlook it for newer, pricier spots, but old-school Bizou remains the queen of bistros in Charlottesville. They serve locally-sourced French and Southern American fusion, with a friendly waitstaff and upscale diner feel. Think retro booths, movie posters, high ceilings. Don’t miss the shrimp and grits or the meatloaf, in-demand dishes that are year-round staples on this otherwise seasonal menu. Even if you’re stuffed, make sure to try the fried banana bread for dessert.

Even the most devout Brooklyn bagel connoisseurs have been known to grudgingly admit the wholesome freshness of a Bodo’s Bagel. It does one thing, and does it with true slap: their bagels are water-boiled and baked multiple times throughout the day. I’ve never had a bagel there that wasn’t fresh. With three locations, it’s the most popular lunch spot in town, and you can snag a sandwich for under $6. If you don’t mind poppy seeds in your teeth, the everything bagel is one of their best: order it with any combination of toppings. The Cleo salad–lettuce, walnuts, tomatoes, dijon dressing–is another cult favorite. Fun fact: this Charlottesville staple has such a following it’s earned an Urban Dictionary entry.

Opened by two brothers in 2019, bakery and cafe Belle is a relative newcomer to the Charlottesville food scene, but has quickly become a local favorite. Sit inside for a buzzy work vibe, or linger over lunch on the sunny patio. All of their baked goods are sourdough-based. Absolutely order a tangy and sweet sourdough donut to savor with your coffee. For a more substantial meal, chow down on the meat-tastic Belle Cubano, or splurge on the Croque Madame with fried egg for a homey French classic.

Up past your bedtime? Hungry after a show? Chow down on Korean-Japanese comfort food at Umma’s. Get Korean Fried Chickin and Ramen — which isn’t vegan, just playful — to share, and go to sleep with a full and happy belly. Umma’s is also a great spot to go for drinks if you’re staying sober – they offer mocktails and non-alcoholic beers.

You’re going to wish you could be a regular at Mel’s, an old-school, soul-food diner. If you’re looking for fine dining, this isn’t the spot for you, but the prices and friendly vibe are hard to beat. If you eat one thing here, do the fried donut and the fried chicken. OK, that’s two things, but you know what I mean.

With over 2000 objects in their collection, the museum is known for important work from the Papunya Tula movement and Arnhem Land artists.

Think pink is the rule at this hotel. An artsy boutique just a short walk from Downtown Charlottesville, Quirk is mid-century mod and unabashedly colorful. Rotating exhibits by local artists hang in the lobby and a small gallery, and rooms have custom artwork and headboards. Service might be a little slow on the rooftop bar, but the fruit-forward cocktails and sunset view of the city are totally worth it. Valet parking is a little pricey at $25 a day. The hotel is dog-friendly, so you can bring your bff for an extra $75 fee.

If you’re looking to stay closer to the university, check out the Kimpton’s Forum Hotel, a moody boutique hotel on the grounds of UVA’s Darden Business School. The vibe is classy mid-century, built for business professionals and families. The hotel has a restaurant and bar, fitness room, valet parking ($26 per night) and bikes to borrow. Behind the hotel, an arboretum and botanical gardens extends to the Rivanna Trail. Plus, you can bring your pup for free.