Location: Williamsburg
Top Things to do in Williamsburg
- 1. Colonial Williamsburg
- 2. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum
- 3. Historic Jamestowne
- 4. Colonial National Historic Park
- 5. Jamestown-Scotland Ferry
- 6. Bassett Hall
- 7. Governor's Palace
- 8. Bruton Parish Episcopal Church
- 9. DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
- 10. The College of William and Mary
The 10 Best Things to Do in Williamsburg, United States
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. Colonial Williamsburg
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Discover Colonial Williamsburg and become a citizen of the Revolutionary City. Engage with the local community and experience firsthand the daily struggles of wartime. Explore our art museums, unleash your kids' inner colonists, tee off a game of golf, or relax and unwind at the Spa. Stay at one of the official Colonial Williamsburg hotels, with a variety of opportunities to shop and dine, and you'll never want to leave.
Reviewed By Roger K - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
A little off season, so we were able to park in town rather than at the visitor center, from which we would have had to take the tram. Lots of activities were going. Wythe House is a good visit. Ate lunch in the patio behind Chowning's; good, but a little pricey.
2. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 579 reviews
19th-century folk household objects (toys, kitchenware, paintings, furniture, etc.) are on display at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.
Reviewed By EatLoveTravel17 - Williamsburg, Virginia
Locals and visitors alike will certainly enjoy at least one visit to this marvelous museum per year. There is definitely something for everyone to see and appreciate. 19th Century Toys, collectibles, textiles, furniture, whirligigs and ornaments are just some of the unique early American treasures you will discover. If you are visiting during the summer or fall, recommend visiting in the mid-morning or a late afternoon. It's one of several locations we always recommend to family and friends when they inquire "What to Do & See in Williamsburg".
3. Historic Jamestowne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 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 phosford - Huntersville, North Carolina
Jamestown is a fascinating place to visit but plan to spend 5-6 hours there. Any less time and you'll miss too much. Jamestown has two parts: the original site of the Jamestown colony with the archeologic digs and a fantastic museum with artifacts. This is a National Park location. The second part is a recreation of what the colony may have looked like including an Indian village. Lots of demonstrations on how people lived in 1607. Very friendly docents and artesians. Because it is a National Park your kids can do the Junior Ranger program and earn a badge. I found doing this keeps the kids engaged much longer and much deeper than just wandering through the exhibits.
4. Colonial National Historic Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 189 reviews
Reviewed By ChrisfromDE - Wilmington, Delaware
during a recent stay in Williamsburg, we visited the National Park Service's sites at Yorktown and Jamestown. The Park Service visitor center admission of $7/person included a 90 minute presentation by a Park Service officer who took us around the site and explained the timeline of the siege of Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis. She explained why the British camped at Yorktown, the various lines of defense, the tactics employed by the American and French Allies against the British and how the allies forced the British surrender. An excellent presentation. The Yorktown Visitor Center has a small but impressive museum as well. At the Visitor Center, we bought a cd with a driving tour of other sites scattered around the battlefield, which was about another hour. Great idea, since the battlefield is spread out.
We spent another afternoon at the National Park facility at Jamestown. Again, a great facility, with an informative museum and guides. We joined a tour by an archaeologist working on the site. It was amazing that it had been assumed that the original site had disappeared into the James River and it was not until 1994 that it was discovered that much of the site was still there. We learned a great deal and had a wonderful day looking at the excavations and artifacts.
5. Jamestown-Scotland Ferry
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 454 reviews
Reviewed By 212NYCMom - New York City, New York
My family lives on the Southside of the James River in Isle of Wight County. Though it is quicker to get to Williamsburg via 64W, I frequently take the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry instead because it is just so scenic and pleasant! Nothing beautiful about the ferry itself but it is a nice way to travel with absolutely no traffic. And it you're planning an outing in Jamestown, it lets you off right there!
Runs frequently. Avoid in bad weather.
6. Bassett Hall
Overall Ratings
5 based on 307 reviews
Home of Mr. and Mrs. John Rockefeller Jr. decorated in 18th-century furnishings.
Reviewed By IonaFezzywig - Gloucester, Massachusetts
Visited at Christmas and toured in the evening. A candle lit path led to the house, on very festive and chilly night, docent led tour through the home which was decorated for Christmas representing the holiday over several decades of the Twentieth Century. Very much memory lane for me as it was the holidays as I remembered them. A beautiful home appointed with exquisite furnishings and art, very comfortable and understandably one of the Rockefellers favorite homes. Worth the visit to lift the veil on this families life out of the spot light.
7. Governor's Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
The luxurious palace of the loyalist governor, complete with meticulously replicated late 18th century furnishings.
Reviewed By teds759 - Frisco, Texas
We took the tour of the Governor's Palace as part of our Williamsburg experience. The docents were incredible. We learned more about life in early Virginia and events leading up to the Revolutionary Way than we thought possible.
8. Bruton Parish Episcopal Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Bruton Parish Church is open daily to visitors with or without a Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket. A donation of one dollar per person is gratefully accepted to go toward upkeep of the church and churchyard. This is the third building in the history of Bruton Parish, in continuous use since 1715. All are welcome to attend a brief service of noonday prayer during the week, and Sunday services, held at 7:30, 9:15, and 11:15 am and 5:30 pm. Bruton Parish Church is an active congregation of the Episcopal Church, therefore we close for tours during weddings, funerals or scheduled services.
Reviewed By MacLachlan - Adelaide, Australia
A lovely old church with lots of American historical figures’ nameplates on the pews as well as inscriptions on embellished marble.Thank you for your visit and review. Our schedule of services for Holy Week and Easter is posted on our website. All are welcome.
9. DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 476 reviews
A vast collection (8,000 objects) from 17th, 18th and early 19th century America are on display at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.
Reviewed By szymanskimom - Columbus, Indiana
This is included with your Colonial Williamsburg ticket. Don't let the name fool you--this beautiful museum is about more that furniture and other decorative arts. It has so many exhibits that we ran out of time. Quilts, China, paintings, and things of interest to children. And they had a gorgeous big Christmas tree! Not to be missed!
10. The College of William and Mary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 706 reviews
The Sir Christopher Wren building, the oldest college building in America, is one of several historical attractions on the campus of this second-oldest university in the U.S., which boasts four U.S. presidents among its graduates.
Reviewed By mpursell - Washington DC, District of Columbia
A beautiful campus to walk around, the second oldest university in the U.S., with Harvard being the oldest. I wish I knew more history or knew if there was a tour that existed for tourists of the campus, but my walk around was enough. I started my walk around Merchant's Square and made my way to the Sunken Gardens and got lost trying to find the Crim Dell Bridge. There was some construction happening around campus, but I loved the historical feel, which was so beautiful, fitting in with the area nicely.
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