So you’re planning your first trip to Colonial Williamsburg? Or perhaps it’s been a while since your last visit? Awesome, we can’t wait to share this amazing place with you! We’re here to help you plan your visit so you can get the most out of your stay.
Get ready to experience the living, breathing 18th-century colonial capital. A mile long and half a mile wide, the Historic Area boasts 301 acres of historic sites and trades to explore. Discover our two world-class art museums with thousands of objects on display. Meet the people who bring history to life at programs and events throughout the day.
Planning ahead is key to getting the most out of your visit. We’re sharing our tips on what to do during a three-day visit. Plus, we’ve asked our fans to share their favorite activities and tips below as well!
Hit the Favorites
Pick Four Trades to Visit
Allow 20-30 minutes in each location to ask questions and learn from the skilled craftspeople.
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Historic Trade: Brickmaker
Discover the process of making bricks used in building projects around town.
CW Admission
Handicap Accessible
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Historic Trade: Gardener
Watch the historic gardeners use 18th-century tools and techniques to grow herbs, vegetables, and decorative flora.
CW Admission
Handicap Accessible
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Historic Trade: Farmer
Engage with our farmers as they work throughout the year to grow food for the community.
CW Admission
Handicap Accessible
Plan Your Meals
Savor historically inspired and contemporary creative cuisine.
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The Social Terrace
An elevated and exceptional outdoor experience. Weather Permitting.
Handicap Accessible
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Huzzah's Eatery
Three cheers for family-friendly fun.
Open to the Public
Handicap Accessible
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Green Course Clubhouse Bar
Unwind at the Green Course Clubhouse Bar, where you can enjoy free games like billiards, foosball, and cornhole while celebrating with a fine selection of cigars. The menu offers a fantastic variety of unique dishes, ensuri…
Open to the Public
Handicap Accessible
Meet at Least Two Nation Builders
Time and again, our fans suggest spending time with our Nation Builders. From Thomas Jefferson to the Marquis de Lafayette, any opportunity to learn from these engaging and knowledgeable interpreters is a win.
Experience Diverse Voices
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Performance: Washington's Road to Revolution
Join George Washington before he leaves for Congress in 1774 to learn about how the year’s events affected life both publicly and privately on the Road to Revolution.
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: Beyond The Walls
The scholars of the Bray school have a lot that they can learn from the tiny creatures within its walls.
CW Admission
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Special Event: The Bray School Dedication Ceremony
Join us in commemorating the restoration and dedication of the historic Williamsburg Bray School site.
Open to the Public
TAKE A CARRIAGE RIDE
Enjoy a leisurely ride through the Historic Area by horse-drawn carriage and surround yourself with the sights and sounds of our unique city
See Two Performances
Whether you’re seeing our whimsical outdoor plays or Nation Builders sharing their stories, theatrical performances are great entertainment while you rest your legs.
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Music: One Street Over
Join One Street Over, a four-piece traditional Irish band that combines the sounds of flute, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, cello, banjo, and bodhran into foot-tapping melodies.
Art Museums Admission
Event Ticket
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Special Event: The Three Tenors
Enjoy the celebration of the Christmas holidays with the sounds of traditional, spirituals, gospel, and contemporary music.
Art Museums Admission
Event Ticket
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Special Event: The Gonzales Sisters
Usher in the holiday season with the musical stylings of the Gonzales Sisters, classical cellist and violinist.
Art Museums Admission
Event Ticket
GO BEHIND THE SCENES
Head over to the Custis Square or First Baptist Church archaeology sites, open Monday through Friday. Learn about what they’re uncovering and how archaeological evidence informs your experience in the colonial capital. Plus, you’re just across the street from the Art Museums!
VISIT THE ART MUSEUMS
In addition to the world’s largest living history museum, two hidden gems await in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. The Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum features American and British antiques and decorative art from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, while you can find bold and imaginative pieces of colonial and contemporary folk art at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.
Select an Evening Program
The fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Take a ghost tour, or check out seasonal evening events in the Historic Area.
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Evening Program: Haunted Williamsburg
Brave centuries of scares, from 18th-century colonial ghost stories to creepy modern-day encounters!
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Evening Program: Cry Witch
Question witnesses, weigh evidence, and determine the guilt or innocence of "the Virginia Witch." Not appropriate for young children due to subject matter and intense emotion.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Evening Program: Revolutionary Points of View
Step back in time to the eve of the American Revolution. There are just as many opinions about war and independence as we hear about politics and religion today.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
STAY WITH US
With our official hotels, you can stay close to the action, enjoy resort amenities and get up to two complimentary admission tickets to the Historic Area and Art Museums when you book direct with Colonial Williamsburg Resorts. Book your stay now!
Three Great Museums. One Ticket.
Our living history museum and two art museums offer something for everyone to discover.
Your Admission Ticket is the Key