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: Blacksmith
Watch as blacksmiths take red-hot iron from the fires of their forges and hammer it into a variety of tools, hardware, and weapons.
CW Admission
Handicap Accessible
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Historic Trade: Joiner
Watch as joiners use saws, planes, hammers, and other tools to fashion wood into the pieces of a future building.
CW Admission
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Historic Trade: Founder
See skilled hands at work crafting bronze, brass, silver, and pewter into magnificent 18th-century-style items.
CW Admission
Handicap Accessible
Plan Your Meals
Savor historically inspired and contemporary creative cuisine.
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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DIY Craft: Quilting
Discover the story of Emma Russell, quilter, and enjoy a mini-quilting project.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Tour: Nassau Street, Past, Present, and Future
Join us at the First Baptist Church site for a walking tour and learn how a century of archaeology is contributing to a dynamic past, present, and future on Nassau Street.
CW 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
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: Governor's Musick In the Wythe Parlor
Join members of the Governor’s Musick in the gentry setting of the Wythe House parlor as they illustrate domestic music on period instruments.
CW Admission
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Special Event: Williamsburg Military Tattoo
Guest units join the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums for a thrilling torch-lit march down Duke of Gloucester Street.
Open to the Public
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Historic Organ Recital - Thomas Marshall
Enjoy this Historic Organ Recital in the Wren Chapel at the College of William & Mary performed by Thomas Marshall, organist at Williamsburg United Methodist Church.
Open to the Public
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
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