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: Apothecary
Learn how medicine, wellness, and surgical practices of the 18th century compare to today.
CW Admission
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Historic Trade: Tailor
Interact with the tailors as they clothe 18th-century Americans.
CW Admission
Handicap Accessible
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Historic Trade: Wheelwright
Watch our skilled tradesmen construct and repair historical vehicles.
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 Arlonzia Pettway, quilter, and enjoy a mini quilting project.
Art Museums Admission
Event Ticket
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Presentation: Students of Brafferton Indian School
Join Fallon Burner, historian, on an Indigenous tour of 18th-century Williamsburg while introducing the legacy of four centuries of Indian School projects in North America.
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: From Freedom to Slavery
After making a free life for herself as an adopted Shawnee Indian, Methotaskee is brought back into slavery.
Art Museums 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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Choral Concert - Radford Singers
Enjoy the voices of the Radford Singers from Radford University in Radford, Virginia, directed by Meredith Bowen.
Open to the Public
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Event: Crystal Carols
Dean Shostak returns to the Kimball Theatre with his popular holiday show on glass armonica, glass violin, and crystal handbells. Featured on PBS, CNN, and The History Channel.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Event: Christmas Dreams - Institute for Dance
It's Christmas in Williamsburg and Janie Sparkle wants just one thing this Christmas, for all her wishes to come true! Join iDance for this local holiday tradition.
Open to the Public
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, and 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