Travel in the City of Richmond, Capital of Virginia
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Additional articles about the state of Virginia: ♦ Trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains ♦ Trip to Shenandoah National Park ♦ Stalactite caves in the state of Virginia ♦ Trip to the Chincoteague Islands in northeastern Virginia
The city of Richmond, which has about 220,000 residents, was founded in 1737 and became the capital of Virginia in 1780, replacing Williamsburg. The city served as the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War (1861-1865). It is located about 175 km south of the US capital, Washington, D.C.
The city is crossed by the expansive James River with large bridges for both cars and the enjoyment of pedestrians and cyclists, making it recommended for tours both on foot and by bicycle. The river also provides many options for various types of water sports, including swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, and more.
Its geographical location in central Virginia makes it a convenient and requested destination in many travel itineraries from Washington D.C. south (or in the opposite direction) or for those traveling in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park, as well as in the route surrounding the Chesapeake Bay that includes Chincoteague Island.
It is worth staying in the city for at least two nights, which will give you at least one full day of touring the city.
Recommended hotels in Richmond
Embassy Suites by Hilton Richmond
A 4-star suite hotel from the Hilton chain including breakfast, with an indoor pool, gym, restaurant, parking, and free internet.
A 4-star hotel with an indoor pool, gym, parking, and free internet.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Richmond North/Glen Allen
A 3-star suite hotel of the Marriott chain. Indoor pool and jacuzzi, gym, a desk in every room, coin-operated washing machines and dryers, free internet, and parking.
Best Western Premier Richmond City Gateway
A 3-star hotel with an outdoor pool, gym, desk in the room, free internet, and parking.
Hampton Inn & Suites Richmond Short Pump, Va
A 2-star hotel with rooms and suites. Indoor pool, gym, free internet, and parking.
Weather and when to visit Richmond
The weather in the city in summer is hot and humid (around 32 degrees Celsius maximum average temperature in July - August) and it is considered one of the hottest places in Virginia. In winter it is cold and sometimes snow falls (about 8-10 degrees Celsius maximum on average). In the transitional seasons, in spring and fall, temperatures are around 25 degrees on average. On average, there are about 210 sunny days per year in the city.
The wetter season is in summer, July-September, around 110 mm of rain per month on average, and the dry season is in winter, about 80 mm on average per month.
The most pleasant time to visit Richmond in terms of weather is during the spring and fall seasons.
Recommended guided tours in Richmond
A guided tour with a local guide provides high added value to any trip. In the following recommended tours, you will discover the interesting and special sides of the city of Richmond, both on foot and via motorized tours by Segway or Tuk Tuk.
Tours to book from GetYourGuide.com:
Tours to book from Viator:
Segway Tour: Richmond Landmark Segway Tour
A guided Segway tour of about two hours to the main attractions of Richmond. On the tour, you will easily pass between the city's attractive destinations without physical effort in an enjoyable Segway ride with a guide who will stop at each destination and give you explanations and historical and cultural background.
City Sightseeing Tour by Tuk Tuk: RVARVATukTuk Sightseeing Tour of Richmond
A guided tour in an open and ventilated Tuk Tuk where you will tour Richmond's interesting destinations comfortably and effortlessly while receiving explanations about the city and its sites.
Guided Walking Tour
Guided tour on foot Richmond Downtown Walking Tour
In a walking tour of about two hours, you will receive explanations about Richmond's historical role and about the buildings and sites you will visit.
Guided Food Tour
A guided food tour allows you both to taste unique foods that only locals know and to receive recommendations for good restaurants you should eat at during your visit to the city. Along the way, you will also receive explanations about the city's historical background.
Two recommended food tours:
Recommended food tour in the Arts District of Richmond: Arts District Food Tour in Richmond
Recommended food tour at 5-6 restaurants / stalls in Richmond: The Carytown Food Tour in Richmond
Below is a short description of one of the food tours:
The tour includes five stops: a recommended pizzeria where you taste two small pizza triangles, one white pizza and the other with tomato sauce.
In the second stop, you taste two types of red wines. Afterwards, an Ethiopian restaurant where you receive a spongy tortilla filled with three types of Ethiopian food.
Fourth stop in a restaurant where you receive a bun with schnitzel and a spicy sauce, special and delicious.
At the fifth stop, you finish with a bakery with a large stone oven, receiving a crispy and delicious croissant filled with chocolate.
Attractions for visitors in Richmond
Among the recommended attractions in the city are the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Capitol building, botanical gardens, and walks or bike rides along the river and across its bridges, as well as in the city streets decorated with many beautiful murals, kayaking, or rafting on the river crossing the city.
The city is also known for its good restaurants and especially for its beer. For children, there is an amusement park in the area that also includes a water park named Kings Dominion (about 40 km north of the city center), a zoo, children's museums, and more.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Referred to as VMFA for short, this is a very impressive museum with collections from all over the world and all periods: from the days of Greece and Rome, through decorative art from all across Europe, of course from the United States, including classical and modern art and art of local indigenous people, to Asia. The museum has beautiful sculpture gardens. A diverse, recommended museum, and even free!
The James River and Belle Isle
The city of Richmond is crossed by a wide river called the James, whose mouth reaches the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay. In the city center area, there is even a large island within the river called "The Beautiful Island" Belle Isle. Across the river are large and long bridges for vehicles connecting its northern and southern parts.
Pedestrians and cyclists have also not been overlooked and have two long bridges with a spectacular view over the river, with one bridge suspended under a car bridge passing over Belle Isle and connecting Belle Isle to the city center, and a second bridge called T. Tyler Potterfield connecting the city center to its southern part. A recommended circular route for a walk (about an hour and a half), or by bicycle, starts on the north bank of the river at the Tyler bridge, crosses the river, continues southwest along the river until the bridge that takes you up to Belle Isle, and from it you get on the suspended bridge leading you back to the north bank of the river not far from the tour's starting point.
Kayaking on the James River in Richmond:
The Grand Jefferson Hotel
It is recommended to visit the grand and special lobby of the ancient Jefferson Hotel, founded in 1895 and on the official list of historic hotels in the USA.
A short video about touring the bridges over the river in Richmond: