Richmond, VA Travel Guide
Richmond, VA Travel Guide
Plan Your Trip
Richmond, Virginia sits along the James River in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic South, about two hours from Washington, D.C. and ninety minutes from Virginia Beach.
The city is walkable, historically dense, and best explored on foot—which makes it an ideal destination for a self-guided walking tour. The best time to visit is spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and the streets are manageable. Summer is hot and humid but workable if you start early.
Most of the major sites on this tour are free or low-cost, and the tour itself covers approximately 1.5 miles through Shockoe Bottom and Capitol Square.
Top Things to Do
Take Richmond's Slavery to Emancipation Walking Tour
A self-guided audio walking tour through Shockoe Bottom and Capitol Square, covering the full arc of Richmond's role in the American slave trade—from the auction sites and holding jails to the burial ground, the churches, and the people who fought back. Approximately 1.5 miles. Download the WalknTours app to get started.
Visit the Virginia Holocaust Museum
One of the most powerful Holocaust and genocide museums in the country, deliberately placed in the heart of Richmond's old slave-trading district. Plan at least an hour. Admission approximately $10 for adults. Open Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm.
Walk Capitol Square
The Virginia State Capitol, the Virginia Washington Monument, the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, and a collection of Confederate statues in various states of political debate—all within a few hundred yards of each other. Free. Open daily.
Visit the Poe Museum
The world's largest collection of Edgar Allan Poe's belongings, housed in the oldest surviving residential structure in Richmond. Admission approximately $10 to $12 for adults. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
Explore the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground
Richmond's first municipal cemetery for enslaved and free Black people, active from 1799 to 1816, built over and largely forgotten until recent decades. A historical marker was unveiled in 2024. Free to visit.
See Lumpkin's Slave Jail Site
The site of the Devil's Half Acre—the most notorious slave jail in the Upper South—now marked by a preservation site and active archaeological commemoration. Free to view from outside.
Visit the Reconciliation Triangle Statue
One of three identical sculptures in the world, connecting Richmond to Liverpool and Benin as the three points of the transatlantic slave trade. Free. Located at 15th and Main Streets in Shockoe Bottom.
Tour the Virginia State Capitol
Designed by Thomas Jefferson, still home to the oldest continuous legislature in the Western Hemisphere, and free to enter. The Capitol Visitor Center on Bank Street offers free guided tours Monday through Saturday 8:30am to 5pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm.
Download the Complete Travel Guide
Includes:
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✓ Complete travel guide
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✓ Printable map
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✓ One-day itinerary
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✓ Hidden gems
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✓ Travel tips
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✓ Offline access
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✓ Bonus recommendations not included on this page
Our Self Guided Tour
Richmond's Slavery to Emancipation Walking Tour is available on the WalknTours app. The tour covers approximately 1.5 miles through Shockoe Bottom and Capitol Square, with sixteen GPS-triggered stops and narration by guide Greg. Download the app, purchase the tour, and you're ready to go—no advance booking required.
Free Things to Do
Capitol Square—Walk the grounds of Virginia's seat of government, including the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, the Virginia Washington Monument, the Mantle earthwork monument, and the Bell Tower. Free and open daily.
Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground—Richmond's first municipal cemetery for enslaved people, with a historical marker unveiled in 2024. Free to visit.
Lumpkin's Slave Jail Site—The former Devil's Half Acre, viewable from outside at the preservation site on Broad Street. Free.
Reconciliation Triangle Statue—One of three identical sculptures connecting Richmond, Liverpool, and Benin. Free. 15th and Main Streets.
The Poe Museum Grounds—The garden and exterior of the Old Stone House are visible from the street. Free to view from outside.
THINGS WITH ADMISSION FEES
Virginia Holocaust Museum—Approximately $10 for adults. One of the most powerful Holocaust and genocide museums in the country. Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm.
The Poe Museum—Approximately $10 to $12 for adults. World's largest collection of Poe's belongings. Tuesday through Sunday.
Virginia State Capitol Guided Tours—Free, but worth noting separately: the Capitol Visitor Center on Bank Street offers free guided tours with timed entry. No reservation required but check the website for current hours.
Food!
The Pitt's Killer BBQ Food Truck — A Richmond institution serving slow-smoked, deeply seasoned barbecue with roots in African American culinary tradition. Look for the truck in Shockoe Bottom and the surrounding neighborhoods. Worth tracking down before or after the tour.
Mama J's Kitchen — Soul food in the heart of Richmond, known for fried chicken, catfish, and mac and cheese. 415 North First Street. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
The Roosevelt — Farm-to-table Southern cooking in Church Hill, one of Richmond's oldest neighborhoods. 623 North 25th Street. Dinner Tuesday through Sunday, brunch on weekends.
Where to Stay
Budget
Omni Richmond Hotel — Downtown location within walking distance of Capitol Square. Rates generally $120 to $180 per night.
Graduate Richmond — Near VCU, comfortable and well-located for Shockoe Bottom access. Rates generally $100 to $160 per night.
Moderate
The Jefferson Hotel — Richmond's most storied hotel, a Beaux-Arts landmark opened in 1895. Rates generally $250 to $400 per night.
Quirk Hotel — A boutique art hotel in the Arts District with a rooftop bar and gallery. Rates generally $180 to $280 per night.
Luxury
The Linden Row Inn — A row of antebellum Greek Revival townhouses converted into a boutique inn, steps from Capitol Square. Rates generally $200 to $350 per night.
1 Day Itinerary
1-Day Itinerary
Morning
Start at Libby Prison and the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Shockoe Bottom. Take Richmond's Slavery to Emancipation Walking Tour through the neighborhood, covering the auction sites, the burial ground, and Lumpkin's Slave Jail. The walk takes 60 to 90 minutes.
Afternoon
Break for lunch at Mama J's Kitchen or track down The Pitt's Killer BBQ Food Truck. After lunch, continue up to Capitol Square—walk the monuments, enter the Virginia State Capitol, and visit the Capitol Visitor Center. Allow 60 to 90 minutes.
Evening
Dinner at The Roosevelt in Church Hill. Walk or drive through Church Hill afterward—one of Richmond's oldest neighborhoods, with a direct connection to the city's Revolutionary War and Civil War history.
2-Day Itinerary
Day 2
Morning at the Poe Museum, then explore Carytown—Richmond's independent shopping and restaurant district—for lunch. Spend the afternoon at Brown's Island and the American Civil War Museum at Tredegar Iron Works, where Confederate cannons were forged and which now houses one of the most balanced Civil War museums in the South.
Extra Time
The White House of the Confederacy is a short drive from Capitol Square and offers context for the political side of the Civil War story. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the Fan District is free and world-class.
FAQ's
Where does the walking tour start?
The tour starts at the corner of Cary Street and 20th Street in Shockoe Bottom, directly across from the Virginia Holocaust Museum. Street parking is available nearby, and the area is accessible by Richmond's GRTC bus system.
How do I access the tour?
Download the WalknTours app on iOS or Android, search for Richmond's Slavery to Emancipation Walking Tour, and purchase for $9.99. The tour is GPS-triggered and plays automatically as you walk.
Can I do the tour without the app?
No—the tour is designed for the WalknTours app, which handles GPS triggering, offline download, and audio playback. The app is free to download.
Is there parking near the start of the tour?
Yes. There is a public parking lot at the corner of Cary and 20th Streets, directly at the tour's starting point. Street parking is also available on surrounding blocks.
What should I wear?
Comfortable walking shoes. The route includes uneven pavement and one significant uphill stretch between Shockoe Bottom and Capitol Square. Dress for the weather—summers in Richmond are hot and humid.
How much does it cost to do everything on the tour?
The tour itself is $9.99. If you add the Virginia Holocaust Museum ($10) and the Poe Museum ($10 to $12), budget approximately $30 to $35 total. Capitol Square, the State Capitol, and the burial ground sites are all free.
Is the tour family-friendly?
The tour covers the history of slavery in direct, honest terms and is best suited for ages 13 and up. The route itself—paved sidewalks, public streets—is safe for all ages.
Are the museums accessible?
The Virginia Holocaust Museum and the Poe Museum are both accessible. The Capitol Visitor Center and Virginia State Capitol are accessible via elevator. The uphill stretch on the walking tour route may be challenging for wheelchairs or strollers.
What is the best time of year to visit Richmond?
Spring (April and May) and fall (September and October) offer the best weather for walking. Summer is manageable if you start before 10am. The tour is available year-round.
Are there places to eat and drink along the route?
Yes. The 17th Street Market is right on the route and offers food and drink options. There are also cafes and restaurants within a short walk of Capitol Square at the end of the tour.
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