Things to do in

Richmond, Virginia

Follow the clues on a self-guided walking tour of Richmond. Combine a scavenger hunt app and local trivia through the Downtown and Capitol Square neighborhoods. Play a cat-and-mouse game of question-and-answer and learn the stories of local landmarks and secret spots. Start the game near Capitol Square to receive the first question or task. Head towards the site where the answer awaits. Look around and find the solution nearby. When you’ve answered correctly or finished the challenge, receive the next clue.  Continue to work through the game until everything is completed or until you decide to stop. If you end up stuck on a question, the game provides clues to help. 

Experience Richmond’s haunted past and uncover stories of murder, mayhem, and tragedy while discovering the secret histories that hide in the shadows. From the Powhatan Confederacy to present-day grisly murders. Listen to honest accounts from a professional guide of the events that shaped this River City and led to the very real Richmond Ghosts. Take a tour of the darker side of Richmond and visit the most haunted sites around the Shockoe Bottom area, depending on whether you choose to upgrade to an extended tour. Hear of the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe, said to haunt the staircase that was once in his house, and the chilling tales surrounding Lumpkin's Slave Jail and the historic Masonic Lodge and the ghosts said to linger there, along with many other terrifying tales. Learn about the lesser-known history and the hauntings that often accompany it. You're guaranteed to be creeped out, but you'll still be able to sleep.

Dive into Church Hill, Richmond’s oldest neighborhood. Get a taste of the barbecue, baked goods, and everything else that makes Church Hill a food powerhouse, while uncovering Richmond’s origin story in this must-visit neighborhood. Sample delicious food and snacks from up to 5 different restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, possibly including wood-fired pastries, classic Richmond comfort food, authentic Ethiopian cuisine, and more. You’ll learn about the birthplace of Richmond and its local heroes and hear how local vendors got their start.

Richmond’s revitalized Arts District, spanning parts of Jackson Ward and Monroe Ward, will capture your imagination with a mix of historically-significant architecture, under-the-radar restaurants, and inspiring art galleries. Joining this tour means exploring the Arts District as an insider. You will sample delicious food and snacks from 5-6 different restaurants, cafes, and shops, possibly including truly authentic southern cuisine, mouth-watering Mediterranean fare, unique ice cream, and more!   You’ll meet chefs and business owners and discover their passion for their craft. You’ll hear the stories that make this one of Richmond’s most defining neighborhoods, but most of all, you'll have fun doing it!

Looking for a way to turn downtown Richmond into a giant game board? Participate in this scavenger hunt that combines the fun of the Amazing Race with a three-hour sightseeing tour of Richmond. Guided from any smart phone, groups make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. The adventure begins in Capitol Square and explores the historic monuments and interesting highlights while unraveling clues to the hidden games. Your Quest continues through the city discovering unique art, monuments and other hidden gems of this great city. The tour requires approximately 1.4 miles (2.25 kilometers) of walking. Using a smartphone as “the guide” allows participants to start when they want and determine their own pace of play. Stop for a bite at one of the many restaurants or explore the city murals… why not, it’s your schedule! Offered at a fixed price for a group vs. per person pricing, this city tour/game offers a great value to those on a budget. Points of interest include: • State Capitol • Old City Hall • George Washington Monument • Bell Tower • Tidewater Connection Locks • Riverfront walk

Discover haunting tales of generations gone by on a ghoulish guided tour of Richmond's oldest residential neighborhood, Church Hill. Marvel at the beautiful architecture that has evolved over the course of more than 200 years. Meet your guide at Patrick Henry's Pub and Grille, a local watering hole that holds haunted tales from some of Richmond's most transformative moments. From here, join your guide as you walk the haunted streets of Church Hill and see the landmarks that house many of the city's most chilling tales. See St. John's Church, the oldest church in Richmond that played host to the legendary "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech. The church graveyard also hosts notable figures from Richmond's colorful past. Move through the neighborhood and see how centuries of tumultuous history have shaped the city that surrounds you today and learn about the spirit would that lingers just beyond the veil. As the tour draws to a close, ask your guide any questions you may have and onward into the neighborhood to take advantage of the bars and restaurants that call Church Hill home today.

Taste local beers on this guided bus tour in Richmond. Be introduced to the world of beer at a pub. Try a delicious selection of beers at three different breweries. Learn the secrets to beermaking with a behind-the-scenes look at a brewery.  Meet your guide at the Capital Ale House and kick things off with a facinating 'Beer 101' session. Hop on a climate-controlled bus that has plenty of snacks and water. Relax as you are transported to each brewery. Listen as your guide tells you the history of the local beer scene. Sample flagship and seasonal offerings at craft breweries in three trendy neighborhoods. Uncover the hidden world of craft brewing with a tour of the beermaking facilities at one of the breweries. Enjoy 4-5 tastings at brewery. Return to your starting point at the end of the tour. 

Explore one of Virgina’s most bustling neighborhoods with a food tour of Carytown. An eclectic mix of restaurants and boutiques, all tied up with a youthful spirit, you’ll see immediately why the district has been dubbed the Mile of Style. On this food tour, eat your way through the neighborhood with between 5 and 6 different tastings at local restaurants, cafes, and shops. Enjoy authentic French fare, world-renowned tacos, hand crafted cupcakes, and much more. Explore an antique movie theatre that will bring you back to the days of yore. Wander through the East Coast’s oldest outdoor shopping center. All the while, get a feel for the local way of life as you strike up conversations with business owners and residents alike.

Feast your eyes on Richmond's hot street art scene with this self-guided smartphone tour. Find over 60 murals easily with a GPS-enabled map. Be in-the-know as you listen to background information about each piece.  Download the tour app and begin your journey through Richmond's street art scene. Follow your GPS directions to mural locations the historic neighborhoods of Jackson Ward, Monroe Ward, and VCU's campus. Immerse yourself in the art as you hear rich information about each mural. Find out about the artist and their inspirations. For some pieces, follow links to videos with the muralists.

Hear haunting tales of generations past on a walking ghost tour of Richmond's Franklin Street and its surrounding areas. Marvel at the turn-of-the-century architecture of the gilded age that is still reflected in many of the buildings throughout the neighborhood. Start your tour with a stop outside the Jefferson Hotel. Richmond's landmark, the luxury hotel has played host to celebration and tragedy alike for over 125 years, and many who checked in here seem to have never quite checked out. Moving through the neighborhood, witness the landmarks and homes that set this neighborhood apart from so many others. See why so many spirits have decided to call this neighborhood home after their time on earth has come to a close, including famous authors and entrepreneurs from past generations. As the tour draws to a close, ask your guide any questions you may have and venture onward into the neighborhood to take advantage of the many bars and restaurants that call the city home today.