Charlottesville, in central Virginia, is a lovely university town of about 40,000 with lots to offer. Charlottesville is a town steeped in history and culture. Charlottesville is a major cultural center for central Virginia, and features more fine dining, shopping, and entertainment than one might expect for a town of its size. Ensconced in beautiful Albemarle County, Charlottesville is also surrounded by vineyards and horse country.
Of the eight U.S. presidents who came from Virginia, two — Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe — were from Charlottesville, and two more came from neighboring counties. Central Virginia was a major battlefield during the Civil and Revolutionary Wars. Jefferson, whom locals affectionately call "Mr. Jefferson," or "TJ," continues to cast a long shadow, particularly over local architecture. Many of Charlottesville's public buildings are made of brick and built in a Jeffersonian style, and many private homes are colonial. His home at Monticello and the Jefferson-designed University of Virginia have set the tone for the communities' beautiful buildings.
Getting around the University of Virginia, often called UVA (with each letter pronounced), is easy using the free University Transit System (UTS) buses. The Central Grounds area is very walkable, but some areas of campus (called "Grounds" by students) can be over a mile away. From the University to the downtown mall is a walk of 20-30 minutes and there is a free trolley bus that runs in a loop from the University to the Downtown Mall approximately every 20 minutes. It is not easy to find parking around the University area, including the Corner and between 14th Street and Rugby Road.
1 The University of Virginia, ☏ +1 434 924-0311. AKA "Mr. Jefferson's University" or "UVA", and together with his residence a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arguably the most prestigious public university in America, with a campus that is just as beautiful. The oldest part of UVA's "Grounds" was designed by Thomas Jefferson himself, and includes the iconic Rotunda. Jefferson viewed the university as his crowning achievement, and requested it to be mentioned on his grave instead of his Presidency. Free to visit; expensive to attend. (updated Dec 2021) 2 Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, ☏ +1 434 984-9800. Open daily. The residence and plantation of Thomas Jefferson.
Hot air balloon rides. Through Boars Head Country Club. The countryside around Charlottesville is filled with dozens of wineries. All are members of the Monticello Wine Trail. There are several companies that provide guided tours. If you're driving yourself, be sure to have a designated driver, as DUI enforcement is strict. If traveling in a large group, call ahead as some wineries have limits on maximum group size. Wish Wish Wine Tours. Wide range of wine and beer tours. Easy online availability, pricing and booking. Blue Ridge Wine Excursions. Monticello Wine Tour & Coach Co. 1 Camryn Wine Tours, 513 E Main St #1323, ☏ +1 434 979-8200, limo@camryn-limo.com. 24 hours.
As a college town, Charlottesville has a plethora of restaurants that cater to both visitors and UVA students alike. From spring through fall, the outside seating on the pedestrian-only outdoor mall is highly recommended. 1 Bang, 213 Second St. SW, ☏ +1 434-984-2264. Higher end Asian-inspired tapas. (updated Oct 2025) 2 Bizou, 119 W Main St, ☏ +1 434-977-1818. Moderately priced French-influenced comfort food. (updated Oct 2025) Grit Coffee (Grit Cafe). Particularly good for breakfast. Also has Panini. 3 Chaps, 223 E Main St, ☏ +1 434-977-4139. Locally made ice cream in an old-style diner. Also burgers etc. (updated Oct 2025) 4 Christian's Pizza, 118 W Main St, ☏ +1 434-977-9688.
Like the eating options, the main hubs are either at 'The Corner', which has a predominantly student crowd, or downtown. Many options at both. 1 Beer Run, 156 Carlton Rd #203, ☏ +1 434 984-2337. Close to downtown and Belmont, has hundreds of craft beer bottles for sale, 14 rotating draughts, growlers to go, a full restaurant and lively atmosphere with patio seating. Frequent beer tastings and a focus on all natural, organic, local foods. (updated Aug 2017) 2 Michael's Bistro & Taphouse, 1427 University Avenue, ☏ +1 434 977-3697. On the corner, Has one of the best and widest selection of beers in town, and specializes in Belgian and European beers.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €44 — book ahead for the popular ones.
Tours and tickets provided by Viator (a Tripadvisor company). Some links earn Stayonomy a commission.
In Sep, Charlottesville typically sees ~26°C daytime highs and 11 rainy days.
Cheapest destinations travellers searched recently — refreshed daily.
Flight prices are real fares travellers found in the last 48 hours, refreshed daily — the booking site confirms the final price. Train, bus and ferry fares are shown on the operators' booking sites. Weather data by Open-Meteo; exchange rates: ECB reference. Data updated 2026-09-24. Some links earn Stayonomy a commission at no cost to you.
stayonomy