Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Virginia Beach?

Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Virginia Beach?

Most people spend at least 5 or as many as 7 days in Virginia Beach during their visit. The bustling coastal city offers amazing highlights such as the beaches, the nightlife scene, and the gorgeous scenery.

Virginia Beach is a popular beach destination in southeastern Virginia. It has a family-friendly atmosphere and a fun boardwalk. The beach is lined with hotels and condos and it can get a bit crowded during the peak summer months. If you come later in the season you'll find the water is still warm and the crowds are less.

Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Virginia Beach? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is 3 days enough time in Virginia Beach?

As a small coastal city, Virginia Beach offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors. Given only three days, you will likely be rushed to swim at the beach, grab some drinks at a bar, and take in the beautiful scenery. To truly savor all that the coastal city offers along with the beach, a more generous amount of time is usually needed. Many travelers opt for five to seven days to relax and explore here. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend 3 days in Virginia Beach

Don't miss its Beachfront Boardwalk during your trip to Virginia Beach, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

The beautiful beaches await you in Virginia Beach, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

A few tour suggestions include:

Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours ($68)
Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour ($68)
Scavenger Hunt Virginia Beach: Surf, Sand and Sculptures! ($12)

Virginia Beach is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. As a developed beach town, the city has its share of hotels along the beach, but it is still a beautiful setting to explore.

A few tour suggestions include:

Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours ($68)

After you've explored most of Virginia Beach, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.

Is 4 days enough time in Virginia Beach?

With only four days, you might feel a bit pressed for time to enjoy the beach and the other activities in this coastal city. After all, Virginia Beach is popular with tourists and offers some fun sights and attractions. To fully embrace Virginia Beach, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate five to seven days to swim at the beach, grab some drinks at a bar, and take in the beautiful scenery. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

Virginia Beach

How to spend 4 days in Virginia Beach

Having 4 days in Virginia Beach will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the coastal city.

With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Virginia Beach. Plenty of amazing options are available.

Is 5 days enough time in Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach, a small coastal city offering numerous sights and attractions, is fairy popular with visitors. Five days is probably not enough time to enjoy the beach and other activities. You will likely feel rushed to see the beaches, the nightlife scene, and the gorgeous scenery. To thoroughly enjoy your trip, you'd need more time, as most vacationers schedule at least 5 or as many as 7 days to fully experience the bustling coastal city. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit.

How to spend 5 days in Virginia Beach

With 5 days in Virginia Beach, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the coastal city has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time relaxing on the beach. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this coastal city looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.

A few trip suggestions:

Ziplining and Climbing at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium ($59)
Neptune Ghosts: Ghosts of the Coast By US Ghost Adventures ($30)
Virginia Historic Adventure! ($200)

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Virginia Beach, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.