Are you thinking about visiting Williamsburg, Virginia? Here's what you need to know before planning your trip.
Is Williamsburg worth visiting?
Yes, it's worth visiting this town for two to four days because of the many great activities. Williamsburg is a historic city in the state of Virginia that was the capital of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780. Today visitors can learn about the city's historic past at the living museum in Colonial Williamsburg. The city is also home to the College of William and Mary as well as several world class amusement parks and waterparks. We first visited in 2019 and have returned several times. During our time here, we fell in love with its well-preserved colonial buildings and its unique culinary experiences.
Williamsburg, Viriginia
Reasons to Visit Williamsburg
Historical Sights
Colonial Williamsburg is an impressively maintained area with museums, shops, and taverns. There are live reenactments of historic events as well as blacksmiths, wig shops, and carriage rides. You can wander around without a ticket, but for access to many parts of the historic area you'll need to purchase a pass.
Museums
Colonial Williamsburg is like a living museum with reenactments and historic buildings that date back to the colonial days. In addition to the historic area, there are folk art museums and other historic sights in the area.
Food
Head to Historic Williamsburg if you want to try some colonial classics. There are historic taverns that maintain their old world charm and serve dishes such as peanut soup and stewed beef. Around town you'll also find casual restaurants with pizza, macaroni and cheese, and burgers.
Shopping
Charming shops both in the historic area and just outside sell unique items that reflect the city's past. There are souvenirs, food items, cookbooks, and home decor to choose from.
Is Williamsburg worth visiting in the Summer?
Summer is the high season for travel in Williamsburg, so expect more visitors and higher prices. This destination is quite popular with tourists, and in the high season it's even busier than usual as this is when most people like to visit. Expect crowds to be large, and prices to be a bit higher than normal. However, there's plenty to do here this time of year, too.
The weather in Williamsburg is fairly warm during summer, and stays around 26°C (78°F). But it can get as warm as 30°C (86°F) at times, too. It's also quite rainy during this season, so be prepared.
You'll find plenty to do during summer, as you'll be able to spend time at the museums and browse around the old town.
Summer Weather in Williamsburg
| Avg Temp (°C/°F) |
Avg Rain (mm/inches) |
|
| July | 26°C (78°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| August | 25°C (78°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| September | 22°C (72°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
Is Williamsburg worth visiting in the Autumn?
This is the shoulder season for travel in Williamsburg. This destination is quite touristy, so in the shoulder season you can still find plenty of crowds, but better prices.
You'll find the weather to be very nice here during autumn with average temperatures around 16°C (61°F).
Autumn is a great time of year to explore the numerous museums and landmarks around town. They are fun for the whole family as well great for couples. Soaking up that old town charm in the autumn is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. During this season it's fun to experience the beautiful scenery, the historic old town, and the museums and landmarks.
Autumn Weather in Williamsburg
| Avg Temp (°C/°F) |
Avg Rain (mm/inches) |
|
| October | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| November | 11°C (52°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| December | 6°C (43°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
Is Williamsburg worth visiting in the Winter?
The weather in Williamsburg can be quite cold during winter, and averages around 4°C (38°F). But be prepared for much lower temperatures, too.
The low season for travel in Williamsburg is during the winter. This destination is quite touristy, but in the low season you'll see fewer crowds and much better prices. While Historic Williamsburg is beautiful during the Christmas season, things slow down after the holidays. The amusement parks also operate on limited schedules, but Great Wolf Lodge is a great place to visit during the colder months.
This is a great time of year to wander through the museums, dine out at amazing restaurants, and admire the historic sights.
Winter Weather in Williamsburg
| Avg Temp (°C/°F) |
Avg Rain (mm/inches) |
|
| January | 4°C (38°F) | 93 mm (3.6 in) |
| February | 5°C (41°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| March | 9°C (49°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
Is Williamsburg worth visiting in the Spring?
Spring is the shoulder season for travel in Williamsburg. This destination is quite touristy, so in the shoulder season you can still find plenty of crowds, but better prices.
You'll find the weather to be very nice here during spring with average temperatures around 14°C (57°F).
Soaking up that old town charm in the spring is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. You'll find plenty to do during spring, as you'll be able to find the best deals at the shops, browse through museums, and admire the wonderful scenery. Also, you can check out the historic old town.
Spring Weather in Williamsburg
| Avg Temp (°C/°F) |
Avg Rain (mm/inches) |
|
| April | 14°C (57°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| June | 24°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Things to Consider Before Visiting Williamsburg
Nightlife: Most people don't associate Williamsburg with a lively nightlife scene. Despite its student population, there isn't much of a nightlife scene in town. There are restaurants where you can enjoy fine wine or cocktails, but nightclubs and bars are limited.
Getting Around
The area is not very walkable, and public transit is not great here, so it might be difficult to get around without arranging your own transportation.
The Cost
Depending on your budget, schedule, and travel style, Williamsburg might be an expensive destination for you. You can find out the travel costs for Williamsburg here or see if Williamsburg is expensive here.
Related
What is Williamsburg most famous for?
Williamsburg is most famous for its historic and colonial charm, its award winning amusement parks, and its historical reenactments. The town is very popular for its historical sights. Also, it's known for museums, food, and shopping. It is often described as historic, charming, quaint, and well-preserved.
What is the most famous sight in Williamsburg?
The most popular sight in Williamsburg is Colonial Williamsburg. You can see prices and costs for this and other sights in Williamsburg on our travel costs page.
Or, see tickets, activities, and tours for Colonial Williamsburg and other attractions here.
How touristy is Williamsburg? Is it a popular town to visit?
Williamsburg is a popular town for tourists and travelers. Here are some of the most popular activities and tours. (Prices in US Dollars)
- Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Stories and Walking Tour: $25
- Williamsburg West Tour: $15
- Private Colonial Williamsburg Architectural Tour: $195
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Williamsburg by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- 1 Hour Christmastide Walking Tour in Virginia Past and Present: $25
- Exclusive Tour of Yorktown Museum, Battlefields & Historic Area: $115
- Dark History Tour: $25
- Half-Day Holiday and Tacky Lights Tour in Richmond: $45
How long should I spend in Williamsburg?
The ideal length of time for a trip to Williamsburg is two to four days. Since Williamsburg has a variety of activities such as historical sights, most people need this much time to see and do everything here.
If you have a specific amount of time for your trip, see our advice about how much time to spend here: Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Williamsburg? and Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Williamsburg?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.