Monticello
Monticello
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Monticello and its many historical rooms, gadgets, furniture, buildings, and artifacts tell us a lot about Thomas Jefferson, the president who built it and lived there.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
7,152 reviews
Excellent
5,495
Very good
1,237
Average
272
Poor
83
Terrible
66
MarshaC624
Fredericksburg, TX20 contributions
Sep 2022
Beautiful property and packed full of history. The docents really know their stuff. I recommend visiting when Thomas Jefferson is at home. The gentleman portraying him is amazing and did not break character at all, no matter what questions he was asked. It is clear he has a passion and his portrayal really pulls you in. I would also recommend doing the "behind the scenes" tour if you can afford the time (1-1/2 hours) and cost ($85). The groups are small (15 people max) and tickets sell out fast but it is so worth it to be able to see all 3 floors and learn much more of the personal histories of those who lived at Monticello.
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
414luvtravels
Milwaukee, WI28 contributions
Nov 2022
Tickets to Monticello are a little expensive, but our visit was a highlight of our trip to the Charlottesville area. I definitely recommend this as a stop if you are visiting Charlottesville and are interested in American history. There are numerous tours to pick from with varying price tags. We did not buy our ticket in advance and instead went to the ticket desk. Granted it was a "slow" day in November, but we had no problem getting a ticket for a tour that started within an hour of our arrival. The extra time allowed us to see the museum (an engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence is currently on display), visit the gift shop, and take the shuttle to the top of the hill for our tour. Our tour was given by an extremely knowledgeable docent. We learned so much about Jefferson and his life at Monticello. We were able to wander the grounds, see the slave area, and even have an outdoor lunch. You can tailor your trip and tour to spend as little or as much time as you want. It's a stunning property and if the weather had been warmer, we would have lingered even longer.
Written December 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristin R
NYC475 contributions
Jan 2022
Excellent. I took the docent-led 45 min tour. It's quite expensive, I'd even say unnecessarily expensive, but only marginally more expensive than the self-guided tour so it's worth the few extra bucks.
The visitor center has a nice museum and video to check out before you head up to the house. there, you will do the house tour, and then you are free to walk the property, see the out buildings, take a short tour specifically about enslavement (included in your entry ticket), etc.
This activity is suitable for children and adults alike. Our docent was very good at presenting the information in a way that was accessible and appropriate for everyone on the tour (6 adults & 3 children).
The visitor center has a nice museum and video to check out before you head up to the house. there, you will do the house tour, and then you are free to walk the property, see the out buildings, take a short tour specifically about enslavement (included in your entry ticket), etc.
This activity is suitable for children and adults alike. Our docent was very good at presenting the information in a way that was accessible and appropriate for everyone on the tour (6 adults & 3 children).
Written January 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott S
Sudbury, MA14 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
I loved visiting Monticello but why am I giving it a 1 star? This one star is solely attributed to the Highlights tour we took when we visited. Read this review if you are at all planning to take one of the available tours.
The tour itself and our docent (Danna) were a terrible disappointment. We purchased our tickets in advance and was extremely excited to see this national treasure. We were 500 miles from home and we were in awe of this building we heard so much about. We started with an explanation of the history of how Jefferson ended up at this site. This was about 5 minutes. Prior to our docent finishing, we were briskly rushed into the building. There was a women with a two-way radio motioned to our docent to enter the building. The only concern by the person with the radio was to get people moving.
Once in the building all the information provided could have been for any planation building in the South. The fact that Jefferson lived there was greatly deemphasized. What clearly was emphasized was that he was a slave owner. For every room we visited the information we were given focused on the fact that Jefferson owned slaves and all that entailed. Each room was filled with so many unique Jefferson items and the rooms were filled with potential stories but they were not mentioned. I completely understand that slave ownership happened at Monticello but this was so emphasized that very little information about the man and the building was provided.
My recommendation would be to do a self tour of the inside of the building if that is available. Do not rely on any docent with their own agenda to guide you through. Our docent insisted on injecting her beliefs and how our country still has so much work to do to overcome the past. And this was not the only commentary on this subject and other subjects that were given. This was not what we signed up for. Danna was not a person who should have been doing tours.
If I am ever able to visit again (550 miles from my home) I would absolutely not waste my time with the guided tours. I would research if there was any smart phone guided tour that focused on Jefferson and his amazing contributions with respect to Monticello. If not, there are plenty of books that I have read that speaks of his achievements regarding Monticello. I was fortunate to have read about Monticello prior to walking through it and would recommend that to others.
Lastly, keep in mind if you do take the tour that you are not provided headsets to hear the docent. For the very high priced cost, you would expect they would have provided headsets to hear the docent (assuming it was information worthwhile to hear).
The tour itself and our docent (Danna) were a terrible disappointment. We purchased our tickets in advance and was extremely excited to see this national treasure. We were 500 miles from home and we were in awe of this building we heard so much about. We started with an explanation of the history of how Jefferson ended up at this site. This was about 5 minutes. Prior to our docent finishing, we were briskly rushed into the building. There was a women with a two-way radio motioned to our docent to enter the building. The only concern by the person with the radio was to get people moving.
Once in the building all the information provided could have been for any planation building in the South. The fact that Jefferson lived there was greatly deemphasized. What clearly was emphasized was that he was a slave owner. For every room we visited the information we were given focused on the fact that Jefferson owned slaves and all that entailed. Each room was filled with so many unique Jefferson items and the rooms were filled with potential stories but they were not mentioned. I completely understand that slave ownership happened at Monticello but this was so emphasized that very little information about the man and the building was provided.
My recommendation would be to do a self tour of the inside of the building if that is available. Do not rely on any docent with their own agenda to guide you through. Our docent insisted on injecting her beliefs and how our country still has so much work to do to overcome the past. And this was not the only commentary on this subject and other subjects that were given. This was not what we signed up for. Danna was not a person who should have been doing tours.
If I am ever able to visit again (550 miles from my home) I would absolutely not waste my time with the guided tours. I would research if there was any smart phone guided tour that focused on Jefferson and his amazing contributions with respect to Monticello. If not, there are plenty of books that I have read that speaks of his achievements regarding Monticello. I was fortunate to have read about Monticello prior to walking through it and would recommend that to others.
Lastly, keep in mind if you do take the tour that you are not provided headsets to hear the docent. For the very high priced cost, you would expect they would have provided headsets to hear the docent (assuming it was information worthwhile to hear).
Written April 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kate s
9 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
It’s as beautiful as ever especially the Vegetable garden and the flower garden . My second or third time here and we chose the behind the scenes tour, spending over $200 for tickets, a rootbeer , and small souvenir. The tour included the upstairs of the home . Very nice to see . Our tour guide was good but didn’t take many questions until much later into the 1 1/2 hours tour and did not speak to or about each room . This time I felt the emphasis of the guides information was squarely on the slaves and Sally Hemings instead of the genius of the man , his ingenuity and what he contributed to in order to ensure our freedoms. The docents repeated how complicated it all was and I agree, but for some reason, they felt as though bashing our 3rd president was more important , shining a bright light on his ownership of slaves and out of wedlock children he fathered with Sally . As history unfolds I hope they can talk more about Jefferson’s brilliance and contributions to a free society that now allows all citizens the same opportunities.
Written May 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicki M
Louisville, KY147 contributions
Sep 2022
We recently visited VA and wanted to see Monticello. What a disappointment to see that you're unable to simply drive by and take pictures of the exterior. I understand that money is needed to keep historic sites running, but I can't believe that, if you were able to see it from the road, it would lessen the money taken in each year.
I'm sure there would still be folks that would like to go inside. You can't see the house, the slave burial ground or the family burial ground without paying to do so.
I didn't read any further than the $35 entrance fee for adults, so I don't know if there are lesser fees depending upon what you'd like to see, but, while I do understand that upkeep is not cheap or free, this is history and I feel it, in certain aspects, should be available to everyone, whether they want to pay $35 to walk up to the door or not.
Truly disappointed as we drove two hours out of our way to just glimpse it from the road only to find out we couldn't.
I'm sure there would still be folks that would like to go inside. You can't see the house, the slave burial ground or the family burial ground without paying to do so.
I didn't read any further than the $35 entrance fee for adults, so I don't know if there are lesser fees depending upon what you'd like to see, but, while I do understand that upkeep is not cheap or free, this is history and I feel it, in certain aspects, should be available to everyone, whether they want to pay $35 to walk up to the door or not.
Truly disappointed as we drove two hours out of our way to just glimpse it from the road only to find out we couldn't.
Written September 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryce F
1 contribution
May 2022
May be worth it if you are already in Charlottesville since the area has limited attractions, but I would not seek it out.
$42/person for a "guided tour" is absolutely ridiculous and it is $32 to have 20 minutes to walk by yourself. As for the quality of those guided tours, Monticello has eliminated narrative tours about Monticello and Thomas Jefferson (due to American politics) so it is entirely an audience Q&A session. Not to mention, they just entirely walk through and skip over a wing of the home. If you really want to go inside, just spend the $10 and do it yourself.
For the money, it is simply not worth it and there are better things for history lovers to do in Virginia. As an example, Mt. Vernon's main house may not look as nice but you get far more for your money.
$42/person for a "guided tour" is absolutely ridiculous and it is $32 to have 20 minutes to walk by yourself. As for the quality of those guided tours, Monticello has eliminated narrative tours about Monticello and Thomas Jefferson (due to American politics) so it is entirely an audience Q&A session. Not to mention, they just entirely walk through and skip over a wing of the home. If you really want to go inside, just spend the $10 and do it yourself.
For the money, it is simply not worth it and there are better things for history lovers to do in Virginia. As an example, Mt. Vernon's main house may not look as nice but you get far more for your money.
Written May 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
family_travel66
Pennsylvania109 contributions
Mar 2022
You cannot leave Charlottesville without visiting Thomas Jefferson home. You are dropped in the visitor's center. There are lockers there to leave your bags (25 cents to reserve a locker for your visit). Then you can visit the museum and don't forget to watch a small (8 min) movie.
From the museum a shuttle will take you to Monticello. Only the ground floor and the basement is open to the public. The self-guided tour is awesome. You scan QR codes in each rom and you listen to the presentation (I did it using headphones connected to my phone). The basement hosts the kitchen, cellars, etc and is visited from the outside.
Then there are regular guided tours of Mulberry Row (included in the price), which are focused on the lives of the African American slaves of Thomas Jefferson.
The people working at Monticello are awesome!! Going out of their way to be helpful. And they are very knowledgeable.
From the museum a shuttle will take you to Monticello. Only the ground floor and the basement is open to the public. The self-guided tour is awesome. You scan QR codes in each rom and you listen to the presentation (I did it using headphones connected to my phone). The basement hosts the kitchen, cellars, etc and is visited from the outside.
Then there are regular guided tours of Mulberry Row (included in the price), which are focused on the lives of the African American slaves of Thomas Jefferson.
The people working at Monticello are awesome!! Going out of their way to be helpful. And they are very knowledgeable.
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Todd H
Fairfax Station, VA356 contributions
Jul 2020
We did a private tour of Monticello. These tours are limited to five and start before the estate opens to the public.
It was an amazing tour. Our tour guide, Sam, was fantastic and filled us in on all sorts of history and information about the home. Being inside before anyone else means it is quiet. We also had the added treat of curators being there and working. We got to see up close the library collection that was being worked on. Books that are hundreds of years old right there. An original "Don Quixote," and more being organized as an original inventory they discovered had them. It was pretty awesome to see history that close.
You also get to go upstairs to the private quarters and see just how big the home is and how many it could accommodate, plus some other behind the scenes stuff not available at other times - will leave that as a little temptation to encourage this tour.
You get to go into the Dome Room among others upstairs. You get to see the various inventions and writing desks among other innovations that are housed in the home. Many of them original and brought back from years in other places.
Your guide will share lots of information, including the lives of the enslaved and their contributions and living conditions. As our guide said, "the story here is complicated, and we continue to struggle with the ideals today."
The grounds are beautiful. Given COVID-19, the estate is limiting tickets to about 600 per day (normally 1,800-2,500 would be sold). So there aren't crowds and you can get some amazing photos, enjoy the lawn and its garden and attending some of the educational programming.
Definitely suggest you find the "sensitive plant" or mimosa podia on the grounds. There are two clusters of them on the path outside the "nickel shot" view of the home. If you touch their leaves, they will close for a few minutes. This was one way Native Americans and others tracked game and military movements.
The private tour is worth the cost and it is a perfect time to visit Monticello.
It was an amazing tour. Our tour guide, Sam, was fantastic and filled us in on all sorts of history and information about the home. Being inside before anyone else means it is quiet. We also had the added treat of curators being there and working. We got to see up close the library collection that was being worked on. Books that are hundreds of years old right there. An original "Don Quixote," and more being organized as an original inventory they discovered had them. It was pretty awesome to see history that close.
You also get to go upstairs to the private quarters and see just how big the home is and how many it could accommodate, plus some other behind the scenes stuff not available at other times - will leave that as a little temptation to encourage this tour.
You get to go into the Dome Room among others upstairs. You get to see the various inventions and writing desks among other innovations that are housed in the home. Many of them original and brought back from years in other places.
Your guide will share lots of information, including the lives of the enslaved and their contributions and living conditions. As our guide said, "the story here is complicated, and we continue to struggle with the ideals today."
The grounds are beautiful. Given COVID-19, the estate is limiting tickets to about 600 per day (normally 1,800-2,500 would be sold). So there aren't crowds and you can get some amazing photos, enjoy the lawn and its garden and attending some of the educational programming.
Definitely suggest you find the "sensitive plant" or mimosa podia on the grounds. There are two clusters of them on the path outside the "nickel shot" view of the home. If you touch their leaves, they will close for a few minutes. This was one way Native Americans and others tracked game and military movements.
The private tour is worth the cost and it is a perfect time to visit Monticello.
Written July 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry B
1 contribution
Oct 2022 • Couples
The home, design and History was amazing. As a first time Visitor with no direction we arrived 2 hrs way too early for a house visit. Made the best of it and seen what we came to see. The design of the house was genius at that days standards.
Suiting into the History we were sadden about the treatment of the Slaves but enticed by wanting to know more of that life. The tour book helped after the visit to understand fully what we seen, but like all Tourists Traps, the prices where high. Although a tour would have been useful, price wise we gather enough useful information that we could. A word of caution, self guided tours only allow visits to the 1st and 2nd floor. The 3rd is sacred and a yellow room that you pay to see. Save $40 by just visiting online.
Suiting into the History we were sadden about the treatment of the Slaves but enticed by wanting to know more of that life. The tour book helped after the visit to understand fully what we seen, but like all Tourists Traps, the prices where high. Although a tour would have been useful, price wise we gather enough useful information that we could. A word of caution, self guided tours only allow visits to the 1st and 2nd floor. The 3rd is sacred and a yellow room that you pay to see. Save $40 by just visiting online.
Written October 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We would like to take the Self Guided tour. These appear to only be offered in the late afternoon (after 3:30) leaving us just a few hours afterwards. Are we allowed to take the shuttle bus up to the grounds before our tour time so we can see the grounds earlier, and then do our 3:30 self guided tour? It doesn't seem like 2 hours would be enough to see everything when their earliest self guided tour is 3:30. Thanks!
Allison T
Akron, OH68 contributions
Yep! We were able to walk the grounds whenever we got there, but took the tour at our scheduled time.
We have two small dogs. Is there someplace to leave them during the tour?
Octoberation
Virginia28 contributions
There is no kennel facility at this destination. If pets are found left in vehicles, they are likely to be reported to security or the local sheriff's office. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are permitted on the property but not inside the house. Guests with dogs walk the trail from the Visitor Center up to the mountaintop to visit outside the house and walk the gardens. If you have more than one person in your party, it is suggested you purchase, and you'd both like to visit inside the house, purchase separate tour times; while one person is in the house, the other can be with the dog, then swap places.
How is the tour conducted if its raining?
Octoberation
Virginia28 contributions
When there is lightning detected on or near the property, guided outdoor tours are suspended. House tours continue for those guests already on the mountaintop. If guests are at the visitor center, they will not be transported to the mountaintop until the weather has cleared (aka no lightning). In the event bad weather is forecast, dress appropriately.
If it is raining how is the tour conducted?
If its raining how is the tour conducted?
Lavona L
Salt Lake City, UT4 contributions
Does Monticello offer a military discount?
aleynasmom
Nashville, TN59 contributions
yes but you have to go to get the discount
Will tours of Monticello be offered on October 7th?
Shortmom02
Albany, NY53 contributions
Please check the website. Thank you
johnsi2015
Leonard, MI61 contributions
Are there benches for sitting around Monticello for people who can’t walk a lot?
MikeM_inMD
Columbia, MD53 contributions
There are some benches outside the house. I don't think there is anywhere you are allowed to sit down inside the house.
Patricia A
Caldwell, NJ28 contributions
How much time is needed to fully see this
Faye P
Greeneville, TN153 contributions
Wes spent about 3 hours doing true self guided tour and the gist shop. We did not do the house tour. There is a small shop to get a drink or ice cream at the grounds, so it could take longer. We also walked back down and spent time taking rests
PattiElena
Ashburn, VA
Are dogs allowed on the property?
Clinton1
New Jersey288 contributions
Do not know but doubt it
dabestharpis
United States
Is it ok if you arrive before the shuttle time on your ticket? If you're doing the self guided tour. I'm going to walk the trail up to Monticello, not take the shuttle. Thanks
Roger B
Melrose Park, IL238 contributions
Yes you can arrive before your shuttle time, you can watch a movie, check out the store or look at the museum. I think you can walk up to the house on your own, we walked back from the house to the parking area. I think it’s about a quarter mile I don’t remember for sure.
Monticello (Charlottesville) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Monticello
- Monticello is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- Hotels near Monticello:
- (1.79 mi) Arcady Vineyard Bed & Breakfast
- (1.54 mi) Hilton Garden Inn Charlottesville
- (2.36 mi) 200 South Street Inn
- (3.04 mi) The Draftsman, Autograph Collection
- (5.23 mi) Albemarle Estate at Trump Winery
- Restaurants near Monticello:
- (0.20 mi) Farm Table Cafe at Monticello
- (0.33 mi) Monticello Farm Table Café
- (0.66 mi) The Ordinary at Michie Tavern
- (2.30 mi) Fleurie Restaurant
- (2.25 mi) Sultan Kebab
- Attractions near Monticello:
- (0.31 mi) Mulberry Row
- (0.65 mi) Michie Tavern
- (2.11 mi) Cville Hop on Tours
- (2.24 mi) Monticello Wine Tour & Coach Co.
- (1.06 mi) Jefferson Vineyards
Monticello Information
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