Virginia Capitol Building
Virginia Capitol Building
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
Inside the white, columned state capitol building, designed by Thomas Jefferson to resemble a first-century Roman temple in France, is the only sculpture of George Washington produced in his lifetime.
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- Main Street Station • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
1,083 reviews
Excellent
778
Very good
256
Average
41
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Susan D
Huntington Beach, CA1,773 contributions
Oct 2021 • Friends
Giving this four stars primarily because it can be difficult to park and get there with all the construction. The visitor entrance is on Bank street through a tunnel. It’s all barricaded and confusing. We finally gave up and checked in our hotel and took an Uber the next morning. Our tour guide was well versed in the history and architecture of the building and did a good job explaining. Right now visitors are not allowed in the two chambers but the doors are glass so you can see into them. The tour is not as extensive as some Capitol tours we have been on but it was still good. The grounds are nice but some of the monuments have been removed.
Written October 1, 2021
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.
Fantajan
Pretoria, South Africa348 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
You can't beat a free tour, especially when it takes you back in history. The Capital grounds and many of the buildings are in the midst of an extensive renovation process but it is still worth a visit. The Capital doesn't open until 1pm on Sunday, so plan accordingly. Be sure to spend some time walking around the extensive grounds to take in the sculptures, landscaping and other buildings including the governor's mansion. I believe the tours are offered every hour (but could not verify that on the website). You don't need to reserve a spot ahead of time unless you have a big group. We had a wonderful tour guide who clearly loves history and sharing her knowledge and is a proud native Virginian. She takes you from room to room of the original part of the Capital that was designed by Thomas Jefferson (based on a building in France) and explains American history as it relates to the building. She explains the paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts. It's humbling to know that you are standing in the same place where American history was made by many of our founders. While you can't visit the current chambers of the Senate and House of Delegates, you can take a peak through the windows.
Written July 24, 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.
irishsue70
Oregon118 contributions
Sep 2021
The lady who gave the tour was a wealth of knowledge and you could tell she really enjoyed what she was doing. I was disappointed by the fact that the building did not seem as "open" for viewing as other state capitols I have visited but that could be due to covid. There did seem to be a severe lack of communication - the brochure stated tours began at 10:00 so we walked to the building arriving a few minutes before 10 only to be told the tours actually began at 9:00 and the next one would be at 11:00. We visited other sites returning at 11 and was told the tours would be at noon, 2:00 and 4:00! We finally were able to join the 2:00 tour.
Written October 4, 2021
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 Illinois1
Illinois4,861 contributions
May 2022
A Wonderful review of America's history and memorable tour with Mrs. Snellings. Restoration work ongoing which relocates visitor entrance and no visitor designated parking. You will need to find street parking in surroundings blocks. No longer has entrance to Senate & House Chambers.....you can look through the door windows. Missing a couple statues that were there previously. Obstructed view of Capitol Building and Washington Equestrian Monument on the Capital Square. Still worth a visit to listen to Mrs. Snellings tour and see the George Washington life size statue located in the rotunda, which was unveiled in 1796. Chiseled from marble by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, who spent two weeks in 1785 taking careful measurements and making a facial mask of the living George Washington. If you don't take a tour, be sure to check out the original model of the capitol.
Written May 19, 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.
Randy W
Bahama, NC168 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Tours still being given, in spite of major construction. These tour guides love telling the history of this oldest continuously used Capitol building in the country. See the models that Thomas Jefferson sent from France while he was an Ambassador there. Get your Capitol book stamped at the Tour Desk. If you don’t yet have a book, get one. It’s fun.
Written August 30, 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.
pfm11
Kennesaw, GA159 contributions
Sep 2022
While there were several major construction projects ongoing around the exterior of the building, the tour of the inside of the Capital was not affected and was excellent. We were very fortunate to have Mr. Knight as our tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and he did a great job of telling us about the history of the building and the events that took place in the building. It was an hour very well spent.
Written October 10, 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.
Traveller
New York City, NY3,304 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I visited the Virginia State Capitol Building in October 2023. Walking around the grounds was very interesting including a George Washington monument / statue and some other statues. I got an excellent photo of the building. I then went inside and took the guided tour which was very interesting and informative. I liked the rotunda which had another statue of George Washington, busts of the eight US presidents who were from Virginia and the portraits of many of Virginia’s governors. The history of the building including its relation to Thomas Jefferson is fascinating.
Written October 29, 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.
Jodi H
843 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
This capital building is unlike any I have ever been in before now. It resembles the White House more to me than a capital. There is a great deal of construction going on and we were told it would probably be years before everything was finished. The rotunda is very intricately painted. It is beautiful. Of course you can visit The House and The Senate and see many historical things. Great stop when touring Richmond.
Written October 3, 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.
GailDez
Vienna, VA214 contributions
Feb 2020
Tours are given hourly and we missed it, so did a self-guided tour until we caught up with the guide. What a difference! We are Virginians, but there is much American history to be learned/reviewed. Free entrance and tour. Parking sometimes a hassle - we used a garage a few blocks away.
Written February 2, 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.
lverdouw
Saint Peters, MO478 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We were fortune to have an excellent tour guide during our visit. This building has so much history within the walls, it’s hard to fit it in in an hour. Highly recommend if you’re interested in our countries early history.
Written January 17, 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.
Is it open on weekends for viewing and photos? I only asked because the other state capitols I've visited were open to the public even on a weekend.
Written September 22, 2018
Open every day except a few holidays. Doesn’t open till 1 pm on Sundays
Written September 22, 2018
Hi Skink & everyone. I'd like to visit/tour on a Wed. morn. Can you advise where to park & which side has the entrance plaza for visitors? Thanks!
Written September 6, 2017
we parked at the street right in front of it. it has visitor parking.
Written September 6, 2017
What is the contact phone number to set up a tour of the capital building?
Written December 28, 2016
I don't think you have to prearranged tours. They take place at various times throughout the day.
Written January 17, 2017
Where should we park for touring the capital?
Written October 22, 2016
Metered parking (two hour maximum) is available on streets adjacent to the state capitol: Broad St, Grace St, 14th St, Main St, 10th St, and Bank St near the capitol visitor entrance. Pay lots are available on Grace St, 3 blocks west of the capitol, also at main and 14th streets. Commercial parking decks are available on 8th St between Grace St and Main St.
Written October 24, 2016
Does the building close over the Thanksgiving holiday? Are there tours available Friday and Saturday of the holiday weekend?
Written September 18, 2016
Check their website. Hours, etc. are posted. We had a guided tour on Easter Sunday, so I would guess that they would be open on Thanksgiving weekend. You could also call the capitol.
Written September 18, 2016
Yes, and they are free. Get there early and check for times and if there's space, they only take about 10-12 at a time.
Written September 13, 2016
Regarding the tour, is it just for groups? Or do you go as a group if there are just 2 of you?
Written January 13, 2016
While we were leaving there was one person taking a tour with a guide. I think they'll do groups of any size.
Written January 15, 2016
Can we book tickets in advance and what are the opening hours?
Written June 26, 2015
It's a free tour. However, call in advance to set up a time for the guided tour. The tour last about 1-1.5 hours. It's educational with Virginia History, which is early American history. Guides are extremely nice. Come early so you can get through the security check.
Written June 28, 2015
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