Things to Do in Raleigh, NC - Raleigh Attractions
Things to Do in Raleigh
Check out must-see sights and activities:
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Museum Of Art, Walking Tours, Flea & Street Markets. For personalized recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Museum Of Art, Walking Tours, Flea & Street Markets. For personalized recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
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Book these experiences for a close-up look at Raleigh.
Ghost Toursfromper adult$32
Plantation Toursfromper adult$19
Private Sightseeing Toursfromper adult$8- fromper adult$89
Private Sightseeing Toursfromper group (up to 3)$120
Sporting Event Tickets & Passesfromper adult$84
Scavenger Huntsfromper adult$10
Private Sightseeing Toursfromper adult$65
Private Sightseeing Toursfromper group (up to 11)$120
Scavenger Huntsfromper group (up to 12)$35
Natural History Museums
Interactive natural science museum with four floors of exhibits, live animals, and a 3-D theater. Family-friendly with a focus on education and conservation.
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Art Museums
Art museum with a diverse collection, special exhibits on Indigenous art, and tranquil outdoor sculpture garden complete with a mirrored labyrinth.
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Parks
Historic park with a carousel, train rides, and pedal boats, ideal for family picnics and child-friendly activities amidst serene landscapes.
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Science Museums
Interactive children's museum with hands-on exhibits including a veterinary clinic and pirate ship play area. Features an IMAX movie and a gift shop with toys for all ages.
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History Museums
Interactive museum dedicated to North Carolina's history, showcasing interactive exhibits on its development, military, and cultural movements with a gift shop featuring local items.
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Flea & Street Markets
Bustling farmer's market showcasing an array of fresh produce, local meats, and artisanal baked goods, alongside a vibrant selection of flowers and unique handcrafted souvenirs.
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Nature & Wildlife Areas
Tranquil Japanese garden featuring a diverse plant collection and educational focus on gardening practices, with shaded areas for leisurely exploration.
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Arenas & Stadiums
Modern arena hosting hockey games and concerts with ample food choices, clear sightlines from comfortable seats, and a spirited ambiance. Some fans may find seating tight; parking can be costly.
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Other Top Attractions around Raleigh
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travelers are saying
- CareOhLineWinston Salem, NC137 contributionsFor FREE this was an amazing experience with many cool facts and opportunities. Some of the exhibits could be updated but I understand some of them being staples geared toured the states permant natural science (and for the younger crowd) I wanted to but way too much at the gift shops but was able to hold myself back. One thing I wasn't expecting was that I really liked the smoothie and service I got at the Daily Planet cafe. We didn't even have to pay for parking because we used one I'd the free decks a little walk away.Written March 20, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LGlobalMichigan55 contributionsWe only made it through the West building, but we had a great time walking through the Africa exhibit and paintings. It is a beautiful facility and a great way to spend a couple hours- even with teens!Written March 15, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- David MethTotowa, NJ4 contributionsWe spent a few hours here on a nice March late morning. Some of the trees were blooming. A very well kept and peaceful place to walk. Bathrooms were clean and refreshments were availableWritten March 10, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- GwensGrammaDurham, NC509 contributionsWe took our former AFS student and his wife and two children to this museum during their visit with us. We were all immensely impressed with the museum! We couldn't believe how educational it is and how many activities there are for the children. It was a busy day but there were so many things to see and do that the kids were never bored. We saw a wonderful IMAX movie about dogs, and ate lunch at the Bean Sprouts Cafe. In all, we spent six hours there!Written August 4, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Tri a7 contributionsI've been on a bit of a NC history kick and this place was super super nice. Well curated and lots of cool details. A lot to love.Written September 15, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- KindredSpirit07North Carolina330 contributionsAbsolutely fantastic experience! Flowers, fresh produce, baked goods, just so much variety! Gigantic with plenty of parking. Vendors are the best of the best.Written September 15, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Dave CIllinois1,944 contributionsIt is best to start at the visitor center to get information about all trails. They have maps that show the distance and route of every trail. The center has some exhibits about the area and it's history that takes roughly 15 minutes. One of the trails is right outside the center. This is a very large area with miles and miles of trails ranging from heavy wooded areas to going along a pond. You can easily drive to various points. The ultrarunners even have an annual 100-mile trail run here!Written March 14, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- donnabN8343FTCanandaigua, NY36 contributionsParking lot is small so you might have to park on the street. Beautiful place to take a walk. Lots of beautiful plants, flowers, bushes, trees to see. The bathrooms were very nice too.Written December 2, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Dave CIllinois1,944 contributionsWe went in February - so giving this review from the "winter" perspective in that we didn't see any wildlife except some birds. We spent close to 45 minutes in the visitor center reading the history of the mill, the industry, and the area. Gave really good context. After that, we walked the trail around the lake (took 25-30 minutes); it was flat and easy. There are a couple of benches. Several trees are marked with numbers; there's a guide for that in the visitors center. Finally, we got to the mill. You can see the restored building, the millstone, various gears, and interpretive information. Very peaceful at that time of year.Written March 14, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Randy WBahama, NC172 contributionsOur 9yo grandson wanted to play miniature golf for his birthday. The course was landscaped nicely, but we had hoped for more fun features, such as a water hazard, dodging windmill blades, or tunnel. The course itself was in good repair but for a busy Saturday in the fall, it appeared that no one had blown the leaves off the greens. At minimum they should be blown off before opening, and with the heavy leaf drop they should have done an additional blowing in the early afternoon. The price was certainly enough to put this maintenance into their budget. A patron should not have to clear off the area of leaf obstacles to play!Written November 7, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- gravitydefyer28 contributionsI went to go see Melanie Martinez with my mom and we had such a great time. There were some great features to this arena and some not so great. I'll break it down here!
Getting to the Arena:
•Pretty straight-forward entrance, especially if you turn on GPS to guide you. There are cops lined down the street to help with traffic and it was relatively easy to find.
Traffic/Parking:
•When entering the Arena for parking, there are multiple general parking options you can turn into. There are lanes that wrap around the entire venue, with lots of workers around to answer your questions or direct you. They are all very nice. Since parking costs money here, we bought our parking pass ahead of time via ParkWhiz. A bit pricey, to be honest, especially just for parking itself. VIP/Premier parking costs even more. I don't believe I paid anything for parking last time I was there, which was some years ago, but still. Your ParkWhiz ticket is scanned before you park. Parking spaces are numbered, making it easier to find your parking space after the event.
Getting Into the Venue:
•Once you're parked, you have to wait in line to enter the arena. There are K-9 units sniffing around for weapons and such while you wait. They're not invasive at all, and they don't get too close. There are multiple entrances to line up at, so it never felt too crowded to me, even though it was a sold out show. Once you hit the doors, you put your bags/keys/metal items in a plastic box so you can step through the detector. Most people breeze through this unless they have something that triggers the detector, then they are wanded down. Again, not invasive at all-- everyone working there is very kind and professional.
Finding Your Seats:
•Once inside, you get your tickets scanned via phone. Seat numbers are labeled in bold paint above entrance to the inner arena, which was extremely helpful. In the entrance hall, there are multiple options for refreshments, though of course they cost a pretty penny and they didn't take cash. When you enter the inner arena from the entrance hall, there are even more refreshment options and bathrooms. There are stairs labeled with letters (from your ticket) and attendants that are more than willing to help you find your seat. I was honestly blown away by how kind and professional everyone at this venue was.
The Event:
•The seats were probably my biggest gripe of the whole thing, as they are very small and SUPER close together. I don't mind being close during a concert but I'm also a bit claustrophobic and don't like touching strangers all night when I'm trying to enjoy myself. I can't imagine anyone bigger than me trying to enjoy themselves here and what a shame that is. There also isn't any room for your refreshments besides some cup holders for drinks, but they still feel in the way of other event attendees. The sound system and visuals were really amazing, though. My view from 118T was really lovely-- a bit off to the side and not so far away as to feel like I couldn't see Melanie from the stage. My mom and I had a blast and we were fortunate enough to have some really cool seatmates.
Leaving:
•We left as soon as the concert stopped and exited quickly to beat the traffic. Leaving was definitely far easier than coming in, in terms of traffic.
Summary:
•Pros: easy access via vehicle/parking pass, great sound and visuals, super friendly and professional employees. Efficiency is top notch here, and safety is a huge priority, which I appreciate.
•Cons: Very pricey. From tickets to refreshments, to parking. Small, cramped seating-- not very inclusive. Stairs are very steep and numerous, so prepare for that if you have walking impairments by looking up accessibility options for the arena. They do have them but they weren't straightforward to me just going there, it must be researched.Written June 29, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - walid mWilmington, NC1,071 contributionsA conveniently located mall in Raleigh with a lot of shops and stores. The mall is enjoyable and you can just take a walk there.Written August 22, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
When to Visit
- January41 ºFColdest month8 days of rainLess busy
- February44 ºF8 days of rainModerately busy
- March52 ºF9 days of rainVery busyBusiest month
- April60 ºF8 days of rainModerately busy
- May68 ºF10 days of rainVery busy
- June76 ºF12 days of rainModerately busy
- July79 ºFHottest month14 days of rainWettest monthVery busy
- August77 ºF12 days of rainVery busy
- September71 ºF9 days of rainLess busy
- October60 ºF7 days of rainModerately busy
- November51 ºF6 days of rainLess busy
- December44 ºF8 days of rainLess busyLeast busy month
The above attraction descriptions were created by AI, using information and phrases commonly found in reviews users submitted to Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor did not create and is not responsible for any of the above attraction descriptions. Please read full traveler reviews for more details and information.
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