Regularly rated amongst the top places to live in the USA, Charlottesville offers a charming taste of old-school America, with some of the finest colonial-era architecture in the area. Sitting in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this lively destination is also the gateway to the enchanting Shenandoah National Park — brilliant for outdoorsy travellers. Accommodation options range from intimate heritage inns to swish city hotels, fit for a range of tastes and budgets. Many of the best places to stay in Charlottesville are right in the heart of town, but some of our favourite spots offer the chance to unwind in the countryside as a laid-back couple or active family.
Steeped in history, this Virginia city is ideal for culture aficionados. The pedestrianised historic centre, shaded by magnolia trees, is bursting with first-rate museums, art galleries, antiquarian bookstores and chic boutiques. The University of Virginia campus is particularly impressive, and walking tours highlighting Charlottesville’s neo-classical architecture come highly recommended. Nearby Monticello Plantation, once home to Thomas Jefferson, is famed for its insightful guided tours.
You’ll find appealing wineries and distilleries in the surrounding countryside, as well as hiking and cycling trails for adventurous groups of friends or families. Virginia’s lakes and rivers make for marvellous fishing, canoeing and sailing spots, too. Shenandoah National Park is spectacular.
Charlottesville is an immensely popular year-round destination. Book your trip well in advance to guarantee a room at one of the best places too stay in Charlottesville!