Top things to do in Raleigh
1. North Carolina State Capitol
Built between 1833 and 1840 to house the governor's office and cabinet offices, the North Carolina State Capitol is still a working capitol and a museum of North Carolina history, particularly the period between its construction and the Civil War. Several rooms are restored with furniture and items from the era, including original legislative rooms, a collection of geological specimens and a library, and the building is full of plaques and informational signs. Look out for the spittoons in the legislative rooms and the large statue of George Washington in the style of a Roman soldier.
Guided tours run on Saturdays at 11AM and 2PM, or by appointment for large groups, but you can take a self-guided tour whenever the building is open. Entry is free, and its downtown location makes it easy to pair with the City of Raleigh Museum.
2. City of Raleigh Museum
On Fayetteville Street, the City of Raleigh Museum is a local history museum and an excellent place to start your visit to the City of Oaks. It is open Tuesday to Friday 10AM-4PM and Saturday 1-4PM, and admission is free.
Come here first to get your bearings, then walk to the North Carolina State Capitol while you are still downtown.
3. N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
This museum contains a huge wing full of interactive exhibits, the Nature Research Center, with a three-story multimedia globe structure and exhibits such as a 10,000 gallon aquarium. Admission is free.
It sits on West Jones Street, a short walk from the State Capitol, so the two work well in the same morning.
4. N.C. Museum of Art
The N.C. Museum of Art on Blue Ridge Road offers rotating exhibits, a summer outdoor film series and a sculpture garden. The main gallery and sculpture garden are free, while special exhibitions, films and music are priced separately.
Pair it with the North Carolina State Fairgrounds nearby if your visit falls in mid to late October.
5. Mordecai Historic Park
Built in 1785, this is the oldest house in Raleigh at its original location, and the grounds include the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson. Tours are offered every hour on the hour from 10AM to 3PM, except when a school group is present, and last about 50 minutes.
Tours cost $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and youth, and are free for children 6 and under. The surrounding Mordecai neighbourhood is worth a wander afterwards.
6. Joel Lane Museum House
A Georgian-style manor plantation house built circa 1770 by Colonel Joel Lane, patriot, statesman and planter, the Joel Lane Museum House has been faithfully restored and is filled with period artifacts. The site holds three historic structures, including a very simple circa 1790 middle-class home interpreted as a kitchen and a circa 1840 Visitors Center. Hours vary and admission is $5.
It stands at the corner of St. Mary's and Hargett Streets, within reach of the downtown core.
7. Pullen Park
Pullen Park on Ashe Avenue offers outdoor plays, a 1911 carousel, pedal boats, a miniature train and an aquatic center.
It is a straightforward choice for an afternoon with children, and the carousel is the detail to seek out.
8. William B. Umstead Park
Known simply as Umstead, this state park is accessible by car, bus or bike and acts as a natural haven from the Triangle's urban zones, next to RDU International Airport. Miles of trails, both paved and unpaved, give hikers, campers, bikers and joggers access to three lakes.
Come for a half day rather than a quick stop, and bring what you need since the trails take you away from the city streets.
9. Lake Johnson Nature Park
Open during daylight every day of the week, Lake Johnson Nature Park has a pleasant nature trail winding about 3½ miles around the eastern half of the lake, plus another dirt trail on the northwestern shore. It is ideal for hiking and biking, and paddle boats can be rented. Entry is free.
Go early or late in the day for cooler conditions on the water.
10. Yates Mill County Park
Open 8AM to sunset, this park sits only a few miles from downtown and contains the last water-powered grist mill in Wake County, restored to operating condition with guided tours on weekends. There are over 2 miles of trails, a visitor center with family activities and a large pond for fishing. Entry is free, with $3-5 for the mill tour.
Time your visit for a weekend so the mill tour is running.
11. JC Raulston Arboretum
An 8-acre arboretum and botanical gardens operated by NC State University, with over 5,000 varieties of plants. Admission is free.
It is on Beryl Road, which makes it a natural companion to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.
12. Governor's Mansion
The official residence of the North Carolina governor and family, built in the late 1800s. Group tours are available mid-March to mid-June but must be booked at least two weeks in advance, and they are free.
If your trip falls in that window, book before you travel, since walk-up access is not an option.
13. Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Downtown between Salisbury and Wilmington streets, five blocks south of the State Capitol, this centre includes three primary venues. Memorial Auditorium is the largest and hosts events such as the Carolina Ballet and travelling Broadway productions; Meymandi Concert Hall is home to the North Carolina Symphony; and Fletcher Opera Theater is a more intimate setting for events such as Raleigh Chamber Music Guild concerts.
Check what is on before you choose an evening, since each venue offers a different kind of night out.
14. Carolina Hurricanes
Raleigh's NHL hockey team plays at Lenovo Center, and the loud yet friendly atmosphere makes this an excellent place to spend an evening during fall and winter. The regular season runs from early October to mid-April, with the playoffs running as late as mid-June, and the team is known for its "Storm Surge" celebrations after home wins.
Tickets tend to start between $50 and $60 and can be more expensive depending on the opponent and the day of the week, so midweek games are the cheaper option.
15. North Carolina State Fair
Held at the State Fairgrounds on Blue Ridge Road, this ten-day event in mid to late October brings visitors to sample North Carolina produce, attend concerts, ride fair rides and eat deep-fried Twinkies. Tickets run $10-13 for ages 13-64, $5-7 for ages 6-12, $8 for active military, and are free for under 6 and 65 and over, with discounts for advance sales.
Buy in advance to save, and combine the trip with the N.C. Museum of Art or JC Raulston Arboretum, both nearby.
16. First Fridays
On the first Friday evening of every month, from 6-9PM, downtown art galleries, museums and shops stay open late for a downtown-wide event with live music and specials at restaurants and bars.
Build an evening around it rather than treating it as a single stop, since the point is to move between venues.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the City of Raleigh Museum on Fayetteville Street when it opens, then walk to the North Carolina State Capitol. If your visit falls on a Saturday, join the 11AM guided tour; otherwise take the self-guided route through the restored rooms. Follow with the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, a short walk away on West Jones Street.
Afternoon: Head to Mordecai Historic Park for a tour on the hour between 10AM and 3PM, then continue to the Joel Lane Museum House at the corner of St. Mary's and Hargett Streets. If time remains, finish at Pullen Park on Ashe Avenue for the 1911 carousel and a walk by the water.
Evening: Choose between the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts downtown and a Carolina Hurricanes game at Lenovo Center, depending on the season and what is scheduled. If your visit coincides with the first Friday of the month, spend the evening instead moving between galleries and shops during First Fridays, from 6-9PM.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the Carolina Hurricanes?
The regular season runs from early October to mid-April, with the playoffs running as late as mid-June. Tickets tend to start between $50 and $60 and rise depending on the opponent and the day of the week.
Which museums in Raleigh are free?
The City of Raleigh Museum, the North Carolina State Capitol, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of Art's main gallery and sculpture garden are all free. The N.C. Museum of History is free with a suggested $5 donation but is closed for renovation through fall 2028.
Do I need to book the Governor's Mansion in advance?
Yes. Group tours are available mid-March to mid-June and must be booked at least two weeks in advance. They are free.
What happens downtown on the first Friday of the month?
From 6-9PM, downtown art galleries, museums and shops stay open late for a downtown-wide event with live music and specials at restaurants and bars.
Pick your dates around the season that suits you, whether that is a Hurricanes game in winter, the State Fair in October or a First Friday downtown, and start mapping the rest of your days from there.