Stand at the corner of 24th Street and Atlantic Avenue and the ocean is directly in front of you, the boardwalk stretches away in both directions, and the old life-saving station sits a few steps back from the sand. That single block gives you the shape of the place: a resort city built along its beach, with a long history behind the hotels.
Virginia Beach suits travellers who want an oceanfront base with enough beyond the sand to fill several days - lighthouses and landing sites at the bay end, state parks and a wildlife refuge at the southern end, and a cluster of small museums and galleries along the oceanfront itself. It also works well for families, for anyone interested in maritime and aviation history, and for walkers and cyclists.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, ordered with the strongest first, followed by a one-day plan and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Virginia Beach
1. Cape Henry Lighthouse
The original Cape Henry Lighthouse was the first lighthouse built by the federal government, completed in 1792, and it is open to the public. From the summit you get a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay - the same view seen by ship watchers more than 200 years ago. Across the dune line stands the new Cape Henry Lighthouse, built in 1881 and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Combine the climb with the Cape Henry Memorial Park next door, which includes a replica of the First Landing Cross. The lighthouses sit on the Fort Story military base, so access may be restricted for public tours and a valid picture ID is required.
2. First Landing Cross
The First Landing Cross marks the point where English settlers landed in 1607. It is a short, quiet stop rather than a full attraction, and it pairs naturally with the Cape Henry lighthouses and the Cape Henry Memorial Park, since all three sit together at the southern mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
3. Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is an authority on the state's aquatic and marine environments, with more than 700,000 gallons of aquariums and live animal habitats and more than 300 hands-on exhibits. It also has an IMAX 3D Theater.
A one-third mile-long nature trail connects the two Pavilions that make up the museum, and an outdoor aviary gives you an up-close look at the marsh birds seen along the shore. It is on General Booth Boulevard, which puts it on the same side of the city as the southern beaches.
4. First Landing State Park
First Landing State Park contains 2,700 acres of protected salt marsh habitat, bay and dune maritime forests and freshwater ponds, and it fronts the Chesapeake Bay. You will find a campground, miles of hiking and biking trails, and both cultural and natural history interpretive displays. It is a registered Natural Landmark.
Day use runs from 8AM to dusk, and parking is $7 per car, rising to $10 per car on weekends from April to October. It is on Shore Drive, at the bay end of the city.
5. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge covers 8,500 acres of barrier islands, dunes, freshwater marshes, maritime forests, ponds and ocean beaches. Together with False Cape State Park it is home to wild horses, feral pigs, loggerhead turtles, American bald eagles and a large variety of migratory birds and endangered species.
Pets are not allowed. Fees are collected from April to October: parking is $5 per vehicle, or $2 per day for a hiker or biker family, and Refuge Annual Passes, Federal Duck Stamps and America the Beautiful Passes are accepted.
6. False Cape State Park
False Cape State Park covers 4,321 acres and features six miles of unspoiled beaches in an ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat. It shares the wildlife of the Back Bay area, including wild horses, feral pigs, loggerhead turtles, bald eagles and migratory birds.
It is entered from the same road as Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, at Sandpiper Road, so plan the two as one trip to the southern end of the city.
7. The Old Coast Guard Station (Virginia Beach Surf and Rescue Museum)
Housed in a 1903 former U.S. Life Saving Station at 2401 Atlantic Avenue, this oceanfront museum is full of the rescue equipment used by turn-of-the-century surf men to save shipwrecked crews. Exhibits cover shipwrecks that occurred just off the Virginia Beach coast and the history of the life-saving service from World War II to the present day.
It is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10AM to 4PM, and its position at 24th Street makes it an easy stop in the middle of a boardwalk walk.
8. Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art is at 2200 Parks Avenue. It is open Tuesday to Friday, 10AM to 5PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 10AM to 4PM. Admission is $7.70 for adults, $5.50 for students aged 5 and over, seniors 65 and over, and military, and free for children under 5.
It sits a short distance inland from the oceanfront, so it works well as an afternoon break from the beach.
9. Association for Research and Enlightenment
Visitors from around the world gather at the Association for Research and Enlightenment at 67th Street and Atlantic Avenue for workshops, conferences and lectures based on the works of Edgar Cayce. Founded in 1931, the Virginia Beach headquarters houses 14,000 readings and one of the most extensive metaphysical libraries in the world.
Guided tours including films, lectures, meditation classes and ESP demonstrations are offered daily, along with health services such as massage, facials and reflexology. It is at the northern end of the oceanfront, away from the busiest blocks.
10. Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum
Located in the historically registered DeWitt cottage, built in 1895, the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum displays art and artifacts documenting the migratory wildfowl that pass through Eastern Virginia. Exhibits of wildfowl and shorebird carvings trace the evolution of this American art form.
There are on-site wood-carving demonstrations, interactive computer programs, decoys dating from historic times to the present day, and exhibits covering the history of Virginia Beach. It is at 1113 Atlantic Avenue.
11. Mount Trashmore
Mount Trashmore Park was created by compacting layers of solid waste and clean soil, and is recognised for the environmental feat. It features the Water Wise demonstration garden, which shows how to create a garden with minimal water requirements, two lakes, a skate park, playground areas, a basketball court, four volleyball areas and a walking trail of approximately 1.45 miles.
Facilities include four large and 11 small picnic shelters, parking, vending machines and restrooms. It is at 310 Edwin Drive, inland from the oceanfront.
12. Military Aviation Museum
The Military Aviation Museum is at 1341 Princess Anne Road and is open daily from 9AM to 5PM. It pairs well with the southern end of the city, including the Pungo area and the farmers market on Dam Neck Road.
13. Naval Air Station Oceana Viewing Area (POW/MIA Flame of Hope Memorial Park)
This is the designated location to watch fighter jets taking off and landing at Naval Air Station Oceana. It is a simple stop - you go for the aircraft movements rather than for exhibits - and it sits inland, so it fits a day when you are already driving between the oceanfront and the southern parks.
14. Virginia Beach Farmers Market
The Virginia Beach Farmers Market at 3640 Dam Neck Road is a country-style, open-air market with fresh, locally grown produce, dairy products, organic groceries, a meat market, home and garden gifts, jams and jellies, and a restaurant. It is open year-round and holds special events each month.
It is the clearest way to see the rural side of Virginia Beach, and it combines well with the Military Aviation Museum and the southern parks.
15. Tidewater Arboretum
The Tidewater Arboretum is at 1385 Diamond Springs Road. It is a quiet, green stop rather than a full day out, and works best as a pause between the inland sights on Diamond Springs Road and the oceanfront.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Cape Henry Lighthouse, climbing the 1792 tower for the view over the Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay, then walk over to the new Cape Henry Lighthouse and the First Landing Cross in Cape Henry Memorial Park. Bring a valid picture ID, since the site is on the Fort Story military base. On the way back toward the oceanfront, stop at First Landing State Park on Shore Drive for a walk on the trails through the maritime forest and salt marsh.
Afternoon: Spend the early afternoon at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center on General Booth Boulevard, walking the nature trail between the two Pavilions and looking in on the aviary. Then head to the oceanfront and visit The Old Coast Guard Station (Virginia Beach Surf and Rescue Museum) at 24th Street and Atlantic Avenue, which is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10AM to 4PM. If time allows, continue north along Atlantic Avenue to the Association for Research and Enlightenment at 67th Street.
Evening: Walk the boardwalk at the oceanfront, where the hotels and restaurants line the beach, and finish with dinner within walking distance of where you started the afternoon. If you would rather end inland, Mount Trashmore's picnic shelters and walking trail make a calm close to the day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need identification to visit Cape Henry Lighthouse?
Yes. The lighthouse is located on the Fort Story military base, where access may be restricted for public tours, and a valid picture ID is required.
When is the best time to surf in Virginia Beach?
The surf is sometimes small but usually rideable. In August, more than 100 of the world's top professional surfers and an estimated 400 amateur surfers come for the East Coast Surfing Championships, North America's oldest surfing contest. One of the best surf spots is at the beach called Croatan, off General Booth Boulevard.
Can I bring my dog to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge?
No. Pets are not allowed at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
What does it cost to park at First Landing State Park?
Parking is $7 per car, and $10 per car on weekends from April to October. Day use runs from 8AM to dusk.
Pick the oceanfront or the bay side as your base, set aside one day for the southern parks and one for the lighthouses, and start planning your Virginia Beach trip around the places above.