🏆 Things to Do · Virginia Beach, VA
Things to Do in Virginia Beach
55 real, currently-operating attractions across every category — the 3-mile Boardwalk, the Virginia Aquarium, state parks, and easy day trips into Norfolk.
⛰️ Year-Round Attractions
✅ Verified Open
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🏖️ Beaches & Parks
🏛️ Museums
🏯 Historic Sites
🌲 Parks & Nature
🏄 Water Sports
🎢 Family Fun
⛳ Golf
🛍️ Shopping
🚗 Day Trips
Virginia Beach’s main draw is simple — a 3-mile Boardwalk backed by a wide public beach, running from the lively resort strip up to the quieter North End. Beyond the sand, First Landing State Park and Cape Henry Lighthouse mark the site of the first English landing in 1607, the Virginia Aquarium anchors a strong museum scene, and Norfolk’s Nauticus, Chrysler Museum, and Virginia Zoo are all a short drive away. The public beaches themselves (the resort strip, Sandbridge, North End, Croatan, and the bay-side Chick’s Beach) don’t have individual booking pages, so they’re covered here in this intro rather than as separate cards.
5 Things to Do
Virginia Beach Boardwalk
The 3-mile oceanfront boardwalk and bike path running the length of the resort strip, home to the iconic King Neptune statue and the accessible Grommet Island Beach Park.
Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
Pier extending into the ocean for fishing and sightseeing at the south end of the resort strip.
Old Coast Guard Station / Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum
Former 1903 U.S. Life-Saving/Coast Guard station at 24th St, now a museum on shipwrecks, storms, and beach rescue history.
Check Old Coast Guard Station / Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum →
Atlantic Park
New oceanfront district anchored by the Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon, with retail and dining.
Beach Arcade
Boardwalk-area arcade with games and rides for kids near 24th St.
1 Things to Do
Little Island Park & Sandbridge Fishing Pier
Oceanfront park in Sandbridge with a fishing pier, picnic areas, volleyball courts, and a dog park.
4 Things to Do
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Large aquarium and nature center with touch pools, a 300,000-gallon Norfolk Canyon tank, sea turtles, otters, and an IMAX theater.
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Regional contemporary art museum near the Boardwalk, home of the annual Boardwalk Art Show.
Military Aviation Museum
Large private collection of flyable WWI and WWII-era warbirds, with regular flight demonstrations.
Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. (Association for Research & Enlightenment)
Headquarters and visitor center devoted to psychic Edgar Cayce, with a library, exhibits, and a holistic health center.
Check Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. (Association for Research & Enlightenment) →
5 Things to Do
Cape Henry Lighthouse
Historic 1792 stone lighthouse near the site of the first English landing in 1607, on Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story (visitors need ID for base access); the still-active 1881 New Cape Henry Lighthouse stands right beside it.
Adam Thoroughgood House
Colonial cottage from the 1720s, one of the oldest surviving homes in Virginia Beach.
Francis Land House
Restored 18th-century plantation house and museum with period gardens.
PACTS/UKHS Museum
Museum on African American education history in Virginia Beach, with self-guided Saturday tours.
6 Things to Do
First Landing State Park
Virginia’s most-visited state park, with maritime forest, bald cypress swamps, hiking and biking trails, cabins, camping, and a bayfront beach.
False Cape State Park
Remote park accessible only by foot, bike, boat, or tram through the Back Bay refuge, with pristine undeveloped beach and wildlife.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal refuge south of Sandbridge with trails, migratory bird habitat, and beach access.
Mount Trashmore Park
Unique city park built atop a former landfill, with lakes, a skate park, playgrounds, and a fishing area.
Red Wing Park
City park with gardens, trails, and a pond near the Oceana area.
Bayville Farms Park
Waterfront city park on the Lynnhaven River with fishing, a marina, a dog park, and an on-site restaurant.
8 Things to Do
Rudee Tours
Dolphin-watching cruises and deep-sea/inshore fishing charters departing Rudee Inlet.
Virginia Beach Fishing Center
Marina and charter hub at Rudee Inlet offering deep-sea fishing charters and headboat trips.
Great White Water Sports (Jet Skis & Dolphin Tours)
Jet ski rentals and guided dolphin-watching jet ski tours at the Oceanfront.
Surf & Adventure Co.
Sandbridge-based surf lessons, kayak tours, and paddleboard rentals.
Ocean Rentals Ltd.
Sandbridge-based bike, kayak, and paddleboard rentals.
VB Surf Sessions
Oceanfront surf shop offering surf lessons and camps.
AquaMan Sportfishing
Charter fishing company operating out of Virginia Beach.
e-fishinsea Sportfishing Charters
Offshore and inshore fishing charter operator.
7 Things to Do
Ocean Breeze Waterpark
Water park on General Booth Blvd with slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river.
Motor World Thrill Park
Go-kart racing park with multiple tracks plus mini golf.
The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium
Aerial zipline and treetop ropes course adjacent to the Aquarium.
iFLY Virginia Beach
Indoor skydiving wind-tunnel attraction.
Virginia Beach Farmers Market
Long-running city-operated market selling produce and local goods.
Neptune Festival
Long-running annual fall boardwalk festival with sandcastle contests, a parade, and an art show.
7 Things to Do
Virginia Beach National Golf Club
Premier semi-private 18-hole golf course.
Hell’s Point Golf Club
Well-regarded public 18-hole golf course.
Bow Creek Golf Course
City-affiliated municipal golf course.
Red Wing Lake Golf Course
City-affiliated municipal golf course.
Kempsville Greens Golf Course
City-affiliated municipal executive golf course.
Heron Ridge Golf Club
18-hole public/semi-private golf course.
3 Things to Do
Town Center
Urban mixed-use district with upscale shops, restaurants, a cinema, and public art and events space.
Lynnhaven Mall
Large enclosed regional mall with 100+ stores, a movie theater, and dining.
ViBe Creative District
Arts district near the Oceanfront known for murals, galleries, indie shops, and a farmers market.
9 Things to Do
Nauticus & Battleship Wisconsin (Norfolk)
Maritime science museum with an adjacent decommissioned WWII battleship open for self-guided tours.
Chrysler Museum of Art (Norfolk)
Free, highly regarded fine art museum with a notable glass collection and working glass studio.
Norfolk Botanical Garden
175-acre garden with themed collections, boat tours, and a tram.
Virginia Zoo (Norfolk)
City zoo with 400+ animals, part of Norfolk’s cultural district.
MacArthur Memorial (Norfolk)
Museum and tomb of General Douglas MacArthur in downtown Norfolk.
Harbor Park / Norfolk Tides Baseball
Triple-A ballpark on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, home of the Baltimore Orioles affiliate.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum (Portsmouth)
Museum on the history of the oldest U.S. Navy shipyard, plus an adjacent lightship museum.
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Vast forested wetland refuge with a canal trail for biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
Virginia Air & Space Center (Hampton)
Official visitor center for NASA Langley with air and space exhibits and an IMAX theater.
Planning Tips for This Area
- The Boardwalk is free and always open. Budget a morning or evening for a walk or bike ride even if you’re not spending your whole trip at the beach.
- The Virginia Aquarium is worth a half-day. Go early to beat the crowds, especially in summer.
- Cape Henry Lighthouse sits on an active military base. Bring photo ID — visitors need to pass through a Fort Story gate to reach it.
- Norfolk’s museums make an easy half-day trip. Nauticus/Battleship Wisconsin and the free Chrysler Museum of Art are both about 20-25 minutes from the Oceanfront.
What’s the single must-do thing in Virginia Beach?
A walk or bike ride down the Boardwalk, past the King Neptune statue — it’s free, it’s the heart of the resort strip, and it sets up everything else nearby.
Is Virginia Beach the same trip as Williamsburg?
No — they’re about an hour apart. This guide covers Virginia Beach only; Williamsburg (Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg) is planned as its own separate guide.
How does NME choose which attractions to feature?
We verify each attraction directly against its own official site and current operating status rather than relying on aggregator lists, and we exclude anything we can’t confirm is still open. Read more on our methodology page.
Know Something We Missed?
If you know a great Virginia Beach activity or attraction we’re missing, email us and we’ll take a look.
Heading to Virginia Beach?
See the full trip guide — where to stay and where to eat, organized the same way, by category.
