Things to do & places to visit in Hampton, Virginia, United States

The city of Hampton, Virginia, leads the country in the pursuit of aeronautics and space exploration. The home to Langley Air Force Base and NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton has helped put a man on the moon and a lander on Mars. Visit the Virginia Air & Space Center and learn about the scientific contributions made by these two organizations. The Center features over a hundred interactive exhibits, a 3-D IMAX theater and thirty historic aircraft, including the Apollo 12 Command Module.

Hampton city in Virginia, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Thursday, May 09, 2024, 13:59.

Top things to do (24)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Sly Clyde Ciderworks (12 reviews)
- Fun place to hang out!
Thursday: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

Walked around Phoebus and decided to deck into Sly Clyde’s. Gorgeous old home with beautiful woodwork! Enjoyed a drink on the back patio, soaking in the January sunshine! Very busy afternoon for them, with a food truck serving up some yummy pizzas. Great to see this establishment thriving in a cute little piece of Phoebus! Cheers, Sly Clyde’s!! See more..
5.0 Capstan Bar Brewing (7 reviews)
- Awesome local beer!
Thursday: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM Breweries

This is a really neat place with great selection of beers. They also do home beer delivery which we have used a couple of times. Only concern here is that, if not staffed with a driver, they may not be able to deliver on night requested. This happened on 1 of 2 times. See more..
5.0 The American Theatre (4 reviews)
- Great place to see a show!
Spent 1-2 hours Theaters

Cozy, intimately elegant theatre located in the heart of Hampton & Phoebus, VA presenting an array of music, dance, theatre and multicultural performances. See more..
5.0 Blue Skies Gallery (3 reviews)
- Amazing local artistic creations
Art Galleries

Looking for a one of a kind gift or interesting piece to complete the look you want for your home? This is the place. See more..
5.0 Hampton National Cemetery (VAMC) (2 reviews)
- Small resting place for our Soldiers
Spent < 1 hour Cemeteries

I like to stop at all of the National Cemeteries I find when I travel to pay respects to all of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. This is a small, but solemn cemetery. There is parking on site, although not many spaces, with a nice sized monument to Union Soldiers from the Civil War in addition to the 5k individuals interred here. See more..
5.0 Charles H. Taylor Art Center (2 reviews)
- A great place to emerge into the arts
Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries
This is always an exciting place to visit, each time the items are rotated in the gallery. All items are displayed with care and expertise and the items on display are always awesome. To get the most out of your visit, ask for a guided tour given by Mr. Jones who is an expert on the paintings! In addition to being a gallery, this center offers classes in acrylic/water/oil/pastel painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, as well as yoga! It's fun, educational, and enlighting! See more..
5.0 Robert's Antiques (1 review)
- very nice antique store
Antique Shops

This shop is in a building that was built in 1874 and was originally the Kaiser Meat Market. This isn't a huge antique store but I really enjoyed looking at everything they had and we even bought a couple of things. The main aisles were wide and clutter free. I also found the booths to be clutter free. The people working inside were very welcoming. You can find furniture, collectibles, vintage jewelry, gold and silver, glassware, art, ceramics, vintage clothes, books/magazines, toys, china, lighting, linen, and kitchenware. See more..
4.5 Fort Monroe National Monument (228 reviews)
- Fascinating
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

So I had been wanting to visit Fort Monroe for a couple years and on a recent trip to the area, I made a point to stop there. The fort is surrounded by housing and a moat. There are at least two one way bridges across the moat and traffic lights at each to be sure that everyone is safe coming and going. There are still people living on the grounds of the fort so be sure to only park in the museum parking or the few other open parking areas. Outside the museum there is a handy walking guide that takes you to all the highlights I. And out of the fort. The huge tree and the Lincoln gun were really cool and walking along the wall allows for some lovely views out over the water. It was a great place to visit and I feel like I learned a lot. See more..
4.5 Bluebird Gap Farm (160 reviews)
- An Interesting City Park
Farms

Free, great for families, petting zoo, animals & trees, working farm, hands on, near to Convention Center & Coliseum, easy access from I-64 & I-664 See more..
4.5 Sandy Bottom Nature Park (112 reviews)
- COVID Kayak
Parks

Open normal hours during COVID, $4 for one hour kayak rental. Most boats will be only the $4/hr. Great place to kayak for the first time, esp with younger people; this particular trip pictured was the third time I was on the water at Sandy Bottom. The water doesn’t get all that deep, you can see the bottom from the kayak, you just don’t want to swim in it. Suggestion: bring water shoes! Can’t wait to come back in the fall when the leaves change! See more..
4.5 Hampton History Museum (69 reviews)
- Lovely little place with wonderful workers!
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM History Museums

Opened in 2003, the Hampton History Museum serves to increase the awareness and understanding of the history of Hampton by maintaining an educational and research center for the collection, exhibition, interpretation, preservation and promotion of the vast historic resources of the City. See more..
4.5 The Oozlefinch Craft Brewery (64 reviews)
- Bingo!!! A great brewery
Thursday: 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Bars & Clubs

Talk about stumbling into a find. Oozlefinch is a really cool brewery that I value across today... thank God. There beer selection is amazing, 15 in all. Ricky and Trina were amazing and fun while they took care of us at the bar. We ordered 2 flights and away we went! And what a flight it was, I'm still trying to figure out how to land this thing! The beers are amazing, they specialize in an array of sour beers with an amazing color presentation. Today, the food truck was a pizza truck...yum. I will review that shortly! A must stop for those visiting Williamsburg va!! See more..
4.5 Hampton Roads Convention Center (52 reviews)
- Events
Convention Centers

There are a lot of events here. From Tattoo conventions , anime / comic con conventions to garden and quilting shows. See more..
4.5 Park Lane Tavern (30 reviews)
- Great drinks!
Thursday: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM Bars & Clubs

We love the food and the drinks! The monte cristo sandwich is to die for! Happy Hour is pretty good. Great selection of drinks. See more..
4.5 Old Point Comfort Lighthouse (30 reviews)
- Just a walk in the park
Spent < 1 hour Lighthouses

Looking for painted rocks, nice walk along the water, many sights to see. Photo ops and beautiful views See more..
4.5 St. George Brewing Company (27 reviews)
- Cheers to St George!
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

Capping off a day trip around Hampton, we decided to stop into The St George Brewing Company. I fell in love with their Shandy at an event last summer and the lady at the taps happily made me one! We sat inside the brewery at a picnic table and were joined by a couple of guys and enjoyed chatting over our beers. A guitarist showed up and was awesome! Fun way to end a day!! See more..
4.5 Grandview Nature Preserve (26 reviews)
- Protected, hidden gem
Nature & Wildlife Areas

Parking was a bear and so is the walk with young children in all honesty. However, getting past that you quickly realize it's worth the effort, lack of facilities, and biting flies. Once you cross the hill to the Beach, we immediately noticed the difference between this beach and all others in the region. The protected dunes, organic matter washed ashore, the low depth and small waves and tidal nature of the inlet.... It was a dream to spend a fine May Day on the shore here. We saw dolphins, beautiful shells, and a weird looking dead fish that my two sons really enjoyed discovering. All in all, I highly recommend. See more..
4.5 Hampton University Museum (26 reviews)
- One Fabulous Art Experience
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums

From the moment you enter the 2nd floor galleries you know you are in a very special place. For the lover of African American art "experiencing" the collection at the Hampton museum is an education, admiration and a walk through history. How can you describe being face to face with a wall of Henry Ossawa Tanner? Feeling the brushstrokes of Samella Lewis and William Johnson? Seeing the work of a great artist right next to photo of them as a student creating that same work? Here you are surrounded by master works of so many great African American artist - Go and see it for yourself. I was filled up to the brim! See more..
4.5 Hampton Carousel (15 reviews)
- A Majestic Carousel...One of the finest!
Amusement & Theme Parks

The Hampton Carousel is fantastic! I have seen carousels the world over & it is one of the finest. It is beautifully carved & meticulously painted. A real treasure showcased in a spacious pavilion allowing it to be enjoyed year round. It’s conveniently located on the Chesapeake Bay near the easy on/off highway 64. Conveniently located between Virginia Beach & Colonial Williamsburg. Well worth the trip. Make a day of it by visiting the Fort Monroe Casemate Museum, the Air & Space Museum or the Hampton History Museum nearby. See more..
4.5 Langley Speedway (7 reviews)
- Great place if you enjoy racing
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Auto Racing Tracks

Lots of different types of racing. I always enjoy coming to racing when I'm in Norfolk visiting. Quick ride to the speedway. Food is good, I had the bologna burger. See more..
4.5 Thimble Shoal Lighthouse (6 reviews)
- Great place to dive for Thimbles!
Thursday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Lighthouses

The Shoal has an artificial reef around it. Great place to hook into some bay fish. Never know what you might catch. Within easy distance of the POC, Fort Wool and or Fort Monroe. See more..
4.0 Virginia Air & Space Science Center (552 reviews)
- IMAX 3D Tickets
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums • Science Museums

Aerospace museum that holds more than 100 exhibits, including the Apollo 12 command module and several IMAX films. See more..
4.0 Buckroe Beach and Park (417 reviews)
- Perfect Beach Day
Beaches

We were looking to spend the day at the beach but wanted to go somewhere to relax without all the hustle. This beach was perfect!! We arrived at noon on a Saturday and easily found a place to park. Found a spot close to the water and enjoyed an afternoon at the beach. We packed a cooler and didn’t venture much much I did see food trucks and concession stands. The beach was patrolled often which was nice to see. It was mostly families and couples not too much of a younger crowd. The water wasn’t very rough which made for a really nice day. See more..
4.0 Hampton Coliseum (118 reviews)
- Basslights 2012
Arenas & Stadiums

Had a great time at the concert held at Hampton Coliseum. Our hotel location was great as we were able to park and walk back and forth for each night of the concert. See more..
4.0 Air Power Park (75 reviews)
- Jacob is the Best!
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Speciality Museums

This museum is so cool. I took my little boy on July 29th, 2021. We were impressed that it was free. It only that we were giving an epic tour by Jacob who works there. Jacob was so knowledgeable and patient with my little boy who had so many questions. If you’re into airplanes or helicopters I recommend that you see Jacob at this location. See more..
4.0 Bull Island Brewing Co (50 reviews)
- COVID visit
Thursday: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Bars & Clubs

What a fabulous view of the water! We sat outside and had lunch. The turkey sandwich was excellent and came with a bag of chips and pickle for 10 bucks. More than I could eat! Staff was very accommodating since I am not a pesto fan and got the garlic aioli instead. All staff wearing masks. Parked in garage above establishment with no fee. Go out and enjoy the view. Cheers! See more..
3.0 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (30 reviews)
- Driving Under A Bay is a Unique Experience, But Traffic Be Warned
Thursday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Bridges

My wife and I were routed through here going from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach. Driving under a bay is definitely a unique experience, but the traffic to get into it was absolutely brutal. When we first left the hotel, Siri said we had a 45 minute trip ahead of us. 2 hours and 15 minutes later, we arrived at our destination.... Most of this extra time came in the form of a total stand-still on the interstate for over an hour waiting to get into this tunnel. See more..
3.0 Hampton City Hall (15 reviews)
- Workshop At City Hall
Architectural Buildings

I've visited City Hall several times but the last time was to attend a workshop offered by Source For Teachers. Security is always friendly and helpful when it comes to getting to the right office on the right floor. I'm always pleased when the restroom facilities are clean and smell pleasant. I've always found the building to be cleaning and inviting as well. The conference space was in good condition and equipment worked as intended. All experiences have been pleasant. To pay personal property taxes, I use the online service which is very easy, therefore I don't have to visit for that reason. See more..
3.0 Rosie's Gaming Emporium (12 reviews)
- Parking for HDCP.
Spent 2-3 hours Casinos

Experience the excitement of non-stop gaming action with your favorite themes! Rosie's Gaming features 700 state of the art Historical Horse Racing games. Visit Rosie's throughout the year and hit the jackpot. See more..
First Calvary Baptist Church (0 review)
Churches & Cathedrals
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