Things to Do in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach sits at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay where it meets the Atlantic Ocean — a city that balances a 3-mile oceanfront boardwalk with quiet maritime forests, a growing arts district, and some of the freshest seafood on the East Coast.

It’s the most populous city in Virginia, but the resort area along Atlantic Avenue feels like a proper beach town — wide sandy beaches, a paved boardwalk buzzing with joggers and cyclists, and oceanfront restaurants where you can watch dolphins cruise by while you eat.

The Boardwalk & Oceanfront

The Virginia Beach Boardwalk runs 3 miles along the oceanfront from 1st Street to 40th Street — one of the longest recreational boardwalks in the US.

What you’ll find along the boardwalk:

The boardwalk is wide enough for walkers, joggers, and cyclists on separate paths. Street performers, live music stages, and vendor stalls pop up throughout the summer. The iconic King Neptune statue at 31st Street is a 34-foot bronze landmark and the most popular photo spot on the beach. The Norwegian Lady statue at 25th Street marks the shipwreck site of the bark Dictator in 1891 — a twin statue stands in Moss, Norway.

Beach access is available at every numbered street crossing. The beach is wide, the sand is soft, and lifeguards are on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day. The resort area between the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue is packed with hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars — it’s walkable and busy in season.

Oceanfront dining — Waterman’s Surfside Grille (legendary orange crush cocktails), Catch 31 (upscale seafood with ocean views), Tautog’s (local institution since 1993), and the fish taco stands at 17th Street.

First Landing State Park

First Landing State Park sits at the northern end of Virginia Beach where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic — and it’s the site where the Jamestown settlers first came ashore in 1607 before continuing up the James River.

The park has 19 miles of hiking and biking trails through bald cypress swamp, live oak forests draped in Spanish moss, and sandy beach frontage on the bay. The Cape Henry Trail is an easy 6-mile loop through some of the most diverse coastal habitat on the Mid-Atlantic.

The beach on the bay side is calm and shallow — much gentler than the ocean side, making it excellent for families with young children. There are also 200+ campsites and 20 cabins if you want to extend your stay beyond the resort.

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

The Virginia Aquarium is one of the best marine science centers on the East Coast. It’s split into two buildings connected by a nature trail — the Chesapeake Bay building and the Atlantic Ocean building — with over 12,000 animals across 800,000 gallons of exhibits.

Highlights include a Red Sea coral reef tank, a Komodo dragon habitat, a sea turtle rescue program, and an outdoor aviary with native shorebirds. The IMAX theater shows ocean and nature documentaries on a six-story screen.

Seasonal boat trips from the aquarium include dolphin watching (summer), whale watching (January–March when humpbacks pass by offshore), and sunset cruises.

ViBe Creative District

The ViBe Creative District is Virginia Beach’s arts neighborhood — a cluster of blocks between the oceanfront and Parks Avenue filled with murals, galleries, artist studios, craft breweries, and locally owned restaurants.

The ViBe mural trail is a self-guided walking tour of 50+ outdoor murals. The district hosts monthly First Friday art walks with open studios and live music. It’s the kind of neighborhood that distinguishes Virginia Beach from generic beach towns — there’s real creative energy here.

In the ViBe district: Commune (craft cocktails and small plates in a converted auto shop), Three Ships Coffee, The Stockpot (local comfort food), and a rotating collection of pop-up markets and food events.

Cape Henry & Lighthouse

Cape Henry is the northeastern tip of Virginia Beach where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic. The Cape Henry Lighthouses — both the original 1792 lighthouse (oldest government-built lighthouse in the US) and the 1881 replacement — are open to visitors. The climb to the top of the new lighthouse gives panoramic views of the bay, ocean, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Fort Story, the military base where the lighthouses sit, requires photo ID for entry but is open to civilian visitors during daylight hours.

The First Landing Cross at Cape Henry marks the approximate site where the Jamestown colonists first set foot on American soil in 1607 — four months before establishing the Jamestown settlement.

Chesapeake Bay Beach

The bay side of Virginia Beach — around Chick’s Beach and Shore Drive — is a completely different vibe from the resort oceanfront. Calm, shallow water. Local seafood restaurants. Paddleboarding and kayaking. Sunset views across the Chesapeake Bay.

Lynnhaven Inlet has excellent crabbing and fishing. Chick’s Beach is a locals’ favorite with calm bay water and less crowded sand. Lesner Bridge at the inlet is a landmark for fishing and the site of several waterfront restaurants.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel — a 17.6-mile engineering marvel connecting Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore — is visible from the bay beaches. You can drive across it for a unique perspective (there’s a fishing pier and restaurant at one of the island sections).

Dining & Seafood

Virginia Beach seafood is defined by the Chesapeake Bay blue crab and local oysters. The Lynnhaven oyster was once so famous that it was served at White House dinners.

Seafood institutions: Waterman’s (the orange crush was invented here), Rockafeller’s (Rudee Inlet, she-crab soup), Coastal Grill (upscale, locally sourced), and Aldo’s Ristorante (Italian-seafood fusion).

Casual & local: Chick’s Oyster Bar (bay side, outdoor seating, raw bar), Big Sam’s Inlet Cafe (Rudee Inlet, dockside casual), Doc Taylor’s (breakfast institution near the boardwalk), and Pocahontas Pancake House (the Virginia Beach morning ritual).

The orange crush — a cocktail made with fresh-squeezed oranges, orange vodka, triple sec, and a splash of Sprite — was invented at Waterman’s and has become Virginia Beach’s signature drink. Every restaurant on the oceanfront serves their own version.

Outdoor Adventures

Kayaking & paddleboarding — Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and First Landing State Park both offer flat-water kayaking through coastal marshes and cypress swamps. Rentals available at multiple locations on Shore Drive and the Rudee Inlet area.

Surfing — Virginia Beach has a legitimate surf scene. The Jetty at Rudee Inlet and 1st Street are popular spots. East Coast Surfing Championships, held every August since 1963, is the second-longest-running surf competition in the world.

Fishing — Deep-sea charters depart from Rudee Inlet for tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi, and wahoo. Inshore fishing in the Chesapeake Bay targets red drum, flounder, and striped bass (rockfish). Pier fishing is available at Virginia Beach Fishing Pier on the boardwalk and Lynnhaven Inlet.

Dolphins — Bottlenose dolphins are regularly spotted from the beach and boardwalk, especially in the summer months. Virginia Aquarium runs dolphin-watching boat trips from Rudee Inlet.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge — A 9,250-acre refuge at the southern end of Virginia Beach with hiking trails, kayak routes, and some of the best birdwatching on the East Coast. Accessible by car or by a scenic bike ride from the oceanfront.

Nightlife & Entertainment

The oceanfront resort area between Atlantic Avenue and the beach comes alive after dark in the summer — bars, live music venues, and rooftop lounges.

Peabody’s — The biggest nightclub at the beach with multiple floors and DJs. A Virginia Beach institution for decades.

Shaka’s — Open-air rooftop bar overlooking the ocean. Live music, tropical cocktails, and arguably the best sunset views on the strip.

Sky Bar at Marriott — Rooftop bar at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront with panoramic views and craft cocktails.

Hot Tuna — Bar and restaurant with live music on the deck, specializing in seafood and craft beer.

The Town Center area (inland, near the convention center) has a more upscale nightlife scene with restaurants, comedy clubs, and a movie theater.

Day Trips from Virginia Beach

Norfolk (20 minutes) — The Chrysler Museum of Art (free admission, world-class glass collection), Nauticus Maritime Museum, USS Wisconsin battleship tour, and the NEON Arts District. Norfolk’s food scene is rapidly growing.

Colonial Williamsburg (1.5 hours) — The largest living history museum in the country. Walk through a restored 18th-century colonial capital with costumed interpreters, working tradespeople, and tavern dining. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is nearby. Williamsburg Fun Things To Do →

Outer Banks, North Carolina (2.5 hours) — The OBX barrier islands start just south of Virginia Beach. Kitty Hawk (Wright Brothers memorial), Jockey’s Ridge (tallest sand dune on the East Coast), and wild horses on Corolla.

Chesapeake Bay Eastern Shore — Drive across the 17.6-mile Bay Bridge-Tunnel to the Eastern Shore for a completely different world — small fishing villages, wildlife refuges, and some of the best crabbing on the bay.

Practical Tips

Getting around: The oceanfront resort area is very walkable. The VB Wave trolley runs along Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Avenue during summer. For First Landing, the aquarium, or the bay side, you’ll need a car or rideshare.

Parking: The oceanfront has metered street parking and garages. In summer, arrive early for street spots or use the garages on Atlantic Avenue. First Landing State Park charges a $15 vehicle entry fee on weekends ($10 weekdays).

When to go: June through September for beach weather and full boardwalk activity. The Neptune Festival in late September is a major celebration with sand sculpting, a boardwalk weekend, and the North American Sand Sculpting Championship. October and November offer mild weather and lower hotel rates.

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