Picture Perfect in RVA
Find the perfect picture-worthy places to visit in downtown Richmond!
Whether you’re visiting Richmond for the first time or enjoying a weekend adventure in the River City you call home, downtown is full of photo ops perfect for creating memories and capturing beautiful moments. From the James to the State Capitol, we’ve narrowed the list down to 30+ places to photograph and be photographed in downtown Richmond. Whether it's engagement photos, your family's holiday card or a cute candid for social media, Downtown Richmond is the best backdrop to use.
Belle Isle
Located along the James River in downtown Richmond, Belle Isle is a great place for people with a love for the outdoors, granting them the opportunity to view wildlife in its natural habitat. From wooded areas to mountain biking trails, interpreted historical sites, a granite wall for rock climbing and wheelchair-accessible fishing at the quarry pond, guests have a variety of options to choose from.
Address: 300 Tredegar Street
Website: VentureRichmond.com
Brown's Island
Brown’s Island is one of the most popular public park spaces in the city of Richmond. Located on the Richmond riverfront along the James River, the island features access to the Canal Walk, Manchester and more!
Address: 500 Tredegar Street
Website: VentureRichmond.com
ICA at VCU
The Institute of Contemporary Art at VCU showcases an ever-changing slate of exhibitions, performances, films and special programs that translate our world into every medium. The ICA features a shop, a community media center, a cafe and more. The ICA is open Tuesday-Sunday, from 10 AM-5 PM.
Address: 601 W. Broad Street
Website: icavcu.org
The Low Line
The Low Line is a welcoming green space connecting Great Shiplock Park and beginning of the Virginia Capital Trail to the Canal Walk that features an urban oasis along the James River for cyclists and pedestrians.
Location: The Richmond Floodwall at 17th Street to Great Shiplock Park
Website: VentureRichmond.com
Maggie Walker Plaza
The Maggie L. Walker Memorial Plaza is a plaza designated by the City of Richmond to honor the life and legacy of Richmond native, Maggie L. Walker. The statue is surrounded by 10 benches each describing events and achievements in Mrs. Walker's illustrious life. From being the first woman - and African American woman - to charter a bank, to leading the Independent Order of St. Luke, each bench represents a different aspect of this multi-faceted leader. Today, the plaza is a short walk from the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site in Historic Jackson Ward and it serves as a welcoming community meeting place for all who wish to visit.
Location: W. Broad & N. Adams Street
Website: nps.gov
Main Street Station
Originally opened more than a century ago in 1901, Main Street Station remains an iconic and historic landmark in Richmond. From the Clock Tower to The Shed, Main Street Station features gorgeous views and architecture inside and out.
Address: 1500 E. Main Street
Website: mainstreetstationrichmond.com
Manchester Floodwall Walk
Unique views of the James River, the city skyline and historic sites can be seen from atop the Floodwall on the southern side. Completed in 1995 to protect areas of downtown and Manchester from devastating flooding, the southbank section comprises Floodwall Park, a popular spot for hikers, runners, fishermen, bird watchers and kayakers.
Location: 14th Street
Website: VentureRichmond.com
Riverfront Canal Walk
Richmond’s Canal Walk features art, restaurants and four centuries of our state capital’s history depicted through fascinating medallions, statues and exhibits. Enjoy a walk, bike ride or a Riverfront Canal Cruise through the historic Canal Walk in downtown RVA and discover Richmond's history along the way. Don't forget to check out the Canal Walk murals along the way!
Location: Brown's Island or Turning Basin
Website: VentureRichmond.com
RVA Street Art and Murals
You can find 150+ murals and street art throughout downtown RVA and Richmond, a city that thinks of its streets as a canvas for creativity. From Mending Walls to the RVA Street Art Festival, here are "20 Places to Find Street Art in Downtown Richmond."
Website: VentureRichmond.com
Shockoe Slip
Cobblestone streets, specialty shops and the Riverfront Canal Walk make up the picturesque neighborhood of Shockoe Slip and is home to attractions like The First Freedom Center, Riverfront Canal Cruises and the Pipeline Walk. Shockoe Slip takes the best elements of downtown Richmond - the James River, the history of the city, creativity and culture - and brings them all together. Shockoe Slip is a must-see part of downtown Richmond for locals and visitors to see all of the best that Richmond has to offer.
Location: S. 12th and Cary Streets
Website: VentureRichmond.com
T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge
The T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge provides unequaled river vistas. The panoramic views of the downtown skyline paired with sounds that fail to give the impression of the extraordinarily close relationship of the bridge to the roaring river, are an experience we highly recommend.
Location: Brown's Island
Website: VentureRichmond.com
Capitol Square
The Capitol of Virginia was designed in 1785 by Thomas Jefferson. It is the first American State Capitol designed after the Revolutionary War and the first public building in the New World to be constructed in the form of a classical Roman temple. Today, the Capitol offers a beautiful public space featuring original statues and artwork, a fountain, flowers and more.
Address: 1000 Bank Street
Website: virginiageneralassembly.gov
Virginia War Memorial
The Virginia War Memorial is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s premier monument, museum and educational center dedicated to Virginians who served to defend the United States from World War II through today. The memorial offers beautiful views of the downtown riverfront and Richmond sunsets.
Address: 621 S. Belvidere Street
Website: vawarmemorial.org
The Valentine Wickham House Garden
Located in the heart of historic downtown Richmond in the Court End neighborhood, the Valentine is a place for residents and tourists to discover the diverse stories that tell the broader history of our city. Within the Valentine, you'll find a secluded garden that offers a green getaway from downtown's bustling city center.
Address: 1015 E. Clay Street
Website: thevalentine.org
MySelfies
Myselfiesrva is a distinctive Arts District selfie gallery that has a vision to provide a unique approach to appreciating various art forms by making exhibits fully interactable, where both introverts and extroverts can express themselves!
Address: 12 W. Broad Street
Website: myselfies.photo
Downtown RVA Rooftops
You won't find a better skyline, or this many rooftop restaurants, anywhere else in RVA. Enjoy a drink and the best views of Richmond at any of downtown Richmond's rooftop bars and restaurants:
List: Rooftop Bars in Downtown Richmond
- Byrd House at Graduate Richmond
- Common House
- Havana '59
- Juan's Rooftop & Cantina
- Kabana Rooftop
- Q Rooftop Bar at Quirk Hotel
More Instagrammable Spots in Downtown RVA
Shops, Hotels, Restaurants and more!
- Bar Solita
- The Boathouse
- Casa del Barco
- Grandstaff & Stein
- Havana '59
- Hotel Greene
- Ironclad Coffee Roasters
- Jefferson Hotel
- Lift Coffee Shop & Cafe
- Quirk Hotel
- The Tobacco Company
Written by Hunter Bonniwell
