Visit petersburg
Petersburg is a small city with a rich and long history. In Petersburg, you’ll find a burgeoning bar and restaurant scene, art galleries, antiques and shopping, a farmers market on Saturdays, and many other spots that are off the beaten path. If this is your first time in Virginia, we invite you to add Petersburg to your itinerary!
food & drink
Petersburg is home to a community of restaurateurs who love their city and have worked hard to offer great culinary experiences from classic English Pub fare to authentic Thai. Get up early to grab some great coffee or a pastry, both just a short walk from Strawberry Hill. If you prefer something heartier, sit down for biscuits & gravy, then peruse the local goods for sale at our Saturday farmer’s market. For lunch, help yourself to barbecue or a fish fry. If you need a little perk, stop for afternoon tea. Unwind at our local brewery or martini bar. End your day with a stroll along cobblestone streets to find the dinner of your choosing.
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shopping & antiques
Petersburg has a reputation as a locale loaded with antiques, one-of-a-kinds, and bargains. We have half a dozen antique shops bursting with treasures for the dedicated shopper. Walking distance from Strawberry Hill, you will find Sycamore Street. Wander along it from Washington Street towards the Appomattox River and turn left onto Old Street. You are sure to find the gifts, home decor, art, or furniture you’ve been searching for. Buy a bouquet! If you are in the market for a vintage piece for your wardrobe or a new tattoo, we’ve got you covered.
See the full list here.
recreation & relaxation
The Appomattox River is the life blood of the city and the very reason it exists. Peter Jones established his trading post here at the fall line in 1675. You can acquaint yourself with our lovely waterway by walking or biking along the trails that parallel its course. You can also try your hand at fishing! The river is teaming with herring and shad in the spring as well as bass and catfish all year round. After your day’s activities, relax in a Petersburg spa, book a facial or massage, or do some yoga. If you’re in the mood for a thrill, visit Escape Old Towne! Catch a live outdoor show or check out the latest art exhibit. And if you’re here the second Friday of the month, head downtown to join the city in Friday for the Arts, a monthly celebration of the city’s artists and merchants.
See the full list here.
a rich history
A day in Petersburg is a day surrounded by history. If you’re here to see Civil War battlefields, Petersburg is famous for the Battle of the Crater. Petersburg also played significant roles in Colonial history, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. Home to the oldest Black community in the United States, the City extended its influence beyond the USA, as its freed Black population gave Liberia its first president, Joseph Jenkins Roberts. Visit his monument while you are here! Virginia State University, situated on the bluffs overlooking Petersburg, developed as the United States’ first fully state-supported institution of higher learning for Black Americans. The complexity of Petersburg’s history is a reflection of the complexity of the American story.
See the full list here.