8 Cheap or Free Things to do in Richmond, VA

8 Cheap Or Free Things To Do In Richmond, VA

Great news: you can have fun in Richmond, VA without blowing your budget! Whether you’re a local itching for something new or a visitor trying to soak up the city vibes on the cheap, RVA is packed with wallet-friendly activities. From adventures on the River to incredible street art, from history to foodie experiences, we’ve rounded up the best free (and almost free) things to do in Richmond, VA. 

Take in RVA’s Street Art Scene

Richmond’s art scene is unmatched. With murals seemingly on every building and around each corner, there is no shortage of incredible art to check out. The Richmond Mural Project helped bring a ton of these to life – the goal was to create more than 100 murals around RVA in five years. There are several free sites on which to find murals and their locations, or you can snag an inexpensive ($28) Discover Richmond Tours self-guided mural tour, complete with a Google Maps overlay, descriptions, pictures, and more!

Visit Richmond’s Black History Museum

A Richmond itinerary must is a visit to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. Located in historic Jackson Ward, BHMVA shares, interprets, preserves, exhibits, and commemorates the rich history and culture of African Americans throughout Virginia and beyond. Here you’ll find untold and forgotten stories that inspire, and you’ll leave wanting more! Tickets are just $10 for adults, $8 for students, seniors, and children 4-12, and those under 4 are free.

Picnic at a World-Class Art Museum

Grab some lawn chairs or a blanket, your favorite picnic items, and head over to the Virginia Museum of Fine Art (VMFA)! The back lawn is perfectly manicured with gorgeous lawn art for you to enjoy while you eat your snacks from home, or lunch from nearby Carytown. Some of our favorite picnic lunch items include sandwiches from Coppola’s and pizza from Zorch. When you’re done eating, walk around the VMFA, which is open 365 days a year, and is FREE to enjoy!

Walk Through Carytown AKA “Mile of Style”

When you search for “Things to do in Richmond,” one of the first results will be Carytown. That’s because this incredible, milelong stretch of road is home to several dozen boutiques, restaurants, cafes, one gorgeous 1920s era movie theatre, and more! Did you know Carytown doesn’t have any kind of historic designation? That’s on purpose so every shop can have its own identity without needing to go through official channels to paint or decorate in whatever style they want. Trust us when we say it’s worth the walk through! 

Discover Richmond on a Scavenger Hunt

Are you interested in getting to know different neighborhoods in Richmond, but don’t know where to start? Try an app-based Discover Richmond Scavenger Hunt ($28 per device – we recommend up to 4 people per device), which is half self-guided tour and half interactive game. Once you download our scavenger hunt app, we’ll lead you to Richmond’s most interesting sights and stories, and at each spot, you’ll be prompted with a trivia question you’ll answer by looking around you! Choose from Church Hill, Downtown/Capitol Square, and the Museum District!

Visit the Gardens at Maymont

Another oft-mentioned experience in Richmond is visiting Maymont! Maymont is 100 acres of green space in the heart of RVA with an interactive farm the kiddos (and adults, let’s be honest) will love, curated gardens with a diversity of plants and impressive architecture, and an impressive wildlife trail. Best of all? Entry to Maymont is completely free! (Though there is a donation box at the nature center that we highly suggest you contribute to, whatever your budget.)

Find a Favorite Overlook

Are you like us and in search of the best view of Richmond? Then we’ve got the list for you! Check out our post about the best views and overlooks in RVA. It doesn’t get more free than just heading to every high (or low – don’t count these out!) point in Richmond and checking out the view!

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