Virginia Beach itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Virginia Beach, day by day: the Virginia Aquarium, the Oceanfront, the Old Coast Guard Station Museum, First Landing State Park and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel first, then Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Henry Lighthouse, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art and the historic houses as you add a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Virginia Beach in 1 day
Day 1
Virginia Aquarium
Aquarium and marine science centre on Owls Creek with sharks, sea turtles, otters and boat trips on the creek.
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Three-mile boardwalk and wide beach in the resort district, with a bike path, restaurants, hotels and a fishing pier.
Old Coast Guard Station Museum
Museum in the 1903 Seatack life-saving station on the Oceanfront, on shipwrecks, rescues and the history of the Coast Guard.
First Landing State Park
State park on the Chesapeake Bay where English settlers first landed in 1607, with beaches, cypress swamp and forest trails.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
Roughly 23-mile crossing of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, with two tunnels, bridges and a fishing pier on a man-made island.
Virginia Beach in 2 days
Day 1
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Federal refuge of beach, dunes and marsh south of the Oceanfront, with trails and birdwatching, especially during the migration seasons.
Virginia Aquarium
Aquarium and marine science centre on Owls Creek with sharks, sea turtles, otters and boat trips on the creek.
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Three-mile boardwalk and wide beach in the resort district, with a bike path, restaurants, hotels and a fishing pier.
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of contemporary art close to the Oceanfront, with changing exhibitions and a sculpture garden.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel
Roughly 23-mile crossing of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, with two tunnels, bridges and a fishing pier on a man-made island.
Day 2
Old Coast Guard Station Museum
Museum in the 1903 Seatack life-saving station on the Oceanfront, on shipwrecks, rescues and the history of the Coast Guard.
First Landing State Park
State park on the Chesapeake Bay where English settlers first landed in 1607, with beaches, cypress swamp and forest trails.
Cape Henry Lighthouse
Pair of lighthouses at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, with the 1792 tower the oldest federal building of its kind in the US.
Lynnhaven House
Restored farmhouse built about 1725, one of the best-kept early colonial houses in Virginia, opened for guided tours.
Ferry Plantation House
Brick house from the 1830s on the site of an early colonial ferry, kept as a museum with local history exhibits.
Watch: Virginia Beach
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Virginia Beach
Late spring and early autumn are the pleasant seasons, with warm weather for the boardwalk and beaches without the biggest crowds. Summer is hot, humid and busy, with the Oceanfront at its liveliest. Winters are cool with little crowd, and some seasonal attractions and trails are closed. Hurricane season runs from June to November.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Virginia Beach on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Virginia Beach on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Virginia Beach on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Virginia Beach
- The Oceanfront boardwalk runs about three miles along the beach, with a bike path, shops and restaurants, and is easy to walk or cycle.
- Cape Henry Lighthouse and the Cape Henry Memorial lie on a military base (Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story), so bring photo ID and expect a gate check.
- False Cape State Park has no road access; visitors arrive on foot, by bike or by boat, and the walk from the car park is several miles, so plan a full day.
- Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge protects beach, dunes and marsh south of the Oceanfront; trails are open in daylight, and insect repellent helps in summer.
- Hurricane season runs from June to November, so check forecasts when planning a late-summer trip.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Lago Mar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cape Henry Lighthouse: United States Navy, Photographer's Mate 1st Class Ken Riley, Public domain
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ferry Plantation House: Rlevse, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Landing State Park: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
- Lynnhaven House: SueCorcoran, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Coast Guard Station Museum: SueCorcoran, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Virginia Aquarium: Rlevse, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Virginia Beach Oceanfront: DanRVA, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art: Rachel Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
