What to do in Yosemite Village, CA

Activities, attractions and tours
Yosemite National Park showing tranquil scenes, a river or creek and mountains

Yosemite Village Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Yosemite Village has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Yosemite Village is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Yosemite Village to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Yosemite Village Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Yosemite Village.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Yosemite Village attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Top places to visit

1. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is an area of extraordinary natural beauty in the center of California. It has abundant flora and fauna in addition to majestic mountains, giant trees, vast valleys and peaceful lakes. Every year, millions of travelers visit the park, which stretches across 747,956 acres (302,687 hectares). Glaciers formed the fascinating landscape about 1 million years ago.
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Yosemite Falls showing mountains and a waterfall

2. Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley is the emerald green heart of Yosemite National Park. Marvel at the soaring granite walls, including some of the park’s most iconic landmarks, flanking this 8-mile (13-kilometer) canyon.
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Yosemite Valley which includes a waterfall and mountains

3. Yosemite Visitor Center

Yosemite Visitor Center presents a superb introduction to the history and majestic scenery of Yosemite National Park. The center is many people’s first port of call when visiting the park. Come here to chat with knowledgeable rangers and plan your discovery of the park and valley. Find interactive exhibits that highlight the park’s varied geological features, vegetation and wildlife.
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Yosemite Visitor Center showing interior views

4. Lower Yosemite Falls

All waterfalls have a certain amount of grandeur, but Lower Yosemite Falls and its upstream counterpart create a majestic presence. The beauty and wonder may have something to do with the effect of the water appearing to come from the sky, as its source can’t be seen from below. Visit Yosemite Village and take the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail that brings you within safe proximity to the bottom of the cascading water.
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Walk near the continent’s tallest waterfall and feel the spray. Time your visit to experience the most breathtaking unobstructed view.

5. Swinging Bridge Picnic Area

Make the Swinging Bridge Picnic Area a frequent stop on your visit to Yosemite National Park, which is filled with natural wonders. Not only is this site next to the river a wonderful setting to have an outdoor meal, but simply walking through this part of the valley is unforgettable. Walk alongside the Merced River to see stunning reflections of overhanging rock formations and view majestic Yosemite Falls.
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Amid the grandeur of the majestic peaks of Yosemite National Park, this quiet spot along the river offers a peaceful location to relax and have a meal.

6. Ahwahnee Meadow

Located in beautiful Yosemite National Park, Ahwahnee Meadow in the Yosemite Valley is a tranquil and picturesque area to spend time appreciating majestic surroundings. Look for Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, which are easily identifiable from the meadow. Drive or hike to the accessible observation deck or catch the bus making regular rounds. Be sure to bring your camera. For a detailed visit, consider the park’s Ranger and Interpretive Programs that include information on the area’s morphology, geology and ecology.
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Yosemite National Park showing forest scenes and tranquil scenes

7. Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater

Nature is usually the star attraction of Yosemite National Park, but at Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater, another type of entertainment takes center stage. During the warmer months, attend slideshows, nature movies, ranger talks and other entertaining and informative activities. Located in the center of Yosemite Valley Lodge, the outdoor amphitheater hosts events every night during the summer.
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Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater featuring a waterfall and forests

8. Yosemite Valley Chapel

A “picture-perfect chapel in the woods” nicely describes Yosemite Valley Chapel. It is tucked up against a colossal rock and nestled among conifers in Yosemite National Park. The New England-style church is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest structure used for public purposes in the park. Visit the nondenominational Yosemite Valley Chapel to view its interior, attend a service or be blessed prior to hiking or climbing some of the park’s more challenging trails and rock formations.
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Surrounded by evergreens and towering rock formations, this church has a storybook feel. Step inside and discover how a young girl climber is remembered.

9. Sentinel Beach Picnic Area

Sentinel Beach Picnic Area offers an idyllic escape from a hectic world amid the relaxing setting of California’s Yosemite National Park. A sandy beach borders the serene Merced River as the water flows past tree-lined banks, while towering rock formations demand attention. Give in to the desire to be part of this landscape and immerse yourself in the area’s great beauty. Raft down the river and enjoy its placid flow.
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Calm crystal-clear water, a sandy beach and a mountainous backdrop make this a perfect area to enjoy a picnic or relaxing break with your family or friends.

Discover the most popular places to visit in Yosemite Village

Image for Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley

From Yosemite Falls to Half Dome and El Capitan, you can see some of the most stunning scenery in the world from Yosemite National Park’s central valley.

Yosemite Valley
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Yosemite Visitor Center

Discover the geological history of the Yosemite Valley, pick up trail maps and shop for souvenirs at this portal to Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite Visitor Center
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Yosemite Falls

You may hear these thundering falls, which are among the top 10 tallest in the world, before you see them in California’s Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite Falls
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Half Dome

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Half Dome during your travels in Yosemite National Park. Amble around the area's riverfront or seek out the hiking trails.

Half Dome
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El Capitan

Experience the enormity of Yosemite Valley’s glacially carved granite peaks when you gaze upon this distinctive formation and rock-climbing landmark.

El Capitan
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Glacier Point

Witness a superb panorama of the Yosemite Valley from this viewing point and spot soaring canyons, plunging falls and granite cliffs along the rugged valley skyline.

Glacier Point
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Tuolumne Meadows

Explore the meadows of Yosemite National Park’s high country and see its velvety green plains studded with stunning granite domes, Sierra willows and wildflowers.

Tuolumne Meadows
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Vernal Falls

The first tier of the Merced River’s magnificent waterfall plunges from a jagged granite precipice in a cloud-like curtain and is surrounded by pines.

Vernal Falls
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Tenaya Lake

View a range of rock formations reflected in serene blue water. This popular destination allows families to hike along the lake’s shoreline.

Tenaya Lake

Day trip destinations from Yosemite Village

Yosemite Valley showing mountains, a sunset and a gorge or canyon

Yosemite National Park