What to do in Roanoke, VA

Activities, attractions and tours

Roanoke featuring heritage elements and street scenes
Roanoke featuring heritage elements and street scenes
Roanoke featuring autumn leaves and forests
Roanoke showing heritage elements
Roanoke showing mountains and a lake or waterhole

Roanoke Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Roanoke 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

Roanoke 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 Roanoke 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.

Roanoke 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 Roanoke.

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 Roanoke attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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What to do in Roanoke

Discover the most popular places to visit in Roanoke

Mill Mountain Star showing outdoor art

Mill Mountain Star

Visit this iconic mountaintop landmark and admire panoramic views over the city of Roanoke. Look up at the symbol from the city at night when it shines bright.

Mill Mountain Star
Downtown Roanoke is an awesome hangout with some great bars and restaurants

Center in the Square

Find out about the history of Roanoke when you spend time at Center in the Square. Discover the area's mountain views and shops.

Center in the Square
One of the many trains on display. It's not the best museum by any means but for $8, you can't complain.

Virginia Museum of Transportation

You can spend time studying the exhibits at Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke. Attend a sporting event or discover the area's mountain views.

Virginia Museum of Transportation
Lovely entrance to a wonderful museum to see the Norman Rockwell exhibit.

Taubman Museum of Art

You can spend an afternoon exploring the galleries in Taubman Museum of Art during your trip to Roanoke. Discover the area's mountain views and shops.

Taubman Museum of Art
Mill Mountain Star showing mountains, landscape views and a city

Mill Mountain Park

Enjoy the mountain views and explore Mill Mountain Park, a lovely green space in Roanoke. You can attend a sporting event while in the area.

Mill Mountain Park
Strong curves and lines of the Church

St. Andrews Catholic Church

After visiting St. Andrews Catholic Church, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Roanoke. Attend a sporting event or discover the area's mountain views.

St. Andrews Catholic Church

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital

Though Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of Roanoke while you are here.

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital

Berglund Center

Catch an event at Berglund Center during your trip to Roanoke. Attend a sporting event or discover the area's mountain views.

Berglund Center

Valley View Mall

During your trip to Roanoke, you can browse for the perfect souvenirs at Valley View Mall. Attend a sporting event or discover the area's mountain views.

Valley View Mall

Explore areas of Roanoke

Roanoke showing a city

Downtown Roanoke

While visiting Downtown Roanoke, you might make a stop by sights like Center in the Square and Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Downtown Roanoke
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Old Southwest

Boasting a mix of architectural styles like Queen Anne and Colonial Revival, this historic district home to Roanoke's first public park, Highland Park, and the Beth Israel Synagogue, with commercial areas concentrated along Franklin Road.

Old Southwest
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Wasena

While Wasena isn't home to many top sights, Jefferson Center and Virginia Museum of Transportation are some notable places to visit nearby.

Wasena
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South Roanoke

While visiting South Roanoke, you might make a stop by sights like River's Edge Sports Complex and Mill Mountain Park.

South Roanoke
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Norwich

While there might not be top attractions in Norwich, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Jefferson Center and Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Norwich
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Greater Raleigh Court

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Greater Raleigh Court and surrounding area, you can visit Jefferson Center and Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Greater Raleigh Court

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Roanoke

I'm on top of the world! 8 mi hike, for all levels (pace can vary) located on the Appalachian trail. #nofilter

Salem

Highly recommend camping overnight to experience sunrise over McAfee's Knob along the Appalachian Trail.

Troutville

Kayak rentals are $7/hr or 11 for 2hours

Daleville

Blue Ridge Parkway

Boones Mill

Frequently asked questions

Is Roanoke worth visiting?
Roanoke offers a unique blend of local charm, attractions and culture. Whether you're into outdoor activities, history or traditional cuisine, there's a lot to enjoy here.
How do I spend a day in Roanoke?
Mill Mountain Zoo and Splash Valley at Green Ridge Recreation Centre are two great places to kick-start your getaway adventures. Be sure to check out the dining and retail options in Roanoke while you're there too.
What is the top tourist attraction in Roanoke?
You can't go home without visiting Taubman Museum of Art, rated the top tourist attraction in Roanoke.
Is three days enough to stay in Roanoke?
Three days will be plenty of time to tick off the leading city attractions, including Taubman Museum of Art, Mill Mountain Zoo and Splash Valley at Green Ridge Recreation Centre. The average stay in Roanoke is two days. If you feel the urge to extend your getaway, Salem isn't far away.
Is Roanoke a walkable city?
It all depends on what you want to do and see in Roanoke. Several top sights, like Taubman Museum of Art and Mill Mountain Zoo, are accessible on foot. If you're up for a stroll through some of Roanoke's neighbourhoods, Old Southwest is 2 kilometres away from downtown, while Downtown Roanoke is 2 kilometres away from the city centre and also within walking distance.
What are some activities to do in Roanoke with kids?
If you're searching for sights and tours for all of your group, have a look at these terrific ideas for what to do in Roanoke with kids.
What to do in Roanoke for adults?
Whether you're a culture enthusiast, food lover or outdoor adventurer, there are plenty of things to do in Roanoke for adults including Berglund Centre and Civic Centre.
Are there free things to do in Roanoke?
One of the top ways to find free things to do in Roanoke is to ask a local tour guide. You'll get insider advice on hip neighbourhoods, parks and other top attractions you can experience without reaching into your pocket. Art Museum of Western Virginia is one place that doesn't have an entrance fee.