As a full-fledged Virginian, I have a special place in my heart for small towns and cities in the Commonwealth, particularly those near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many of them are home to world-class music, incredible culinary scenes, and unmatched outdoor recreation — yet they still manage to fly under the radar, often bypassed for bigger or more well-known destinations within the state. Staunton (pronounced Stan-ten) is one of those places.

“It has all the charm and history of a small town and the cultural footprint of a much larger city,” says Nikki West, owner and cider maker at Ciders From Mars. “The folks who live here are known for being friendly and generally very open-minded. We are especially lucky to have a thriving queer community and a vibrant arts scene.” The latter includes a venue modeled after Shakespeare’s Blackfriars Theatre and the Staunton Music Festival, an annual 10-day affair that brings nearly 100 musicians to historic Staunton.

But that’s just the start of what makes Staunton so special. It’s also a college town — Mary Baldwin University overlooks the downtown area — with an open-air living history museum, restaurants helmed by a James Beard Award-nominated chef, and a sightseeing train that brings passengers through the gorgeous Shenandoah Valley.

Best Hotels

The Historic Berkeley Place

History runs deep in Staunton, established as a town in 1761. To experience some of its past first-hand, book a room at The Historic Berkeley Place. Each of the eight suites in the mansion, which dates back to the 1890s, is uniquely designed, and the convenient location puts you within walking distance of many of Staunton’s most popular sites – including the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum and American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse.

Hotel 24 South

Jason Stell, executive director of Staunton Music Festival, says he always recommends Hotel 24 South, as it’s “located in the heart of downtown and guests can park the car and just walk to everything.” The pet-friendly property mixes historic charm with modern amenities — a heated indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and complimentary Wi-Fi — and has two on-site restaurants, The 1924 Lounge and Magnolia South.

Frederick House

Another one of Stell’s selects, Frederick House bills itself as a property that “offers the privacy of a hotel, with the personal experience of a bed-and-breakfast.” The 20-room inn is made up of five historic houses, all of which are located in the center of historic downtown Staunton, and guests enjoy a hearty, homemade breakfast each morning.

Things to Do

See a live performance.

The arts are alive and well in Staunton, and many travelers make their way to this part of Virginia to experience its music and theater. The Staunton Music Festival takes place each summer — the 2025 dates are Aug. 15 to 24 — and hosts dozens of chamber, vocal, and symphonic music concerts as well as lectures and dinners each day. The festival also puts on BaroqueFest in April, an event that showcases the work and inspirations of J. S. Bach.

Stell also recommends “catching a show at Blackfriars Playhouse to experience the rarity of this theater.” American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse is purportedly, as he describes, “the only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor playhouse in the world.”

Get your steps in.

Much of Staunton’s beauty is best experienced on foot. “Go up to the overlook on Sears Hill for a gorgeous sweeping view of the city skyline,” says West, who also suggests strolling around Thornrose Cemetery if you want to be “amazed by the historic gravestones and mausoleums.”

Go museum-hopping.

Staunton has several museums to check out while you’re in town. The Frontier Culture Museum is the “biggest open-air living history museum in the Shenandoah Valley,” and educates visitors on the lives of European settlers, Indigenous Native American tribes, and the enslaved individuals who lived in the area in the 17th and 18th centuries. At the Camera Heritage Museum, you’ll find a collection of 7,000 antique and modern-day cameras. With a general admission ticket to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, visitors can walk through President Wilson’s Birthplace and take a self-guided tour of the museum’s seven galleries, which detail the president’s life as well as his presidency.

Explore Staunton’s historic districts.

Staunton has not one, but six historic districts: Beverley, the Wharf, Gospel Hill, Stuart Addition, Newtown, and The Villages Historic District. This walking map is a handy guide to each one, but if your schedule is tight — and you can’t see everything — West recommends “walking down Beverley Street and through the Wharf for loads of shopping and dining options,” adding that there’s “something for everyone.”

Visit Shenandoah National Park.

A gateway to Shenandoah National Park, Staunton is just a 25-minute drive from the park’s closest entrance, Rockfish Gap. Within the park, you can head down the 105-mile Skyline Drive, stopping to admire the different viewpoints or venturing out from one of the nearby trailheads.

Best Shopping

Staunton Farmers Market

“If possible, be here during the Saturday morning farmers market, so roughly April to October,” says Stell. Located in the Wharf Parking Lot in historic downtown Staunton, the Staunton Farmers’ Market features vendors selling fresh bread, local cheeses, fresh doughnuts, fruit, and more.

EccoHollow Art and Sound

“EccoHollow Art and Sound is the best record store in town,” says West. Here, she says, you’ll find “tons of cool new and vintage records,” as well as a rotating roster of refreshed equipment and gear.

Barrister Books

“I love books, so I make a point to periodically peruse the holdings at Barrister Books,” says Stell. The shop specializes in buying and selling old, used, and rare books, and it’s the perfect stop as you’re meandering around downtown Staunton.

Best Restaurants

Gloria’s Pupuseria

“The best casual dining experience in Staunton is, hands down, at Gloria’s Pupuseria,” says West. “Their made-from-scratch El Salvadoran food is authentic, delicious, and naturally gluten-free. As someone who lives with celiac disease, this restaurant is my safe space and my absolute favorite spot in town to grab lunch, dinner, or a spicy margarita.”

Queen City Bistro

Queen City Bistro tops the list for both West and Stell.  “They are a newer addition to the Staunton food scene but have made a big impression,” says West. Stell adds that you can expect “excellent” meals, “no exceptions,” and West confirms the Beverley Street eatery has a “fantastic brunch menu and tasty, creative cocktails.”

Pizza Luca

Stell says it’s “tough to choose” his favorite restaurants in Staunton, “because there are almost as many restaurants as churches in this little town,” but he says the “great pizza, energetic vibe, and outdoor dining” at Pizza Luca shouldn’t be missed.

Maude & the Bear

“The best fine dining establishment has to be Maude & the Bear,” says West. Recently shortlisted as a Best New Restaurant semi-finalist in the 2025 James Beard Awards, Chef Ian Boden’s newest spot serves a tasting menu from Thursday through Saturday, although guests of the inn-restaurant enjoy a multi-course breakfast as well. “You’ll have to make reservations well in advance, but it’s worth it,” says West.

Best Time to Visit

“There is no bad time to visit Staunton, but it’s hard to beat fall,” says West. “The fall foliage is so beautiful, and every September, the whole city magically transforms to host our annual Queen City Mischief & Magic Festival.” You can also see the array of autumn colors from the Virginia Scenic Railway’s excursions — the Alleghany Special and the Blue Ridge Flyer — both of which are infinitely more beautiful in the fall.

According to Stell, spring in Staunton gives way to “blooming dogwoods and garden tours,” and summer is the definitive best season for anyone interested in music. Live performances are plentiful, from the summer concert series in Gypsy Hill Park to the various venues used during the Staunton Music Festival.

How to Get There

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) is technically the closest airport to Staunton — just a 25-minute drive away — but it only provides daily round-trip flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) via Contour Airlines. Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO) and Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) are other options for travelers, but you’ll need to rent a car to drive the respective 45 and 87 miles to Staunton.

Alternatively, you can take the train. “The Amtrak train comes right into the Wharf, so you don’t even need to drive to get here,” says West; Amtrak’s Cardinal runs between New York and Chicago and makes stops in Staunton as well as nearby Charlottesville.

How to Get Around

Even if you take the train to Staunton, you may still want a car to explore the surrounding area. “If you do drive, we are conveniently located close to scenic and historic Skyline Drive within Shenandoah National Park, as well as the George Washington National Forest,” says West. “Both are great locations for outdoor recreation.”