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Planning a Visit to Roanoke

Category:  What’s New

Since you’ve landed here, it seems safe to assume you’re planning a trip to Roanoke, VA. If you want all the details on where to stay and what to do while you’re here, you’ve arrived in the right place. Downtown Roanoke is the perfect destination to center your visit around. Regardless of the season, there’s always a reason to visit. Read over this post to prepare for your stay.

Where to Stay

One of the unique rooms in Fire Station One Boutique Hotel

If you’re in need of a place to lay your head, might we recommend one of our five hotels. Staying in the heart of the city means you'll have easy access to restaurants, shopping, live music, entertainment, outdoor amenities, and more. Downtown Roanoke is the perfect place for your stay. Take a look over the hotels you’ll find in Downtown Roanoke and learn more about what they offer.

Learn about downtown hotels

What to Do When You Get Here

There’s always a lot going on downtown but how do you know what your options are? Take a look at our event calendar. We share our events and any others that happen all over Downtown Roanoke. There’s something fun to get into every day of the week…from live music to karaoke, yoga, happy hours, and so much more.

Golden Cactus Brewing Outdoor Area

We've also put together a few guides to help take you through more downtown options like breweries and museums. Take a look to really dig in!


Annual Events

There are plenty of large events that take place every year. If you're still deciding when to make your visit, the list below may help you narrow it down.

Elmwood on Ice - Outdoor Skating
Fall 

    Winter

Local Colors Festival
Spring

Summer

Explore Downtown Roanoke

With 70+ restaurants, 30+ retailers, and the oldest continuously operating Farmer’s Market in the Commonwealth, there’s plenty to explore during your visit.

The Historic Roanoke City Market
  • Visit the Historic City Market - In the heart of Downtown Roanoke since 1882, our vendors offer locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants, plus fresh meats, cheeses, baked goods, and artisan hand-crafted items. The best time to visit the market is on Saturday when we have the largest selection of vendors present. Other days of the week, you may catch a few vendors.
  • Get ready to shop local. Take a look at our downtown retailers.
  • With so many restaurants to choose from, there's pretty much something for every taste. Look over the list of restaurants and make a plan (and some reservations!)

Explore the Outdoors

Roanoke River & Roanoke River Greenway in downtown

Our metro-mountain mix means we have an abundance of activities to get you out and enjoying the fresh air.

Keep it Moving

Being away from home doesn’t mean you need to get out of your fitness routine. If you’re looking for a way to workout while you’re here, we have options for you. In addition to the miles of greenways, hiking, and biking options we listed above, there are more structured options as well.

Where to Park

With a few minutes of pre-planning, you can easily identify your best parking options. We recommend PARK Roanoke lots and garages for their convenience and reasonable pricing.

Learn about parking

Explore Before You Arrive

Virtual Tour of Downtown Roanoke

With high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic views, our virtual tour is a great way to get familiar with the area. Explore local venues, hotels, food, and shopping options. Learn more about the history of downtown with historic “then” and “now” photos. You'll find tons of information right at your fingertips. *For the best experience, we recommend accessing the tour on a desktop computer. 

Take the tour

Now you can consider yourself fully prepared for your visit to Downtown Roanoke. We can't wait to see you soon!