richmond historic trolley tour

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Discover Richmond Your Way

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We offer fun and exciting public and private tours of Historic Richmond, Virginia on a Segway, Trolley, Electric bike or Gemcar. We also offer wedding charters, private group tours and events, and team building tours and charters. Learn where to go, what to see and what to do while in our beautiful city!

Did you know we offer service and repairs on all bikes?! Fill out the form below or give us a call to discuss before dropping yours off! Service & Repair Form Check out our RVA on Wheels YouTube page for some little videos with our tour guides telling some amazing stories from Richmond's history! You can also stay updated with us through Facebook and Instagram

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Landmark Segway Tour

Discover the story of Virginia’s Capital City in dynamic close-up! The riveting stories of Richmond history include enduring icons like Washington, Lincoln and Edgar Allan Poe.

Historic Trolley Tour

Travel through 400 years of history in two hours on board one of our classic trolleys! We have incredible tour guides to tell you about everything in our gorgeous river city!

Downtown E-Bike Tour

Explore RVA and all its incredible history on an electric bike! Your ride with us includes a leisurely tour of Downtown, with references to unsung heroes of the city’s historic sites, the origins of the region, amusing trivia, street art, and an appreciation of nature.

Discover Richmond on a Segway

Fun and original way to explore Richmond! Tour guides are knowledgeable and share lots of unknown facts about the city. A great way to learn more about our river city and of course, a great way to have fun! Segways are very easy to operate, and the guides will do a safety training course before each tour. Our Segway PT guides are among the most knowledgeable in and about the city and are very good at combining stories around the rich history of Richmond with humor and wit.

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Richmond Landmark Segway Tour

Discover Richmond on an Electric Bike

Electric Bike

Pedego electric bikes are a wonderful way to see and experience Richmond regardless of age or fitness level. Our river city has so much to explore, and with five levels of pedal assist and a throttle, these e-bikes make it so easy to get around! Take them through the city or along the Virginia Capital Trail to Ronnie's BBQ or Upper Shirley Vineyards!

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Pedego Electric Bike

Discover Richmond on a Trolley

Take in Richmond’s amazing landmarks and sites on comprehensive history tours with the RVA Trolley's great guides and expert drivers. Whether you were raised in Richmond, are visiting or just passing through, you will travel through a rich narrative of 400 years of history in one of the most fascinating and oldest cities in America.

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Discover Richmond in a Gem Car

Private and semi-private Gem Car Tours! Join us for a 90 minute comprehensive tour of Hollywood Cemetery! As the second most-visited cemetery in the country, this is a must-see while in Richmond! Three times daily at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm - other times by appointment.

Gem Car Tours →

Hollywood Cemetery

Weddings and Private Events

Whether you need a Trolley for your special wedding day, a private team building event for your company or a customized private tour made just for you, we can help. Our helpful team is focused totally on you and your happiness is our number one priority.

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Dream of your Wedding

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2-Hour Richmond Historic Landmark Trolley Tour - With Reviews & Ratings

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2-Hour Richmond Historic Landmark Trolley Tour

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Tour Information

Key Details

• Mobile Voucher Accepted
• Free Cancellation
• Duration: 2 Hrs
• Departure Time : Weekday - 10:30am, , Weekend - 11am, 2pm
• Departure Details : 1301 E Cary St, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
• Return Details : Returns to original departure point
• Cancellation Policy : For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Take in the beautify of Richmond Virginia's amazing Historical landmarks and sites on this 2-hour comprehensive history tour. Whether you were raised in Richmond orjust visiting, you will travel through a rich narrative of 400 years of history in one of the most fascinating and oldest cities in America.

Know More about this tour

On this 2-hour historictrolley tour you will see the sights and learn about Richmonds landmarks, riverfront, architecture and history. We offer tours aboard our classic air conditioned trolley with cushioned seats, intricate seat frameworks, and social rather than traditional bus seating. Our comfortable trolley will take you to many of the most historic and popular landmarks in the city, with both a driver and guide who combine the rich history of Richmond with great stories, humor and wit. Some of the sites you will see and hear about are the State Capitol, Monument avenue , St. John's Church, Libby Hill, the Valentine, the White House and the Museum of the Confederacy, the museum district, and many more! Sit back, relax and enjoy the best Richmond has to offer!

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Hotel pickup and drop-off

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Dress code is casual

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Traveler Reviews

The content of the tour was excellent, the guide was excellent, but the noise from the vehicle engine made it very difficult to understand what was being said and greatly detracted from the enjoyment.

Stephen is most knowledgeable and a walking encyclopedia on all things Richmond, Virginia. He makes sure to include each tour participant as he talks about the history of the city. We also got great recommendations for restaurants and other tours, such as Hollywood Cemetery.

Interesting tour. Lots of history. Loved seeing the architecture and different neighbor. Guide was very knowledgeable.

My wife and I moved to Virginia several months ago. Our daughter had given us gift certificates for the tour and we finally found time get on board. It was one of the most memorable experiences we've had since moving here. Steven was very knowledgeable about the city and its history. He was personable and highly entertaining. He made the history of the area come alive. DeAndre did an excellent job of driving, and even offered a few historical facts of his own. Steven wore a microphone connected to a sound system that made every word clear and distinct so we old folks didn't have to strain to hear. The compartment was comfortable climate-wise. The windows were large enough to allow clear viewing of landmarks. The tour covered the entire city to give a wide perspective on the history of the area. This tour is something that one could do multiple times and still be both informed and entertained. I will recommend this tour to all my friends and family. It is a must-do for anyone interested in history in general and the city of Richmond in particular.

We were only in Richmond for a short overnighter and had never been there before. This tour was an excellent way to get a quick overview of the city and its rich history. The guide was excellent - not sure how he managed to cram so much information into a little over two hours, but he was very knowledgeable. A more open air trolley car would have been nicer as it was a little difficult to see some of the sights being pointed out, and the bench seats were a bit uncomfortable after a couple of hours. But all in all, it was well worth the investment.

This tour was such a great way to see this beautiful city and learn about it's proud history. The tour guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic to share information about the city he so clearly loved!

I thought this tour was okay. We did a tour in Washington DC that was way more interactive. We only got off the trolley once to take pictures, which was kind of a bummer. There was a lot of time spent talking about the University, which I wasn’t too fond of. Overall, the tour was good. I wish we would of been able to get off more, but the guide was very informative and had really fun trivia about Richmond!

Covered a lot of Richmond. Emily was our tour guide, Robert was out driver. Wish we could have gotten out at a few more places. Driving down monument circle couldnt see the statues, only saw base of statues.

We only had a few hours to see the sites of Richmond. The Trolley was a great way to see a lot of sites and hear some history in a short time. Highly recommend.

the tour was really a nice experience. The negatives: the trolley was really rough riding and noisy. At one traffic light a moped was directly behind us and drowned out the narrator. I guess that if the AC was on and the doors were closed it would have been better.

Downtown Map

Essential Tours to Take in Downtown Richmond

The best ways to see downtown richmond, take in the sights and hear the stories of the area's history by bike, trolley, tuk tuk, canal boat, kayak and more when you join any of these tours of richmond.

Basket & Bike

Basket & Bike offers three types of downtown Richmond tours:

• Downtown Sunset Bike Tour : This Richmond bike tour takes you along downtown streets and the Virginia Capital Trail .
• Discover Downtown Bike Tour : Features a leisure tour of downtown RVA.
• Richmond Art & Secret Garden Tour : In partnership with Quirk Hotel , this tour provides a co-branded custom route that showcases some of RVA’s artsy must-sees. This tour includes the history of art in the region, like murals in Jackson Ward , street art by international artists, the grounds of the Institute for Contemporary Art , Quirk Gallery and hidden pocket parks.

Every tour ends with a voucher for a free coffee, tea, wine or beer at Urban Farmhouse and Cafe .

Elegba Folklore Society

Elegba Folklore Society’s interactive experience along the Trail of Enslaved Africans gives attendees the chance to ponder the impact of enslavement on the enslaved as shared in their own words and from their own point of view. Tour participants will walk in the footsteps of their ancestors from their arrival point at river’s edge into Shockoe Bottom , the area of Richmond that housed the holding pens, jails, blocks and burial ground. The interpreters will interweave the narratives of enslaved Africans with the historical record, characterizations of the day and music.

Haunts of Richmond Ghost Tours

Richmond has its share of ghostly and ghastly tales, and Haunts of Richmond can't wait to share them with you on one of their downtown-focused ghost tours: Shadows of Shockoe , Haunted Capitol Hill , or Phantoms of Franklin .

Shadows of Shockoe is a fascinating nighttime exploration of Shockoe Bottom , the oldest and most haunted neighborhood in Richmond. Haunted Capitol Hill finds what elected officials and security guards walk the hallowed halls of Virginia's seat of power. Phantoms of Franklin discovers the eerie beauty of Richmond's turn of the century Franklin Street.

Historic Riverfront Canal Cruises

Riverfront Canal Cruises in downtown Richmond feature historically-narrated tours of the James River and Kanawha Canal designed by George Washington. Hear about centuries of Richmond’s history, from Powhatan’s Chiefdom to the first commercially successful electric streetcar in the world, while traveling in authentic, flat-bottomed boats. See the unique railroad Triple Crossing, tobacco warehouses that have been converted into trendy lofts, the Virginia Capital Trail, the Low Line gardens and James River wildlife.

Tours depart from the canal’s Turning Basin at 139 Virginia Street. Canal Cruise historic tours run annually from April-November. All boats are handicap accessible and covered.

The JXN's Project Vanguard Route

We all stand on the shoulders of many notable Jackson Wardians and while the list of giants who helped future generations to see further is vast, The JXN Project hopes that the set of honorary designees for "Unveiling The Vanguard" is a representative sample of the shoulders whose stories are often overlooked and under-told. While only a few could be chosen to receive honorary street designations, the project endeavors to curate an installation to pay homage to the many others who were called to leave a mark on Jackson Ward.

Community members are invited to engage in a self-guided tour of the honorary street signs either via personal vehicle, bicycle or on foot. You'll find directional "JXN Ward" stamps installed on the sidewalks to guide tourists along the route, which starts at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia located at 122 W Leigh Street and ends at Maggie Walker Plaza located at N Adams and W Broad Street.

Richmond Food Tours

Richmond’s revitalized Arts District , spanning parts of Jackson Ward and Monroe Ward , will capture your imagination with a mix of historically-significant architecture, renowned restaurants and inspiring art galleries.

Discover Richmond Food Tours means exploring the Arts District as an insider. You will sample delicious food and snacks from 6 different restaurants like: Wong Gonzalez , Lift Coffee Shop , Mama J's , Chez Foushee , Lillie Pearl , Bar Solita , and more. You’ll meet chefs and business owners and discover their passion for their craft. You’ll hear the stories that make this one of Richmond’s most defining and vibrant neighborhoods. But most of all, Richmond Food Tours will make sure you're full and have had fun by the end of it!

Richmond Tour Guys

Walk in the footsteps of 400 years of history with the Richmond Tour Guys while being captivated by the colorful stories of Richmond’s past and what it’s become. The Richmond Tour Guys offer walking tours of Richmond that are the perfect way to discover why Frommers said “While you weren’t looking, Richmond got cool.” Their downtown tours are acclaimed by locals and visitors who discover fun stories and ways to experience the city like they never have before; exploring and seeing Richmond through new eyes.

Riverside Outfitters

For the past 19 years, Riverside Outfitters has offered first-class outdoor adventures. Whether you’re after a thrill ride in Class III to IV whitewater or interested in a more relaxing whitewater rafting experience, the James River has what you’re looking for! Riverside Outfitters offers rafting trips on smaller rapids for ages 5+, and trips on the bigger rapids for ages 10+. They’ve got rides through the big rapids that last about 1 hour for folks with only a little free time, and adventures that last 3-4 hours with lunch out on an island for folks with more time to unplug.

• Whitewater rafting on the James
• Group rafting tours

Located downtown at 325 S. 14th St. Richmond, VA 23219. Google Maps . Find a "Reserved for Riverside" parking spot in their customer parking lot and check in at the front desk.

RVA First Fridays Art Walk

The RVA First Fridays Art Walk happens on the first Friday of every month in multiple locations along and around Broad Street and commemorate's each month's newest exhibitions, collections and showcases into a night of special programming and celebration of RVA's arts and culture. Explore the Arts District and all of its shops, galleries and restaurants through this self-guided walk. RVA First Friday's activities extend from Gallery5 and Art180 in Jackson Ward all the way to the ICA at VCU .

RVA Historic Trolley Tours

Whether you were raised in Richmond, visiting or just passing through, you can travel by trolley through a rich narrative of 400 years of history in one of the most fascinating and oldest cities in America. See the sights and learn about Richmond’s landmarks, riverfront, architecture and history.

RVA On Wheels offers tours aboard their classic, air-conditioned trolley with cushioned seats, intricate seat frameworks and social bus seating. Their comfortable trolley will take you to many of the most historic and popular landmarks in the city, with both a driver and guide who combine the rich history of Richmond with great stories, humor and wit.

RVA Paddlesports

RVA Paddlesports offers whitewater kayak and rafting instruction for all levels of paddlers. Whether it's your first time in a boat, or you want to paddle a multi-day trip overseas, RVA Paddlesports offers excursions and adventure programs for every step of the way. Take part in their Raft Guide Training , Sierra Rescue River Rescue Certification , and Kayaking classes !

RVATukTuk offers a variety of tours and rides throughout the city of Richmond on their fleet of electric-powered, three-wheeled open-air vehicles.

RVATukTuk tour options include:

• City Tours : You will discover the River city by way of the Virginia State Capitol, St. John’s Church, site of the famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech and Hollywood Cemetery, the final resting place of many famous people including Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler.
• City Lights Tours : See what Richmond is all about at night! This 1.5 hour private tour hits all the highlights of Richmond including great city and river views. They'll take you through Shockoe Slip , Shockoe Bottom , and other Richmond hot spots under the lights.
• Civil War, Slavery & Emancipation : Experience history on a tour through the most historic parts of Richmond. Your expert guide will give you insight into the events of the Civil War and the fall and burning of the city.
• Scavenger Hunts : The Family Fun Quest is a family-friendly, private scavenger hunt that's appropriate for all ages. Explore the city on a quest that will put a smile on everyone’s face. Designed for families or groups with children 12 and younger.

Segway of Richmond

Segways are a perfect—and fun—way to tour Richmond and are super easy to use! Cover more ground than walking, but still get up close to all the amazing things Richmond has to offer - history, street art, and more!

Segway of Richmond tour options include:

• Views of Richmond Segway Tour : From Libby Hill to the Potterfield Bridge, guides will show you some gorgeous spots, talk about other fun things to do and point out great restaurants along the way!
• Richmond Landmark Tour : Cruise to sites like Brown’s Island featuring rich Civil War history and beautiful views of the mighty James River, the Virginia State Capitol, and more!
• Jackson Ward Tour : Trace the centuries long fight for racial equality in Virginia, from resistance and revolt against slavery to landmark US Supreme Court cases against segregation.
• Women in Richmond Tour : Richmond's history abounds with amazing women who defied the repression of their times through incredible skill and indelible determination, including Elizabeth Van Lew, Maggie Lena Walker, and more.
• Street Art Tour : Richmond has quickly grown into one of the premier destinations for street art anywhere in the US, rivaling cities like Philadelphia for murals per capita. Explore Richmond’s street art on a Segway, seeing the best murals the city has to offer.
• Shockoe Bottom Tour : Take a tour around Richmond’s oldest neighborhood, Shockoe Bottom! See the most important landmarks and sights in Shockoe, including Richmond’s Triple Crossing, the Henry “Box” Brown monument, and the oldest house in Richmond.

The Valentine Tours

The Valentine's newest tour offering is Monument Avenue: Origins and Reverberations , a walking and augmented reality tour from ARtGlass that will lead you through the infamous sites that sparked a national discussion.

Their other tour options include:

• Figures of Freedom Downtown Walking Tour : This tour invites attendees to tour Shockoe Bottom , one of Richmond’s oldest historic districts, while exploring the struggles for freedom that helped shape America.
• Murals of Jackson Ward Walking Tour : Explore the diversity of one of city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Visit murals, revitalized buildings and historic homes and learn the neighborhood’s rich history. As the Valentine traces its evolution from immigrant working-class neighborhood, to the “Harlem of the South” and a modern community today, you'll explore how art is telling the story of Jackson Ward .
• Origin Stories: Court End Walking Tour : On this downtown walking tour, you’ll visit the Valentine museum’s Court End neighborhood, uncovering surprising examples of architecture and Richmond history along the way. Join the most experienced guides in Richmond to discover architectural gems and stories of the city’s early beginnings as the Capitol of Virginia.

Walking the Ward with Gary Flowers

Gary L. Flowers provides walking tours of Historic Jackson Ward featuring 20 stops in the downtown neighborhood of his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Tours include historic, educational, economic, religious and social institutions that inspired the name "Black Wall Street" and "The Harlem of the South."

Two tiers of tours are offered:

• Basic : 20-stop, 75 minute tour.
• Enhanced : 20-stop, 120 minute tour with historic videos provided by the Black History Museum and Cultural Center and the Maggie Walker National Historic Site.

Would I Lie To You? Mural Walks

Go on four walks to discover RVA's hidden street murals with storytelling fun. On each of the four fun walks around Richmond, you'll see over 25 murals and hear the captivating stories behind them. Ah, but is your host a reliable narrator? Sometimes, yes. Other times, no. Listen closely! Because everyone has to guess before the truth is revealed. By walk's end, you'll know who's a true believer – and who can be won over by a tall tale well told. Which are you? Join a tour and find out.

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RICHMOND’S STORYTELLERS SINCE 2014

Welcome. We are the RICHMOND TOUR GUYS. Since 2014, we have presented weekly tours of Richmond. We continue to expand our offerings and in 2023 feature our two most popular Signature Walking Tours: The Downtown Tour and the popular Church Hill Tour. Additionally, we offer Private, Group, Custom, Specialty & Seasonal, and Step-On tours in Virginia’s most historic city.

You will be captivated by the colorful stories of Richmond’s past and marvel at the hip city it has become. Our tours are acclaimed by locals and visitors alike who discover fun, history-based stories and embrace ways to experience the River City like never before. the RICHMOND TOUR GUYS’ are the perfect way to discover why Frommer’s said “While you weren’t looking, Richmond got cool.”

“Took 3 tours…their guides are knowledgeable, professional, courteous, and sometimes even funny.”

“outstanding. the first thing to do in richmond.”, “we recommend these as essential, wouldn’t miss tours.”, “tour guide was amazing. don’t forget to tip the guide.”.

Public Signature Tours

Two distinct neighborhoods, each having their own story are presented as separate tours, lasting 2 hours. Available during our Public Season from Mid-March through Thanksgiving weekend.

For More Info, Tour Details Click Here

Private Signature Tours

Do you want a tour that fits your schedule? Perhaps a more one-on-one tour for you or family? Our Private Signature Tours are perfect for one to six people. These are offered year-round.

Group Tours

If you have a group of seven or more, then a tour tailored to your personal schedule is perfect. You may consider one of our two Signature Walking tours or we can plan a Custom Tour to your liking. Please plan ahead.

Specialty & Seasonal Tours

Discover fascinating aspects of Richmond such as Hollywood Cemetery, Civil War Richmond or themed subject tours like the Edgar Allan Poe story or Richmond’s famous Murals. Available year-round with advance planning.

Experience Richmond Tours

These three ride-along tours provide an overview of Richmond’s neighborhoods, driving through old and new to learn how each have helped to shape todays’ River City. Available year-round with advance planning.

Step-On Tours

For schools, associations, tour operators and bus groups, we provide Step-on Select Bus Tours for a comprehensive Richmond  experience. Available year-round with advance planning.

Signature TOURS

Whether taken as a  seasonal Public Tour or a Private Tour, our four Signature Tours each offer a distinct  story of Virginia’s past that highlight how events in Richmond played a major role in the growth of the River City and in America’s history. Each of the two tours – Downtown, Church Hill, Shockoe and Capitol – reveal the remarkable and entertaining stories unique to each district.

A stroll along the historic streets of Downtown Richmond. You’ll walk in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers. Highlights include John Marshall’s house, The White House of the Confederacy, the Egyptian Building and beautiful Capitol Square.

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Historic Trolley Tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

RVA Trolley - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

RVA Trolley

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Historic Trolley Tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

RVA Trolley - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)