Great Historical Site! We went back in 2017, So it's been a minute. We loved it. Ask questions to the guides as they are very knowledgeable! read more

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Wow! Monticello is amazing, and worth a visit for literally anyone and everyone. My husband and I were in the area for a wedding, and had a few hours to kill before the ceremony. We decided to explore Monticello, and booked the 45 minute Highlights Tour. If you read through the website, they'll let you know that you could spend all day here. They are correct! There are several guided tours of different lengths and prices, and the grounds, gift shop, and self-guided exhibits are expensive too. They mean it when they say you need to be on-site 30 minutes before your tour begins, because it takes time to get up to the house from the visitors center! Lauren was our guide for the Highlights Tour, and she was great. A solid mix of informative and engaging. This quick tour was just enough to get a taste of history, and definitely leaves you wanting more. I especially appreciate the steps they've taken in recent years to educate and address slavery at Monticello, including the addition of the Burial Ground for Enslaved People. Instead of taking the shuttle back to the visitors center, we walked through the garden and it was just lovely. We also passed the gravesite of Thomas Jefferson himself, which is a great spot for reflection. The gift shop had a wide variety of books, home decor, and collectible trinkets, and we found everything to be pretty reasonably priced. Monticello is operated by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which is a 501c3 non-profit. read more

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Having been wanting to visit Monticello for years and finally got the opportunity. You can purchase tickets on line however we got them the morning of at the visitor center. First we watched an informative movie then took the shuttle up the hill to the house. Had a 10:40 tour time which was on time. Pretty large group. Many reviews stated that the visit through the home was fast and crowded. Totally agree. Maybe they could have the tour last one hour instead of 45 min giving guests a few minutes in each room to take pictures. Cut out a few tours which could help with timing. We also got in the slave tour, garden tour and the talk with Thomas Jefferson. All tours were very educational and well done. Took the shuttle to Jefferson's grave ands walked back to visitor center. Ended in the gift shop which had an array of items. read more

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I've been here a couple times and enjoyed both! Definitely recommend buying a ticket to see inside the house, though there are some free tours too. I love when they have the TJ actor on site. He's so fun! I learned alot about Jefferson and our country by visiting here. There's also a movie theatre, museum, and gift shop. Recommend! read more

We had a nice grounds tour (not allowed in the house itself) for $22 pp. We enjoyed listening to Jefferson outside. The gardens were just blooming but the grounds were well maintained. We chose to walk the path to the cemetery and back to the visitors center. There, it had a cafe, gift shop and clean restrooms. The history was interesting but the cost for a family is outrageous. We were on a budget and couldn't do the tours with guides at $44 pp. read more

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This is not only a great place of American History but also a beautiful setting with gorgeous views. It is pretty neat to be able to walk the same rooms that the third president walked and see where he spent his time. It is also very sobering to see the ugly side of American history that made this location what is was. The estate is very well preserved and has tons of artifacts and items that make the tour so valuable. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and accommodating as well. read more

If Thomas Jefferson could see Monticello today, he might be proud--and also slightly horrified. The house itself is nothing short of a masterpiece: a living, breathing testament to Enlightenment ideals, classical architecture, and one man's relentless pursuit of knowledge. Every inch whispers Jefferson's brilliance--his gadgets, his gardens, his geometry. You half expect him to stroll out of the dome room and start lecturing on Roman philosophy. But here's the rub: getting to experience that brilliance feels a bit like trying to read Plato's Republic at a rock concert. The tour was so rushed and crowded that we barely had time to admire the parquet floors before being herded into the next room like Enlightenment-era livestock. Each chamber felt less like a moment of reflection and more like an 18th-century escape room with 20 strangers breathing down your neck. The grounds and gardens, however, redeem the chaos--rolling hills, neat rows of vegetables Jefferson himself experimented with, and views that make you understand why he called this "his essay in architecture." Take your time there; it's where the real spirit of Monticello breathes freely. Historical highlights: Jefferson's revolving bookstand, the dumbwaiter for wine (genius), and the sense that you're walking through the mind of one of history's most complex men. Historical lowlight: Being packed tighter than a shipment of Virginia tobacco. Verdict: Come for the history, stay for the gardens, and maybe bring a fan--and patience. Jefferson mastered design, but apparently, crowd control wasn't in his blueprints. read more

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This has been on my bucket list for a while and I was so excited to come, but my excitement quickly waned upon entering the house and being crammed in like cattle. Our group was so large, we couldn't all look at the things in the room while the guide was speaking so I figured we'd have a moment or two during the transition to the next room to look at the things we missed/things that were blocked by others in the group. Absolutely no chance of that. We weren't even out of the room and the next group of cattle was being herded in. Here are two examples of photos I tried to take but couldn't because the next group was already coming in or our group was still trying to look at what we didn't get the chance to see during our brief time there. For $40+ per ticket, I expect to see the house and experience it, not be rushed through. Very disappointing. I was also disappointed by the incongruent recount of Sally Hemings. The video exhibit depicts her and her children as having fully black features, but right outside, the description of her is light skinned with straight hair. Considering her genetic makeup, she was probably very white-passing. I would have liked for this to have been made clear across all exhibits because the message that TJ enslaved his own children (they are referred to has her children primarily) and phenotypically white people is often overlooked in history books, but is significant. Anyway, the tour is not great and I don't recommend, but the grounds are lovely and educational. read more

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Loved the millinery shop and the weaver's house. Both preservationists were enthusiastic and so passionate! read more

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Raw, twisted - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Monticello is absolutely beautiful! This is a great place to take your family during the day, then end your day in Charlottesville at a local winery. The tour guides are so nice and I am a huge history buff so it was just lovely. They have restored and preserved this place so well, and this is just the perfect day trip by yourself or with family. If you're a history buff and you really love learning, I'd probably come solo so you can absorb as much information as possible. read more

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Proud to be an American. If you don't know where you come from or who founded your country you're doomed to be a rudderless ship. History is important both the good and the bad. read more

Beautiful landscape and preserved house with 70 percent actual furnishings. Tour guide was polite and helpful with information and story telling. Personally I think it was a tad overpriced but happy I went to check out a piece of history. read more

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Pricey but worth it. Bumped up to 5 stars for offering a discount to locals & veterans. Expect to spend a minimum of 3 hours here. We had 2 tours: a docent led tour of the 1st floor of Monticello, and a short guided stroll of the areas where on-ground slaves worked & lived. Lots of displays integrated into the property (lots about Sally Hemmings) and a comfortable museum for history buffs. Plenty of beautiful grounds and architecture to take pix of. A perfect break from touring the nearby Shenandoah Valley/Blue Ridge Parkway nature areas. P.s. We were looking forward to visiting with the Jefferson impersonator but he took the day off. Not worth losing a star since folks do need to take a day off. But if you wanna see him, might wanna call 1st to see that he'll be there. read more

I really enjoyed my visit here! Great history and wonderful guides. Our main guide was Melissa & she was terrific. She was engaging, interesting and hit a lot of interesting details. She also knew the answer to all questions. The history of the place really struck a chord with me. We did a 45 minute tour and wished the 9 minute was not sold out. If in the area, I would go again and do recommend this beautiful historical site. Do save at least 4 hours. There is a lot to see. Also after the main tour we took a mini tour on the slaves with Kelly. We enjoyed this one as well. So much rich history. There was also a landscaping tour, a museum and many cool exhibits all over the property. Liked the the whole experience a lot. read more

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Beautiful area and so historically rich! The tour guides all know what they're talking about and I swear there's no question they can't answer. I love that there's so much to explore and lots of "mini" tours that you can hop in and out of for free (included with all the tickets)! We especially enjoyed the garden tour. There are a couple of food options: the cafeteria at the visitors center (we didn't get to try) and the cafe/convenience store right under the mansion. The cookies there are DELICIOUS. And it's a nice way to grab a quick cup of coffee or a bite. Their souvenir store is also full of amazing souvenirs and quality old-timey trinkets and tea/kitchen things (which I love). read more

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I've been to Monticello a number of times and it never disappoints. The building is amazing, the grounds spectacular, and the staff extremely knowledgeable. read more

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We really enjoyed our two tours here, which covered the life of Jefferson and history of Monticello, as well as the life of the slaves who worked on the property. The tour guides did a fantastic job of being fair in their assessments of Jefferson, neither disparaging his accomplishments, nor overlooking his failures. All history should be done this way. We spent about three hours on the grounds, which were beautifully maintained. So, it's definitely worth the price of admission. read more

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Jefferson's grave - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Try Monticello. Not part of the NPS, Monticello is a private foundation whose income goes towards the restoration of the estate, and the investigation of lineage to all those enslaved here in the past. It does not receive federal or state funding. The estate has audio and walking trails, films, Peter Fulton was an incredible fountain of information and delivered the facts with such enthusiasm. We were his last tour and he treated us like we were his first if the day and escorted through the Highland tour so that we still had enough time to visit the store or museum at the bottom of the hill. The building itself houses items and artifacts from Thomas Jefferson life and times. Every item spoke to the history of the third president of the United States. Everything on the wall had a meaning and everything had meaning or relationship to other things on the wall - speaking to Jefferson's deliberateness. 90% of the house is original, 60% of the stuff in the house is original A lot more info is offered at Monticello.org to learn more about the ongoing work of the foundation and the estate. It was a beautiful day at the estate and there was so much left to see or reread. Another visit is a must . read more

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I enjoy history so this was up my alley when we planned on going. We didn't have reservations and were able to sneak in for a tour of the house (there are options to see behind the scenes, just the grounds, etc). It wasn't an unreasonable price for what you got to see. The house is very interesting and you get a better idea of Jefferson and his mindset as you take the tour. Our guide, Peter, was very good and well versed. The tour can seem a little rushed, considering that it's amazing how old everything is and what all there is to take in. I'd recommend you plan to do this when you have plenty of time to truly take in the experience. That being looking out at out from the plateau at the view, take the time to look through the exhibits under the house, look through Mulberry Lane. There's a lot there to take in. read more

A wonderful stop for anyone looking to learn a bit more American history (and still enjoyable even if you're just along for the ride!). First off, the entirety of Monticello is absolutely beautiful and so well-taken care of. There is so much to see and learn here, but just having the chance to stand and take it all in is also very enjoyable. We did the highlights tour (it was around $42/person). Tour guide was so knowledgeable & encouraged any and all questions. Once the tour is done, you have the chance to peruse the grounds on your own - there's so much to see. We took the bus to Monticello, but then we walked back to the visitor's center. On the way, you will pass the Monticello Graveyard and have the option to see and pay respects to Thomas Jefferson's resting place. Definitely book your tickets in advance to make sure your time doesn't sell out. Highly recommend stopping here. read more

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Had a great time here at Monticello. It's a beautiful, great place to learn about the complicated man that was Thomas Jefferson - for an even better experience, watch the History channel miniseries "Thomas Jefferson" before coming! The tour of the mansion is a fascinating walk through history. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable - you could tell that what she was saying was just the tip of the iceberg of what she knew. The little cafe offered a nice place to sit and rest after touring the campus, and they also served Boylan soda, which is a plus for me. read more

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Despite your feelings on Jefferson, this is an important place to visit and learn about the not so great side of our founders. We arrived about two hours before closing and opted for the gardens only. Despite not being able to enter the house, everyone is extremely friendly and helpful. They must be asked the same questions multiple times a day, but were so quick to help with anything you need. We explored on our own and all of the exhibits were extremely informative and you could tell they spent time really digging into the history. They portrayed not only Jefferson's life, but the people who helped make it run and it is a vital part of our history. We really learned so much here and being able to take it all in was perfect. read more

Overall a great experience. The site is completely privately owned by the Jefferson Foundation. Over 3000 of the original 5000 acres have been obtained by the foundation, so over half of the original land is in the preserved site. Overall, it was a very informational experience, the numerous tours were quite fun, with many of them being accessible with the regular grounds pass. The food in the cafe was great, I got the grilled chicken sandwich and their Mac and cheese. My parents shared the flatbread and a salad. read more

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Cool place!!! Love seeing his inventions and architectural design!! Definitely worth the visit! Also, check out Carter Mountain while you're in the area!! read more

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Cool place! Loved seeing his inventions and architectural design - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The tour guide said that we were going to focus on Thomas Jefferson's post politics career. WTF? The tour barely touched on Jefferson's VITAL role in our nation's history and founding. They spoke about the house and the grounds. They spoke about the many dignitaries that visited him at Monticello. Then the focus turned to Jefferson's slaves and where they stayed. Then we were scolded about all the children he fathered with "Sarah Hemings". This was a huge disappointment. Our nation owes quite a bit to Thomas Jefferson and his REAL legacy as a Patriot. This was a pitiful tour. Revisionist history full of woke PC garbage. AVOID. read more

Cool place with so much to see. Very informative and just a humbling experience. Staff were very helpful and all were very knowledgeable. read more

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Nice place to take a tour or take a walk. It doesn't cost anything to enter and park. The trails are well marked. read more

My husband and I visited Monticello in the Spring , and we had a beautiful visit! Everyone was very helpful and friendly. Perry gathered us up and started giving us information on the grounds. Our tour guide was Charlie. Both men did a fantastic job! Charlie was informative, friendly and funny. The grounds were in full bloom and lovely. The 15 minute movie, which is included with the day pass was great! We had a quiet lunch on the back deck and got a visit from a raven. Thank you for making our first impression of Monticello a memorable day. read more

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The grounds and your were amazing. Very much worth the planning a day to enjoy and explore. My only thought upon finishing the tour was the fact that Thomas Jefferson firmly believed in Education, then ALL educators should be able to visit for free or at the least a discount. read more

I was profoundly disappointed with my visit to Monticello. First, I felt the cost was excessive. By comparison, Mount Vernon was half the cost with a far more immersive experience. The grounds, exhibits, tour, and general tenor of the experience came across as dismissive, demeaning, and demonizing of Thomas Jefferson - both the man and his legacy. I brought my family there to learn about Jefferson, the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, and the founding of the United States. I left demoralized at the distortion to history presented at Monticello. The impression given by my guide and the exhibits were that Jefferson was nothing extraordinary. His accomplishments were waved off as uninspired and irrelevant. He was instead a colonialist; oppressor; capitalist; aldulteror; rapist; enslaver; indebted, etc. No historical context was included in these accusations despite the reality that he was a complex man living in a complex time. There was little to no mention to the vast literature of controversy surrounding these claims, and even less mention of any positive contributions he made to the world. It is disgraceful. Everything at the museum was about slavery. Everything - as if that is the only thing worthy of mention. It isn't. It is of course important to talk about, but in context to the time period. Bulldozing his vast and extraordinary accomplishments and boiling his legacy down this is disingenuous and reductivist history. Never was it mentioned that Jefferson as President outlawed the international slave trade. That he was an outspoken proponent of the gradual emancipation of African slaves. Also disturbing is the presentation (as fact) the controversial assertion that Thomas Jefferson was the proven father of Sally Hemming's children. This is far from conclusive - and even if true we know next to nothing about their relationship or affections. All of this, despite the fact he was born into a British colony in which slavery was legal, he was the son of a plantation owner, and grew up with the day-to-day reality of slavery. Despite all of this, he was an abolitionist. Thomas Jefferson was extraordinary. He was instrumental in the founding of the United States, a country that today is without international equal. His thought and words sit at the heart of Western civilization. The administration of Monticello should be ashamed of their product and take a hard look at their biases. It is a disservice to our country. read more

Purchased the grounds ticket, and well worth the price of admission. Greeted by informative staff upon arrival, and took a quick complimentary shuttle up to the Monticello. They have free tours that run throughout the day. Ashley did such an amazing job guiding us all though the history of Mulberry Row. We learned about several different enslaved families that resided theres. Then we went to take pictures with the Monticello (the building on the back of the nickel) and down to the grave site of Thomas Jefferson. We went late on a Sunday so it wasn't very crowded and were able to take a lot of great pictures. I don't know how the experiences are for the pricier options, but the grounds option was excellent and I highly recommend it. You should give yourself at least an hour and a half, but could do a few hours there if you have the time. read more

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Thomas Jefferson gravesite - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We enjoyed visiting Monticello. We did the highlights tours. All the staff were friendly and helpful. I was pleasantly surprised that most of the gift shop items were affordable. Looking forward to going back when we have some more time in our day. read more

Nice place to visit but the tour is a very woke agenda. I think Jefferson was a President and there was no reference to him being a Patriot. This tour was all about how as an individual he had slaves and a one sided woke agenda. Maybe this could not be expressed if we did not have founding fathers. The military discount was only for the member not family. Which states differently online. read more

A very sad and disappointing experience... Today (June 28, 2025), my family and I visited Monticello for the first time. We drove here from Pittsburgh, PA. I am the 2nd Cousin 9x Removed of Jefferson and have wanted to visit Monticello for 10 years. We purchased tickets early in the month (June) for our visit today. I bought the $99 "behind the scenes tour" at 10:30am. We got to Monticello early as directed at 9:30am. So, we took the shuttle up to the house at 10:00am. After we got out of the shuttle, we showed our tickets to the staff members. A woman confidently told me "okay, you're in the 10:30am tour, please go to section 3 by 10:20am. She saw that my ticket said "behind the scenes." That's what I did. Well, nobody clarified to me that I was supposed be in the "behind the scenes tour." After being toured in the first floor of the house, the tour ended. I had to find my family down in the visitor center cafe and tell them that my tour was messed up. Well, by that time, it was 11:45am and we had to meet my cousins in Charlottesville in the afternoon. We went to the ticketing desk and explained to them what happened. They gave me my money back. We couldn't wait until 2:00pm for the next behind the scenes tour. We scheduled our whole day around this tour. Well, we went back up to the house to politely ask the staff members why they didn't correctly direct me to the right tour. Well, most of the staff didn't seem interested or remorseful about my situation. The same woman arrogantly said "I guided you for the 10:30 tour." She didn't seem too concerned or remorseful about her error and the fact she didn't guide me on the right tour. I paid extra money for my tour and it was messed up by your staff woman. So, me and my family had to leave Monticello disappointed and frustrated. From now on, please tell your staff to specifically guide guests to what tours they should be taking. I bought the exclusive "behind the scenes" ticket to explore the whole house, but the staff put me in the general tour lines. Then, they didn't seem to care that they messed up me and my family's visit. I have lots of respect for Jefferson and Monticello. I just wanted to explore his whole house. Now, we have to go back to Pittsburgh disappointed. read more

Stopped by the Monticello while in Charlottesville as it's been on my list to visit for some time. It's a lovely place to visit with tons of history, but visiting once is more than enough. If you decide to do just the Gardens and Grounds Pass (no formal tour of the estate), I'd anticipate staying about two hours. Purchase your tickets at the visitor's center before heading to the shuttle/security area. If you decide not to take the shuttle up to the grounds, you can take a walk there (~15 minutes) and end up at the graveyard. Once you're on the grounds, there's plenty to see. Definitely make sure you check out the vegetable garden and take in the views. We also enjoyed checking out the South and North Wings, where you could see the kitchen, wine/beer cellars, horse carriage, etc. If you have time, you can also meet Thomas Jefferson and take some other tours (like the slavery tour) If you're hungry or thirsty during your visit, you can grab a bite to eat near the visitor's center (also has sandwiches) or on the grounds itself. We ended up stopping at the Farm Shop on the grounds for a snack (they have chips, nuts, ice cream) and a glass of beer/wine. Parking is free and a short walk to the Visitor's Center. read more

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Brianna, our tour guide, did an exceptional job with non-stop narration of our 90 minute tour. She is super knowledgeable, answered every question that was asked of her, and clearly displayed her enthusiasm and passion for her work. We also did the archaeological tour, which was less appealing, as there were no active excavation/digs going on. Still, overall, a great experience for my family and me. read more

Pros: 1. Beautiful scenery, especially in the fall, try to go when the fall leaves are at their peak. We missed it by a week, so the colors weren't as pretty. 2. Tour guides were great, very knowledgeable. 3. Very educational Cons: 1. Their cafe, The Farm Table is overpriced for what you get. It's self serve similar to a cafeteria and the portions were very small. I would recommend packing a lunch and eating in their pavilion. This is why I gave this review 3 stars. 2. Ticket prices are a little high for what you get. We paid for the highlights tour which includes the first floor of the house and the grounds. If you want to see the second floor, you have to pay for the behind the scenes tour which is $95, a little steep in my opinion. Some tips to keep in mind: 1. Try to get there earlier so you can view all the exhibits and see all the tours. There are two timed events that are included with your ticket: Thomas Jefferson impersonator and the Slavery at Monticello tour. Times are 12, 1, and 3pm. 2. Give yourself plenty of time to check out the garden and other exhibits. There's an exhibit at the visitor center, in the Gallery. You can enter either enter on the first or second floor. If you have enough time, perfect time would be either before or after your scheduled tour, it's right by the shuttle stop. 3. When you're done with your visit, take the trail to Jefferson's grave then walk down to the visitor center. It's .35 miles downhill and it's very pretty. 4. Remember to take everything you need with you from the car. You could be there for hours, so have plenty of snacks/food so you don't get hangrey. 5. There's a security check point at the entrance, so allow time for that. That's it, I hope you found this helpful. read more

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If you are planning to visit here, you should absolutely book tickets online ahead of time. They sell tickets up to ~ 2 months in advance, I think. I got our tickets on the first day they were available. I booked a 9:30 a.m. self-guided tours, but was only informed afterwards that they recommend you arrivie 30 minutes prior to your time. So you should keep that in mind. We were staying in Charlottesville, so it was only a 20-minute drive from our hotel to the site. After driving up the mountain, you arrive at a visitors' complex. Here they have a gift shop, ticket booths, a small museum, etc. This is also where you board a shuttle bus for a very short ride the rest of the way up to the house. The shuttles leave frequently, as the drive is literally just 2 - 3 minutes. When we visited, they still had a wear-masks-indoors policy. Once you get off the bus, you are assembled in small groups and sent along to the front door. There you get a short talk from one of the staff and you are ushered inside. The basic self-guided tour was good. You basically make a circuit of the rooms on the main floor. They have a phone-app / website that does a good job of explaining things in context as you progress, if you take the time to read it. It was interesting to see how things were arranged and what constituted 'high tech' circa 1800. They also offer less-frequent and more expensive in-depth tours where you have a guide and go upstairs, etc. I might consider that if I ever go back. When you exit the house, you can still visit the carriage building nearby and walk through the basement level, which had storage rooms and workshops. There is also a set of other rooms still on the basement level but open on one side; these were additional workshops. They have one area dedicated to Sally Hemmings, which was also interesting to read. Outside around the back lawn, there are flower gardens. They had periodic guided walks here as well. Also adjacent to this area, they had an actor dressed as Jefferson doing a living history talk about 4 times a day. This area is popular for photos, as it is the view used for the back of the nickel. There is also a road/path a bit below the home which was where other shops and slave quarters were located. Some have been restored. My impression was that it was the equivalent of a small village at the time. Below this is a long linear string of vegetable garden plots. These have been restored and they grow period-appropriate vegetables there again. To end your tour, you can re-board a shuttle or you can walk the ~ 1/2-mile trail back down to the visitor's complex. I'd recommend the walk, as it passes the family cemetery where Jefferson is buried. It is gated, so you can only see it from about 10 feet away through the bars. We had lunch at the cafe on site after the hike down. The food was good, and they had a decent selection of sandwiches, quiche, salads, and soup. We finished our tour with a stroll through the museum, which shows additional details about construction as well as other topics. There is also a 10-minute film which we watched. Our visit was on the order of 3 hours, but you could easily spend 4 - 5 here. Budget at least half a day for this site. Recommended. read more

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Monticello - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Gorgeous grounds, beautiful home, interesting history of course! You can even see the iconic view of the house from the back garden that matches what's on the back of our nickels!! If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking out Thomas Jefferson's house here! It's open for self guided tours of the house and grounds and cellar. They're also doing some presentations on site at scheduled times. The grounds were beautiful!! And at the top, you get almost 360 degree views of the surrounding valleys! It's gorgeous! Not to mention the well manicure lawns, historic buildings, and tons of blooming flowers everywhere! When you enter at the visitor center, you have a choice to walk up to the house (which I recommend if you're able) or you can wait in line for the shuttle. The line was huge when I arrived so be prepared for long waits. But this shuttle helps make it handicap accessible! Once you get up to the house, it's easy to get around - all paved and well maintained. The walk up to the house isn't bad at all. There's a set of stairs at the beginning and some incline but totally doable. It's a lovely trail that meanders through the woods and gardens and takes you past the cemetery on site - where you can see the grave of the man himself!! All in all it's less than a mile up to the house. For the house tour, you have to have tickets and it's a timed entry. I bought my tickets online about a month in advance. It's $31...and you have to pick your tour time. I recommend getting it as far ahead of time as possible Bc they are limiting visitors and it sells out. But if you miss out, you can still tour the grounds and outside buildings with your ticket. They have you do a brief "orientation" outside under a tent before you go in - they tell you some of the history and details and the Covid rules. Looked like they were letting people inside in groups of 9 at a time. Photos are allowed everywhere- no flash inside. The house tour is only of the first floor and it's surprisingly small so it only takes like 20-30 minutes - maybe a little longer if you're following the audio tour - which is available by QR code on your smartphone. Once outside you can walk the lovely gardens and outdoor buildings at your leisure - even the cellar with all the info signs. Very interesting! There's plenty of parking and they have bathrooms on site. Inside the courtyard they have shops and food and seating to relax before or after you go up to the house. read more

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Monticello is worth a visit if you like a little bit of history and find yourself in the Charlottesville/Central Virginia area. The home itself is a fascinating glimpse into the unique architecture and artwork of the time period as per Thomas Jefferson's personal style. It's not as ornate or lavish as the turn of the century historical homes of the Vanderbilt/Rockefeller era, but that's a good thing as it is more historically accurate to an earlier time period. There are a variety of ticket options. While some may consider it expensive to pay $42 for a tour, Monticello doesn't have any sort of state or federal funding, so the price is reasonable, and they have invested heavily in the visitor experience. The have ample free parking and a nice modern visitor/welcome center with restrooms, shops, a cafe, a theater with a film, and museum exhibits. They also have lots of friendly staff and a shuttle that drops you off right near the home. I'd feel different if they didn't offer these visitor-friendly services, but it all seemed worth the cost for me. The home is on a beautiful mountain top and the grounds/gardens are a pleasure to explore. The tour itself was done by a very friendly guide, and she really took the time to explain things in each room and answered any questions anybody had. The 45-minute tour was perfectly thorough without history overload (there are other tour options for those who want more history or topic-specific tours like examining slavery). All in all, a tour of Monticello was a nice experience, so it's a unique historical attraction I'd recommend to others. It's a one and done attraction that I'd probably not want to visit again, but definitely glad I made the time to visit this historical mountain top home of our 3rd president and drafter of the Declaration oof Independence. read more

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