Calling all Cupids. If you’re looking for a romantic vacation to celebrate the special bond with your significant other, Virginia Beach makes for a dreamy destination. Known for its dazzling coastline, beautiful natural areas and lively beach-town vibe, you’ll find luxury, adventure, relaxation and plenty of date-night options.
Here are our top picks for cozy accommodations, activities, dining and imbibing. No matter what rings your romantic chimes, you’ll find it in Virginia Beach.
Where to Stay
Think of this as the stage set for your romantic story. Here are some Cupid-approved lodgings.
For Luxury Lovers
Are you old souls from the Bridgerton School of Romance? The Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club has your names written all over it, in flowery cursive. This luxurious grand dame has hosted presidents and celebrities in its fabulous realm. Canoodle (discreetly, of course) in gorgeous public spaces like the Hunt Room, with its soaring fireplace, as you sip handcrafted cocktails made with the Cavalier’s own Tarnished Truth spirits.
For Cool Kids
If haute hipster is your vibe, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront will win your hearts. Set on the boardwalk, this 289-room hotel has romance-worthy amenities including an award-winning restaurant, Catch 31, and an Instagram-worthy rooftop bar with an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean.
Feeling flirty and playful? Check out The Moxy at Virginia Beach. This sparkly 134-room hotel features modern touches galore (that video wall!) and dining options available 24/7 for night owlets like you.
For Homebodies
Settling in at your own vacation rental has advantages – like peace, quiet, and plenty of room to play house. Sandbridge is vacation central when it comes to beach rentals. Check out Sandbridge Blue Vacation Rentals and Sandbridge Realty for stylish options including condos, oceanfront homes, and pet-friendly digs.
For Outdoorsy Types
We see you, decked out in fleece and flannel, dreaming of a cozy cottage in the forest. Gloriously woodsy, 3,000-acre First Landing State Park offers 20 two-bedroom cabins outfitted with rustic furniture and (hooray!) bathrooms. They also have four rental yurts set along the Chesapeake Bay and tent sites for campers. If you don’t mind roughing it, go farther off-the-beaten path at False Cape State Park, camp at one of 12 primitive sites on this sandy spit and explore 15.3 miles of hiking trails and a six-mile stretch of beach.
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Where to Play
The couple that plays together, stays together. Since shared activities promote bonding, here are some fun places to put on your “play list” in Virginia Beach.
For a Day of Adventure
Hiking is like walking, only with better scenery and cuter clothes. First Landing State Park, the most-visited state park in Virginia, is a hiking couple’s dream, with nearly 20 miles of trails.
Water lovers should proceed directly to the gorgeous Rudee Inlet, a haven for outdoorsy pursuits of the watery persuasion. Think stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and motorized watercraft excursions –perhaps accompanied by a dolphin or two.
Too tame for you crazy kids? In that case, go play in the trees at the Adventure Park at the Virginia Aquarium. We’re talking ziplines and lots of ‘em, along with rope courses and treetop trails. For the ultimate thrill, may we suggest iFly Virginia Beach Indoor Skydiving? You get that incredible freefall feeling without jumping out of an actual plane (a wind tunnel creates the sensation.) It’s like falling in love, but less terrifying.
For a Day of Exploration
Stroll, sightsee, eat, and repeat is not a bad way to vacation. You can’t ask for a more imaginative place to wander than the ViBe Creative District, home to colorful murals, unique independent shops, a local farmers market, and cool coffee bars.
For culture lovers, the museums and historic sites of Virginia Beach will surely tempt you. One to put on your radar: the Military Aviation Museum in the Pungo District. The museum houses 70 planes, one of the largest private collections of WWI and WWII-era military aircraft in the world.
Set your art-loving hearts aflutter at Virginia MOCA, aka the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. The 14-foot glass chandelier, Mille Colori, by artist Dale Chihuly, is a stunner – one of the eye-popping works on display here, including pieces by local artists. In addition to exhibits, the museum has a full calendar of public events.
And who doesn’t love the allure of a historic lighthouse? Take selfies galore as you soak up the grandeur of Cape Henry Lighthouse, a sandstone structure built in 1792 and authorized by none other than George Washington.
For a Day of Relaxation
Wandering around Virginia Beach, you may have noticed the obvious: the beach. The Oceanfront is the center of the action in Virginia Beach, a lively zone with a three-mile boardwalk, surfing, shopping, dining, and people-watching. Tip: Bring a picnic to the beach and watch the sunrise. Not an early bird? Find a secluded, leafy-green spot for a picnic lunch within one of the city’s 4,000 acres of parkland.
If your day of relaxation calls for a spa day, the SeaHill Spa at the Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club is the perfect escape for couples; you can soak, get a massage, and even a bourbon-infused scrub.
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Where to Dine & Drink
Choose a restaurant that offers a sweet backdrop for romance – something straight out of your favorite rom-com scene.
For a Cozy Breakfast
It doesn’t get cuter than The Bee & The Biscuit, a c.1919 cottage with an outdoor deck and indoor fireside seating. If you’re a late riser, it’s also open for lunch. Or delight your inner children with a visit to Pocahontas Pancakes, where kiddie faves like Nutella and Reese’s make a good thing (pancakes) even better.
For a Fun Lunch
If you’re as passionate about food as you are about each other (awww!), put Esoteric on your must-dine list. Craft beer plus inspired cookery (muffulettas, duck tacos, poutine) will melt your hearts like mozzarella on a turkey melt. If nothing says “romantic meal” to you like a platter of oysters, welcome to your new favorite lunch spot, Rockafeller’s Restaurant on Rudee Inlet. The Virginia oysters will rock your world.
For a Romantic Dinner
Not just any Italian joint, Sorella’s is an ideal combination of chic and satisfying. This newcomer to the Virginia Beach dining scene is winning raves for fabulous pizza combos such as pear and prosciutto. For tasty fresh seafood, head to Catch 31 Fish House & Bar at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Dine at one of the firepits to up the romance quotient.
Discover more restaurants for a romantic night out.
For Adult Libations
Toast to each other with a brew at Commonwealth Brewing Company, a former fire and rescue station that now serves up intriguing craft beers like Junkanoo, which is fruited gose with pink guava and cheesecake. If small-batch brews are your jam, head to the Oceanfront and grab a seat at Back Bay Brewing Co., part of the growing craft beer scene in Virginia Beach. For a sophisticated experience, pop into Orion’s Roof at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront resort. Great views and stellar cocktails are a match made in date-night heaven. You’ll also be instantly smitten with the Pink Dinghy, a charming restaurant in the ViBe Creative District that features a great selection of natural wines and tropical cocktails.
Where to Go for Date Night
Everyone’s date night style is a little different. Here are some great ideas to get you started.
For a Night of Laughs
Tickle your funny bone and share a laugh at Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant, which showcases big-name acts and rising stand-up stars.
For a Choice of Entertainment
To see a live performance, check out Sandler Center for the Performing Arts at Town Center. Choose from a wide range of production shows, musical performances, and other entertainment, from Ballet Virginia’s Cinderella to Celtic Woman.
For an Evening Under the Stars
For a perfect ending to your romantic evening, just look up – if you’re at Sandbridge Beach, that is. When the sky is clear and there’s just a sliver of moon, the stargazing is awesome here, away from city lights and tall buildings. You starry-eyed romantics, you!
About Our Writer
East Coast-based writer D. Chérie Bair covers travel, food, and outdoor recreation for newspapers, magazines, and online travel sites. She has contributed to several guidebooks for Fodor’s, Michelin, Lonely Planet, and Frommer’s. A global traveler, Bair admits she is “besotted” with Virginia Beach. Her favorite things to do there include paddling with dolphins in Rudee Inlet and loading up on taffy at Forbes Candies.
