Downtown

Visitors to Charlottesville will quickly see that its historic areas begin with Thomas Jefferson’s University of Virginia and the Rotunda (on the opposite side of the Downtown Charlottesville map). University Avenue, “The Corner,” with its specialty shops, dining spots, and entertainment venues, is a fun way to begin a short walk through history. University Avenue leads directly to West Main Street and Midtown. Amtrak travelers arrive in Midtown and can easily walk in either direction to the University area or to the historic Downtown Mall, noticing a variety of shops, hotels, and restaurants along the way in Midtown. Main Street becomes a pedestrian mall at the Omni Hotel. Many businesses offer validation for the parking garages on Market and Water Streets, so be sure to ask. A free trolley is available to connect all three areas, and makes frequent stops along the way.