Cancel

Open app

Search

Riverfront Historic Canal Cruises

3.8 (68 reviews)
Closed Closed
Updated 1 month ago

Riverfront Historic Canal Cruises Tours Photos

You might also consider

More like Riverfront Historic Canal Cruises

Recommended Reviews - Riverfront Historic Canal Cruises

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Spooky hands
Racquel H. D.

We had a great time at the spooky canal cruise. It was such a cute activity on a beautiful day. Our captain was well prepared and funny and knew exactly what to do to scare us. Great little activity in the city.

Michaela M.

Had a blast taking the Edgar Alan Poe Ghost tour! Narrator / boat guide was fun and had us laughing!

Flat bottom boat approaches to dock and pick us up!
John L.

A canal cruise is a must do when you visit Richmond! We had a great experience on our little adventure. I thought the price was reasonable and the captain was kind, courteous, witty and knowledgeable about the history of the canal and Richmond. We met at the small ticket office and walked around the beautiful canal area. I took the kids for a walk around to look for turtles hiding in the water. A flat bottom boat approached, loaded us all up and we were on our way. They had room on board for my youngest's stroller. The seating was a bit tight, but we all managed to get on board. We were joined by a great mix of folks that day, older, young couples on dates and families. Everyone was so kind and friendly. Our captain narrated the entire time and talked about the shipping history of Richmond, how the port helped shape a our nation, commerce, industry, the state of Virginia and the geography of Richmond. It was a 40 minute trip and the highlight was when a CSX freight loaded with coal greeted us from above as we waved to it. The water was calm and I would 100% recommend adding this to your itinerary on a visit to Richmond.

The boat
Nicara B.

This was very cute and sweet. Me and my boyfriend needed a chill day out to just relax and enjoy the scenery and we did just that. This was about 35 mins long. We went out on this little boat and the tour guide driving was knowledgeable and cracked some jokes. You will definitely learn some facts about Richmond on this mini trip. In my own opinion, I don't think this is something for small kids. There were a few kids on the boat and they just seemed a little bored. They did enjoy seeing the turtles and the ducks... I did too... but I really enjoyed the learning experience. It was a very very cute date. Would we do it again, probably not unless we were taking someone who has never been. But it's a great experience!!!

Leon P.

A definite gem... a nice short ride filled with good information... add in a great guide and a little wildlife... and a short walk to a few place to drink and eat at!!!

Ticket booth for the ferry
Aimee A.

Lady at the window was funny and super nice. First time being here so let's see how this goes

Had a short, enjoyable canal tour on Richmond's Riverfront Canal Cruises Oct. 31. Our tour guide Richard provided a lot of city history. We found out that George Washington was instrumental in the building of the canal in the late 1700's. One interesting thing on the tour was the triple cross where the canal is crossed over by both rail (1800s) and highway (1900s). Another was the Army Corps of Engineers flood walls and doors constructed after city experienced significant flooding from Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The project took over twenty years to complete and was dedicated on October 21, 1994, at a cost of $143 million.

David S.

Good experience for the price, cool facts. Wish it was longer. But isn't that what you want for all the good things to last longer.

Maria T.

Just when you thought you couldn't think of anything fun to do in RVA, Riverfront Canal Cruises saves the day! Our colleague rented out a small flat bottom boat for about 20 people, but boats can typically hold 28. He had it catered, so we had quite a spread, and the libations flowed freely. We set everything up, the group boarded and the party started! They have a kiosk at the dock where customers can buy individual tickets, adults 10$, kids and seniors 6$ and under 4 free. We saw other boats filled with tourists and locals alike soaking in the sights. Our guide, Jeremy, gave us a few safety tips and then we set out in the canal. The covered boat began to glide through the serene water thru this historic canal. This cruise is a pleasant, smooth tour thru downtown RVA. We loved seeing the old tobacco warehouses, the historic buildings, the bridges from the 1800s, the shiplocks, the beautiful foliage and scenery as we drifted down the canal. We caught a glimpse of Shiplock Park just over the bridge. Jeremy gave us details on some of the sights and answered all of our questions. The boat itself has a padded benches in the middle of the boat, chairs along the edges for nice views. It's a little tight in there, but for a short cruise it's fine. There's no restroom, so take care of business before you board. The cruises last about 45 minutes, however our friend rented our for double the time. We had a blast listening to 80's music on their Bluetooth hookup, having good food, great company and chilling on the water! For a relaxing and charming experience, this canal cruise has got you all "locked" up! I would definitely cruise with them again!

Railroad track next to canal in Richmond, VA.

Captain David was courteous, friendly and knowledgeable about the canal history and Richmond history in general. He was kind enough to stop and pickup a latecomer to our cruise. Would certainly recommend this hour tour on an old and historic canal to anyone! Our group boarded with walkers and wheelchairs and everything went great.

Adrienne A.

This is definitely THE CUTEST THING! Reminds me of the "It's a Small World Ride" at Disney World. Adorable. The entrance to the Canal Cruise is, natch, at water level. But the parking is up on the street, so it's a little hard to figure out if you don't know Richmond. You walk down a flight of steps to get to the cruise ticket booth. WAZE is confused by this and will keep saying, "You've arrived at your destination." When in actuality you above your destination. In other words, it's tricky to find. We were late to our assigned cruise time due to the above described confusion, however, the sweet young lady at the box office said, it's ok, I have 2 seats left in the next cruise timeslot. And she switched our tickets for us. So kind. Very appreciated. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaged. It was a very interesting, short, easy tour and we went on a cloudy day, so temperatures were very comfortable. It is a tiny little boat though, so you're kinda packed in. If you are sitting way in front, better view, but there would be no way to hear the guide. Found out you can charter the canal boats for your own private event! So we're excited about planning a little evening dinner and drinks on the canal with friends.

Kathleen D.

Canal cruises aren't life changing or monumental in any regard, but they are mellow and a chill way to learn about a new city. Richmond's version is simple but nice. The tour costs $8 for adults and lasts for about 45 minutes. In that time, the flat, covered boat will drive back and forth on a small swath of the canal. Tours leave hourly in season. Check Venture Richmond's website for the current schedule. Highlights mostly revolve around the railroad tracks and Triple Crossing. It's cool to see the layers of transportation history -- 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries -- all piled on top of each other. I can't believe those rails are still functional!! Apparently they do Halloween tours too. I'm sure that's a cute idea for families. I enjoyed the tour enough and the guide was a delight. I'd certainly recommend it for anyone who has the time and wants to view RVA from the perspective of calm water.

See all

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Maria M.
0
119
153

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Leon P.
84
160
358

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 0
Love this 8
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 14
Thanks 0
Love this 11
Oh no 1

9 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of U. U.
316
867
822

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

15 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Riverfront Historic Canal Cruises

Review Highlights - Riverfront Historic Canal Cruises

The covered boat began to glide through the serene water thru this historic canal.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

People searched for Tours 725 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

RVA On Wheels

RVA On Wheels

4.4(55 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown

Reserved 6 tix on Groupon for the historical tour. Had to change to 4. Groupon assigned the blame…read moreof not being able to get a refund on the vendor. I called RVA on Wheels. They could not have been more accommodating. Hendley Davis was diligent in making sure the right tickets were cancelled and most welcoming to our tour on Saturday. Confidence restored in a small business and a new loyal customer was born.

If you're visiting Richmond or even if you're a local, RVA on Wheels is hands-down one of the best…read moreways to experience the city's charm, history, and hidden gems! From the moment we stepped onto the vintage-style trolley,  we were swept away by the warm, welcoming atmosphere and the infectious energy of our guide Daniel Ellis Daniel provided us with the perfect balance of fun and informative -- packed with fascinating stories about Richmond's rich history, from Civil War landmarks to modern revitalization projects. He is incredibly knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor, weaving in personal anecdotes, quirky facts, and local tips that you just wouldn't get anywhere else. What truly made the experience special was how interactive and engaging it felt. The trolley itself was spotless and super comfortable, with great views from every seat. We even got some time to hop off and explore a couple of key spots, which made it feel more like an immersive adventure than a typical tour. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or just looking to see the city from a new perspective, RVA on Wheels delivers an unforgettable experience. It's the kind of tour that leaves you saying, "I never knew that! A must-do for all RVA explorers -- can't recommend it enough!

Photos
RVA On Wheels - Hollywood Cemetery Segway Tour

Hollywood Cemetery Segway Tour

RVA On Wheels - RVA On Wheels Shop

RVA On Wheels Shop

RVA On Wheels - A great way to see Hollywood Cemetery!

See all

A great way to see Hollywood Cemetery!

RVATukTuk - Richmond Tul Tuk Tours

RVATukTuk

4.1(13 reviews)
1.9 miSouthern Fan

I was a bit nervous going into this adventure as their waiver includes absolution for basically all…read moreliability, including negligence, and I'm one of those weirdos who actually reads those things. It made me question if they are properly insured as motor vehicles. (Hence the 3 star rating) But I went anyway (trusting in my own coverage if there were to be an incident), and it was fun. The heated seats in the tuktuk were working more in some seats than others, but it was warm enough for me that it didn't matter to me to get a non-heated seat. We did see quite a few houses, and we did get a lot of interesting looks from passersby. I wouldn't want to do this on a particularly cold or rainy day though - I could see it being miserable in those conditions. The route seemed pretty random, as we only crossed paths with the other tuktuk in our party a few times, like the driver was taking us to his faves. The worst part of our trip was that Ownby Fr was all torn up for construction, so it was a rough ride, but hopefully that will improve soon.

Tacky lights tour. We had 9 people, so two tuktuks (max is 6 people per tuktuk). The "tour" was…read morefine, not a lot of input from our driver. Heated seats, BYOB which is always great, Christmas music playing. Not as many lights as last year, not RVA TukTuk's fault, of course. Please note, they add an 18% gratuity to two or more tuktuks. This was probably in the fine print but it wasn't obvious. We tipped a bit in cash and came home to an email that we would be automatically charged for an 18% tip ($100+). The drivers did not mention this.

Photos
RVATukTuk - Tuk Tuk 1

Tuk Tuk 1

RVATukTuk - RVA TukTuk!

RVA TukTuk!

RVATukTuk - We do bachelorette parties and wedding getaways too.

See all

We do bachelorette parties and wedding getaways too.

Real Richmond Food Tours - Go Dutch & Co. in Church Hill!

Real Richmond Food Tours

4.7(11 reviews)
0.9 miDowntown

This was a great Saturday well spent!!! Tix are $55 per person. This tour included 5 stops...Dash…read moreKitchen + Carry, Mo's Sweet Minis, The Black Sheep, Ipanema Cafe and Balliceaux. And they all were great!! This is a walking tour and luckily the weather on June 7th was perfecto!!! Our tour guide Leah (Aleah maybe) was very informative and excited to show us around. The group consisted mostly of couples that seemed to be familiar with the surroundings. However, my guest and I were new to the tour and very much new to the Richmond's food scene. Therefore, we were already excited to be there and to experience some of VCU's Alternative Eats (that was the name of the tour)!! We were encouraged to wear comfy shoes of course and the meeting spot was a museum on VCU's campus. Most of the tours are walking tours, but Leah informed me about one (or two maybe) tour is on a bus throughout Richmond. The tours are held every weekend rain or shine. We parked on the street (2 hour parking) but the tour was from 2-430pm so we figured oh no...better get money out for the towing company. We didn't return to the car until 5ish but the car was still there unticketed...yes!!! All the places on the tour were great in their own way. This was a great group and I liked them all. If you want to try something new for cheap (take into acct two people at a restaurant spending about $50...but you get to go to 5 restaurants for $110) in my opinion, I definitely recommend it. They don't tell you the restaurants ahead of time so it's a hit or miss I assume, but being that our tour guide is a reviewer herself, I doubt she would set you up for failure. It's definitely ideal to not eat before the tour because after the 3rd stop I was full!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the portions are hearty, not finger foods on this tour. I can't wait to go back and try another area in Richmond... Have fun! The Black Sheep was feature on Man vs Food...fyi :) Also the tour guides up to 15 people Tickets are purchased in advance Check em out :)

Real Richmond Food Tours are the best tours in Richmond! I've taken 3 food tours with them. The…read moreguides are very knowledgeable about Richmond. The food is delicious and your get to try food from at least 5 or 6 restaurants. This is great because it helps build a list of restaurants that you can go back someday and have a complete meal. These tours are well worth the money and you will be so full by the last stop. I've lived in Richmond for 27 years and these tours keep me abreast of what is new in the different sections of Richmond. I would highly recommend any of these tours for a great afternoon activity. Rosemary S.

Photos
Real Richmond Food Tours - Both Sides of Broad often includes deliciousness from Lemaire.

Both Sides of Broad often includes deliciousness from Lemaire.

Real Richmond Food Tours
Real Richmond Food Tours - WPA makes Church Hill and Southside sweet!

See all

WPA makes Church Hill and Southside sweet!

RVA Trolley - Experience one of our  exciting tours on an old time trolley!

RVA Trolley

2.7(18 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown

One of the best tours I've ever taken. I brought my mother, two aunts, grandmother, and boyfriend…read moreon this tour and Andrew blew us away with his passion and knowledge for this city! Hi Mike broke but he made due by projecting his voice and we had no problem hearing him. Water was provided and the tour was thorough and extensive. I would definitely do it again!!

I experienced two tours with this company, a walking ghost tour and a trolley tour…read more Finding the departing location and tour guide for the ghost tour was challenging. Despite that, I arrived on time but other guests did not and arrived over 30 minutes late. My 1 hour ghost tour was 3 hours long. However, I really enjoyed the ghost tour guide and the content was Ok. The content of the two hour trolley tour was really informative and comprehensive but the trolley struggled to get up many of the hills in Richmond and was loud and the exhaust smelly. Having the older, southern gentleman tour guide refer to me as a yankee I did not appreciate- not because it isn't true but because I was raised in the deep south and more southern than him. Asking questions was not encouraged on the trolley tour.

Photos
RVA Trolley - Old Chance style trolley with cow catcher on front and lots of wood and brass! Lots of ambiance!

Old Chance style trolley with cow catcher on front and lots of wood and brass! Lots of ambiance!

RVA Trolley - High atop Libby Hill where the city was named in early 1700s! spectacular views of the city and the river.

High atop Libby Hill where the city was named in early 1700s! spectacular views of the city and the river.

RVA Trolley - A stop on Libby Hill to see the view that named the city!

See all

A stop on Libby Hill to see the view that named the city!

Hollywood Cemetery

Hollywood Cemetery

4.8(118 reviews)
1.2 miHollywood Cemetery

I went here on a Saturday morning. It is free to visit. Took a paid 90-minute historic walking tour…read more(Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour) by The Valentine. Tour started at the entrance and we went to notable spots. We were only 7 in the tour. Our tour guide Doug who has been doing it for 14 seasons was very knowledgeable. He shared interesting facts, architectural/art styles, history of people and places/Richmond. We saw the iron dog, graves of the 2 US presidents (John Monroe's Tomb and John Tyler's Monument), Lewis Ginter Mausoleum, Palmer Chapel Mausoleum (and the overlooks on its sides), among others. It was a nice tour. I learned a lot. If you plan to go there on your own, there's a map from the website that you can download and use where there are markers for the notable spots. Google Maps does not have these spots in it. The restroom can be found on the left shortly after entering the cemetery. Lewis Ginter Mausoleum shows Victorian era architecture. When you peek through the door, you would see the nice Tiffany glass artwork behind. With its history, nice views overlooking the James River, the peaceful and quiet environment, this is a place worth checking out.

Every Richmonder, or person living in the vicinity of Virginia's capital city, should visit…read moreHollywood Cemetery at least once, possibly at least once a year. It's amazing. It's peaceful. It's beautiful. It's historic. It's a great place to take a walk. It's a great place to take photos or sit and read a book. Take a historic tour or read about all the notable tombs, lore and stories related to this cemetery and then take a long walk around with a friend or with your family. Spend a pretty day after work or on the weekend in the Spring, come back in the Fall. Just don't hurry yourself, take your time and absorb one of Richmond's most notable landmarks. The views from the various overlooks, hills, and the vistas overlooking the river and on to downtown are beautiful any time of year. There's no charge for admission, check the daily hours and plan a trip. You'll be glad you did. You'll likely come back.

Photos
Hollywood Cemetery
Hollywood Cemetery
Hollywood Cemetery

See all

Riverfront Historic Canal Cruises - tours - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...