29 Top Raleigh Attractions And Landmarks Not To Miss

Raleigh is not known for its big tourist attractions and its appeal as a destination lies in the small-town charm, quaint local vibe, and unique attractions that set Raleigh apart from other cities in North Carolina. And although Raleigh is North Carolina’s capital city, some of Raleigh’s attractions are not well-known.

That’s why we’ve written this guide to the top attractions in Raleigh, so you can get to know the history, natural beauty, unique culture, and fun side of the City of Oaks. From leisure and amusement parks to museums and nature preserves, these landmarks in Raleigh are considered the top attractions that you shouldn’t miss on any visit to the city.

Top Raleigh Attractions

North Carolina Museum of Art

If Raleigh is known for one thing, it would be for its excellent free museums. In fact, Raleigh has been nicknamed the “Smithsonian of the South” for its quantity of museums. The North Carolina Art Museum is one of the top museums in Raleigh for art lovers. What’s more is that admission to the Museum’s permanent collection and Museum Park is completely free. This art museum is home to more than a dozen beautiful gallery spaces showcasing art from around the world. You can self-explore, take an engaging tour, see performing arts, and participate in family workshops.

Don’t miss taking a stroll through the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, the 164-acre park and trail system through natural areas that features more than a dozen commissioned works of art and sculptures. We love biking the Art to Heart trail, which also runs through the park and ends in downtwon Raleigh.

• Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh
• Website: ncartmuseum.org

William B. Umstead State Park

Just a 15-minute drive from downtown Raleigh is William B. Umstead State Park. If you love walking nature trails, biking, trail running, picnicking, camping, canoeing, and horseback riding, don’t miss this park. With its more than 5,000 acres of forest, Umstead is North Carolina’s most visited state park and a natural oasis surrounding three man-made lakes with easy access from I-40 and I-70. 

The longest trail in Umstead Park is the 7-mile Sycamore Trail. Two of our personal favorite trails include the popular loop trail, the Company Mill Trail and the out and back Loblolly Trail. Families looking for easy trails to do with kids, we love the 3-mile Sal’s Branch Trail and the 1.3 mile Pott’s Branch Trail. We have a full guide to visiting Umstead State Park here.

• Address: 8801 Glenwood Ave & 2100 N Harrison Ave
• Website: ncparks.gov

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

The Museum of Natural Sciences is the Southeast’s largest natural history museum and North Carolina’s most visited museum with over 4 floors of exhibits including live animals, education and research centers, dinosaur and whale skeletons, and so much more. This museum is easily somewhere you could spend an entire day wandering around and is one of the best things to do in downtown.

• Address: 11 W Jones Street, Raleigh
• Website: naturalsciences.org

Dorothea Dix Park

Dorothea Dix Park is the largest park in Raleigh on a whopping 300+ acres on the edge of downtown. It boasts impressive skyline views that frame the huge, open space with wide-open fields, rolling meadows, and tree-lined paths. The City of Raleigh has big plans for a transformative public space at Dix Park, think mini–Central Park NYC.

You can do a free guided walking tour to learn about its fascinating history as a previous mental hospital. It also has the largest dog park in the cityand is home to the giant trolls and Gypson Play Plaza. Located just 5-minutes from downtown, Dix Park is a lovely space at any time of the year and plays host to numerous events and festivals, including the field of sunflowers each year. Read our full guide to Dorothea Dix Park.

• Address: 2105 Umstead Dr, Raleigh
• Website: dixpark.org

North Carolina State Capitol Building

Built of local stone in 1840, the State Capitol building is located in the heart of downtown at the end of Fayetteville Street. It’s a National Historic Landmark and one of the best-preserved examples of Greek Revival-style architecture in the city. At one point, the building housed the office of the Governor, the Supreme Court, and the chambers of the General Assembly, as well as various other state offices. There’s a statue of George Washington dressed as a Roman general in its rotunda, which is definitely worth checking out for a selfie.

Walk the exterior among the impressive oak trees and exploring the monuments and statues on display. Admission is FREE (donations appreciated). Self-guided Tours: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm. Guided Tours: Weekdays at 10am and 1pm. A Capitol Interpreter will offer a brief overview of the history of the building outside the east entrance.

• Address: 1 East Edenton St, Raleigh
• Website: historicsites.nc.gov

Bike (or walk) on the Capital Area Greenway System

If you love walking or biking trails, just outside the metropolitan area, there are 100+ miles of greenway trails in Raleigh to explore. The Capital Area Greenway System is made up of 28 individual trails, passing through wetlands, meadows, forests, past lakes, and other green spaces. The trail is a combination of paved trails and boardwalks, making it easy for hikers and bikers to explore. Popular trails include:

• Art to Heart Trail (6 mile trail connecting the Museum of Art to downtown Raleigh)
• American Tobacco Trail (23-mile trail running along an abandoned railroad bed)
• Lake Johnson Park (paved three-mile greenway loop)
• Lake Lynn Trail (paved 2.8 mile loop)
• Neuse River Greenway Trail (27-mile paved trail stretching from Falls Lake in North Raleigh to the Wake County border line in southeast Raleigh)
• See our list of 25 trails

Gipson Play Plaza (Dix Park)

Raleigh is not short of a good playground or two for kids, but Gipson Play Plaza inside Dix Park is fantastic. In fact, it’s the largest playground in the Southeast USA. This 18.5-acre space is made up of amazing playgrounds suitable for children of all ages, and also has gathering spaces and picnic areas, gardens, and a 91-foot-long mega-swing.

It also has a splash zone, Watermill Mountain, which acts as a water playground and was inspired by our own Historic Yates Mill. There’s also a sensory maze, a Fountain Plaza, and a Side Valley play area, which features four multi-story climbing towers, and a Sand Bowl, which serves as a wet sand play area. And for mom and dad, a cafe!

• Address: 715 Biggs Dr, Raleigh
• Website: dixpark.org

Giant Trolls (Dix Park)

If you’re looking for something unique to do as a family, you can walk around Dorothea Dix Park to see if you can find the five giant trolls. The troll trek is a fun way to get kids out and about and exploring in nature. As you walk along the loop trail through pine groves and ancient oaks, you’ll discover gigantic trolls made out of wood lurking between trees.

These larger-than-life trolls were created by ‘recycle art activist’ Thomas Dambo and are made out of reclaimed wood and tucked into the trees. You can touch them and have photos with them (do not climb on them). Free to visit seven days a week from dawn until dusk! See the troll map here.

State Farmers’ Market

Considered one of the nation’s best and most modern state farmers’ markets, the NC State Farmers Market is an iconic landmark not to be missed. This market boasts 75 acres of indoor and outdoor vendor space where you can sample and shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and gift products from farmers across the state. Consider eating at the State Farmer’s Market Restaurant, a classic Southern breakfast or lunch spot. Here is our guide to the State Farmers Market in Raleigh.

• Address: 1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh
• Website: ncagr.gov

Mordecai Historical Park

At the end of North Person Street (our favorite street in Raleigh) you’ll find Mordecai Historic Park, once known as the largest plantation in Wake County and home to many interesting pieces of North Carolina history. Here you can see the Mordecai Historic House, the oldest residence in Raleigh still on its original foundation, and the birthplace of Andrew Johnson, the 17th President.

Begin your visit at the Visitor Center (a short walk from the parking area, which lines Mimosa Street), where you’ll find tour tickets and park information, as well as the gift shop and meeting space. Read our guide to the Mordecai Historic Park guided tour with a lot more interesting history!

• Address: 1 Mimosa St, Raleigh
• Website: raleighnc.gov

Pullen Park

If you’re looking for fun attractions for young kids, don’t miss Pullen Park. Located on 66 acres of land near North Carolina State University and just a five-minute drive from downtown Raleigh, Pullen Park is the first public park in North Carolina, and the 5th oldest operating amusement park in the USA.

Here you can rent pedal boats, ride a historic carousel and miniature train, ride peddle boats, let the kids run free on the playgrounds, have a picnic or grill out in one of the picnic areas, see a play, or use the sports fields or tennis courts to play your favorite sport. Read our full guide to Pullen Park Raleigh.

• Address: 520 Ashe Ave, Raleigh
• Website: raleighnc.gov

Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden

As one of three accredited rose gardens in North Carolina, the Raleigh Rose Garden includes sixty rose beds surrounded by an arboretum of evergreen and deciduous trees. In the summer months, it regularly has free outdoor movies, which is always a local-favorite pastime. Every year it hosts Art in the Garden, the annual arts festival benefiting Raleigh Little Theatre. The Raleigh Rose Garden is open to the public 7 days a week and is one of the top gardens in Raleigh.

• Address: 301 Pogue St., Raleigh
• Website: RaleighLittleTheatre.org

Marbles Kids Museum

Marbles Kids Museum is a top Raleigh attraction for toddlers and younger kids. There are two levels of kid-focused museum activities with dozens of hands-on exhibits and the state’s only 3D-capable IMAX theater. The museum aims to nurture children’s imagination and creativity and allow them to discover and learn in dozens of different ways, through interactive exhibits and daily educational programs.

• Address: 201 E Hargett St, Raleigh
• Website: marbleskidsmuseum.org

JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

Speaking of gardens, this nationally acclaimed garden has one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants in the Southeast. Located on NC State University property, here you can stroll through 10-acres of gardens with 5,000 plants collected from all over the world on display. Read our guide to the JC Raulston Arboretum.

• Address: 4415 Beryl Rd, Raleigh
• Website: jcra.ncsu.edu

Rialto Theater

The historic Rialto Theatre in the Five Points neighborhood is a great attraction to visit on a rainy day. It opened in 1936 and is one of the few remaining independent movie theaters in the city. The Rialto has been through a lot over the years, having briefly been a music venue and closing down for some time, but it seems to have always survived and come back swinging – it’s one of the most beloved places in Raleigh. Today, you can still watch independent movies here or watch a live music performance.

• Address: 1620 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh
• Website: therialto.com

Gregg Museum of Art and Design

The Gregg Museum of Art & Design is a free art museum on the NC State University campus on Hillsborough St and has more than 54,000 objects in the permanent collection and about six new exhibitions a year. The exhibitions cover a variety of mediums, from 19th-century Japanese color woodblock prints to antique North Carolina quilts – it’s all about showcasing art and design in all forms.

• Address: 1903 Hillsborough St, Raleigh
• Website: gregg.arts.ncsu.edu

Artspace

Artspace is a non-profit art gallery in City Market that puts on exhibitions of contemporary visual art. It also has artist studios and educational programs available for the community, so it’s always worth looking at the events calendar there to see what’s on. This attraction supports our city’s emerging and established artists, so we love to see what our local artists are creating every time we visit.

• Address: 201 E Davie St, Raleigh
• Website: artspacenc.org

James B. Hunt Jr. Library

On NC State University campus, the James B. Hunt JR. Library serves as one of two main libraries for the university. It opened back in 2013 and was dubbed the “Library of the Future” by Time magazine because of its futuristic architectural design, which was the brainchild of the firm Snøhetta who designed the Oslo Opera House and the 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion. Not only is the design of the building worth visiting to see, but it also has lots of beautiful spaces where you can gather with friends or just sit with a book and bask in the natural light.

• Address: 1070 Partners Way, Raleigh
• Website: lib.ncsu.edu/hunt

Juniper Level Botanic Gardens

Most locals haven’t even heard of the exclusive Juniper Level Botanic Gardens; it’s one of the hidden attractions in Raleigh. This 28-acre not-for-profit garden sits on the outskirts of Raleigh and is a private research garden run by NC State University. It’s not open to the general public for most of the year, but it does open for select weekends in the warmer months for those who are quick enough to book tickets or book a private appointment. It’s well worth it, it has over 28,000 plants and is so calm and tranquil. If you need somewhere zen to recharge at, we recommend this spot. Read our full guide.

• Address: 9241 Sauls Rd, Raleigh
• Website: jlbg.org

Historic Yates Mill County Park

If you love learning about local history and walking nature trails, then put Yates Mill County Park on your list of tourist attractions to check out in Raleigh. There are lovely hiking trails around a 24-acre pond and the Historic Yates Mill, all nestled within this 174-acre wildlife refuge and environmental resource center. 

The Historic Yates Mill County Park is the last remaining water-powered gristmill in Wake County. Admission is free, and there are also free tours available in warmer months. Sometimes there are demonstrations on the “farm-to-fork” process and corn grinding demonstrations, which cost a small fee (April through Nov.). Read our full review.

• Address: 4620 Lake Wheeler Road
• Website: wakegov.com

Martin Marietta Center for Performing Arts

The Martin Marietta Center for Performing Arts is Raleigh’s premier arts venue and is where you can see theatrical productions at the Kennedy Theater, listen to the North Carolina Symphony in the Meymandi Concert Hall, watch the Carolina Ballet, and see the classic, A Christmas Carol. This venue has been a historic and cultural focal point in downtown Raleigh since 1932, playing host to Broadway classics, rock legends, and talks from major political figures. Read our guide to the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

• Address: 2 E South St, Raleigh
• Website: martinmariettacenter.com

Raleigh Beer Garden

With 350+ beers on tap, The Raleigh Beer Garden holds the world record for the largest selection of draft beer which definitely puts it on the list of one of the most unique Raleigh attractions. So if you love a craft brew, the Raleigh Beer Garden is the best place to sample many local beers. This massive 8,500-square-foot venue has 3 levels, tons of outdoor space, a back garden patio (family-friendly), a rooftop bar, and an ever-changing selection of beers!

• Address: 614 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh
• Website: TheRaleighBeerGarden.com

City of Raleigh Museum (COR)

The City of Raleigh Museum is another museum in the city dedicated to local history. It was founded by a local historian, Beth Crabtree, who aspired to showcase the city’s history, and is now carried on by Mary Cates, who brings her vision to life. If you want to learn more about the beloved city of Raleigh, this is the best place to do so.

• Address: 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh
• Website: cityofraleighmuseum.org

Pope House Museum

If you’re looking for attractions that showcase Raleigh’s African American heritage, the Pope House Museum is the place to learn about this. It’s the only African American house museum in the state and takes visitors into the life of Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, who was the only African American man to run for mayor of a Southern capital in the Jim Crow Era. 

• Address: 511 S Wilmington St, Raleigh
• Website: Raleighnc.gov/poe-house

Lenovo Center

For sports fans, don’t miss a hockey or basketball game at the Lenovo Center, formerly known as the PNC Arena, the largest indoor arena in Raleigh. Home to the NHL’s and 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes, you can watch a game with 20,000 other Caniac fans. It’s also home to the NC State men’s basketball team, plus regularly hosts concerts and events throughout the year – we have seen Imagine Dragons, Billie Eilish, and Disney On Ice here, to name a few. Read our guide to Lenovo Center.

• Address: 1400 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh
• Website: lenovocenter.com

Videri Chocolate Factory

Another unique Raleigh attraction is Videri Chocolate Factory in the Warehouse District, the only bean-to-bar chocolate factory in Raleigh. This artisan chocolatier allows visitors to watch how chocolate is made from their downtown factory, as well as try some samples. They are pooch-friendly and next door is Black & White Coffee, one of our favorite coffee shops in Raleigh.

• Address: 327 W Davie St, Raleigh
• Website: viderichocolatefactory.com

Historic Oakwood Cemetery

For more than 140 years, the Oakwood Cemetery has been the final resting place of over 22,000 of the area’s most notable citizens, including prominent city, state, and national leaders. A place of unique significance, meaning, and value, Historic Oakwood Cemetery is a beautiful park-like setting filled with ornate tombstones and intricately designed mausoleums. Among the many beautiful monuments and statues are those of 7 governors, 7 United States Senators, 8 Supreme Court Chief Justices of North Carolina, 4 Civil War generals, 2 Secretaries of the United States Navy, numerous Raleigh mayors, and thousands of other individuals.

• Address: 701 Oakwood Ave, Raleigh
• Website: HistoricOakwoodCemetery.org

Frankie’s Fun Park

No, Raleigh doesn’t have a Six Flags or Busch Gardens or big sprawling theme park like Carowinds in Charlotte (2.5 hrs away), but on a much smaller scale it has Frankie’s Fun Park. Here you’ll be entertained with go-karts, laser tag, bumper boats, flight simulators, mini-golf, arcade games, and much more. They have two new rides including a roller coaster and a ride called Zero Gravity! No admission price to enter the park. You pay per activity that you choose to play. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Popular for families, birthday parties, and group events. 

• Address: 11190 Fun Park Dr, Raleigh
• Website: frankies.com

North Carolina Museum of History

NOTE: The North Carolina Museum of History is currently CLOSED for renovations which are expected to last 2-3 years. Check the website for more information. Founded in 1902, it typically receives more than 400,000+ visitors a year with over 14,000 years of history and 150,000 artifacts on display. The museum focuses on North Carolina history, and some highlights include a full-size replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer, the lunch counter from a 1960 sit-in in Salisbury, and much more.

• Address: 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh
• Website: ncmuseumofhistory.org

Final thoughts

We hope this list of the top Raleigh attractions has given you inspiration and helpful information of places to visit whilst in Raleigh. If you are visiting Raleigh for the first time, check out our 24 hour guide to Raleigh, and if you need a place to stay, check out this list of the best hotels in Raleigh or these cool vacation rentals in Raleigh.

How many of these have you visited? What Raleigh attractions would you add to this list?