Reviews of Monticello (Tourist Attraction)

Diane Flaim

Beautiful property, we would highly recommend visiting. Our guide was informative and enthusiastic. Our only issue was with the people in the light blue shirts (not sure if they were paid staff or volunteers). They were very intense and abrasive. Unfortunately, they were the first people we encountered and it set a negative tone.

Herman Wells

If you are a history buff this is a must see. So much incredible work has been done to restore the area. The house tour is a non negotiable. It is the only way you can get a verbal briefing specific enough to truly appreciate the history of the man, his family, and the slaves that supported the lifestyle. Plan to spend at least 4 hours to view the entire plantation, enjoy the tour, and read the placards.

Stevie Brinkerhoff

I attended both a well led and informative slave tour and house tour. I had read Annette Gordon-Reed’s books prior and appreciated the accuracy of the history. My only suggestion is that the outdoor guides be given a lapel microphone in order to be heard better. Keep up the good work Monticello staff and volunteers. You are relaying the tragedies and triumphs of our history with great sensitivity.

David Sherwood

I enjoyed the architecture and memorabilia of a truly remarkable man. You can get some understanding of Jefferson during the tours. Some parts of Jefferson are not so easy to understand. The slave quarters and description of their lives for one. Well worth seeing and discussing.

Ed Fulton

An excellent day out. Jefferson was a remarkable man, this is the remarkable house which he designed, built and rebuilt. The house tour is the central experience, and is decent value for the rather high price asked. I found it superb. Plan your day and buy your tickets online in advance, and arrive in plenty of time for your tour; filling in time beforehand is easy- there is a film and a museum in the visitor centre which can be taken in before or after a house tour. Large bags are not permitted. The organisation is first class, as it should be and needs to be given the visitor pressure. Everything works smoothly. The balance between individual exploration and following tours is up to the visitor, only the house cannot be visited individually - you must (and should) follow the tour. The only criticism which I offer is that there is a lot of repetition. If you read the display boards around the grounds and in the museum, the film is a waste of time. The bookshop is jolly good,too, and is a pleasant way to round off the day.

John Collins

Learned a lot here. Changed my views of the man and the times - both for the good and bad. The people and guides were the best part.

Charles B.

Two words, wow, and damn. Damn as in I wish I had seen it sooner, and wow as in wow. Monticello is a beautiful historic landmark, the home to Thomas Jefferson and a plantation on the back of our coins, and it's beautiful preserved under the trust it's a part of. It has a beautiful walk to the grave sight, an inside view of his house, and full open access to the rest of the entire plantation. One of the best things I didn't expect going in was instead of the usual "welcome video" we got an actual Thomas Jefferson lookalike and roleplayer, who conforms to how I would have seen him in history. Truly adding a great deal to the overall experience. If you ever go anywhere near the states it's in, or are across the world, you definitely need to visit this place. The gardens are also beautifully kept up, and there is a gift shop and wine seller.

Chelsea Herring

An amazing tour at an awe inspiring location. Probably best for families with kids that are 8 years or older. The staff was incredibly great at personalizing the tour to our group and there was a lot to see and do. Plan on 3 hours or so to see it all.

Karen Miller

A well preserved tribute to an interesting piece/time of American history.

Erin Dalton

We were amazed by the crowds at Monticello. It felt like we were at Disneyland, not the home of a former president. The tour groups were far too large for the small areas of the home. Our guide was knowledgeable and kept the tour moving. All of the staff were very friendly.

Steve Ellis

Monticello has many opportunities for an enjoyable day. The hiking trail from highway 20 to the gift center is about 2.2 miles, mostly uphill. Of course the return trip is mostly downhill. Its colorful in the spring and fall and could be termed moderate to strenuous depending on one's fitness. The garden shop is an excellent place to purchase native plants. The accompanying bookstore and souvenir shop is also worth perusing.

Jeremy Bernitt

One of the best run historical sites i've encountered. They are extremely organized & efficient, making the visit even better regardless of crowds. The guides were knowledgeable and there is always constant investment towards discovering more on the property and building modern day versions

Steve Brochu

Charlottesville Virginia!! Home if our 3rd Presidant, Thomas Jefferson!! The mansion is awe inspiring. It's just amazing to be able to walk in the footsteps of one of history most influential people. The history of how Monticello was built( by Jefferson) is cool. The guide we had wasn't the greatest as hes done it so many times that it's boring to him so my advise is ASK QUESTIONS and force them to excite YOU!! There is a clock that Jefferson built in the house and is a beautiful piece of art. I would recommend to any family. We went in August and the views were amazing. If you could go there in the fall during peak foliage time I think would be unbelievable. Enjoy!!

Steven Shepard

As a fan of Thomas Jefferson, all my life I had wanted to visit Monticello. This Spring in concert with a remote assignment and escorting the wife to a wedding in Virginia we took a diversion to Monticello and the weather was perfect. Also, in March there were very few people and we had most of the grounds to ourselves. We took the house tour which only includes the first floor and we took the slave tour. Both are much too short and brief but informative. In fact, the house tour cost $27 and lasts about 30 minutes. Basically they are making a dollar a minute off of each and every citizen that takes the tour. What the tours really impress upon you is how Monticello was never finished in Jefferson's lifetime. Monticello was a living laboratory Jefferson operated to satisfy his scientific curiosity and it never was a comfortable home. In fact, Jefferson did not retire there. He retired at another home in the Poplar Forest. What the tour also impresses is how Monticello had to be saved because after Jefferson died his family sold Monticello to pay off debts and have an income. We came very close to losing the place. If you are a history fan Monticello will pay off in spades. If you are an attendant forced to accompany a class or group you will be bored out of your mind. I thoroughly enjoyed it and want to go back for more.

Ray Beste

Beautiful grounds and buildings. Tour was interesting and complete. Came away with a new (less favorable) albeit more accurate understanding of this President

Randy G

Fantastic weekend trip. My daughter loved it and she is 11. It was very educational to the whole family. We took the extended upstairs tour. It was a little more but I thought it to be well worth it.

Jeremiah Peaslee

Beautiful, I could truly spend a month there and not learn everything there is to learn. Please go and experience it!

Dana Hyde

The Behind the Scenes Tour was great. A little pricey but worth the additional access not granted in general tours. Glad we splurged! The only thing I wish was different was the weather...super humid and hot the day we went, but hey, we can't control the weather, right?

Mickey Martin

Monticello needs to be federally funded and it should be free for the American public to view and we should have more stuff like this in our country I'm in need to make sure we tell the accurate story of our founding fathers and how we do that is going back in the archives and looking at the minutes

Benjamin Tisell

This is a pretty good place and is nice to have seen. The staff were nice and our guide was knowledgeable, but like the ones at Mt.Vernon, felt a bit put under pressure to get folks moved to the next room so those following could enter. Perhaps this place is better enjoyed on a private tour. You will get just as much information on Jefferson and his life if you visit Poplar Forest, plus a cheaper ticket. If I had to choose between this place and nearby Highland, I would pick Monroe's Highland.

Harald Merk

WOW! Where to begin? Beautiful grounds leading up to a impressive house. It was built with a home cooling system before there was electricity. Take the tour.

Tom Hill

Fascinating! If you love history a great place to visit. Learn more about our forefathers than what is taught in history books

Adrian Wilhelmsen

Amazing! Great history lesson. Definitely recommend the tour and at least a few extra hours to explore. Recommend starting early in the day.

Jennifer Fanning

You know a lot about 1769, plus the coffee they sell near the place is delicious, I highly recommend it

Carl Stevens

Very nice place to get a real perspective on American history, not just what others tell you on TV. The private upstairs tour is well worth it. Try to spend the whole day and go on all the tours, theres a lot. We found the Garden Tour to be most interesting.

Lisa Renee Jennings

Beautiful grounds. Glad to see incorporation of she importance of the slaves and recognition of their contribution.

Andrew Utman

Monticello was lovely today. The Harvest Festival was held here today. It was a little hot but a lot of people attended and seemed happy

Bonnie Yapello

A great history education experience for the kids, and adults! We need to support OUR history, and know how great our founding fathers were! Expect to spend the day to take it all in! The tour guides are professional, and dedicated to what they do. Breathtaking views, amazing estate!

James Fahy

The tour guide, Edward Brooks, was outstanding. The tour was too short. There does seem to be an obsession with slavery in this country. Thomas Jefferson was an all-time great as a politician and democrat, yet his achievements don't get much attention here.

Michael Fogle

Nice way to spend a low key morning or afternoon. Our tour guide was excellent - very knowledgeable about Jefferson and history in general. Tickets are pricey, but Monticello Foundation doesn't get any funding from state or federal government - all comes from tickets. Second time to Monticello - last time was 20+ years ago. This time had more information on Jefferson's slaves as well as Sally Hemmings, the slave Jefferson fathered several children with.

Charlie Jeep

Awesome if you love history. And if you like wine your in the right area. I visited Trump winery.

Dora Nelson

Into history? Gardening? Beautiful scenery? All of the above? Than this is a wonderful way to spend a few hours. The visitor center, gift shop and cafes are great as well. Highly recommended!

Michelle Y

Disappointed. We were unaware that the tours were only guided. We were on our way home from the outer banks and wanted to stop and spend a little time at Thomas Jefferson’s home. When we arrived at 3:30 the next available time for s your was at 5:45. Way too long to wait with kids. Do we asked if we could just tour the ground on our own. We could for the same price as the guided tour. 29.95 for myself, husband and 14 year old. Quite pricy for not even staying for the your. For a non profit organization it’s seems a bit expensive. We have visited many other landmarks and never has the price been so costly. As a history teacher just disappointed at the price and lack of self guided grounds tour. I understand not having access to house but we would have at least hot to see it, even if we had to pay a small fee.

Ashley Pratt

Great historical experience! Cost to get in is worth what it includes. I would suggest planning on going earlier in the day, that way you are able to attend additional tours and have plenty of time to see everything on the grounds.

Kevin Robinson

The whole experience of the area was beautiful. Beautifully coordinated, beautifully planned, a beautiful rendition of Thomas Jefferson and a beautifully done tour. 10/10 would recommend .

Jessica Marine Sharp

This place is incredible and EVERYONE should make an effort to see it! It's worth EVERY penny. The house is beautiful, the gardens are beyond words... And the history you learn is irreplaceable! Thank you for maintaining such a wonderful piece of American History for us to enjoy!

gerald fortin

We did a behind the scenes tour. The guide was very knowledgeable. Getting to see the entire house was very educational. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed Monticello.

Nathan Powers

Lots of history to learn. Loved going through the house and leaning the history. Had great tour guides. Really enjoyed our time here.

Cindy Puetzer

Monticello is an amazing place! Such a piece of history kept in pristine condition. You get a glimpse of what life was like and you get to know one of our forefathers on a far more personal level.

Mike McKimmie

Wonderful to walk in the footsteps of the writer of the Constitution. Such a beautiful, historic site.

Denise Wellington

I visited here over 25 years ago. The tour guide barely mentioned the enslaved people that made it possible for Thomas Jefferson to live the life he enjoyed. This time was much more honest about Jefferson and his life and flawed thinking. An amazing place to visit. I will go back again asap.

Meg Villanueva

This was on my bucket list, and I truly never thought I’d make it. I began to wonder if I was going to make it on the tour, too, since I was lucky enough to visit on one of the hottest October days in Virginia history!! But it was worth it. I’m disabled and the docent was very aware and made sure I could sit whenever possible. The house was amazing, especially all the gadgets. I was only able to complete the house turn because of the heat, but I’d love to go back and see the rest next time when it’s cooler. It’s a great tour and I’m so glad I came.

Barbara Ford-Latty

New and Improved tours...wonderful information and the slavery tour was very thought provoking...it stimulated quite an interesting discussion with my twelve-yer-old grandson! The intro video at the visitor center was an excellent overview. Visitors can rest on seating under the shade of lovely old trees throughout. The Farm Cafe offers refreshments. What a lovely day for the family!

Mark Whitney

We toured Monticello at the end of our visit in Charlottesville. A MUST VISIT!! Pres T. Jefferson inherited this plantation & added significantly to its overall impact. Designed & built his home there & was a renowned self-taught architect & inventor.

Princess K

Need a whole day to see everything leisurely. Beautifully preserved and educational

Ryan Barley

This was an amazing surprise! I honestly was not expecting much from visiting this place. I was expecting a lot of self guided tours, and what I received was much much more! The guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. I even tested his knowledge of the items in the rooms by pointing at drawing Jackson did that were on the wall asking "what is this?" quite a bit. He never even paused before an explanation of what I pointed at was! I was truly blown away at the level of detail and commitment this individual had put into the history of Jackson and his house. This is a wonderful place to visit and I hope anyone who has said to themselves "I should go there some day" really goes and enjoys this bit of American History. The tour plus the self guided portion took my family and me 6 and a half hours. You can spend less time here if you don't do the guided tour and take advantage of shuttles more so you can move around faster. Lots of walking I recommend comfy shoes

Clark Hoffman

Beautiful grounds and very knowledgeable staff. Worth a trip to experience the history. Not great for really young children but the staff were very accommodating.

Romain Garnier

This is a very well maintained piece of history. If you're planning on visiting, I would recommend the "behind the scenes" tour - the smaller group size and access to other floors of the house are definitely worth it. Plus our tour guide was knowledgeable and made the tour enjoyable! The slavery tour is also interesting and casts a different light on Thomas Jefferson and the dissonance between his writing of the declaration of Independence and his slave owning.

Adam thevisibility

Beautiful grounds and so much history! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and the house had so many historical items (including Thomas Jefferson's boots!). We will be returning

Claire Jones

Worth ever minute. Excellent tours and staff. If you like history, then this is a must see location. The restaurant was quite adequate (cooks veggies from the gardens) and the in-era Jefferson actor was perfect. The house and garden tours were very insightful with info I never knew. Plan on 3 to 5 hours and take your time.

Mark Wheeler

History is where it's at! Learn about the past to avoid making the same mistakes. It was pretty crowded when we went but the guide was still able to give us a lot of information on Jefferson, his family, and Monticello. Well worth the time!

Amanda Austin

Our tour guide was Patricia. She was amazing and knowledgeable about the house, the grounds, and Thomas Jefferson!!! She inspired! I can just image students walking through with her and being driven to learn more about this great country and Thomas Jefferson's part. His home and grounds allow you to absorb the reality of life during his era. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would! We will definitely be back to bring others to experience this wonderful home.

Jon Beegle

A great way to see what life was like for an American leader living in a transitional time for our country. Educational.

Barb Ruhlman

Wonderful place to visit. Grounds are beautiful. I really liked the vegetable garden. There is an amazing variety of plants here, with period trellising and fencing. The flowers are everywhere, and they a just beautiful. The house itself is wonderful. Lots of original items throughout with interesting and unique designs by Thomas Jefferson. There is so much to see, several tours available...I'm planning on going back soon.

Kaitlyn Tilden

Only giving a 1 bc a zero star rating is not available. We have a group of 15 and we spent $22 a person. The tour was good but we spent so much money on a very short tour and stood in the pouring rain for 15 minutes waiting for a bus. 3 buses drive past us and smiled and laughed, including the drivers.

Jolt Hammer

Had a great time at Monticello. Try the Monticello Root Beer while you're there.

Michael Archuleta

This place is absolutely beautiful, and the staff is phenomenal! They provided a well rounded view on the successes and flaws of one of our nations founding father. Everyone should visit this place.

Evan Ecos

This UNESCO World heritage site is a must if you are in the region. It offers a glimpse into the life and times of Thomas Jefferson. Holding no punches, you learn about the Jeffersonian era through the lenses of Jefferson, his family & friends, and the greater enslaved community. The estate is the gold standard for historic homes and presidential sites.

Shawn Corey

Absolutely fantastic. Monticello is worth every penny and then some. They do an excellent job showcasing Jefferson's accomplishments, while not shying away from his shortcomings. The tour guides are excellent and take their time to make sure you see everything and answer all your questions.

Tim Keezel

Very much worth a visit. House tour was awesome. Zella did a great job leading the house tour and answering my questions!

Paul Mattaliano

Wonderful place to visit. The grounds are beautiful but the history is amazing. Well informed and interesting guides.

Ed Blanton

It is ironic that Jefferson was a proponent and supported the poor yet his home now is so costly (100.00) for a family of 4 Definitely discriminate s against the poor, no matter the race or ethnicity A real disappointment. We saw 3 families leave due to the cost.

Peggy Adldoost

Today was the second time I encountered a rude employee at Monticello. I visit quite often because I’m originally from Charlottesville and I enjoy the mountaintop. When a visitor is asking for directions you may want to coach your employees on how to speak to guest. After reading through some of the reviews I can see I’m not the only one that has experienced this. Hopefully you will take the other reviews and mine into account and use this as a coaching opportunity to improve your staff and ensure that every guest visiting Monticello has a wonderful experience.

Tobia Fait Huber

We did the Family friendly tour: well done! Some other activities for children are available, too. Incredible views. Everything is organised and neat.

John Slavik

Monticello is still 90 percent original. An absolutely beautiful property!

Lawrence Strobel

Great historical sure to visit. Seems they made a great effort in highlighting his humanity and the era regarding slavery in addition to his concubine. Some seemed shocked like they never heard of what went on and tried to judge the 1700s and 1800s by today's standards.

L p

Pretty much the best and most historically accurate mansion I have visited!

Westonsam

Loved this place. I think it was really cool to see Tomas Jefferson’s house

Chris Benton

A must see for its historic significance and architecture. The gadgetry built into the home is both clever and disturbing as it required slaves to actually function. The house was so personalized by Jefferson that it gives context and insight to the man.

Suzanne Leitner

Very nice, especially on the cool sunny day we got. It's priced like a theme park. Okay, overpriced premade food in the restaurant, despite descriptive prose suggesting an imaginative seasonal cuisine with table service. Pack a picnic strongly recommended. I think this would be much better in late September or early October.

Chris Dillman

Super cool place. Important for all of us to realize just what our founding fathers were willing to sacrifice, in order for us all to have the freedoms we have.

Sam

The tour is very well organized, everything is very neat and well maintained. The tour guide (we had a college student named Jamal) was very knowledgeable and friendly. Absolutely worth going.

Brian Hansen

Yep. Lived up to the hype. Interesting, complicated man who built a building with the same characteristics. The tours re very professional and the place is immaculate. Really, the best presidential site I have seen. My son who has seen 15+ presidential houses agrees. Go see it.

AD F

Good site. A must see whether you live here or are just passing through.

Scarlett Cruz

I went here with my friends and my boyfriend and I had a great time I would definitely go here again. Everyone was kind and friendly and parking wasn't difficult at all. Just know if you come here there will be a lot of walking involved

Eric Sutherland

An incredible looking glass into the past of our forefathers. Wonderful displays, friendly and knowledgeable guides, and beautiful grounds! I only wish we'd had more time.

Rebecca Kelly

Had a lovely day. Only complaint is there is no seperate will call window for tickets purchased ahead. Had to wait in ticket line. Kinda ruins the intention for advanced purchase.

Fran Martin

I'm sure it would have been really great but because of my lack of investigation on the price I was shocked that it was $30 per person. For us that was way too steep because we thought we would be able to just go up and walk around the grounds for free or for a much lower price and that is not even an option. We did watch the educational video that was at the visitor center but we were not impressed with that because of the lack of true facts in that video.

Cody Phelps

A must visit if you're in the area. The grounds are very well maintained and the house is incredible with Jefferson's visionary set up and contraptions. Beyond the house tour they also have other tours of the estate as well. My only suggestion is that you may want to go during the week because the weekends get crowded and the tour feels a little rushed.

Vicki Wilson

We had a wonderful visit Monticello! Make sure you plan to spend at least 3 hours possibly even more. You can freely roam about the grounds visiting the gardens that demonstrate some of the vegetation that was grown during Thomas Jefferson's time. You will learn of his great interest and knowledge of vegetables, fruit trees, flowers, and trees. Also on the grounds is the Jefferson graveyard where Thomas Jefferson and his wife and children are buried other relatives. You actually will be led by tour guides through the house and discover many of is developments that were ahead of his time and knowledge even of architecture. The guys are very informative but sometimes we need to speak up a little louder with the groups. They even have special tours to learn about the life of the slaves at Monticello during Jefferson's time.

Wayne Newton

Honest, insightful and thought-provoking tours of the former estate of one of America's most important presidents. The estate adorns the U.S nickel.

Bea Wright

We toured the first floor of the house, garden tour, and Mulberry Row and explored. It was so much fun and very interesting. The tour guides were great, especially Denny who did the Mulberry Row tour. She was passionate, knowledgeable, and dealt with the topic of slavery in an honest and compelling way. We spent about 5 hours there and could have stayed longer but we got too hungry. :) I’d love to go back and tour the top floors of the house!

Macha O'Brien Townsend

You cannot miss Monticello if you are in the Charlottesville area. The staff is courteous and very knowledgeable. The site us also continuously evolving. I've been many times and there is always something new to learn.

Ellen Rose

Fun day touring this place. LOTS OF WALKING. I wouldn't recommend it for young children. It does have a fee to enter, but if you live local you get in at half price!

Charles Walter

What a great place to visit. We spent the day, and did three tours -- the house tour, garden tour, and slavery tour -- in addition to walking the grounds, having lunch, etc. There was not a sour note the entire day. Everyone was knowledgeable, entertaining, and welcoming, despite the 97 degree temps. The grounds are beautifully maintained. The history alone was worth the 8 hours we drove to get here. I cannot recommend this visit enough. One quick note, the slavery tour was not easy to take, but it was an unblinking look at a horrible institution. Mr. Jefferson was by no means a hero in this aspect.

David Deutsch

Great tour. Tour guide was very clear and knowledgeable. Answered the questions asked. And very friendly. A lot of insights and information about Thomas Jefferson's life. I'd recommend this place.

Georg Huber

Beautiful place. I'm in the process of becoming a US citizen and wanted to learn more about the history. We did the behind the scenes tour. Though the tickets were quite expensive it was worth it. Loved every minute.

Steve Smith

We live in the western U.S., so this was only our second visit to Monticello. We decided to purchase a "Behind-the-Scenes" day pass—and we absolutely loved the experience. Our tour guide, Kathryn, made history come alive. She's clearly familiar with many historical details and contexts surrounding Jefferson and his beautiful home and grounds, but what made the tour especially impressive was how she tailored the experience to her audience. Kathryn pointed out the "big" and important facts about each room and the process of historical preservation and interpretation but was always attuned to unique questions from the group. She made us curious, she made us laugh, and she made us think. Most importantly, she inspired us with her passion for history and her love of learning. We found all of the staff pleasant and helpful, all of the exhibits informative, and the grounds and mansion breathtakingly beautiful. If you're considering a visit, it's definitely worth your time. Don't miss it!

William Lloyd

Absolutely gorgeous, made me further appreciate Virginia. Didn't glorify his life, just provided an honest history. I left with a much more realistic view of a very impressive man. Hope you visit ( and spend the afternoon in Charlottesville).

Emily Edwards

The tours are superb, the grounds are lovely, the architecture is fascinating, the views are magnificent, and Thomas Jefferson was simple ingenious. Highly recommend doing this, and taking at least 3 hours, 4 would be better.

Tyler Smith

As far as historical tourism goes, this is possibly my favorite location of all time. The shuttle, the visitor, center, and the tours run like clockwork, so all of that is good. I found the educational aspect to be the most delightful part. The tour guide offered what seemed to be a well-rounded and fair picture of Thomas Jefferson and the whole experience seems to focus on the paradox between his words “all men are created equal” and his ownership of hundreds of slaves throughout his lifetime. I purchase the “behind the scenes” tour, and I felt it was totally worth it. The extra time, rooms, and discussion with our very knowledgeable guide was wonderful. I spent a few hours here, but you could easily spend an entire day, and I wouldn’t recommend less than a half-day.

Chris D'Hondt

Our guide Carolyn was fantastic. She was very informative and kept things lively. Would absolutely recommend the tour.

Laurie Harding

Always a wonderful place to visit! We learn something new and interesting eveytime! The gardens were phenomenal ... well kept!

Kelly Z

This is almost a full day, with various tours and subject matter. There is a bus to take visitors up the mountain. It runs every 10 minutes and makes the journey easier. Tours are mindful about accuracy and it is another opportunity to visit important history. Beautiful grounds and well worth taking the path down the mountain at the end. No photos allowed inside Monticello but you can take many of the grounds.

Cliff Wittig

Great historic guided tours both inside and around the grounds. Amazing glimpse back into history of the location, slavery tours as well as multiple examples of life in Jefferson's days at Monticello. A great educational experience for kids with a thriving vegetable garden, a stroll down Mulberry Row from the Stables to the cemetery where Jefferson was laid to rest. On the North Wing, check out the Washroom and the amazing Root Beer manufactured locally with Honey. In the home, look for the Wine Dumwaiters as well as see how no room in the house on the main level seems to be square.

Heather Hammer

What a wonderous place. The volunteers here are amazing. My children and I had a wonderful experience.

Maria Mantilla

This is the only picture I have of the landmark because the whole location was fascinating. The house was beautiful and the tour guides were full of intelligence. It was worth our time. I went with my father and my nephew and we all had an amazing and fun time. I would go back another year and highly recommend this to families. If you do plan to go then I recommend buying the tickets online before you go.

Dennis Auzenne

Great very well organized tour group... everyone friendly & helpful...great guided tour, interesting place, lots of history!

Matthew Parks

Plan about 4 hours to see it all. Thomas Jefferson was not a one-dimensional man, and they don't try to make him one here. The slave tour is fantastically done. Don't miss it. You can make TJ out to be neither a demon nor an angel, but a complex human struggling with the issues of his day. Highly recommend a visit here.

K D

Well worth the time. Tour guides did a great job educating about Thomas Jeffereson's life. Great architecture to view in the house. You will go through a security check point before you get on the shuttle at the visitor's center. Enjoyed the museum at the visitor's center as well.

Seth H

Loved the house and slave tours. Such interesting history. The gardeners are expert in colonial time plants and vegetables and have recreated a garden true to Jefferson's time and his record keeping. Plan three hours uninterrupted minimum or four with a 1hr break in between. Buy your tickets online to save a few bucks. It adds up! Really worthwhile tours though, also the grounds and visits center are immaculate, well curated and managed.

Tom Kenny

Very beautiful and historical site. You can almost feel like you are moving backwards in time as you tour the grounds and take in the spectacular scenery.

JEFFREY HOEL

Great experience! Guides very interesting. Visitors Center well run and hospitable and knowledgeable

Denise Yorde

We took the personalized tour because the Behind the Scenes tour was sold out. This was an incredible learning experience. We got to see the Dome room which gave a glimpse into the private lives of Jefferson's family.

Victoria Little

Run by a private organization, admissions can be a little expensive. Reserve tickets online! This place is busy but is organized in tours and has a lot of great history!

Marie-Noelle Walsh

Throughly enjoyed our tour. We did the behind the scene tour which was fantastic

Margaret Rasor

Tour group size was way too big for the size of the rooms. The guide talked so fast we could barely understand her, she whisked us through like she just wanted to get it over with and go on her break. Prepare to be underwhelmed at what is in the house. Grounds are well kept, but don't waste your time on the basic tour, better to get one of the more in depth tours. Gift shops has nice food products, all locally made in VA or USA. Prefer Mount Vernon. I'd like to go back to the area to see Montpelier and Monroe's home as it's a lovely drive through Virginia farm country.

Pam Callahan

The house tour was very well done. They have a ramp entrance which was very useful for us due to having my six month old in a stroller. The staff was accommodating and knowledgeable. The garden tour was informative and interesting. If I lived closer I would visit more often.

Nelson Wolfsheimer

Loved, had a great tour guide who was obviously very passionate about the place. Be prepared to walk a fair bit

Mark Wiley

We took the Behind the Scenes tour and it was well worth the cost. Wonderful experience and we spent 2 hours more touring the grounds. Much to see.

Becky Meyerhofer

Great tour. Easy to wander around afterwards t see everything

Brian Baker

Back after 25 years and this place just gets better! Beautiful grounds and informative tours! Great exhibits and interactive edutainment features! Flowers and veggies and trees of all kinds! Fantastic views! Awesome for kids and adults to experience. Plan on spending at least 4 hours in and around the park.

Jeff Webb

Incredible architecture! The presentation and representation of life for Jefferson and his slaves was amazing.

Marianne Morris

Perfect view into history . Could use more historical detail in educational areas. It was a thrill to be there, really.

Charlie Gramatges

Another great visit with students en tow. Great docents, beautiful grounds, and a wonderful dive into a tumultuous history.

Sean Yuan

I had a fantastic time visiting Monticello on my most recent trip to Chancellorsville. Your journey starts on a small hiking path at the end of a spacious parking lot. From there it is about a 3 mile hike to get to the building. The hike is scenic and not too challenging. At the top there is a little gift shop where you can get some neat items. Don't forget that you have to hike back down with your bags if you parked at the bottom of the trail!!

Vincent Vicari

Beautiful historic landmark. Amazing experience to be able to enter the home of one of our forefathers and explore the surrounding property of this great mansion. The scenery in the background is spectacular.

Dorothy sherman

This was a very impressive tour. The guide was excellent and the house and grounds are beautiful. Very inclusive of information about the children fathered by Jefferson and Sally Hemmings. I really enjoyed this experience!

Amanda Gianino

This is a beautiful place to visit. The step ticket price gained you access to the ground and house tour. I'm 5'5" and there were so many people in the tour groups I couldnt see a thing. My advice as this would greatly benefit from an audio guided tour that let's people walk through the house at their own pace.

Amanda R

This was a great place to visit! Our tour guide was great & I learned a lot about Jefferson that I hadn’t known before. It is so interesting seeing how people (especially an elite, such as he) lived and the “modern” touches he had. I went as part of a field trip and wished we had had more time to get to see everything. I’ll probably come back again to see it on my own time schedule.

Laurel Coston

A little pricey but well worth the trip. We totally had a very great history experience. I would love to.go again.

Charles Struck

Place was amazing. The reason for only 3 stars is because of the tours. Every 5 minutes makes you feel like you are being lead through like cattle. No time really for questions.

Karen Sloop

Historical Treasure. Loved the architecture and the brilliance of Thomas Jefferson. This was a personal led guided tour which was wonderful because you are able to ask questions and have dialogue with others. A must see for all Americans.

Nathan Groeger

A very beautiful and historic piece of history that allows one a glimpse of the time period.

Peggy Dixon

Fabulous look at history both on the grounds and in the house. Multiple interactive displays and a fantastic gift shop. The house tour costs for admission but quite a lot of the exhibits are free to enjoy.

Cynthia P

We spent well over 5 hours touring the museum, house and grounds and could have spent much more time. The ticket is pricey at almost $30 although you can get a small discount by booking on line. They do have a tour of the upstairs floors for $65 which also includes all of the other tours. It was sold out for the day by the time we got there so recommend booking on-line if you are interested. The tour guides were very good and interactive. The self-guided tours were nicely done. Bring a refillable water bottle as there is a place to refill. Food choices are limited at the upper site (house). You can take a shuttle bus to the house (very short ride) or walk less than half a mile although it would be up hill. We took the shuttle bus up and walked down.

Dave B

Really well run place. Took Tours of the 1st Level of House, Gardens and Slavery at Monticello. The Guides very knowledgeable and like getting questions. Well worth spending a day exploring. Thomas Jefferson did more in his life than any of us if we lived to 500.

Tai Vicari

Words cannot describe how wonderful the evening tour of the 2nd and 3rd floors are. Plus, spending the evening on the west lawn enjoying music, wine and cheese while meeting Mr. Jefferson

Brian Blackwell

Wonderfully historic landmark. It allows you to take in where and how Jefferson lived and appreciate what he did for this country both good and bad. There are also gardens still growing on this site.

Jillian Harless

Beautiful views and property. Staff was knowledgeable, helpful, and kind. Kids tour was a blast!

Patti KS

We really enjoyed our visit and tour. I'm not a huge history buff and felt like it could go either way but it tour guide was knowledgeable and pleasant and made it interesting and enjoyable and pertinent.

Tania Sotillo

Loved the tour I also liked the museum shop lots of different things to choose from got some kitchen towels hand lavender soap, pens and fridge magnets perfect little souvenir gifts

Judy L

I loved the house itself. However the tour guide was hard to hear and rambled on. The flower and vegetable gardens were very nice and the garden tour guide was informative and easy to understand. This is a good place to visit if you are into history.

Taylor M

This place is AMAZING!!! The house tour is a must so is the slavery tour, the gardens are beautiful and everything is so well preserved, the history truly comes to life while walking on the grounds. At the house you can see 45 miles out, the house sits on a whopping 5,000 acres! The tour guides welcome questions and are very knowledgeable when it come to the history. I will be going back for sure! Underneath the house is available for a self guided tour it's so cool to look at all the old stuff. Make sure you walk all the way though so you can see everything, the discovery area by the visitor center is awesome for little kids they have so many cool and working toys for children (and adults too) you must visit her at least once in tour life, truly spectacular.

T Little

Beyond awesome and worth the trip. They offer several different tours of the grounds in addition to Jefferson's home. Be sure to check out his tomb before you leave.

Thomas Benson

Beautifully restored building and grounds. Buy the "Behind the Scenes" tour. The tour gives you access to the second and third floor of the home. Take an early tour. We spent 7 hours there and could have spent more time. Good food available, though not inexpensive. It is not really accessible to those in wheelchairs. They do not sugarcoat Thomas Jefferson, they present an honest portrait of him. They do talk at length about enslaved people and their contributions to Monticello.

A small cat

This really is a beautiful place to go as far as the landscapes. I don't like part of the history here but it is what it is and none of us can change that. It isn't a good feeling hearing about the slavery back then. I enjoyed going to this place for the scenic views. You weren't allowed to take pictures on the inside of the house - not exactly sure why. We got to go on the first floor and actually some down below since there was bad weather. We saw Jefferson's bedroom which was unique to say the least. When we first walked into the house I wasn't expecting how it looks I was expecting something more grandeur but it just wasn't in the entrance way. The There were animal antlers, European/Indian looking stuff on the wall, etc. We enjoyed the walk outside - grounds, pond, garden/slavery tours, etc. They have little exhibits where they brought up the wine in the wine cellar, the iron they used to use, some history downstairs under the main house of sally and other slaves and people from back in the day. All of the tour staff were very knowledgeable. The visitor center staff was friendly. They do have bathrooms near the visitor center and bathrooms near the Jefferson house but they are on the outside of the house so you have to walk around. Near the bathrooms near the house they had demos of some items from back in the day such as you could write with a calligraphy pen. We did that and it was cool to do. I think this was a unique place to go to given its history. I don't really have any interest in going back but it was good for a one time visit. If you walk everything I think you'll be here for 3 hours or so. There is a shuttle to take you from the visitor center to the Jefferson house. Also, the tours are timed so you get a ticket from the visitor center and then you can get on the shuttle. There is a farm shop gift shop place on the house grounds nearby the restrooms that you may want to check out for some goodies. They have a gift shop near the visitor center too that we checked out before we left. Enjoy your visit! Plenty of pictures of the landscape were the best part.

Hannah Epstein

When I was much younger I visited Monticello and took a tour. During the tour my questions about the lives of enslaved people were brushed off in favor of information about the daily life of the Jefferson family. (No doubt the family's life of relative luxury was made possible by the many who kept house and fed them.) I swore I'd never go back. Today I read in the Washington Post that some folks are unhappy about being told about the lives of everyone who lived at Monticello. I'd like to go back now and hear this more well rounded tour. I think it is about time.

James Setzer

A very nice place to go to learn about the history of Virginia. One thing that needs to be addressed is. The cemetery where the Slaves are buried really needs to be addressed. The slaves that are buried there need to have a proper grave and headstone recognizing them as a real person not a slave. It needs to be Addressed Now!!!!

Carolina Mejia Doherty

It's a nice experience, but the tour guides were mixed... Everyone was knowledgeable but most had a lot of attitude. I've traveled a lot and never had tour guides that acted as though the guests weren't good enough to be there.

Eric Snyder

Beautiful architecture with a stunning garden, a great view overlooking Charlottesville and out at the mountains, tons of history, and tons to do. Could easily spend a whole day here and not see everything. Getting up to the house itself, you can either walk up a relatively steep, dirt path or wait for the bus. The path isn't too difficult (people were pushing strollers,) but I wouldn't recommend it if easily fatigued or have any issues that prevent you from walking easily. Make sure to stop by the gift shop afterward. Tons of great little souvenirs including: wine, olive oil, and seeds straight from the gardens of Monticello!

Justin Bodek

The behind the scenes tour was interesting, worth the money if you're only visiting once. Learned a good bit of information I had not heard previously. Tons more things to see on the grounds and museum.

Mike Geremia

I've visited Monticello about 6 times. It's a different experience each time of done during different seasons or at night. Another must-see if you're in the Charlottesville area. Check out the upstairs tour if it's available.

Kara Yakel

Unfortunately they didn't change the signs at the front saying the last tour is at 4:10pm. The sign was wrong and we missed the 5:10 because we thought there weren't anymore due to the sign. Really unfortunate.

Angel Obrien-Bateman

Interesting piece of history. The view from the lawn was beautiful. Alot if walking for anyone with issues.

Anne Gegg

The staff is extremely knowledgeable and the house itself is wonderful (if a little inconvenient upstairs). I am pleased to see how much Monticello is doing to raise awareness of the lives of the enslaved workers on the plantation. The gardens are beautiful and I love to see the preservation work that has gone into it. Gift shop and restaurant about what you would expect. Liked the mushroom sandwich.

Patrick Giesecke

The grounds are well kept and the tour was great. But there were a few administrative employees (specifically, one lady who seemed to be in charge of getting groups who had signed up for tours into the correct waiting area) who gave us an attitude about where we were standing and then wouldn't answer some of the basic questions we had saying that it wasn't her job, and the tour guide would be able to answer. I think that's a fine response but she said it with an attitude which turned our excitement for learning about TJ and his home into a less enjoyable experience. The tour guide was great though, answering any/all questions and even had a few jokes baked into his tour. Not all of them landed but he just seemed to be happy about being there and teaching us about my main man TJ and his life.

Krystal Morton

We had a blast. This is a must go again to learn all the history. We went on a day that they let is do a self guided tour. Not sure if that was great. We had some talkers in our group that I couldn't hear the guides in the rooms. The grounds are amazing. The view was on point. For those of you that don't know the history of Thomas Jefferson you need to go and see what all he accomplished at his home and to learn the history of what all he did in his life time like writing the Declaration of Independence.