Charlottesville is more than a place to live; it’s a place to call home. Nestled in Central Virginia, just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, residents enjoy endless natural beauty with amenities and cultural attractions of a large metropolis.
The University is a distinct institution in Charlottesville, yet deeply ingrained in a thriving community of academics, entrepreneurs, artists, and explorers. Working at UVA comes with the benefit of living in what the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research calls one of the happiest cities in America.
Enjoy a night out with friends and great food in a city of entrepreneurial restaurateurs who operate more than 100 independent dining establishments. Consider all-American, international, and contemporary cuisine at Brasserie Saison or C&O Restaurant, Turkish delicacies at Sultan Kabob, or fine fusion cuisine at Mas Tapas or The Local … the list goes on. Virginia's non-profit Local Food Hub also offers an online directory of where to find fresh, locally grown foods.
Charlottesville’s unique pedestrian-only Downtown Mall offers shopping at over 120 locally-owned gift and clothing boutiques, antique stores, art galleries, and bookstores. It’s also home to several famous venues for music, dance, and theater – the Pavilion, the Southern Café and Music Hall, the Jefferson Theater, the historic Paramount, and Live Arts–to name a few.
Charlottesville offers a wide variety of housing choices, from living in the heart of the city and adjacent neighborhoods like Belmont, Cherry Hill, or Locust Grove, to enjoying more relaxed and rural settings bordered by the Blue Ridge Mountains in the surrounding counties. Explore our diverse residential options, and find out which neighborhood best suits your lifestyle and budget.
All Charlottesville City schools are White House-certified to be “future-ready,” and are a charter member of the League of Innovative Schools. Many schools continually receive the Virginia Department of Education’s “VIP Award of Excellence.”
You and your family can always access University activities and community events, experiencing neighborhood living through the convenience of Faculty & Staff on-Grounds housing options, and if you are new to Charlottesville, consider joining the Charlottesville Newcomers Club or Meetup groups.
#5
Healthiest City; The Today Show
#6
Best Wine Vacation; U.S. News & World Report Trave
#7
Best Small City Road Trip Destination; Travelocity
Activities in Charlottesville and Beyond
Located just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, residents enjoy endless natural beauty and a convenient location. You are within a few minutes’ drive of The Appalachian Trail and the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, just a one hour drive to the state capital of Richmond, and about three hours to the ocean and fun at Virginia Beach. Perhaps one of the greatest perks to living in Charlottesville is its proximity to the nation’s capital of Washington, DC located two hours north by car or train.
Central Virginia is a hub for cultural and historic attractions such as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello - a world heritage site. And we are fortunate to have Montpelier and Ash-Lawn Highland located nearby, and Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown are not far past Richmond.
Getting Around
The Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, located 8 miles north of the city of Charlottesville, offers daily non-stop flights to and from Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York/LaGuardia, Washington/Dulles, Atlanta, and Chicago.
Both the University of Virginia campus and the bustling downtown are within easy walking distance of the Amtrak station.
The Charlottesville Area Transit provides bus service to the greater Charlottesville area. Riders enjoy safe, clean, and comfortable service Sunday through Saturday, and all buses accept bicycles and provide wheelchair access. Greyhound also services Charlottesville, providing nation-wide service.
Biking and walking to work make up nearly 18 percent of the commute trips in the city of Charlottesville – among the highest biking and walking commute percentages in the state! In addition to expanding the bicycle and pedestrian network, the City encourages walking and bicycling by installing outdoor bike parking, administering the Bike Rack Giveaway Program, and sponsoring events like Bike Walk Play. There are upwards of 3,000 bike trails in and around C’ville covering over 30,000 miles, including the High Bridge Trail, John W. Warner Parkway Trail, the Railroad Ford Trail, the Rivanna Trail, and the Saunders-Monticello Trail, among others.
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