Looking for the best things to do in Wilmington, North Carolina? You’re in the right place!
Wilmington is such a fun coastal city because you get the best of both worlds. The historic downtown sits right on the Cape Fear River, with colorful streets and a lovely Riverwalk, and then you’ve also got some of North Carolina’s best beaches close by.
There’s plenty to keep you busy here, from sailing and e-bike tours to exploring a WWII battleship and spotting wild Venus flytraps. We’ve also worked in some of our favorite breweries and outdoor spots, so this guide covers a really good mix of Wilmington’s history and natural charm. Let’s get into it!
Don’t miss out!
Our Top Choice
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our FAVORITE thing we did in Wilmington was this private sailboat charter. Not only was this incredibly scenic, but we loved the relaxed and luxurious feel of having the boat to ourselves!
Wilmington At A Glance
Wilmington is pretty easy to explore once you know how to plan your days, but there are a few things worth knowing before you arrive.
Rent a car: Public transport is fairly limited, and while you can explore the Historic District on foot, you’ll want your own wheels for places like Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach State Park.
Book in advance: Wilmington also gets busy during peak season, so don’t leave everything until the last minute. Tours, hotels, and popular restaurants can book up quickly, especially over weekends and during summer. We recommend booking hotels 3-4 months in advance, then booking activities and restaurants about a month ahead.
Plan sightseeing strategically: It also helps to group your sightseeing by area. Spend one day exploring the Historic District and Riverwalk, then save another for the beaches and attractions further out. Wilmington is a little more spread out than it first appears, so planning this way will save you a lot of unnecessary driving.
How I Would Spend Two Days in Wilmington
🚲Day 1: Explore By E-bike, WWII Battleship & Sunset Sail
Explore Wilmington on an e-bike tour, visit the historic Battleship North Carolina, then enjoy a private sunset sail and dinner downtown.
🌊Day 2: Carolina Beach State Park, Brewery Tour/Scenic Cruise & Cargo District
See wild Venus flytraps at Carolina Beach State Park, choose between a brewery tour or a scenic cruise, then spend your final evening exploring the Cargo District.
Things to do in Wilmington
1. See historic sights on an e-bike
Tour Details
We did this e-bike tour while we were in Wilmington, and it was such a fun way to get to know the city! We covered a lot of ground in 2.5 hours, without having to work too hard thanks to the electric bikes.
The tour started in the Cargo District, and then we headed through some of Wilmington’s coolest neighborhoods and into the historic downtown. We loved seeing how much the city changes from one area to the next, and our guide, Jim, was fantastic at bringing Wilmington’s history to life as we rode. He was super knowledgeable and clearly really enthusiastic about the city!
One of my favorite parts was Greenfield Lake Park. It’s a gorgeous change of scenery from downtown, with wooden bridges and trails winding around the water. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife here too, because you might even spot an alligator!
Depending on the day, you can also take a short break in the Soda Pop District or continue to Oakdale Cemetery, North Carolina’s oldest rural garden cemetery. We think this tour is especially worthwhile if it’s your first time in Wilmington. You get to see far more than you would on a walking tour, but you’re still out in the open rather than watching everything through a bus window. Plus, riding the e-bikes is just really good fun!
2. Set sail on a private sailboat
Tour Details
We did this private sailing charter in Wilmington and absolutely loved it. In fact, it was our favorite thing that we did here! The boat takes you out along the downtown riverfront, so you get a completely different perspective of the city than you do from the Riverwalk.
The cruise lasts for two hours and is completely private for your group of up to six people, which made the whole experience feel really special. We could just sit back, enjoy the views, and chat with the skipper without having to share the boat with a big tour group. It was so much better this way!
As we sailed along the Cape Fear River, we enjoyed amazing views of Wilmington’s waterfront and the state ports. We could even bring our own drinks and snacks on board, and we definitely took advantage of that! There are morning, afternoon, and sunset options, but we recommend going for the latter if you can, as it’s such a scenic experience.
We went for sunset, and it was absolutely perfect. The sky looked beautiful, and it just took an already fantastic experience to the next level!
One important thing to know is that this tour is incredibly popular and frequently sells out. There are only so many private sailing slots available each day, so this is definitely not one to leave until the last minute. If you know you want to do it, we strongly recommend booking in advance so you don’t miss out.
3. Visit the historic Battleship North Carolina
For a completely different side of Wilmington’s history, head across the Cape Fear River to explore the Battleship North Carolina. This huge ship served in the Pacific during World War II and earned an impressive 15 battle stars during her service!
Today, the battleship is a floating museum, and you can climb aboard to explore it on a self-guided tour. There are nine levels to discover, so there’s much more to see than you might expect when you first arrive. We recommend allowing around two hours here so that you have plenty of time to look around.
One of the coolest things about visiting is getting to see what life was actually like on board. You can make your way through different areas of the ship and get a much better sense of its sheer size, while learning about the thousands of sailors who served aboard during World War II.
The Battleship North Carolina is open for self-guided visits every day, and admission currently costs $14 USD. We think that’s pretty good value for a couple of hours of exploring, especially if you’re interested in military or maritime history. And even if you’re not a huge history buff, getting to climb aboard a real WWII battleship is a pretty unique experience!
Related Read: Need some help planning your trip? Check out our detailed 2-day itinerary that includes all the can’t-miss activities and hidden gems!
4. Relax on a Wrightsville Beach sunset cruise
Tour Details
If you think that the private sailboat charter sounds amazing but you’re not traveling with a group, this Wrightsville Beach sunset cruise is a great alternative. You still get that lovely evening-on-the-water experience, but without paying for a whole private boat.
The cruise lasts around 1.5 hours and takes you through the Intracoastal Waterway and around the islands near Wrightsville Beach. We love that it’s not just a sightseeing cruise either. The crew shares some local history along the way, then puts on beach music so the whole thing feels really fun and relaxed.
Sunset is also one of the best times to look for bottlenose dolphins in the area, which adds another reason to keep your eyes on the water! Of course, wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but even without dolphins, the marsh views and changing evening light make this a really scenic way to end the day.
The boat holds up to 15 travelers, so it’s still a relatively small-group experience. You can sit back with a drink and take in the views without having to do anything except relax. We think this is a fantastic option if you’re traveling solo or as a couple and want a sunset cruise without booking a private charter.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
5. Wander through the Airlie Gardens
If you fancy escaping the city for a few hours, Airlie Gardens is one of the prettiest places to visit in Wilmington. This beautiful botanical garden covers 67 acres, so there’s plenty of space to wander around and take it slow for a while!
The history of the land stretches all the way back to the early 1700s, and today the gardens are run as a nonprofit. You can follow the walking paths through different parts of the property, enjoying the flowers and local wildlife as you go.
One of the highlights is the huge Airlie Oak, which is hundreds of years old and absolutely enormous! There’s also a seasonal butterfly house, plus ponds and plenty of shady spots that make the gardens particularly lovely for a leisurely walk.
We think Airlie Gardens is a great addition to your Wilmington plans if you’ve already spent lots of time exploring downtown. It shows you a completely different side of the area, and it’s also conveniently located on the way toward Wrightsville Beach. You could easily combine the two!
The gardens are currently open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with the last admission at 4:30 pm. Tickets cost $10 USD, so it’s also one of the more affordable things to do in Wilmington. What’s not to like?
6. See Venus Fly Traps at Carolina Beach State Park
Did you know that Venus flytraps grow wild in North Carolina? Carolina Beach State Park is one of the few places in the world where these fascinating carnivorous plants are native, so we think it’s well worth making the short trip out of Wilmington to see them!
The park is just 12 miles south of the city and has plenty of walking and hiking trails to explore. We suggest starting with the aptly named Flytrap Trail, which gives you the chance to spot Venus flytraps growing naturally. They’re much smaller than you might expect, so keep a close eye out as you walk!
If you want to explore a little further, check out the Sugarloaf Trail too. This route takes you past Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot sand dune that was once an important landmark for sailors navigating the Cape Fear River. There’s plenty of other wildlife and native plant life to look out for around the park, so this is a great choice if you want to swap Wilmington’s historic streets for a few hours in nature.
And since you’ve already made the drive south, we definitely recommend checking out Carolina Beach afterward. Its vintage boardwalk has a fun, nostalgic feel and makes a nice contrast to the trails!
7. Discover Wilmington’s breweries in a ’72 VW Bus
Tour Details
Okay, how fun does this sound? Wilmington has a fantastic craft beer scene, with around 20 breweries to explore, and this private brewery tour takes you between them in an actual 1972 VW Bus!
The best part is that the tour is completely customizable. After booking, you can choose which breweries you want to visit, or ask for recommendations based on the kinds of beer you like. There are tons of options, including Flytrap Brewing and Flying Machine Brewing, and you’ll typically have time for around three stops.
But honestly, the vintage VW is what makes this tour so unique. The bus has been beautifully restored with a custom interior and space for up to seven people, so just getting between the breweries becomes part of the fun! There’s even a Bluetooth speaker on board, plus a cooler with ice and bottled water.
We also love that this is a private tour and includes pickup and drop-off from your accommodation. They’ll collect you from Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, or Kure Beach, then safely drop you back off afterward. No one has to volunteer to be the designated driver!
You don’t even have to stick exclusively to breweries. Since the itinerary is customizable, you can work in a distillery or cocktail stop instead. We think that this would be so fun for a birthday, a bachelor or bachelorette party, or just a fun afternoon with friends!
8. Check out Wilmington’s trendy districts
One of the best ways to get a feel for Wilmington is to spend some time exploring its different neighborhoods. The Historic District is the obvious place to start, especially if it’s your first visit. It runs along the Cape Fear River and is packed with beautiful old buildings, independent shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants.
The Riverwalk is a big part of the appeal here too. It stretches for around two miles along the water, so it’s perfect for a wander while you take in the marina views and see what’s happening around the waterfront. We definitely recommend spending a good chunk of time here because for us, this is the part of the city that feels most quintessentially “Wilmington”!
Then, for something completely different, head over to the Cargo District. As the name suggests, a lot of the area has been built using shipping containers, which gives it a much more creative, modern feel.
You’ll find local shops, restaurants, and independent businesses here, and there are often events going on too. We think it’s such a fun contrast to the Historic District because you get to see how much personality Wilmington has beyond its old buildings and riverfront charm.
If you’ve got time, definitely visit both. Together, they give you a much better sense of the city.
Where to Stay in Wilmington, North Carolina
For this trip, we definitely recommend staying around the Riverwalk and Historic District. This is the most charming part of Wilmington, and you’ll have tons of restaurants and shops nearby, plus the Cape Fear River right on your doorstep. You’ll still want a car for exploring further afield, but downtown itself is really easy to enjoy on foot.
Luxury – $$$
If you’re looking for somewhere a little more special, Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront is our luxury pick. It’s right on the Cape Fear River at the northern end of the Riverwalk, so the location is fantastic for exploring downtown.
The big draw here is definitely the waterfront setting, and we think it’s a great choice if you want somewhere that feels a little more upscale while still keeping you close to the action. The spacious suites are a bonus too, especially if you like having a little more room to spread out.
Prices fluctuate by season, but average around $250 USD per night. Book Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront here!
Mid-range – $$
For a stylish mid-range option, check out Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center. It’s also right by the Riverwalk, so you can easily head out and explore the Historic District without having to get in the car.
The hotel has a much more modern feel, and we especially like the rooftop bar overlooking the Cape Fear River. There’s also a really cute terrace next to the water with fairy lights in the evening, which is an ideal spot for a sundowner or a nightcap. We think this is a fun choice if you want a central location with a bit more personality!
Rooms go for about $180-$300 USD per night. Check availability and book Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center here!
Budget – $
If you’re trying to keep accommodation costs down, Best Western Plus Coastline Inn gives you a fantastic location for less. It sits right beside the river, close to the northern end of the Riverwalk, so you’re certainly not sacrificing convenience by choosing our budget pick, and the property even has its own pier over the water!
The rooms are fairly simple, but some have lovely views across the Cape Fear River. Breakfast is included too, which is always handy when you’re trying to keep costs down while traveling!
Prices start around $150 USD per night. Book the Best Western Plus Coastline Inn here!
For more options, check out all listed hotels in Wilmington, North Carolina here!
Renting a Car in the USA
The United States is a vast country with diverse landscapes, from bustling cities to scenic national parks. While public transportation exists in major cities, renting a car is often the best way to explore the country’s wide-open spaces and hidden gems.
We always book with Discover Cars and can’t recommend them enough. It’s super easy to compare prices, check company ratings, find the right vehicle for your needs, and add affordable full coverage insurance. If you want a full breakdown, check out our Discover Cars review here.
Tips for Renting a Car in the USA
What You Need to Rent a Car in the USA
Ready to hit the road and discover the freedom of exploring the USA on your own terms?
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Thanks for reading!
Wilmington is a little hidden gem on the East Coast! From the charming historic streets to the great beaches, we loved our time here. And if you stick to this list of top activities, I’m sure you will too!
Be sure to check out our other USA blogs before you take off! We have lots of resources to help you plan a memorable trip, no matter where your travels take you. Here are a few related blogs to inspire your next destination – cheers!
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The Services We Recommend
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