Need a college-town getaway with Southern charm and cultural flair? Head to Chapel Hill! Home to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill blends academic energy with historic ambiance, thriving arts, and top-tier dining. Whether you’re catching a game at the Dean Dome, wandering the botanical gardens, or relaxing with a coffee on Franklin Street, this vibrant town is full of Tar Heel spirit and Southern hospitality.

Chapel Hill, NC Highlights:

  • For Adventurous Travelers: Hike at Carolina North Forest – Discover peaceful wooded trails just minutes from downtown for walking, biking, or birding.
  • For History Buffs: Explore the UNC-Chapel Hill campus – Tour the oldest public university in the U.S., with historic landmarks like the Old Well and Wilson Library.
  • For Shoppers: Stroll and shop along Franklin Street – Browse indie bookstores, college apparel, vintage shops, and local artisan boutiques.
  • For Couples: Enjoy a sunset drink at The Carolina Inn – Historic elegance and Southern porches create the perfect romantic setting.
  • For Families: Visit the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center – Interactive exhibits, stargazing shows, and fun for all ages on UNC’s campus.

Best Time to Visit Chapel Hill, NC

The best time to visit Chapel Hill is from March through May or September through November. These seasons bring mild temperatures, spring blooms or fall colors, and plenty of campus and community events. Summers are quieter but warm, while winter is mild with occasional chilly days.

How to Get to Chapel Hill, NC

  • If you are traveling by car: Chapel Hill is located off US-15/501 and I-40, about 30 minutes from Raleigh and 2.5 hours from Charlotte.
  • By Air: Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is the nearest major airport, about 25 minutes from Chapel Hill by car.
  • By Bus: GoTriangle provides regional bus service from Durham, Raleigh, and the airport; local buses in town are free.

Where to Stay in Chapel Hill, NC

  • Recommended for Families: Aloft Chapel Hill – Trendy, modern hotel with a pool and easy access to campus and local attractions.
  • For Couples: The Carolina Inn – Elegant, historic hotel right on campus with refined Southern décor and fine dining.
  • For a Budget Stay: Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill-Carrboro Downtown – Affordable and centrally located with clean, comfortable rooms.

Best Things to Do in Chapel Hill, NC

Ackland Art Museum


Discover exciting global art or explore affordable exhibits in a quiet setting.

Ackland Art Museum

© Ackland Art Museum

Founded in 1958, the Ackland Art Museum collects, preserves, and presents an array of outstanding art to educate, inspire, and engage both students of the university and the local community.

Featuring a permanent collection of more than 17,000 works of art, the Museum is home to a significant collection of European masterworks, African and Asian art, twentieth-century and contemporary art, and North Carolina pottery. The Ackland Art Museum presents a variety of traveling and special exhibitions throughout the year, as well as some educational programs for students, children, and families.

The Ackland is located on S. Columbia Street near the Franklin Street intersection in downtown Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 3400, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Phone: 919-966-5736

North Carolina Botanical Garden


Walk along easy trails and admire unusual native plant collections.

North Carolina Botanical Garden

© Courtesy of zayacsk - Fotolia.com

The North Carolina Botanical Garden is part of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is comprised of more than 1,000 acres, including 10 acres of display gardens and several natural areas.

Established to inspire an understanding, appreciation, and efforts to conserve local flora, the North Carolina Botanical Garden features several habitat display gardens that interpret the plants and vegetation of North Carolina, nature trails, a Garden of Flowering Plant Families, Display Gardens and the Education Center with numerous educational exhibits.

There is a program of educational workshops and events for adults and children throughout the year, as well as summer camps and plant sales.

The University of North Carolina, CB 3375, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Phone: 919-962-0522

Dean E. Smith Center


Catch exciting basketball games or explore this iconic sight on a quick visit.

Dean E. Smith Center

© Courtesy of makieni - Fotolia.com

The Dean E. Smith Center, also known as the Dean Dome, is a multi-purpose sports arena in Chapel Hill that is home of the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels basketball team. Named after the former North Carolina men's basketball coach Dean Smith, the arena is used for home basketball games and is one of America’s most popular athletics venues.

The Dean E. Smith Center is open Monday through Friday, and while guided tours are not provided, visitors can view the playing court from the seating area. The Center is also home to the Carolina Basketball Museum, which is located in the Ernie Williamson Athletics Center situated next door. Admission to both the Smith Center and the Carolina Basketball Museum is free.

300 Skipper Bowles Dr, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Phone: 919-962-7777

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center


Take kids to enjoy exciting star shows and unusual science exhibits.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

© Courtesy of Tryfonov - Fotolia.com

The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is one of the oldest and largest planetariums in the country. Located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Morehead Planetarium was first opened in 1949 to train astronauts in celestial navigation. It contained one of the largest working Copernican orreries in the world. If you are wondering what to do in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with kids, this is a great place to visit.

Home to the GSK Fulldome Theater, as well as the Science Stage, various exhibits, and classrooms, the Morehead Building also contains the UNC Visitors Center, Morehead-Cain Foundation, and UNC Morehead Observatory.

Permanent exhibitions at the Science Center include History Hallway, Highway of the Planets, and Where American astronauts first met the stars.’ Educational programs for youth and teens include Skywatching, Starry Nights, Scout workshops, and various science clubs.

250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Phone: 919-962-1236

Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:

PlayMakers Repertory Company


Experience exciting live theater or enjoy an affordable night of entertainment.

PlayMakers Repertory Company

© kozlik_mozlik/stock.adobe.com

Catch some of the best theatrical performances North Carolina has to offer at PlayMakers Repertory Company. Making it their mission to transform the community through art, the company releases entertaining and thought-provoking plays that uphold their values of artistic excellence and equality, to name a few. At the beginning of each season, the company releases a lineup of plays that cater to a wide range of audience members. Some of their past plays include an autobiographical story about American playwright August Wilson, a heartwarming comedy about the yoga industry, and an adaptation of a Wrinkle in Time. PlayMakers Repertory Company holds their shows at the Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Arts and opens their doors 90 minutes before each performance.

120 Country Club Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Phone: 919-962-7529

Coker Arboretum, Chapel Hill


Stroll through romantic gardens and enjoy peaceful, easy paths downtown.

Coker Arboretum, Chapel Hill

© Courtesy of Alena Yakusheva - Fotolia.com

The Coker Arboretum rests at the center of the University of North Carolina and is managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

One of the Botanical Garden’s oldest tracts, the Arboretum was founded in 1903 and has a current collection consisting of an array of flowering trees, shrubs, bulbs, and perennial displays. Visitors to the Arboretum can enjoy monthly guided tours led by professional naturalists, which provide a relaxed, informative introduction to this floral gem in the heart of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Located next to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on the UNC campus, the Arboretum is open dawn to dusk daily all year-round.

The University of North Carolina, CB 3375, 919-962-0522

Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium


Watch exciting college baseball or enjoy a quick, family-friendly outing.

Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium

© Rawpixel.com/stock.adobe.com

There is no denying that the Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium is one of the country’s finest sporting facilities in the world of collegiate baseball. Originally opened in 1972, Bryson Field is nestled in the heart of the University of North Carolina campus, and has been the stage of three NCAA Regionals as well as give Atlantic Coast Conference Tournaments. Of the many things that make Bryson Field such a spectacular facility, some of the items worth mentioning include its 4,100 capacity, its overflow capacity of over 5,000, the field’s wide concourse, and a state-of-the-art lighting system that exceeds the AAA minor-league standard and matches those of top professional stadiums.

235 Ridge Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, Phone: 919-962-6000

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Kidzu Children's Museum


Explore exciting hands-on exhibits and enjoy affordable playtime with kids.

Kidzu Children's Museum

© Kidzu Children's Museum

Kidzu Children's Museum is an interactive, hands-on museum dedicated to inspiring young children to learn through creative play. The museum presents a range of exhibitions that encourage kids to explore and discover new things through play, including the Flexible Forest, which features a large-scale climbing wall, a tree house, and a crow’s nest.

The museum also features Farm to Fork, where children can learn about locally grown food and healthy eating habits, and the Forest Theater, a mini performance space that encourages artistic expression and drama.

Kidzu also hosts a full schedule of educational family programming for children of all ages, including Friday Fam Jam, Messy Mornings, Storytimes, and Makery Masterpieces, as well as special events and workshops throughout the year.

201 S. Estes Drive inside University Place, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Phone: 919-933-1455

Gimghoul Castle


Visit this unusual landmark and admire mysterious, romantic stone architecture.

Gimghoul Castle

© Courtesy of graphic@jet - Fotolia.com

The legend of Gimghoul Castle has long been a source of mystery, rumor, and curiosity for students and locals alike. Located on Gimghoul Road in Chapel Hill, Gimghoul Castle was formerly known as Hippol Castle, it is that constructing the castle, which was accomplished at an exorbitant cost of $50,000, took over five years.

The castle is thought to be haunted by the ghost of Peter Dromgoole, who died in a duel over his love for a local girl named Fanny. The castle has also been associated with a secret society known as the Order of the Gimghoul, which was founded in 1889 by noted UNC alumni.

705 Gimghoul Rd, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

Time Out, Chapel Hill


Savor affordable Southern comfort food or enjoy a quick bite any time.

Time Out, Chapel Hill

© OneTime Out

Time Out is one of Chapel Hill's most beloved dining institutions, originally opened by University of North Carolina alumni Eddie Williams in 1978. Today, the restaurant is overseen by Williams' son Eddie and has become known as an integral part of the UNC-Chapel Hill collegiate experience, serving up its signature Southern-style cuisine 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The restaurant's signature chicken and cheddar biscuits have been featured by Travel Channel, Buzzfeed, Thrillist, and The TODAY Show, also available plain, honey-drenched, or as oversized biscuit sandwiches stuffed with egg, sausage, or country fried steak. Barbecue pulled pork, fried chicken, and trout platters are also served up throughout the day, along with a selection of specialty burgers and sandwiches.

201 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, Phone: 919- 929-2425

Where to Eat in Chapel Hill, NC

  • Recommended for Families: Sutton’s Drug Store – Old-school soda fountain and diner with burgers, milkshakes, and Tar Heel memorabilia.
  • For Fine Dining: Lantern – Award-winning Asian-Southern fusion with a romantic ambiance and locally sourced ingredients.
  • For a Casual Meal: Al’s Burger Shack – Famous for juicy burgers and sweet potato fries in a tiny, beloved walk-up shack downtown.

If you are interested in local events:

  • For Arts & Culture: Festifall Arts Festival (October) – Outdoor celebration of visual arts, performance, and community on Franklin Street.
  • For Music Fans: Carrboro Music Festival (September) – Free live music at venues all over neighboring Carrboro.
  • For Food Lovers: Taste the Event (Spring) – Food and wine tasting festival spotlighting the Triangle’s best chefs and local farms.

Day Trip Itineraries Within 30–60 Minutes of Chapel Hill, NC:

  • For Urban Culture: Durham, NC (30 min) – Visit the American Tobacco Campus, Duke University, and the Durham Performing Arts Center.
  • For Family Fun: Raleigh, NC (40 min) – Explore museums like Marbles Kids Museum and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
  • For Nature: Eno River State Park (30 min) – Hike riverfront trails, swim, or picnic in a peaceful wooded setting.
  • For Small-Town Charm: Hillsborough, NC (20 min) – Wander historic streets, visit art galleries, and eat at farm-to-table cafés.
  • For Wine Tasting: Cloer Family Vineyards (45 min) – Enjoy wine flights, picnics, and a peaceful countryside setting.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • What makes Chapel Hill special?
    • Chapel Hill is well known for its vibrant atmosphere, unique attractions, romantic parks, and great restaurants.
  • What attractions can visitors enjoy in Chapel Hill?

Map:


Plan Your Trip