Lily Baxter

With a tempting oceanfront, beautiful national parks and a lively city center to explore, the right hotel can be your stepping stone to seeing the sights of Virginia Beach, whether you’re a beach bum or bar-hopper. And there are plenty of good options…with infinity pools, forest cabins or Frank Sinatra’s former beach-side bolt-hole among them, Virginia Beach certainly isn’t short of amazing accommodation. If you’re a family with kids to keep an eye on the numerous resorts will be welcome – and they don’t all cost the earth. Couples can opt for romantic bed and breakfasts, spa resorts or sky bars – or maybe a little of each for a vacation they’ll never forget. Whatever it is you’re looking for, we’ve rounded up what we think are the best hotels to choose from in Virginia Beach. RECOMMENDED:👙Check out  the best things to do in Virginia Beach💸Head this way for the best budget hotels in Virginia Beach Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Oysters, brunch and Southern food are the holy trinity of the Virginia Beach food scene, and if you’re lucky, you’ll find all three on one delicious plate. Making the most of what the sea and shore have to offer, the restaurants here pride themselves on using locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients at every opportunity. This means daily menu changes, loaded specials boards and food so fresh it could hop off your plate. One of the top things to do in Virginia Beach, of course, is to try the local seafood, and you can have it fished from the water beneath your table, sliced by a Tokyo-trained sashimi master or grilled fresh at a dockside bar. For hangover and homesickness cures alike, the Southern influence is strong, especially when combined with brunch cocktails. Be it in a reclaimed doctor’s office, a back-bay bolthole or within stumbling distance from your hotel, the restaurants of Virgina Beach certainly know how to turn on that Southern-charm and make grits like your granny.

Right where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find Virginia Beach. This laid-back coastal city adds a cheeky measure of history, creativity and adventure to your traditional beach-side vacation. Over 500 square miles of surf-spots, family farms, hip hotels and sprawling state parks are here to be explored, with summer boardwalk festivals drawing the crowds. Take a day off from the pristine beaches to kayak through nature reserves, explore the ViBe creative district or visit the site of the pilgrims' first landing. If your explorations leave you ravenous, take your pick from the best local restaurants and sit back with a locally-brewed craft beer as the sun sets. A note on our list: While we always curate the best things to do, we haven’t ranked them here—we just couldn’t choose favorites!  

In the state of first landings, first impressions count – but it’s hard to go wrong when you’re sandwiched between the Appalachian Mountains and Chesapeake Bay. Being in Virginia means being in nature, and whether you prefer to spend your days hiking through valleys to spy local landmarks or surfing the waves at Virginia Beach, you’ll never want to leave. Combine that with historical sites brought to life before your eyes and a food scene powered by the freshest local produce and seafood straight from the bay – and you’ll find Virginia is a state that feeds your mind, soul and tastebuds. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.