Overview
Winston-Salem is a city in North Carolina. It has an approximate population of 251,000 (2022). Winston-Salem is one of three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad; the others are Greensboro and High Point.
14 sights · 1 things to do · 16 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Winston-Salem
Old Salem Museums & Gardens
A beautifully restored historic district and living history museum. See blacksmiths, carpenters, cobblers, and other interpreters practicing their trades and explaining Moravian life in 18th- and 19th-century Salem. The …
Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Experience Winston-Salem’s golden era. The historic home of tobacco baron R.J. Reynolds and wife, Katherine will charm you with a collection of American masterpieces ranging from the colonial period to the present, vinta…
The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
Consistently featuring the best of today’s regional and national contemporary artists, SECCA fosters creative excellence through changing exhibitions. Past exhibits have featured artists such as William Wegman and Yoko O…
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
There is almost always a production or performance happening at this prestigious Fine Arts university.
Last Shell Oil Clamshell Station
A former service station in the shape of a giant scallop. Of the 8 built in the 1930s, this is the only one that remains.
West End Historic District
From its beginnings as a regional spa resort and an exclusive community of wealthy tobacco and textile families, Winston-Salem's West End is now a dining and shopping center for the city and a perfect place to explore pe…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 32°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Mar. (climate data from nearby Piedmont)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- GSO Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro — 17 mi away (major hub). Directions
- USA Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, Concord — 56 mi away. Directions
There are no rail services to Winston-Salem, but Amtrak offers several daily services to nearby Greensboro.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $79–$135 a night (typical $126), from 4 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$120, mid-range ~$200, comfortable ~$300.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning West End Historic District, Winston Salem Dash, Downtown Arts District
- Lunch Meridian Restaurant
- Afternoon Old Salem Museums & Gardens, University of North Carolina School of the Arts
- Dinner Mellow Mushroom Winston-Salem
- Evening Burke St Pub
Day 2
- Morning Historic Bethabara Park, Charlotte and Philip Hanes Art Gallery, Lam Museum of Anthropology
- Lunch Ryan's Restaurant
- Afternoon Reynolda House Museum of American Art, The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
- Dinner Little Richard's Bar-B-Que
- Evening West End Opera House
Day 3
- Morning The Diggs Gallery, Delta Arts Center
- Lunch Downtown Thai & Pho
- Afternoon Last Shell Oil Clamshell Station
- Dinner Sweet Potatoes
- Evening Finnigan's Wake
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
For a sweet snack with a historical connection to this town, look for thin, crisp Moravian spice cookies. The "ginger cakes" are the original version, but they are also available in other flavors now at multiple bakeries and tourist-oriented gift shops in the area.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Visitor information
Get in
By plane
- Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) is about a 20-minute drive (20 miles) east of downtown between Winston-Salem and Greensboro.
By train
There are no rail services to Winston-Salem, but Amtrak offers several daily services to nearby Greensboro.
By car
Winston-Salem is easily accessible by car via Interstate 40, U.S. 421/Salem Parkway, Interstate 77, Interstate 85 and U.S. Highway 52 (Future Interstate 73/74).
By bus
Greyhound Bus, +1 (800) 231-2222.
PART (Piedmont Authority for Regional Transit) buses serve Winston-Salem from other parts of the Piedmont Triad.
Greyhound and PART buses stop at the Campbell Transportation Center at 100 W 5th St (the corner of 5th, Trade, and Liberty streets), which is also the hub for local buses.
Get around
By bus
Winston-Salem Transit Authority provides local bus service for $1 a ride, $0.50 for elderly and disabled, children shorter than the farebox and accompanied by an adult ride free; transfers are free.
By taxi
- Willard's Cab Co, +1 336-725-2227
See
See West End Historic District (Winston-Salem's Front Porch)
From its beginnings as a regional spa resort and an exclusive community of wealthy tobacco and textile families, Winston-Salem's West End is now a dining and shopping center for the city and a perfect place to explore pedestrian charms. Built around one of the first electric streetcar lines in the country, the West End boasted "Millionaires' Row," where the Reynolds and Hanes families kept homes bought with manufacturing fortunes. Featuring homes built between 1890 and 1930, the neighborhood is known both for its hospitality and the area's largest and most-varied concentration of front porch designs.
See Historic Bethabara Park
The first NC Moravians settled here in 1753, the founding site of Forsyth County. The Park features costumed guides leading visitors through a 1788 furnished church. Additionally, you can view two period buildings, a restored French/Indian War fort and restored medicinal garden. Greenways and path traverse the 175-acre preserve.
See Charlotte and Philip Hanes Art Gallery
In 1991, the Scales Fine Arts Center of Wake Forest University, dedicated its gallery to Philip Hanes and his wife, Charlotte, in recognition of their contributions to the arts. The gallery has an ongoing schedule of diverse exhibits and has housed showings that included works of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, among others.
See The Diggs Gallery
Named for James Thackeray “T” Diggs, Jr., a 1934 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, painter and art professor for 40 years. Exhibiting one of NC’s largest displays dedicated to the arts of Africa and African Diasporas, it also hosts musical performances, dance, drumming, artist workshops, theater productions and film screenings.
See Downtown Arts District (DADA)
An ultra-hip area of downtown, DADA, is an eclectic collection of working studios, galleries, shops and restaurants. Just a block from the Benton Convention Center, this exciting neighborhood is easy to find. Come and explore this inspiring world of jewelers, fiber artists, wood and metal workers, antique dealers and sculptors.
See Delta Arts Center
Opened in 1982 by the local alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Society, to enrich the community by stimulating interest in American arts and humanities, the center emphasizes the contributions of African Americans. Delta Arts Center hosts exhibitions, lectures, performances and special programming in visual arts, music, literature, history and folk arts.
See Old Salem Museums & Gardens
A beautifully restored historic district and living history museum. See blacksmiths, carpenters, cobblers, and other interpreters practicing their trades and explaining Moravian life in 18th- and 19th-century Salem. The Historic Town of Salem and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) engage visitors in an educational and memorable historical experience about those who lived and worked in the early South. The district includes the Salem Tavern (built in 1784), where George Washington spent two nights in 1791, and St. Philips Moravian Church (1861), the oldest surviving African American church building in North Carolina.
See Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Experience Winston-Salem’s golden era. The historic home of tobacco baron R.J. Reynolds and wife, Katherine will charm you with a collection of American masterpieces ranging from the colonial period to the present, vintage clothing, original furnishings and family memorabilia in the restored home. The new wing offers exhibitions and a visitor center.
See Kaleideum North (SciWorks)
With a state-of-the-art planetarium, 15-acre Environmental Park and 45,000 square feet of exhibits, learning about science is fun at SciWorks. See a planetarium show, visit barnyard animals or come face-to-face with a NC river otter! At SciWorks, there are interactive, hands-on special exhibits and programs for all ages to enjoy.
See The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA)
Consistently featuring the best of today’s regional and national contemporary artists, SECCA fosters creative excellence through changing exhibitions. Past exhibits have featured artists such as William Wegman and Yoko Ono. The modern galleries are housed within the elegant stateliness of a Tudor-style house that was once the estate of industrialist James G. Hanes.
See Last Shell Oil Clamshell Station
A former service station in the shape of a giant scallop. Of the 8 built in the 1930s, this is the only one that remains.
Do
Learn
Buy
Other major shopping areas are found along Peters Creek Parkway (home of Marketplace Mall), University Parkway, Jonestown Road, North Point Boulevard, Reynolda Road, and Robinhood Road.
Eat
For a sweet snack with a historical connection to this town, look for thin, crisp Moravian spice cookies. The "ginger cakes" are the original version, but they are also available in other flavors now at multiple bakeries and tourist-oriented gift shops in the area.
Budget
Mid-range
Eat Mellow Mushroom Winston-Salem
"Funky, art-filled chain pizzeria featuring craft beer, calzones & creative stone-baked pizzas."
Eat Village Tavern
There are two Village Taverns in Winston-Salem. The bigger one is located on Hanes Mall Blvd. near the mall and smaller, original is located on Reynolda near Wake Forest. Both have great food, but you may want to choose depending on the atmosphere you are looking for. They both are very busy on weekends, so make sure you plan for a little bit of a wait.
Eat The Loop Restaurant
Hand-dipped milkshakes, hand-crafted burgers or pizza on an open patio.
Eat The Carving Board
"Family-operated American cafe & deli preparing sandwiches, salads & desserts in an easygoing space."
Eat Sakura Japanese & Sushi on Stratford Road
"This casual place with a patio offers a familiar selection of hibachi, tempura & sushi choices."
Eat Sweet Potatoes
"Fried chicken & other soul-food staples plus beer, wine & cocktails in a storefront space."
Eat West End Cafe
"Warm, convivial bistro featuring updated American fare & views of a lily pond from the front tables."
Splurge
Eat Downtown Thai & Pho
"Chill nook supplying made-to-order sushi, Vietnamese pho & Thai dishes along with beer, wine & sake."
Eat The Old Fourth Street Filling Station
"Trendy, upscale New American eatery & bar with a fireplace & covered outdoor terrace."
Eat Meridian Restaurant
"Elegant dining room with relaxed ambiance serving an elevated menu of Mediterranean & American food."
Eat Milner's American Southern Restaurant
"Contemporary Southern cooking, craft beers & Sunday live jazz in an upscale-casual environment."
Eat Mozelle's Fresh Southern Bistro
"Refined Southern cuisine & diverse wines presented in airy, bright environs with a covered patio."
Eat Rooster's - A Noble Grille
"Upscale menu of Southern food & dishes with international influences made from local ingredients."
Eat Ryan's Restaurant
"Upscale Continental destination with extensive wine list in a wooded setting overlooking a stream."
Eat 6th & Vine Restaurant and Wine Bar
Downtown wine bar that also serves a small but delicious dinner menu. Great atmosphere with outdoor seating along narrow alleyways.
Drink
Drink Burke St Pub
One of the best pubs in town. Very cheap drink specials and friendly staff.
Drink Finnigan's Wake
"Local brick-lined tavern offering up standard Irish food & a wide range of microbrews & scotch at the bar."
Drink West End Opera House
Another local institution.
Drink Earl's
"Nashville-inspired plates, a whiskey bar & live music in a down-home spot with Southern flair."
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Stay Best Western Plus University Inn
"Next to a shopping center, this informal hotel is 10 minutes' walk from the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and 2 miles from both Highway 52 and Wake Forest University. Warmly decorated rooms come with Wi-Fi access and TVs, plus microwaves, minifridges and coffeemakers; upgraded rooms add whirlpool tubs and/or sofas. A breakfast buffet is complimentary. Other amenities include a spa, a 24-hour gym and an outdoor pool."
Splurge
Stay Embassy Suites by Hilton Winston Salem
"Opposite Benton Convention Center, this casual all-suite hotel is 1 mile from historic Old Salem and 3 miles from the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Unfussy suites offer custom-designed beds, Wi-Fi (fee), flat-screen TVs, minifridges and microwaves. All have living rooms with pull-out sofas. Upgraded suites add Keurig coffeemakers. Cooked-to-order breakfast is complimentary, as are evening socials with drinks and snacks. There’s an informal restaurant and bar. Other amenities include a fitness center, an indoor pool, a spa, a garden terrace atrium, plus event spaces. Parking is available for a fee."
Stay Winston-Salem Marriott
"A mile from the Old Salem Museum and Gardens, this polished downtown hotel is a 10-minute walk from Bailey Park and 3 miles from The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. The relaxed rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and desks with ergonomic chairs, plus coffeemakers and minifridges. Some include sitting areas and/or city views. Suites add separate living and dining areas. Amenities include a bar/restaurant, a lounge and a 24/7 fitness center, plus a business center. There's also meeting and event space for up to 2,700 people. Breakfast and parking are available for a fee."
Stay safe
Winston-Salem is generally safe. Like most cities in the world, there are certain areas that may not be the safest at night, particularly in the eastern half of the city. Though its downtown was once a seedy, shady region, it has been thoroughly cleaned up, especially Fourth Street. Most populated areas in the city, such as shopping and dining, are very safe. Normal precautions should be taken.
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