I had one $#@& tour guide send me to the wrong place to wait for our tour, which then started 15 minutes early. Then openly mocked me for bringing me children (6, 9, 11) on the tour. In front of an entire tour group. Despite this guy... this place is fantastic. The gardens, the views, the architecture museum. We spent 4hrs here learning and being awed by the significance and history of it all. My wife and I could have easily spent more time there, but kids. We did the cheapest tour, which is only the ground floor. If it was just the two of us we'd have done the full thing to see the dome. I highly recommend getting there early and doing the architectural museum at the bottom of the hill before going up. Spend a good 45 minutes doing all the reading and learning of what Jefferson did before going to lay eyes on the building.

One of the most well done tours I’ve ever been to. Amazing experience from the drive in to the tour. We purchased the Behind the Scenes Tour that takes you into the house and the rotunda—it’s worth the investment! You get to walk through history. We saw the actual books Jefferson owned, his bed, his personal tools, and so much more. The tour guides are insightful, thoughtful, and kind. Getting to walk through history has no substitute! Highly recommend for anyone visiting Charlottesville!

It was a great tour. Our guide Don was amazing. Every encounter with the workers was nice except for the lady driving the shuttle and the lady checking tickets to get on the bus. It’s a must see when you are in Charlottesville. The house had incredible views to the blue ridge mountains and nearby fields. I recommend a guided tour because they share interesting stories of the family and items in the house.

My wife is a history major and had Monticello on her bucket list, so I decided to take her on a special vacation to visit this historical landmark. What a special day we had despite the rain. The facility was very well organized, had a great gift shop and is well maintained. We decided to take the self-guided tour so we could take our time and really take everything in. My wife was in heaven walking room to room and observing all the historical artifacts in the home of our third president, Thomas Jefferson. The home had paintings, Indian relics, antique furniture, books, a poignant scene of children's toys, and unique technical devices from the 1700-1800s. The grounds were amazing and full of beautiful plants, trees and vegetable gardens. Many areas had QR codes that allowed you to pull up a web site on a cell phone, providing written descriptions and audio recordings. There was a great little snack shop on the grounds that offered unusual soft drinks, candy, ice cream and other wonderful treats. We spent over 2 hours taking it all in and enjoying the breath taking scenic views of the mountains and rolling hills. A truly memorable day learning about the history of the home of our third president of the United States of America.

This was much better than we expected. We lucked out with good parking but there looked like plenty. The grounds and buildings are well cared for and their are staff all over the place and they seem very capable and knowledgeable. We did the highlights tour and our guide was great. They have a good system for moving you through the house while sharing some interesting tidbits but also allowing for plenty of questions if you have any. We walked around a bit and just enjoyed the grounds before heading back. Recommend the hot chocolate at the Cafe. It was definitely one of the better hot chocolates I've had.

Great place to visit and get a taste of our founding father. A very complex personality. And the actor playing Jefferson was incredibly knowledgeable. All in all a memorable experience. Although hard to understand why he did not free all of his slaves even though he believed all men are created equal.

It was okay. We visited 4-5 areas in our 45 minute tour. Nothing was really informative on Thomas Jefferson himself, a LOT was mostly about the slaves and what they did. Then they have a whole hour tour dedicated to slavery, so basically the whole experience was a slavery info tour very little on Jefferson himself. I went when I was around 10 and the tour has definitely shifted information since then. 🙃 our tour guide was great. Little confusing on where to go for the tours, they ask to see your ticket about 3-4 times before you even take the tour. What little we did hear about Jefferson was great, nothing really new though, everything's almost word for word online and on the website. Didn't eat at the restaurant, way too expensive for how little you get and how minimal the menu is. Few workers are kinda snobby, but those are everywhere anymore. It was a good experience, not great. Tickets were $42 per adult.

This is a must see. I did the behind the scenes tour, which takes you upstairs!!! Doing this tour and looking around the grounds can take 3 or more hours. There is so much to take in. The views are beautiful around the property and depending on the week day you might see Thomas Jefferson himself. There is a store near the house that has drinks including alcohol. There is a great gift shop down near the parking as well.

We had a great visit to Monticello. They have done a great job of preserving and restoring a very important part of history. The tour guides are extremely informative. They have an actor who speaks as Thomas Jefferson. He is amazing, he even takes questions. Monticello is beautiful and so educational. I highly recommend a visit!

This was one of the best run historical sites I have visited. Everything was extremely well organized, and the staff were fantastic. We reserved tickets online and went in the middle of the day on a Friday. While pricy (over $40 each for a 45 minute house tour), this is a nonprofit, and because of how well it was run, how knowledgeable the employees were, and how many things we were able to see, it was well worth the money. The only time we had to wait for anything was for our house tour to start, but you are able to walk around and look at other things during that time. The shuttle bus to the top was quick and prompt. We easily could have spent a full day touring the grounds and surrounding sites, but we spent about 3.5 hours touring the house, grounds, and taking an additional tour covering enslaved labor, which I highly recommend, as that is such a significant portion of the history here. It is no extra cost to attend additional tours once you have paid for entry. The tour guides for both tours were excellent and highly knowledgeable, even providing images and primary source documents to illustrate their tours. Bring a reusable water bottle, as there are fill stations at the visitor center near the restrooms when you enter and on the top of the mountain near the restrooms. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to do a good bit of walking! This is a must do if you visit the Charlottesville area.

Awesome Experience & Tour of Monticello! Highly recommend taking the guided tour. Monticello is filled with much history, inventions, interesting architecture and gorgeous gardens of President Thomas Jefferson's. Over the years, I have gone on the guided tour three times and I always learn something new. My favorite are all the inventions of Thomas Jefferson. I also love walking though the amazing vegetable gardens and flower gardens. Highly recommend if you are in the area & especially if you enjoy history.

This an awesome place to visit! You can spend most of the day here if you tour the house and walk through all of the out buildings and take part in a few of the walking tours. The gift shop is first class and have recreations of furniture (expensive) and simple items like pencils and kids toys. They did a very good job of talking about Jefferson owning slaves and his children that he had with Sally Hemings. Overall, I felt they did a great job of interpreting history without leaving out the good and the bad.

A fantastic place to spend a nice day. Lots of great history here at our 3rd presidents abode. The actual house itself is still cool to your though basic tickets will not let you view anything but the first floor. To view the second or third floors those are separate more expensive tours. Where this place shines is the land and property. The history about it is phenomenal and the tour guide didn't shy away from talking about the slavery portion of our nations history and how it shaped Monticello. We walked back to the visitors center and along the way stopped at the graveyard and saw where him and his family is laid to rest. Definitely look around the grounds of the place and poke your head in everywhere possible. It was a great way to kill 5 or so hours and learn more about this place.

It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed our trip to Monticello. Walked throughout the house and saw some wonderful historic things. We walked throughout the grounds and saw some amazing plants in the garden. It was a long winding road to get to Monticello but worth the ride. On the way in we passed a sign for an apple orchard. We stopped there after Monticello and it was worth the stop.

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello was a walk back to the early years of the United States. The home itself was very lovely depicting the daily lives during this time period. Jefferson was an incredible statesman whose life was extremely interesting. The guide explains the home in detail worth listening to or use your mobile phone and listen to the audio. I was especially fascinated by the grounds as Mulberry Lane and the wine and beer cellar strategically set under the home plus the beautiful gardens. The view from this home is breathtaking. Very well planned out from the bus ride to the plantation, to the gift shop and cafe, your experience will be an enjoyable and unforgettable one.

The grounds are beautiful and plenty of history within and around the area. I wouldn't say it was worth the house tour, it is beautiful and guides educate you along the way, but I didn't get to much from the tour. I did really enjoy exploring the grounds and reading the history.

Just incredible! Please take the time to drive here and take the tour. The guided tour was so informative with background on different events. Must see for our children to get a better understanding of our founding fathers and the life they lived. Loved seeing the replica Declaration of Independence, less than 50 still known to be in existence. Lots of walking paths and beautiful views.

Of all of the historical sites I have visited this was the absolute best presentation. If I were limited to visiting only one historic site, this would be the one. There is a gentleman who does an absolutely astounding job portraying Mr. Jefferson. He spoke eloquently and evoked great emotion. This gentleman was the best part of the tour and an absolute treasure. One almost feels as if they have actually met Thomas Jefferson in his later years. Even the gift shop was head and shoulders above any other that I have been to at a historic site.

Monticello is a wonderful plantation to visit, especially so when the weather is cooperative. The grounds are incredibly well taken care of and you can learn a bit of what life was like by walking around and exploring the various buildings. I love that the gardens are maintained and that the food isn't wasted from them. I highly recommend doing the guided house tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable of Jefferson's life and Monticello through it's years. There are various other tours you can do, but unfortunately I only had time for the one. There's a lot to learn here outside of what you learn in a grade school history class. If you have any interest in history, and are around Charlottesville, I suggest making a stop here!

We had the most excellent guide, Ashley, for the Slavery to Freedom tour. She told the story and asked thoughtful questions that drew her audience into the period. She all of the questions that were thrown at her. She was not judgemental. The museum itself was great at giving us a visual of the man Thomas Jefferson and his plantation. This is an experience that we highly recommend for everyone. The main gift shop had a wealth of additional information. The price for the tour is reasonable given that we had the freedom to see other things. All of the staff were very nice. I loved the convenience of the air conditioned shuttle. We didn't take pictures of the house this time. The architecture is amazing. Thanks to the foundation for preserving this history. Good job.

Behind the scenes tour is worth it if this is your first time visiting. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. The house tour itself was 90minutes but overall we spent 4 hours on the grounds. The house itself was underwhelming, I expected something more grand, however the architecture was beautiful. After the house tour there is so much more to see on the grounds. If you don't have the time for everything, I would recommend getting a garden pass, which still gives you access to the basement of the home.

Monticello is a beautiful historic location with lots to do. What I love is you can freely walk the property or take guided tours. You will learn about all kinds of history on the families who lives in the home as well land itself. The architecture is breath taking and hard to believe it was built on top of a mountain. A must see for individuals and families!!

Thomas Jefferson may be controversial, but his legacy and the history of his intellect are not in question. The house is beautiful and holds some of his experiments, many of which are highlighted by the knowledgeable guides. The availability of walking paths is great, and the history of the land is a good lesson. Recommend for history buffs and people interested in the legacy of a founding father.

My wife and I recently visited the Thomas Jefferson Residence Museum, and it was an experience that far exceeded our expectations. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic, clearly passionate about their work. Their helpfulness added a special touch to our tour, making the rich history come alive. This museum is not only a testament to Jefferson’s legacy but also a treasure trove of American history. We highly recommend it to others and look forward to returning ourselves in the future.

An amazing historical site! There is lots of history surrounding this estate to learn and explore. The tour was a great experience. The views of the surrounding area were beautiful and very calming. I highly recommend visiting!

I loved the history tours that you could do. The house itself was amazing! I do recommend going to the tours, which are very fun and educational. They have several tours at different times you can go to throughout the day. Also, get tickets in advance. It really puts you in Jefferson's shoes being there.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has done a phenomenal job with the aesthetics of the property and restoring the dependencies for their visitors. What I don’t like about visiting here is how commercialized it feels, especially compared to the other historic home tours in Virginia. You pay $42 for the highlights tour, with tours running every five minutes. That means you only have five minutes in each room to hear the guides presentation, look around, and ask questions. Our tour had so many people that we couldn’t see most of the rooms because we were packed in like sardines. We were then shuffled very quickly to the next room. When I asked the ticket counter about other options we were recommended the Behind the Scenes tours or private tours. Private tours start at $750 for four people. I love Virginia history and again, the property was beautiful, I just wish the tour hadn’t felt so crowded and rushed.

Helpful to plan out your day before visiting. Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father and the third president of the United States. He began designing Monticello after inheriting land from his father at age 14. The house was built in stages over a period of 40 years, and it is a blend of neoclassical, Palladian, and Jeffersonian architectural styles. Monticello is known for its octagonal dome, which was the first of its kind in the United States. The house is also home to a number of innovative features, such as a dumbwaiter, a central heating system, and a water closet. Monticello was not just a residence, but also a working plantation. Jefferson owned over 130 slaves, who worked the land, tended the gardens, and cared for the house. After Jefferson's death, Monticello was passed down to his daughter, Martha Jefferson Randolph. She sold the property in 1831, and it changed hands several times before being purchased by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in 1923. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has restored Monticello to its original condition, and it is now a popular tourist destination. Here are some other cool facts about Monticello: The house is made of red brick, which was brought from England. The gardens at Monticello are home to over 6,000 different plants. Jefferson designed his own furniture for Monticello, and he also made many of the tools used to build the house. Monticello was the first home in the United States to have electricity. The house is still equipped with its original dumbwaiter, central heating system, and water closet. I hope you find these facts about Monticello interesting!

I grew up in Charlottesville near this historic location and I've always been fascinated with Jefferson. My family recently visited but had schedule late in the day and were going to miss the meeting Thomas Jefferson experience. We managed to get there early enough to see Jefferson outside the visitor center and when we mentioned we would miss his sit down show. He took my family in for a private show and ended up spending 30 minutes chatting with us. It was the absolute highlight of the trip. What a wonderful memory I will cherish forever. I can't recommend it and the educational slavery tour enough. Thank you Mr. Jefferson and Monticello staff.

A great historical site, highly recommended to anyone who is interested in history, architecture, or agriculture. The house is truly grand and beautiful. I loved hearing the history of the color choices throughout the home, and the many other little stories that help us see Jefferson as a human being and not just a historical figure.

Did not realize Monticello had so much to see on the tour. You see history come to life with Jefferson’s speech. There is still much to see if you do not take the house tour. One special feature that helped my daughter get around better, was there free wheelchair access. Be prepared to spend a few hours and wear comfortable shoes.

Monticello offers a step back in time to learn about the history of one of the forefathers of this country. The tour of the home is pleasant and the tour guides are knowledgeable. There are also multiple other tours of the grounds that provide a great historical perspective of the land and of Jefferson. There is even a Thomas Jefferson character that is found on certain days and times. If you get the chance, stop by to see him. He plays the role with great accuracy and the interaction with him is very memorable.

We had an awesome visit to Monticello. Our docent Brianna was great! I remember going as a kid. We had the grounds and home tour tickets but there is also an upgrade to visit the top floor and dome room. Plan to spend 3-4 hours for your visit. They have a couple of places to catch a bit to eat. We had a great time!

Very cool historical experience. The grounds are well kept and the tours were interesting and well organized. Tickets for a guided house tour were $42 for 45 minutes, but the slave tour was free, which was just as interesting.

A bucket list item that capped a week of presidential monuments. Our guide was entertaining and very knowledgeable. He knew everything about our 3rd President and also did a great job weaving into the tour the stories of the enslaved men, women and children who lived there as well. A great history lesson that underscored the fact that even the wisest people can be flawed in very big ways.

Beautiful location and amazing home. Tour was wonderful, teenagers (12 and 15) were both engaged through the home tour. If you can do it I suggest taking the walk down the mountain side back to the visitor center instead of riding the bus down!

This was well worth seeing. I did the highlights tour and felt for me, that was plenty. However there is a longer more in-depth tour that also would have been interesting.. Our guide Rogan was spectacular! He explained the history well and encouraged questions. I particularly liked how he addressed the difficult subject of slavery and Thomas Jefferson’s involvement. After the house tour there is an option to tour the slave quarters. Yet again, I was impressed how our guide Louie handled the delicate subject and encouraged thought. The entire staff from check in to the guides did a tremendous job! Thank you!

I got a chance to visit while my child was at UVA for a program. Drive was easy. You pass Carter Mountain and Michie Tavern. When i got there, I was greeted at least 3 times before I even got to the home. Bought my ticket. Hopped on the shuttle. Short ride to the top up the mountain. Greeted again. Looked at the views while I waited about 5-6 minutes for our tour guide. Olivia was very knowledgeable about the home. She showed us many points of interest throughout the home. Walked us through the garden. We were allowed to roam Mulberry Row, go into the underground passage, cellar, see Sally Hemming's quarters, the garden, i hiked down to the family cemetery, and hiked back down to the visitor center. Nice walk. I'm glad i did it vs. taking the shuttle back.

It's worth the cost to get in. Went in the fall, and there were still plenty of tours and things to see. Our tour guide was amazing, well versed, and knowledgeable on everything from the building of the home to the darker history of Jefferson's story. He made Jefferson out as human and a product of his time and not a hero and mythical being. I am glad to know that although there are a few original pieces, the museum uses replicas as well. Visit the exhibits near the visitor center where you park for a look at how the house was built, Jefferson's life, and the family trees of his decedents, including Sally Hemmings children. Parking was easy, and the shuttle service made the trip easier for our party.

Enjoyed our brief visit to Monticello on our way to West VA state parks. We didn’t sign up for any of the special walking tours but just toured around the garden and outside of the house as well as the cellar/basement and other parts of the general areas open to all guests. Flowers were beautiful and there were lots of placards to read around the house and cellar that gave you more information about TJ. The gift shops also had delicious ice cream and many other items for sale. There’s a small gift shop by the house and a larger gift shop by the front where you buy admission tickets. There’s a shuttle bus that takes you up and down the hill from the main area up to the house or you can walk it although it may steep and long for those who need assistance or haven’t gotten lots of physical activity since the start of CoVID…ahem. We took the shuttle bus as it had AC and it has a brief automated audio track to talk about Jefferson. I’m glad we were able to stop by and visit!

Such a marvelous piece of our history warts and all. By now everyone knows Jefferson owned slaves and fathered children with one of his house keepers/nannies. He was a very complex man and very intelligent. I could go on for several pages about him and his estate. The tour was excellent and the gentleman who is on the site who portrays Jefferson was excellent. I wish there was someone like that at Mt. Vernon to portray Washington. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about my experience here. Our tour guide was excellent. She was personable and very knowledgeable. You can tour all of the grounds, the mansion and basement which was very informative and interesting. There are slave quarters and shops so you get a real feel for what it was back then. The large Jefferson burial area was also interesting to view. A very peaceful serene setting not too far from the mansion. There is a great visitor’s center and museum and I highly recommend seeing both along with a short film before you take the shuttle up to the mansion. I learned how intelligent, inquisitive and inventive Jefferson was. I highly recommend reading a biography of Jefferson before you visit. It will bring the entire experience to life.

Did the 45-min guided tour; very organized. Definitely worth it. Unfortunately, we had only 2.5 hrs to spare, so not enough time. Recommend at least 3 hrs if you want to soak in the history. Awesome place for history buff. A lot of great history, somber ones too. The guide provided great info about the mansion as well as Jefferson's history, good and bad. The guided tour about slavery at Monticello was a somber one, but a must do. We also attended the "Meet Thomas Jefferson." The gentleman who portrayed Jefferson did an excellent job. The grounds and gardens were immaculate. The trees are beautiful and saved us from the scorching 90° sun. The views were spectacular.

The historical part was absolutely spectacular! Getting to see some of his amazing inventions up close and learning not only his, but the lives of those who lived and worked on the grounds was fascinating! However, this amazing experience was slightly overshadowed by a few things. We took the 4:00 PM tour, thinking we would be able to get the full experience, but this was not the case. Not only were the gift shop and farm to table restaurant closed before our tours were even over, but member of staff even hurried us to leave before our cut out time. So, learn a lesson from me... Go to the gift shop at the beginning, before you go through the tour if you bought tickets for 4-5:00 PM.

Spectacular. Monticello is as much a place of learning as it is an architectural feat. I have been over ten times at this point and learn or see something totally new each time. Take an unguided tour if you’re on a repeat visit and linger awhile in the well-appointed rooms. Don’t miss out on the museum next to the bus stop, and by all means go to the store!

Interesting place. The self guided house tour was a little cramped because they sell so many tickets for each time slot. I ended up skipping a couple rooms of the house because it was impossible to see anything with 15-20 other people in there. Definitely impossible to take photos too with so many people in the way. The outside exhibits and grounds were easier to see. $32 is a little steep for what you actually had access to. $20 would be more reasonable.

It was expensive even to just see the grounds (we didn't have time for a tour). and it takes a bit of time to get from the (beautiful) visitors center (must go through security, no weapons etc) and take a shuttle (or you can walk a path) up to the house. We took the shuttle up and the path on the way back downhill. The path was lovely and the weather was perfect in the wooded shade. Bottom line. Schedule plenty of time. And know even if you get just a Gardens and Grounds pass (can't go in the house/no tour), it's $22 a person. Tours are all 45 minutes and when we arrived, the next one was 50 minutes out, so pre-purchase if you are doing that.

It was an amazing experience. Very relaxing and all of the staff were super friendly. We did the self guided tour and we stayed for about 2 hours to view the estate. The parking was free. Would go again.

We did the standard guided tour, and it was worth it to get more context, history, and details in the different rooms and artifacts. The museum/visitor center was also well done, and we spent a full hour in the discovery center doing all the hands-on kids activities they have. I appreciated that they have made an effort to provide a balanced history, discussing both the amazing contributions of Jefferson but also the contradictions between his words and deeds as author of declaration of independence and a slave owner who freed very few of his slaves during his lifetime. The building and grounds are beautiful! We went in late March and the Eastern Redbuds were blooming, though most other trees were not yet. The grounds had tons of tulips, a whole bunch of different varieties, was fun to walk around the gardens and find our favorites.

Thomas Jefferson knew how to pick a spot. The views from this location are amazing. The site has a great feel to it and the park guides were great. We were running behind due to traffic jams on the highway but they gave us a few minutes to breeze through the mansion right up to the last minute available before the park had to close for the day. I would recommend this to anyone because it is a great experience all around.

The views, the history, the atmosphere... it can't be beat. The guides are so knowledgeable. The grounds are so well kept. So many authentic things. So many tours. Thomas Jefferson knew his stuff and to see it all in person is beautiful!

Amazing place. Interesting in every way. Jefferson, his intellectual cultural and political accomplishments, the declaration of independence, and most of all the enslaved people who built the place and the nation, whose skills, resilience, labor and humanity are visible in every corner of this place. GO TO LEARN. If you can afford the full tour (by a very knowledgeable guide) spend the money.

Beautiful grounds. Tours were great. We took the 45 minute guided tour with Elizabeth. She was engaging and the house was so interesting. Then we listened to “Thomas Jefferson” speak. He was pretty amazing. Lastly we went to the enslaved people tour -again it was very informative and important. We spent 4 and a half hours there.

Leave yourself plenty of time. There is quite a bit to see. The guides were friendly and informative. Thomas Jefferson was an incredible man. This is the home he built over many years. His wife only saw part of the original building. He retired here. It's in a magnificent location and well designed. There are many original pieces and little has had to be restored. It is inspiring to visit even though much of the focus was on slavery. That is part of history. I would have liked to see more focus on the declaration of independence and more on his life. I am inspired to know more about the man. I hope to return and recommend all going.

This is an awesome work of public history. The facility is very nice, staff are friendly and accommodating to those with disabilities. There are lots of things to do, multiple tours to go on. Elizabeth is a great tour guide and the Thomas Jefferson interpreter does a great job. I highly recommend this place. Also, this place has great views from everywhere.

We had an awesome self-guided tour of Monticello and the grounds. Lots of history, inventions and innovation there. A very gorgeous property and scenic hilltop overlooking Charlottesville and the Shenandoah Valley. Was surprised to learn it took 40 years to complete the house but I'm sure it was worth the wait. So much to see and learn.

An absolutely great experience. We did the guided house tour which took about 45 minutes. I would highly suggest having a tour guide rather than going yourself - it’s fantastic. We then did the slavery at Monticello tour which was also guided and also fantastic. Both of our tour guides were amazing - got everyone engaged, talked about the multiple perspectives, etc. there isn’t a ton of food options, it’s all mostly premade and cold drinks- keep this in mind. This is a must see when in the area!