| For | Pricing | When |
|---|---|---|
| All Ages |
$395 for up to 5 guests of any age
Year-round
|
Year-round
|
Reservations are required for this tour and must be made at least 48-hours in advance. Call: 434.984.9880.
Have you always wanted to go upstairs at Monticello? This exclusive pass takes you behind the scenes: through the first floor of Monticello and up the narrow staircase to explore the private quarters on the second and third floors, including the iconic Dome Room. Along the way, you will see unique architectural features and visit newly restored spaces that reveal the complexities of family life at Monticello. Learn about the Jefferson, Hemings, and Randolph family, as well as other free and enslaved people who lived and labored in the house. The Behind-the-Scenes tour provides a fuller picture of life at Monticello, and a better understanding of the complex world surrounding the man who authored the Declaration of Independence.
Beginning May 28, fully vaccinated guests are no longer required to wear facial coverings when outdoors at Monticello. All guests age 5 and up must continue to wear a face covering when indoors, and when on shuttle buses. Please check back for updates, and check out our Visiting FAQs to learn more about our efforts to make your visit safe and enjoyable.
Please note: This tour is not handicap-accessible and involves climbing steep stairs. Children must be able to climb and descend stairs unassisted by an adult. These tours are recommended for adults and children 7 and older.
Late Arrivals: As these tours begin and/or end outside of our normal hours of operation, guests arriving late may receive an abbreviated tour.
Not able to visit in person? Check out one of our Live Virtual Tours, or join us for our weekly livestreams.
What's included in the Private Behind-the-Scenes Tour:
Programs and Exhibitions
- Self-guided, walk-through tours of first floor of Thomas Jefferson’s home.
- Meet Thomas Jefferson (most Tuesdays-Saturdays)
- Guided Gardens & Grounds Tour
- Guided Slavery at Monticello Tour
- Mobile Scavenger Hunt for Families
- Exhibits at the Visitor Center
- Thomas Jefferson’s World Introductory Film
Access To
- Free Parking
- The Shops at Monticello and Monticello Farm Table
- Free Wifi at the Visitor Center and around the mountaintop
- Burial Ground for Enslaved People at Monticello
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit
- Bring a well-charged smart phone with QR Code Reader to access additional content and activities as you explore the house and grounds.
- Consider purchasing Monticello’s Official Guidebook online or at the shop to serve as your companion during your visit.
- Check out our Visiting FAQs to learn more about efforts to make your visit safe a
Guide to Your Visit
A Behind-the-Scenes Tour includes a guided tour of Monticello's 1st, 2nd & 3rd floors, including the iconic Dome Room!
Monticello is a big, beautiful, thought-provoking place. Leave time to explore it. Most guests spend about 3.5 hours.
A visit starts at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center where you'll find exhibits on Jefferson and Monticello, an introductory film, and food and shopping.
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Our visually-rich introductory film, “Thomas Jefferson’s World,” describes Monticello’s central importance to Jefferson’s life and work, his consequential accomplishments and core ideas about human liberty, and explores Jefferson’s paradox as a slave owner.
Explore the Wings of the House, including Monticello’s kitchens, cellars, and slave dwellings. Here you will also find exhibits on the life of Sally Hemings and the Getting Word oral history project featuring descendants of Monticello’s enslaved community.
Take one of our guided Slavery at Monticello Tours (included with admission), or explore Mulberry Row, where many enslaved individuals lived and worked, on your own.
Take one of our seasonal guided Gardens & Grounds Tours (included with admission), or Monticello's gardens on your own.
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Visit Jefferson's gravestone at the Monticello Cemetery.
Visit the African American Burial Ground, a final resting place for more than forty of Monticello’s enslaved community. Jefferson enslaved more than four hundred African Americans at Monticello.
Look for one-of-a-kind gifts at our Shops. The main Shop is in our visitor center, and there's a Farm Shop in the House's North Wing.
Refuel at the Monticello Farm Table café, where the menu reflects Thomas Jefferson’s enthusiasm for local agriculture, his love of seasonal produce and his reputation for hospitality.
With native hardwood forest, deep ravines, elevated walks and spectacular views the Saunders-Monticello Trail is Central Virginia's most popular park.
