Winston-Salem - city in and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States

Winston-Salem is a city in North Carolina. It has an approximate population of 244,000.

Understand

Visitor information

• Winston-Salem Visitor Center, 200 Brookstown Avenue, +1 336 728-4200, info@visitwinstonsalem.com. The Visitor Center is open 8:30AM-5PM daily, except New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Get in

By plane

• Piedmont Triad International Airport (IATA: GSO) is about a 20-minute drive (20 miles) east of downtown between Winston-Salem and Greensboro.
• Smith Reynolds Airport (IATA: INT), 36.133611°, -80.221944°. It is available for charters and general aviation.

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, +1 336-724-1429.

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

• West End Historic District (Winston-Salem's Front Porch), W. Fourth St. and Brookstown Ave. (north at Broad St. exit on Business 40 in downtown Winston-Salem, then left onto W. Fourth St. until at Brookstown), 36.0962°, -80.2582°. Most shopping 10AM - 6PM; most dining 11AM - 9PM. 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. Free
• Historic Bethabara Park, 2147 Bethabara Road, 36.155286°, -80.299133°. 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.
• Charlotte and Philip Hanes Art Gallery at the Scales Fine Arts Center, 1834 Wake Forest Road, 36.133826°, -80.280770°, +1 336 758-5585. 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. Free
• Diggs Gallery, 601 South Martin Luther King Drive. Tu–Sa 11AM–5PM. 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. Free
• Downtown Arts District (DADA), Sixth and Trade Streets in Downtown, 36.101342°, -80.246233°. 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.
• Delta Arts Center, 2611 New Walkertown Road, 36.110552°, -80.213806°, +1 336 722-2625. Tu–Sa 11AM–3PM (closed every third Saturday). Opened in 1982 by the local alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Society, Inc., 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.
• Old Salem, 900 Old Salem Rd, 36.086660°, -80.241944°, +1 336 721-7350. Roughly Tu–Sa 9:30AM–4:30PM, Su 1–4:30PM, but some shops have different hours. 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.
• Kaleideum Downtown, 390 South Liberty Street, 36.091395°, -80.243937°, +1 336 723-9111. Winston-Salem's children's museum, a compelling destination for the community to play and learn by experiencing literature, storytelling and the arts. Weekly programs, special events, birthday parties and field trips are just a few of the opportunities available at this gallery of discovery designed for children birth to 10 and their families.
• Reynolda House Museum of American Art, 2250 Reynolda Road, 36.1257°, -80.2829°. 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.
• Kaleideum North (SciWorks), 400 West Hanes Mill Rd, 36.183537°, -80.280433°, +1 336 767-6730. 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.
• The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, 750 Marguerite Drive, 36.11995°, -80.28991°, +1 336 725-1904. 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.
• Wake Forest University Museum of Anthropology, 1834 Wake Forest Road, 36.134854°, -80.273894°, +1 336 758-5282. The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at Wake Forest University is North Carolina’s only museum dedicated to the study of global cultures. The museum’s permanent exhibits display objects from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
• Winston-Salem Dash, Peters Creek Parkway. Downtown. Enjoy Advanced Single-A minor league baseball at the beautiful new BB&T ballpark that opened in the Spring of 2010. Season: April-September. An affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. It is a great source of family entertainment in fun in the downtown area. $7-13
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts, 1533 South Main St. Downtown. There is almost always a production or performance happening at this prestigious Fine Arts university.
• Shell Service Station, Sprague St and Peachtree St, 36.067716°, -80.214121°. 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. free 2021-07-29

Do

• Adventure Landing, 36.0724°, -80.3043°.

Learn

• Wake Forest University
• Winston-Salem State University (dead link: March 2023)
• Salem College
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts

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.

• Hanes Mall, 3320 Silas Creek Pkwy (I-40 southeast of city, bus #6 connects with city centre), 36.0694°, -80.3001°. The largest shopping mall in North Carolina, and one of the largest in the southeastern United States. The area surrounding the mall along Stratford Road, Silas Creek Parkway, and Hanes Mall Boulevard has become the city's largest shopping district. 2016-12-10

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

• Little Richard's Bar-B-Que, 6470 Stadium Dr, Clemmons, +1 336-766-0401.

Mid-range

• Mellow Mushroom, 314 West 4th St, 36.097976°, -80.247745°, +1 336 245-2820.
• 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.
• The Loop, 320 South Stratford Road, 36.091553°, -80.283335°, +1 336 703-9882. 11AM–9:30PM daily. Pizza.
• The Carving Board, 318 South Stratford (Thruway Shopping Center), 36.091703°, -80.283544°, +1 336 748-9118. M–F 10AM–9PM, Sa 10AM–3PM.
• Sakura, 548 S Stratford Rd, 36.088133°, -80.288504°, +1 336 777-8744. M–Th 11AM–10PM, F Sa 11AM–10:30PM, Su noon–10PM. Sushi.
• Sweet Potatoes, 607 North Trade Street, +1 336 727-4844. Tu–Sa 11AM–10PM, Su 10:30AM–3PM.
• West End Cafe, 926 West 4th Street, 36.096511°, -80.257594°, +1 336 723-4774. M–F 11AM–10PM, Sa noon–10PM.

Splurge

• Downtown Thai & Pho, 271 W 4th St, 36.098367°, -80.246647°, +1 336-777-1422. 2016-12-11
• The Old Fourth Street Filling Station, 871 W 4Th St, 36.097301°, -80.256651°, +1 336-724-7600. 2016-12-10
• Meridian, 411 Marshall St SW, 36.090512°, -80.246347°, +1 336-722-8889. 2016-12-10
• Milner's American Southern, 630 S Stratford Rd, 36.086600°, -80.290888°, +1 336-768-2221. 2016-12-11
• Mozelle's Fresh Southern Bistro, 878 W 4th St, 36.096905°, -80.256743°, +1 336-703-5400. 2016-12-10
• Rooster's - A Noble Grille, 380 Knollwood St, 36.090702°, -80.287120°, +1 336-777-8477. 2016-12-11
• Ryan's Restaurant, 719 Coliseum Dr NW, 36.124214°, -80.263236°, +1 336-724-6132. 2021-07-29
• Sixth and Vine, 209 6th St NE, 36.101471°, -80.246782°, +1 336-725-5577. Downtown wine bar that also serves a small but delicious dinner menu. Great atmosphere with outdoor seating along narrow alleyways. 2016-12-11

Drink

• Burke Street Pub, 1110 Burke St, 36.094410°, -80.258951°, +1 336-750-0097. One of the best pubs in town. Very cheap drink specials and friendly staff. 2016-12-10
• Finnegan's Wake, 620 Trade St NW, 36.101947°, -80.246559°, +1 336-723-0322. A local institution. 2016-12-10
• West End Opera House, 853 Reynolda Rd, 36.102192°, -80.262008°, +1 336-721-0083. Another local institution. 2016-12-10
• Earl's Whiskey Bar, 9th St. Industrial Hill/ Arts district. Casual fare locally inspired using quality ingredients. Craft cocktails and live music. 2020-09-29

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

• Best Western Plus University Inn, 3050 University Pkwy, +1 336-723-2911. $71 (Jan 2023)
• Comfort Suites Hanes Mall, 200 Capital Lodging Court, 36.062696°, -80.299381°, +1 336 774-0805. Complimentary continental breakfast, wireless internet, on-site laundry, seasonal outdoor pool and fitness and business center. 2016-12-10

Splurge

• Embassy Suites Winston - Salem, 36.099307°, -80.247619°. 2016-12-10
• Marriott Winston-Salem, 425 N Cherry St, 36.099013°, -80.246700°, +1 336-725-3500. 2016-12-10

Connect

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.

Go next

• Greensboro
• Hanging Rock State Park