Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk Botanical Garden
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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See what travellers are saying
- Hank HVirginia663 contributionsA Stroll Through BeautyCame here for three hours on a sunny, cool afternoon with my wife, daughter, and infant in a stroller for a lazy stroll through the beautiful gardens. From a Japanese Garden to Hydrangeas, Camellias, Roses, and Rhododendrons - all framed by lakes, streams, and forests of hardwoods - this place has it all for nature lovers. If we lived in the area and weren’t just passing through, we would have become members and planned to visit here often because of the all-season beauty, the many benches for quiet reading, and open areas to picnic. TIP: Although Trip Advisor doesn’t say so, be aware that this place is NOT free (currently $16 pp).Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 4, 2023
- Angela BTempe, Arizona1,601 contributionsBeautiful gardenNorfolk Botanical Garden is beautiful in April. The weather is warm but not humid. The tram ride is a great orientation tour for first time visitors. Sunday's are when dogs are allowed in most areas. Reserving online tickets is highly recommended.Visited April 2024Travelled soloWritten April 7, 2024
- Pam SBloomfield Hills, Michigan157 contributionsGorgeous Gardens!The Azaleas in full bloom, were incredible. Be sure to take the tram through the gardens. The commentary was educational and spirited! The Bonsai garden was fabulous. The boat rides don't start until Memorial Day, but one should not miss this gorgeous Botanical Garden!Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten April 22, 2024
- Lawrence G17 contributionsHuge, beautiful campus with a mushroom theme!!!My wife and I LOVE botanical gardens and this is easily one of the best we have visited. This garden is mushroom themed and has a butterfly garden. The campus is huge and could easily be 3+ hour adventure. You can also tell the staff keeps up with the flower maintenance.Visited June 2024Travelled with friendsWritten June 4, 2024
- JillCullStowe, Vermont535 contributionsBeautiful Morning at The Norfolk Botanical GardensWe landed in Norfolk, Virginia early in the morning which allowed us to get to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and witness the plants, flowers and trees at their best .. still clinging to the fresh morning dew. We walked the paths to beautiful gardens spread across this multi acre park. This is the largest botanical garden in Virginia and has some magnolias and rhododendrons that are 80 years old. The hydrangeas were heaven with some of the bluest blues I’ve ever seen. They had hot pink ones as well. The Lillys smelled amazing as did the roses from the enormous centennial garden. After our self-guided walk, we hopped on the tram for a half hour tour of these stunning gardens!Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten June 10, 2024
- Shirley K8 contributionsLittle ones loved sand hill and splash padThe gardens are beautiful! We were visiting with a 6 year old and a 3 year old. They played on the sand hill for about an hour then played on the splash pad for about an hour. There was also a story time and a craft time they enjoyed. A wonderful day!!Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten August 27, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,133 reviews
Excellent
879
Very good
201
Average
38
Poor
6
Terrible
9
PaleoGypsy
Philadelphia, PA2,347 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
At present, certain parts of the Norfolk Botanical Garden are under construction. Renovation is taking place on the NATO Tower Overlook and some of the paths. With that being said, there is still a lot to do here. It would be quite a challenge to see and experience everything in one day. Many of the activities are seasonal. If you live locally, purchasing an annual membership may be a good idea. On Sundays, visitors are allowed to bring their dogs. If you are not a member and do not live locally, another garden membership that you possess in the area that you reside may qualify you to receive a discounted rate. Look at the web site that specifies the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program. If you are seeking a discount, bring that membership card and photo identification with you. The parking lot is spacious. You could park an RV here. Wear comfortable clothes and footwear per the season. Bring snacks and water. Remember to bring your camera, and make sure the battery is fully charged. Portions of the gardens are set up very nicely for those visitors who use strollers and wheelchairs. Get a paper map, load the app, or follow the signs. When we toured, the Legos exhibits was present. So impressive. Legos were available for view inside and out. If you enjoy birdwatching, bring your binoculars and a zoom lens. As the Norfolk Botanical Garden is adjacent to the Norfolk International Airport, be prepared to hear the loud noises emitted from particular jet aircraft that are taking off and landing. If you, or another member of your party has autism or experiences sensory issues, donning some noise reduction headphones may be a good idea. Some people use little wagons to transport their outdoor blankets and other gear to the gardens so they may read or bask in the sun. There is a lot to do at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. If you decide to go, enjoy the magnificent experience.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ElaineAndGreg
Chesterland, OH3,085 contributions
Jun 2021
A 150+ acre botanical garden near the airport? Yes, and its very much worth a visit.
The Norfolk Botanical Garden started, improbably enough, as a city garden in 1938 during the depression. Many of the plantings were by about 200 African American women and about 20 men. Since then, the garden has been (mostly) saved from expansion of the nearby airport, but has also been helped by still more gardens being planted.
We were here on a nice day and would recommend you do the same. The garden is fun to explore on foot and, as others have noted, basically something is always in bloom. We especially appreciated the wildflower plantings, but there was no shortage of interesting and beautiful things to see. We didn't even try to count all the different plants and flowers.
During our visit they had an ecology-minded exhibit on animals made up of plastics discarded in the ocean. They had sculptures made up of things like plastic bottles, plastic shoe parts, toothbrushes, and just about anything else made of plastic. The results were entertaining (sharks and jellyfish were our favorites), but they also made the point about plastic waste.
This park was featured on a set of stamps by the U.S. Post Office about two years ago.
The park is beautifully laid out with lots of walkways, paths, bridges, and attractive structures. We ended our trip with a picnic lunch near the entrance.
This is a very nice set of gardens with an interesting and unlikely history. If you are anywhere near the area you should take a morning to visit it.
The Norfolk Botanical Garden started, improbably enough, as a city garden in 1938 during the depression. Many of the plantings were by about 200 African American women and about 20 men. Since then, the garden has been (mostly) saved from expansion of the nearby airport, but has also been helped by still more gardens being planted.
We were here on a nice day and would recommend you do the same. The garden is fun to explore on foot and, as others have noted, basically something is always in bloom. We especially appreciated the wildflower plantings, but there was no shortage of interesting and beautiful things to see. We didn't even try to count all the different plants and flowers.
During our visit they had an ecology-minded exhibit on animals made up of plastics discarded in the ocean. They had sculptures made up of things like plastic bottles, plastic shoe parts, toothbrushes, and just about anything else made of plastic. The results were entertaining (sharks and jellyfish were our favorites), but they also made the point about plastic waste.
This park was featured on a set of stamps by the U.S. Post Office about two years ago.
The park is beautifully laid out with lots of walkways, paths, bridges, and attractive structures. We ended our trip with a picnic lunch near the entrance.
This is a very nice set of gardens with an interesting and unlikely history. If you are anywhere near the area you should take a morning to visit it.
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
artgurl33
Columbus, OH315 contributions
Jul 2020
We visited the Norfolk Botanical Gardens in July 2020. Because of the times we were trying to find good social distancing activities. The gardens had so much room to spread out we didn't run into people more than twice after we left the visitors center. We visited the sculpture gardens, Zen garden, Mirror Lake, Tropical house and the Hydrangea gardens. There is a shuttle that drives you around the entire park and it runs once an hour. You can pick it up at any stop if you have small children or elderly relatives that can't walk the entire garden. Keep in mind the shuttle has every other row blocked off right now because of COVID, so there is less capacity than normal.
Written July 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Veronica D
1 contribution
May 2022
I have the Reciprocal pass I bought from the Milwaukee Domes Milwaukee Wisconsin that allows 4 people to get in for one pass. $50 annually. I am from Suffolk VA. This allowed me to get into the Norfolk Botanical Gardens with 3 other guests for free. This pass is good for one year. This pass is good for many gardens throughout the USA. The gardens were beautiful especially the Enchanted Forest. They have a tram that will take you around the gardens and drop you off at desiginated stopping points. Beautiful gardens my guests and I truly enjoyed our trip at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
Written May 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim S
Wisconsin453 contributions
Oct 2021
Something for everyone - regardless of age and time of year! We loved the the Washed Ashore artistic statues made of debris collected from the Pacific Coast. The tram ride was informative so you didn't have to walk the entire facility. Just a very nice and peaceful day!!
Written October 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
luvtotravel6768
Simcoe, Canada152 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
What a beautiful place to enjoy flowers, canals, tours, food trucks, artwork. We took the tram tour, which was nice to be able to ride the acreage and see lots of flowers, shrubs, and forestry. We did find it was very hard to hear the guide who was also driving. Perhaps better if the commentary was done by a 2nd person. The canal tour was much better, with a boat driver and a lady explaining everything we were seeing. We enjoyed the rose garden, the magnolia trees and lots of plant life that was new to us. The building was very well maintained, washrooms were clean, gift shop had something for anyone, the artwork on the walls was very unique and fun to look at. Food was served by 3 food trucks in the rose garden - we purchased 2 hot dogs (the smallest weiner I ever saw!) and 2 small bags of potato chips = $18.00USD !!! OMG - won't do that again!!! BUT the ice cream truck was GR8888! All in all, it was a good day, glad we went. Should you go? YES, but decide if you want to bring your own lunch or pay the prices of "a captive audience".
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark D
22 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
A great place to spend a hot day. Splash area for kids to cool down (pack your swimsuit and swim diapers). Also, a giant sand hill to entertain the kiddos.
Take the tram tour (included in the entry) early in order to get an idea of the size and layout of the gardens. Then stroll to the areas you want to see. The children’s garden is very educational. The Renaissance garden romantic and cooler under the big trees. The rose garden fills your senses in the spring. The Japanese garden behind the cafe is also a must see. Outside food and drink is welcome in the park, and the picnic area near friendship lake is shaded and beautiful.
Note- We visited the zoo, the aquarium, and the botanical gardens all within a week. We preferred the gardens to the other two attractions because of its diversity and size.
Take the tram tour (included in the entry) early in order to get an idea of the size and layout of the gardens. Then stroll to the areas you want to see. The children’s garden is very educational. The Renaissance garden romantic and cooler under the big trees. The rose garden fills your senses in the spring. The Japanese garden behind the cafe is also a must see. Outside food and drink is welcome in the park, and the picnic area near friendship lake is shaded and beautiful.
Note- We visited the zoo, the aquarium, and the botanical gardens all within a week. We preferred the gardens to the other two attractions because of its diversity and size.
Written June 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bertino
Alexandria, VA88 contributions
Oct 2021
Extensive, large, and shaded gardens gave us a very peaceful day out. Highly recommend if you are in Hampton Roads and need some down time.
The only reminder of being in a major city is the sound of jets and occasional fuel smell from the neighboring Norfolk airport.
The only reminder of being in a major city is the sound of jets and occasional fuel smell from the neighboring Norfolk airport.
Written December 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David R
Baltimore, MD41 contributions
Jun 2021
One of the highlights of our trip. Loved the flowers and the way the plant life is presented. Shuttle service good for an overview and to use aa=s a hop-on, hop-off, but it ran only once an hour, or so.
Written June 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barry Dawson
Pennsylvania70 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
If you’re planning a trip in the near future, be aware that there is heavy construction going on. They are building the “Garden of Tomorrow” which I can’t wait to see! Also, we visited in February so not many plants were in bloom however, there were still acres and acres of plants to enjoy. We did get to see the beautiful Camellia bushes in all of their glory, as they are prominent in the winter. And we also saw blossoming orchids in the tropical greenhouse. The Butterfly House unfortunately was closed due to monarch migration.
We didn’t have great expectations knowing that it was winter time and there was construction going on but even so, we were very surprised. The gardens are stunning and the attention to detail makes it easy to envision what the grounds would look like in full bloom. Even our 8-year-old had a wonderful time. The Norfolk Botanical Gardens are a must-see for anyone visiting the area. We can’t wait to visit next year.
We didn’t have great expectations knowing that it was winter time and there was construction going on but even so, we were very surprised. The gardens are stunning and the attention to detail makes it easy to envision what the grounds would look like in full bloom. Even our 8-year-old had a wonderful time. The Norfolk Botanical Gardens are a must-see for anyone visiting the area. We can’t wait to visit next year.
Written February 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The garden honors reciprocal entry for members of other gardens. We have membership at the Morris Arboretum and there was no entry fee at the Norfolk botanical gardens. All you in such a case is to show membership cards from a participating partner.
Written May 22, 2019
Where can I find Info about Marigold & Honey; is it the only eatery there?
Written April 17, 2018
NBGStaff
Norfolk, Virginia
Marigold and Honey Café is located in our Japanese Garden and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The Café is open April-October from 11am-4pm Monday -Friday and 11am-5pm on weekends and offer fresh seasonal fare from their garden inspired menu.
Written June 21, 2018
I saw strollers on the tram, so I will say yes
Written August 6, 2017
Yes, there is still lots to see even though it's not peak season. Right now the roses are in full bloom, but there's always something wonderful in the gardens, no matter the season. Hope this helps.
Written June 7, 2017
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