Hermitage Museum and Gardens
Hermitage Museum and Gardens
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Hermitage Museum & Gardens, formerly home to the Sloane family, is an early 20th century Arts-and-Crafts estate located on the shore of the Lafayette River in Norfolk, Virginia. Featuring a nationally recognized art collection spanning 5,000 years, the Hermitage is home to the arts. Contemporary exhibition galleries, a Visual Arts Studio, working artist studios, and 12 acres of gardens and grounds offer art and culture to the community, as envisioned by the Sloanes.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
145 reviews
Excellent
83
Very good
48
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
2
mr_larry_smith
Austin, TX1,423 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
We absolutely loved out tour of the Heritage. We picked up a great lunch and enjoyed it on their beautiful grounds look at the water. The inside was beautiful but under construction so we must come back.
Written April 23, 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.
OBX Ron
Kitty Hawk, United States27 contributions
Mar 2023
We visited for about an hour and thought the place was worth a return visit when the plants were blooming. Several rooms and upstairs were closed during our visit and contributed to loss of a star
Written March 8, 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.
ellenbee56
Bechtelsville, PA708 contributions
Nov 2022
We were in Norfolk on a recent Sunday to visit the Chrysler Museum of Art, and since it doesn’t open until 12 noon on Sundays, we stopped here beforehand (I also wanted to visit the Hunter House Victorian Museum, but it’s closed completely on Sundays). This is a lovely Arts and Crafts style house with a nice setting by the water. (It was drizzling the day we visited, so we could not explore the grounds, but they are also lovely.)
Inside we walked through several rooms of the house that contained either lovely dark-wood Tudor-style furniture or displays of various objects of interest; to me, the mix of furniture, furnishings, decorative items, and collectibles was an enjoyable use of space. The eclectic items here were not very numerous, though many were very old and valuable; some of the items were quite stunning, while others were not of our taste at all. Informational signage throughout the rooms was hard to read in many areas.
There was no orientation film offered to introduce us to the house’s former owners or to share how they collected all the items, but the brochure we received was very informative to read after our visit. This site is more of an older-style “house museum” rather than a well-designed and well-lit museum of galleries (such as the Chrysler Museum of Art), so one should not expect too much of it.
We spent only about 45 minutes total here. There was plentiful free onsite parking, and the admission was free. It’s worth a visit if in the area on a nice-weather day.
Inside we walked through several rooms of the house that contained either lovely dark-wood Tudor-style furniture or displays of various objects of interest; to me, the mix of furniture, furnishings, decorative items, and collectibles was an enjoyable use of space. The eclectic items here were not very numerous, though many were very old and valuable; some of the items were quite stunning, while others were not of our taste at all. Informational signage throughout the rooms was hard to read in many areas.
There was no orientation film offered to introduce us to the house’s former owners or to share how they collected all the items, but the brochure we received was very informative to read after our visit. This site is more of an older-style “house museum” rather than a well-designed and well-lit museum of galleries (such as the Chrysler Museum of Art), so one should not expect too much of it.
We spent only about 45 minutes total here. There was plentiful free onsite parking, and the admission was free. It’s worth a visit if in the area on a nice-weather day.
Written December 1, 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.
free2venture
Virginia415 contributions
Oct 2022
Overall, it was worth a visit and we enjoyed the gardens and historic home. When we've toured similar historic homes in the area, a tour is offered. There was no tour offered here so that likely took away from fully enjoying the experience. In contrast to other historic homes, it was only somewhat set up as a home. I realize it is termed a museum, but it isn't consistent throughout. One room has a full dining table etc. and other rooms are collections. Also, on the Friday we were there, we were told the upstairs was closed, so not sure what is there. The grounds were fairly nice. The greeter at the front was pleasant.
We enjoyed it and would recommend to others if in the area, but have enjoyed the explanations from tour guides at other similar places in Norfolk and VB, such as Thoroughgood House & Hunter House Museum. As opposed to Hermitage, even without the tour guide, they seemed to tell a story and have a nice flow. Perhaps at some point Hermitage will add a tour (there were only maybe 8 guests there that day so easily done it would seem) and maybe decorate the rooms in the house to replicate how the family lived vs just a lot of artifacts. A blend of the two vs hodge podge rooms would be nice. Parking was easy. Museum sits back in a neighborhood. It was free like the other two mentioned, which is great. If you prefer art or artifact type collections to a period decorated place, this would work well for your interests.
We enjoyed it and would recommend to others if in the area, but have enjoyed the explanations from tour guides at other similar places in Norfolk and VB, such as Thoroughgood House & Hunter House Museum. As opposed to Hermitage, even without the tour guide, they seemed to tell a story and have a nice flow. Perhaps at some point Hermitage will add a tour (there were only maybe 8 guests there that day so easily done it would seem) and maybe decorate the rooms in the house to replicate how the family lived vs just a lot of artifacts. A blend of the two vs hodge podge rooms would be nice. Parking was easy. Museum sits back in a neighborhood. It was free like the other two mentioned, which is great. If you prefer art or artifact type collections to a period decorated place, this would work well for your interests.
Written October 23, 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.
george_shepard
Washington DC, DC44 contributions
Jul 2022
Be sure to discover this beautiful estate and gardens in a lovely Norfolk neighborhood. Very manageable and professional and a truly relaxing experience.
Written July 13, 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.
scott r
Silver Spring, MD633 contributions
Jul 2022
Eclectic collection assembled over the years by an equally eclectic couple who reconfigured their summer cottage as they gradually expanded it into today's mansion. At times you feel like they need a professional curator; interesting items at times just displayed with little notes of identification. There's a lot to see if you look closely. Very interesting entryway treatment at the front door. Explore at your own pace (a plus) , zero interpretation from the ticket takers - merely that, nothing more. The special exhibit at the moment is a bit political and doesn't tie into the house at all. I'd say incongruous. House is lovely from the exterior, only briefly wandered the grounds on a 90+ day.
Written July 6, 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.
James R
1 contribution
May 2022
The grounds are great and the museum has many item of interest, The area needs to consolidate their wedding areas so that wedding venues preclude walking on cobble stones and gravel from area to area. Nice place.
Written June 2, 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.
Jocelyn H
1 contribution
May 2022 • Family
Broad range of Art work. Love the paintings and art deco statues. APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY CONTAINED INSIDE THE MUSEUM.
Written May 22, 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.
1060WestAddison
Washington DC, DC170 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
Beautiful gardens and grounds! We visited here for a wedding at the site. We didn’t get too see much of the inside of the house, but what we did see was lovely. Don’t expect a serene view of the water m, though - you’re still in Norfolk, so the view is Navy vessels and ship loaders across the water.
Written April 17, 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.
metrochica
Washington DC, DC1,114 contributions
Jul 2021
If you are a house museum fan like me, you will love the Hermitage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk. It is a lovely estate and a beautiful home filled with some fabulous pieces especially from Asia. The woodworking in the house is gorgeous. It is not overwhelming and easy to explore. The gardens were all pretty: a mix of traditional rose gardens to more wildflowers, and woodland areas. They were setting up for a wedding when we visited and had a big tent on the water facing lawn. We also saw some herons along the marshes. We enjoyed the contemporary mural exhibit that was sprinkled around the estate as well.
Written August 1, 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.
christina b
2 contributions
Is it kid friendly?
Yes! The outdoor part is great, and the inside is just like a regular museum.
How much for military and kids?
Kenneth P
Norfolk, VA22 contributions
The website should give those details. Basically, you pay to go into the building - both downstairs and up. The grounds are for you to enjoy except during times like the Munro Exhibit(Lights). If there is no set-up for entry at the entry gate to the museum, then you are free to roam the grounds. Right now, that is where the Burning Man pieces are. They are illuminated every other Thursday, and then there is a fee. They will also be illuminated next Saturday during the evening at which time there will also be a lighted bicycle parade. Be sure to call them to check that my data is correct, but I would think that next week will be an event not to be missed.
krolaf
Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States1 contribution
Price to enter for senior visitors
SicilyNancy
Norfolk, VA33 contributions
$15
Jan H
Chapin, SC14 contributions
How much does it cost?
Jennifer M
Norfolk, VA
$12 for adults, $8 for children 5-12 and free for members, active duty and children under 5.
Hermitage Museum and Gardens (Norfolk) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Hermitage Museum and Gardens
- Hermitage Museum and Gardens is open:
- Tue - Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Hermitage Museum and Gardens:
- (0.61 mi) Navy Lodge Norfolk
- (1.42 mi) Hampton Inn Norfolk Naval Base
- (4.64 mi) Norfolk Waterside Marriott
- (8.04 mi) Magnolia House Inn
- (4.08 mi) Residence Inn by Marriott Norfolk Downtown
- Restaurants near Hermitage Museum and Gardens:
- (0.46 mi) Marco's Pizza
- (0.50 mi) Dockside Bar and Grill
- (4.58 mi) Saltine
- (4.58 mi) Varia
- (4.57 mi) Grain