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Norfolk Botanical Garden

Norfolk Botanical Garden: Hours, Address, Norfolk Botanical Garden Reviews: 4.5/5

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Norfolk Botanical Garden

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Norfolk Botanical Garden
4.5
1,103
#3 of 79 things to do in Norfolk
Gardens
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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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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,103 reviews
Excellent
855
Very good
196
Average
37
Poor
6
Terrible
9
Happiness631550
1 contribution
Norfolk Botanical Gardens : simply the Best
May 2021 • Couples
We purchased a family membership to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens in order to enjoy and admire the gardens on a regular basis.
No matter want time of year one visits the gardens, there is always something new to catch one's eye and bring happiness to one's heart.
A few weeks ago, all the azaleas were exhibiting their happy spring colors; last week the rose garden showed off it's magnificent, majestic multitude of roses. Some of the colors I had never seen before. Absolutely amazing.
On Sundays, one can bring their beloved dogs: there is a fabulous area where children can play in the sand, another, hands-on area is devoted to teach youngsters about plants. The Butterfly pavilion is amazing as the Bieke's fly around one's ears, much to the slight of children and adults.
The Norfolk Botanical Gardens never cease to delight all visitors.
Written May 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Veronica D
3 contributions
Reciprocal Pass from Milwaukee Wi
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.
ElaineAndGreg
Chesterland, OH2,635 contributions
Beautiful and Historic Botanical Gardens
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.
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Kim S
Wisconsin319 contributions
See the Washed Ashore artistic statues before they are gone!
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.
Bertino
Alexandria, VA75 contributions
You'd never know you were in the middle of a city.
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.
Written December 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mark D
20 contributions
Diverse beauty
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.
Written June 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
PaleoGypsy
Philadelphia, PA2,107 contributions
The Botanical Garden That Always Changes
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.
artgurl33
Columbus, OH316 contributions
The perfect outdoor activity for COVID times
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.
David R
Baltimore, MD39 contributions
Beautiful, just beautiful
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.
Lizz H
Norfolk, VA532 contributions
Always good for a walk
Nov 2020 • Solo
One of my favorite spots in Norfolk, loved it so much I became a member. It’s big enough that you can get a little lost but small enough that you can find favorite spots. We also took some of our wedding photos there and they were fantastic.
Written July 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk Botanical Garden is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Norfolk Botanical Garden tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Norfolk Botanical Garden tours on Tripadvisor