The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA
5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Lakeview extends inland from the shores of Lake Pontchartrain with much of the area reserved for family-friendly City Park. Home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, and the city’s own lush Botanical Gardens, City Park is a New Orleans gem and the perfect spot for outdoor fun with as much of a mix of culture and/or amusement as you would like. Beyond City Park more great excuses to stay outside beckon, whether on land or by boat. Developed a good deal later than most other New Orleans neighborhoods, Lakeview has a distinctively different look and feel compared to other parts of the city. Fans of mid century modern design and contemporary architecture particularly enjoy leisurely drives around the residential streets of Lake Vista, Park Island and along Lakeshore Drive.
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See what travelers are saying

  • lafamiliagafufa
    Nashville, Tennessee60 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful sculptures
    We had a lovely walk around the Sculpture Gardens. Lots of very beautiful sculptures of different styles to explore. It was an interesting experience to go through the tunnel to get from one side of the gardens to the other as one was walking "below" the adjoining water surface. To get to the Gardens we took the streetcar which was another interesting experience.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 15, 2024
  • old-man-orange
    Orange, Connecticut357 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unexpected Treat !!
    We were in NOLA for a long weekend and decided last minute to take an Uber uptown for a Po'Boy at Parkway and walk a short distance to NOMA - great idea !! First off - since Parkway is a short walk along the Bayou (really a stream) through a neighbor with cool shotgun houses to the Gardens and NOMA .... what a great way to spend part of a day We have been to lots of great Botanical Gardens and Parks all over the world - and this place is right up there. Better yet it is free. The museum looked great, but we didn't have enough time Enjoy !!
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 25, 2024
  • Gaja31
    Toulouse, France29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Superb statues in an enchanting setting!!
    Permanent and free exhibition (incredible!!) of sculptures next to the city park and the art museum. There are 2 parts: you have to go under a bridge to see the 2nd part. It was as much the sculptures themselves that we appreciated, as the fact of seeing them in a superb setting: the vegetation is lush and grandiose and highlights the works. Many schoolchildren were present during our visit: fun to see their reactions. Do not miss !!
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 12, 2024
  • Ginger B R
    Oswego, New York534 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great park, and free
    It's free to walk around the sculpture garden. There are a good number of statues, each unique. Most are of the modern variety. The park itself is lovely, so it's a nice thing to do if you need a break from the city and also need a break from spending. Great place if you like taking pics too.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 15, 2024
  • Brown_Samantha
    Kennewick, Washington1,825 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely break from the busy Bourbon Street - free entry with many beautiful sculptures
    This sculpture garden is located next to the NOLA Art Museum. It is like a small park, with many sculptures (all labeled like in a museum). We took the city bus here from the French Quarter, it took about 30 minutes. You can also reach it via the streetcar. There are several large bronze pieces, as well as some pretty modern art work. We enjoyed the time here as it was so serene. It has a small lake in the center of the exhibit. After our visit here, we went to the City Park nearby. It made a perfect morning.
    Visited November 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 17, 2024
  • bonpersona
    24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sculpture Garden and docent tour was a highlight of our NOLA trip
    Fantastic sculpture collection, ancient and contemporary, set in a vast and calm inducing nature park full of majestic live oaks cloaked in Spanish moss. We loved the juxtaposition of human created art nestled amongst nature’s own art. It lifted us out of the hustle and bustle and infused our souls with serenity. We took the docent tour and found it to be very informative and helpful in understanding more about the pieces. The guide was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and engaged the group to explore their own thoughts and feelings. The art is evocative, impressive, humbling. And it was fun to recognize styles we had seen other work from the same artists in other places in the world from Paris to San Francisco to Burning Man! I only wished we had more time to see every piece and explore more of the park. But we opted to split time with the museum interior exhibits and have a delicious lunch at their cafe as well. There was a special glass exhibit at the museum at the time.
    Visited November 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written December 8, 2024
  • Gary K
    18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful setting and great sculptures
    Took an UBER out from French Quarter with fingers crossed. We were pleasantly surprised with the broad range and quality of the pieces of art. Admittedly some were beyond our level of sophistication but still well done and tastefully presented. Two hours we'll spent away from the Bourbon Street madhouse. Added bonus was a wonderful lunch in the quiet NOLA Art Museum cafeteria.
    Visited January 2025
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 28, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,408 reviews
Excellent
1,115
Very good
257
Average
30
Poor
3
Terrible
3

Richard W
Dublin, Ireland209 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
This Sculpture Garden is deservedly rated at #7 of 462 things to do in New Orleans. Actually, it could go higher. My wife and I took the Red Canal Streetcar out to New Orleans City Park where a ten minute leisurely walk brings you to a beautiful sculpture garden nestled in the oaks and lagoons next to NOMA. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is free to access and is set in eleven acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. It is an ideal location to take a break away from the activity and commotion of the French Quarter. We spent easily three hours here enjoying the world class collection of modern and contemporary sculpture. Highly recommended.
Written June 19, 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.

Jen Travels
Detroit, MI6,797 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Friends
This is set kind of behind the New Orleans Museum of Art.

It was free when we got in.

We weren't worried about parking as we took an Uber from Cafe Degas where we ate lunch and then walked over.

You walk in and see fully paved sidewalks, exquisite landscaping, wildlife (ducks, etc), and a nice waterway. It just felt to me, like it was going to be a great fun day exploring.

You'll find tons of various art pieces,ade of various materials, from bronze to acrylic.

All are listed with materials used, their creators and the date they were created.

Some are along the sidewalk, some are in the grass, and one or two are in the water.

They have various bridges to get between various sections of the garden. They are all beautiful and well-made.

Expect to spend at least an hour or two, as there is a lot to view, especially if you're taking pictures. It does go quick though. It's not a miserable hour or two.

They have benches in various locations of the garden, and also pretty clean bathrooms at the exit of the garden, on the left side of the museum looking head-on at the front.

Highly recommend stopping here if you're looking for something more relaxed and serene than Bourbon St 😜
Written January 7, 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.

EJ
Surry, ME347 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
This sculpture garden is set up very much like a museum with each piece lined up along a path. This has the potential to be so much better if the art is incorporated more into the art of the landscape. I give it a generous 4 stars.
Written December 6, 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.

Judith S
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023
Wow! What a beautiful garden! It was such a peaceful and interesting walk through this incredible garden, walking among the live oaks, around the water features and sculptures. Some of the art was fun- like the blue, red, and yellow Rodrigue dog or the Mardi Gras beads in the tree- and some was thought-provoking. This is worth a visit!
Written November 13, 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.

leo88copper
Houston, TX541 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Family
Mixed modern and classical sculptures throughout the garden. It is part of the city park. For sculpture garden only it costs $5 per person. A beautiful garden. We enjoyed walked around about 1.5 miles. There is a Cafe Du Monde in the park. Great for a break after the walk.
Written May 27, 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.

Hank H
Gambier, OH95 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
This sculpture garden is free (as is the parking) and thus one of the best values in the city. The sculptures are amazing and placed within a lovely garden setting of flowers, trees and ponds. The spacing of the sculptures is great ... you encounter something new around every twist and turn of the pathways.

You probably can get around in about 45 minutes, but once inside the sculpture area time does not seem to matter. Overall an easy walk. There are numerous possibilities for interesting camera shots.

If you haven’t visited in a few years, you should know that the sculpture garden has grown considerably with a larger area and with many more sculptures ... all high quality.
Written February 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.

Hippiemomma1990
Lackawanna, NY46 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Family
The amount of art seemed to never end! It was so neat to see all the pieces available and the talent these artists have! I wish it was laid out better so you never missed an item! We walked for good amount of time and still feel like items weren’t seen because the layout was not planned well. It’s not a circle but multiple paths that don’t really meet again? Unless it was user error? We would definitely return!
Written February 14, 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.

Paulette G
Atlanta, GA6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
Amazing, and also free although there’s a deposit box to leave a donation. Serene and well thought out acreage with beautifully placed sculptures that young and old will love. Very easy ride on the trolley from anywhere downtown, and a perfect getaway from the party vibe of the French Quarter. Self paced and self guided make it perfect for your time, but plan on a couple hours minimum. Make it a must see on your trip to the city.
Written July 16, 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.

Michael S
Toronto, Canada308 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Pick a day when it is not going to rain or be so windy that it blows you over. This outdoor display has a wide selection of large installations and modern pieces and sculptures from various artists. Its free to get in so don't forget to include it in your visit to the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOLA) in City Park.
Written February 13, 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.

Dave186225
Cambridge, UK61 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Couples
This is one of the best collections of outdoor sculpture I’ve seen anywhere, set in beautifully tranquil gardens. It has something for all tastes, from classical to modern; some serious and thought provoking; other pieces whimsical and amusing. It is also free, well worth a visit.
Written April 10, 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.

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