Norfolk Botanical Garden image

Norfolk Botanical Garden

Tourist attraction Botanical garden

One of the Best Places To Visits in Norfolk


Address

6700 Azalea Garden Rd, Norfolk, VA 23518, United States

Website

www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org

Contact

+1 757-441-5830

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (7.6K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Monday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Tuesday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Wednesday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: gardens (23) walk (19) garden (13) visit (12) beautiful (11) great (11) lights (11) nice (10) time (10) walking (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Nicole H. 6 months ago on Google • 414 reviews
    Beautiful gardens with plenty to see. Parking and navigation are pretty easy and the website has some helpful information for planning a visit. It’s easy to make a reservation online. The trails are long which allow for ample walking, and there is also plenty of shade and seating if you need it. Restrooms and water refill stations are conveniently located along the pathways (I highly recommend bringing a water bottle). The gardens are clean and very well maintained, and have lots of flowers, trees, and other flora to admire as well as some wildlife. I would say the butterfly house, the NATO tower, and the magic forest are my absolute favorite areas. It’s truly the perfect place to go on a nature walk or have a picnic with loved ones. Side note, the airport is right next to the parking lot and it will generate some noise, but you can go on top of an overlook and watch the planes land and take off!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Samantha S. 2 years ago on Google
    My family LOVES the gardens! It’s so beautiful and relaxing. There’s tons of space so you don’t have to worry about going shoulder-to-shoulder with other people. A nice place to take your kids for a peaceful walk. During the summer they have their splash pads open in their children’s garden and have a little area for babies too and the trees and flowers are absolutely beautiful! They also have little houses for kids to venture through and huge sand hill as well! Definitely worth the yearly membership!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Diane L. 8 months ago on Google
    Awesome gardens. Great informational signage all over. The World of Wonder - children's area - is incredible. I've been several times and still not seen it all. They have different events all year. Their holiday light are great, and have also seen artwork made from ocean trash, and the birdhouse contest. Also attended a conference there. Well worth a visit.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 paul m. 4 months ago on Google • 154 reviews
    What an amazing Christmas Light display. It was such a nice walk, a mix between asphalt and fine stone, but all of it easy on the feet. There is a stand to get some delicious hot chocolate to take on your walk or enjoy there at a table. The lights are absolutely amazing. We had a blast and want to visit this summer.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 J. G. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful, large botanical gardens. Wonderful variety of local and exotic floral. You just feel happy walking around this beautiful garden. We spent several hours here, there is ample parking, a nice visitor center with multiple bathrooms on site throughout the gardens. There's a gift shop, and tour guides available. We did speak with several garden employees, all. We're very friendly and knowledgeable about the different species of plants. The garden was very clean, fragrant, and just plain lovely. Went during the summer months early in the morning before it got warm. It did take several hours, and I'm not even sure if we saw it all. There are many maps throughout the gardens to help you navigate grounds, and you do receive a paper copy when you enter through the gate. The gardens itself is very child friendly, with a large children's garden with interactive splash pads and a center. This would definitely be a cool place to take toddlers to spend the day. We took our two school age children and they enjoyed it very much. They had a good time learning about the plants, exploring the grounds, and also viewing the planes taking off on the other side of the gardens. Would recommend bringing some water, wearing good shoes, and spending several hours here to truly explore the whole thing.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Monica F. 1 year ago on Google
    Love the botanical gardens! Will be back for a doggy Sunday walk or to enjoy the cafe patio. The last few times I've been was to drive through and see the Christmas light displays, so it was interesting to walk the grounds. The botanical gardens are HUGE! Definitely take your time strolling and try to catch the circuit shuttle. Spent some time picnicking under the cherry trees, very peaceful. There are ground bee projects around the area, though the bugs didn't bother us.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hanting K. 8 months ago on Google
    Beautiful gardens with a nice layout for walking around. The day we went was super hot and muggy, so the big trees provided some welcome shade. Love the giant magnolias and old trees in general. My favorite area was the butterfly sanctuary where the two lovely naturalists enchanted us with so much great info about the butterfly and moth life cycle. The NATO observation tower is also neat for its unique shape and fun views. They have a great online reservation and parking system, and the website is very informative. All the staff we interacted with were great as well.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 William W. 1 year ago on Google
    Hidden gem here in Norfolk Virginia. Incredible array of plants and gardens and art Good for a quick stroll in a rose garden,or view from the NATO tower. Plenty to do with tram and boat tours. Educational and fun opportunities for the entire family. Stop and smell the flowers.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Harry G. 1 year ago on Google
    We enjoyed a wonderful evening stroll as a travel break as we passed through Norfolk. We had about an hour and a half until closing but were able to enjoy many of the garden ‘rooms’ that have been skillfully created. The gardens range from beautifully manicured to wild and natural. There were two weddings on the Saturday evening we were there celebrating in the beautiful venue. Although there were many people enjoying the gardens we had times we felt we had the gardens to ourselves.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Corey D. 4 months ago on Google • 28 reviews
    Went to the Dominion Energy Garden of Lights last night at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It was basically the drive through light show, but walking. Everything looked amazing! I think the experience was a little more immersive walking compared to driving. You can tell very clearly that there is a lot of work that goes into putting this light show together. Kudos to whoever was involved in making this happen! You can also bring your dog(s)! There are snacks, hot cocoa, and other things to purchase, but we didn’t end up getting any.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Richie D. 3 months ago on Google • 16 reviews New
    The Norfolk Botanical Gardens light show was spectacular this year in 2023. There were many new lights that I had not seen before, as well as some classics. There were hot cocoa and warm churros available to buy before taking the mile walk around the gardens. I would highly recommend anyone to visit the light show. Bring your kids! P.S. You must make reservations in advance on their website to enter.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jessi S. 8 months ago on Google
    Went with my family who were in town. I've never gotten to just walk around like this. ITS SO NICE!!! I definitely recommend coming here if you're looking for a easy walk. Yes it was hot, but there a many little shaded places to sit and rest. BRING WATER. And if you love butterflies visit the butterfly house! The ladies in there are knowledgeable and so sweet. This is also a great place to take some easy but beautiful family photos!!!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angela M. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely stunning! Splash pad was great too cool off after walking. The gardens were breathtaking. The art was beautiful and inspiring. The yard games were fun. The cafe was delicious! The tour was lovely once it started raining. We didn't even see everything. This was so well priced for everything you get and I'm really hope we come back and visit next year to finish looking at the rest of them!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jessica B. 1 year ago on Google
    This place us beautiful and massive. Our visit was in early August. Tram tour is a great way to see many areas without walking, but once you get off at a stop, the next one will not be around for another 45min - 1 hour. The cafe had delicious lunch sandwiches, salads, fruit and sweets. Kids garden has a slash pad for kids to cool down. Didn't get to see everything as temps were just too high to be in open sun for too long. Would love to come back in the Spring.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Julia A. 1 year ago on Google
    Walked around for 2 hours and still didn’t see it all. You could definitely spend a lot of time here but we cut it short due to it being 90° out. They do have several water fountains and restrooms scattered around which was nice. The park is really well maintained and they have lots of construction throughout with different courtyards and fountains etc. They also do tram rides through the park. For mid July I was still fairly surprised how much was in bloom but after seeing how many azaleas they have lining the walkways it seems it would probably be best to come when those are in bloom. We stopped by the cafe and had some milkshakes which is also a nice addition on a hot day.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ronda P. 3 months ago on Google • 135 reviews New
    We recently went to the norfolk botanical gardens for the Garden of Lights Christmas lights display. What a beautiful event with plenty of things to enjoy for every member of the family. We enjoyed the event immensely and would plan on visiting during the regular season based on our visit. We spent just about an hour walking through the varying displays. Really liked the Under the Sea, aircraft carrier, and frogs! And the waterfalls! And the... well, I hope you get my drift! Go and see this for yourself!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matea L. 3 months ago on Google • 80 reviews New
    12/22/23 - I am writing a review based on the Christmas lights. I went with my family and there was 8 of us. It's nice they have food and drinks right before you start your walk. We got a donuts from duck donuts which were delicious. The lights were great! The walk seemed kind of short though. Also the crowds were a bit annoying. Taking photos you had to wait for people to pass or have them wait for you to finish taking your photo. Overall though it was very enjoyable and very pretty. I think we took about an hour to walk through it but felt quick. I would still recommend to go see the lights!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Melissa M. 3 months ago on Google • 25 reviews New
    We LOVED OUR EXPERIENCE! Beautiful display. Yummy snacks and coffee drinks. A booze free environment. I recommend the first showing cause the traffic and parking gets pretty bad! A nice long walk at your own pace. Very elderly and disabled will definitely need a wheelchair. A good 1/2 block before you get to a bench each time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Toni W. 3 months ago on Google • 20 reviews New
    Haven’t been to lights since it was a driving experience. I truly enjoyed the walking experience much better! The parking situation was also well organized well by the staff. My friends and I would also like to thank Carly for helping us out with tickets so we could have an amazing time! Thank you so much and we will definitely be back next year!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chelsey K. 4 months ago on Google • 8 reviews
    Perfect location for family or maternity photos! The Norfolk Botanical Gardens is serene, peaceful, and idyllic for families to adventure around and enjoy the gorgeous landscape and variety of plants and animals, and is also a great location for family or maternity photos in Norfolk! As a professional photographer, I like to recommend the gardens for portrait sessions as the landscape provides a timeless, classic background which is ideal for documenting your family's memories. As a mother myself, I bring my toddlers to the splash pad in the summer for hours of endless fun, stopping off to get coffee from the coffee truck, and then enjoying ice cream from the Ben & Jerry's truck on our way home from a day in the sun at the garden. The rose garden is one of my favorite spots for family photos, and especially beautiful for maternity photos to document the incredible milestone of each pregnancy.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thomas C. 2 months ago on Google • 43 reviews New
    This year's Garden Of Lights at Botanic Gardens were amazing. Just a heads up, it used to be driven in your vehicle, but now it's a walk. At first I was concerned the walk would be less fun, but it actually turned out more magical to see the lights up close.

  • 5/5 M S. 3 months ago on Google New
    Best light show I've seen in Virginia. I loved the seasonal displays; all the flowers, pumpkins and even a pink bunny. Very much worth a visit.

  • 5/5 Ann S. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful gardens. Well maintained with something to see every season of the year. Expansive space makes it easy to get a long walk in. Lots of shade from the forest my areas means you can plan your walk to be a little cooler on hot days. The rose garden, indoor greenhouse with orchids and the bonsai gardens are probably my favorite must see attractions. Sundays are dog friendly. I go to the gardens all the time. You must check them out!!!

  • 5/5 Gwynne W. 2 years ago on Google
    Went to the Million lights walk with our pup and it was spectacular! Photos don't do it justice because there is so much animation. Really the best light show we've ever seen by far - super creative. Highly recommend and I hope to see it again in the future!

  • 5/5 Melissa C. 1 year ago on Google
    Attended a wedding at the beautiful Botanical Garden. It was such a nice atmosphere and we were surrounded with beautiful flowers in bloom and sweet fragrances. The facilities were clean, nice and cool. Even though there were several events going on at the same time, you wouldn't have known it. Very private.

  • 5/5 Danielle B. 2 years ago on Google
    We went for the Christmas lights walk. It was so amazing. Kids and adults had a great time. Plenty of photo opportunities. Nice length. There was a stop along the path for coffee, hot cider and hot cocoa. Plus there were finger foods like chicken strips and hotdogs. We will definitely visit again next year.

  • 5/5 Silas C. 1 year ago on Google
    Hands down the finest botanical garden I've ever been! A must see gem if you enjoy nature and the outdoors. Mandatory if you're visiting Norfolk, VA. No disappointment. I'm a huge fan of bonsai, their selection hit the mark. I plan to visit again.

  • 5/5 Michael B. 1 year ago on Google
    I can not say enough wonderful things about Norfolk Botanical Garden. It is a bit of beauty and peace in a chaotic world. Flowers are blooming all year round. There is always something different to see each time you visit. It is a great place for kids. There is a kids water park that is open in the summer. If you want to bring your dog you can on Sunday. You can ride your bike along the path. They have an assortment of programs to suit the interest of any age group. Their native plant sales let you bring home your own part of the garden to plant in your own. It is well worth it to get an annual membership. The holiday lights can't be beat.


Call +1 757-441-5830 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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