Norfolk Botanical Garden

Came here for the Christmas lights. Which by the way. AMAZING... we booked our tickets online. Pre scheduled a time for 6-7 pm. I highly recommend going early. The first entry time started at 5pm. When we arrived there was no issues with parking but the later you wait there is. When we left there was a line over a mile long with cars waiting. The park itself was a beautiful journey. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because exiting was very confusing. Signs were not directed correctly. Unless you're already familiar with this place you can become confused when exiting. The signs were great for taking the walk for the lights. I suggest wearing some comfortable sneakers. Lot's of dirt gravel.There was snack food trucks along the way. With benches if you needed to take a break. I was highly impressed with the lights. The walk was probably a little over a mile long. Definitely a must see if you're a tourist or live in the area. Overall 4.5 ratings. For the exiting . The lights definitely were a five.

Came the last week the holiday lights were up and so excited they had a day for fur babies to attend!! We paid $25 per person and $5 for my dog. Parking was free and we had no issues finding a spot. We opted for the 8-9 pm showtime and took a full hour to walk through. The lights were gorgeous and i loved walking through each of the themed gardens. Christmas lights here during the holidays are a MUST!

Absolutely adore this garden! I've been a member for three years and can't imagine not being part of such a living, breathing sanctuary. Norfolk Botanical Garden is a true gem, stunning in every season. There's always something new to discover, and the beauty never fails to leave me in awe. The greenhouse is my personal favorite - it's like stepping into another world, filled with lush, vibrant life. The tulips cascading over the waterfall in the spring are a sight to behold, and the butterfly garden feels like something out of a dream when it's in full bloom. The WOW Children's Garden is a delightful, interactive space that's perfect for family visits during the summer months. And don't even get me started on the holiday lights--walking through them is a magical winter experience. But if I had to pick the most enchanting time to visit, spring is unbeatable. The air is alive with the scent of fresh blossoms, and the entire garden bursts with color as the plants awaken from their winter rest. It's an absolute must-see, year-round!

One of the highlights of a recent visit to Norfolk and Virginia Beach! We began the day on the train tour, which I highly recommend to give you a sense of layout and some amazing knowledge. I forgot our guide's name but she was so informative and energetic. Once the shuttle finished, we were able to walk through leisurely and spend time in the spaces we desired. The Butterfly House wasn't open but we were there just before summer kicked off, and our tour guide named this for us. I look forward to another visit in the future. Admission was easy (we paid at the gate) and parking was ample. There were two food trucks- Bear street coffee and also Starbucks. I didn't get anything since I had lunch plans but good to know for some super light bites and treats. Such a beautiful and tranquil space. Book your visit today!

I've been coming here for many, many years and it has always been a beautiful place to enjoy with kids, friends and guests who are in town visiting.When my children were little they loved to explore in the children's area with the water fountains and gardens. More recently, I have gone to have long walks with friends. You can easily do a 3-4 mile walk while being surrounded by nature.The gardens are well maintained with different areas stealing the show with whatever might be in bloom at the time. There are large rose gardens, azaleas, Japanese gardens, butterfly gardens and more.

Absolutely beautiful Christmas lights!! Only issue was the staff was very slow to let us enter but once we got in, it was worth the wait. My grandson loved it!

Such a beautiful, peaceful spot with stunning gardens and serene walking paths. It's a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature.

Visited here during their holiday Garden of Lights on 12/20/23 with my family.The garden of lights was so beautiful they did a fantastic job with all the lights. The path was well lit and you did not have to question if you were going the wrong way. Note: There is time frame you choose when buying tickets for Garden of Lights, ours was 7p-8p we got there around 7p and traffic was backed up to Azalea garden road. It did take about, I believe about 30m or less to park due to the traffic.

One of the endless great things I can say about the gardens! While there's a lot of trails people with mobility issue may have trouble navigating because of nature Then have so many paved. What even better They have a Tram the navigates the whole gardens with many stops to drop off and pick up Or you can take a canal boat ride All this is included in the admission price Of course one of my favorite things is the Ben and Jerry's ice cream truck at the end of the tram ride

Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Norfolk is a magical place during Christmas. I booked our tickets through the phone so we could ride the mobility shuttle. Friendly staff and informative regarding the expectations upon arrival.The gardens were gorgeous, the lights were like a dream! The shuttle drivers were friendly and accommodating for individual needs. We will definitely be returning for Christmas 2025.