Hermitage Museum and Gardens (Norfolk): All You Need to Know
United States
Virginia (VA)
Norfolk
Things to do in Norfolk
Hermitage Museum and Gardens
See all things to do

Hermitage Museum and Gardens

See all things to do
See all things to do
Hermitage Museum and Gardens
4.5
141
#11 of 78 things to do in Norfolk
History Museums
Read more
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
Write a review
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.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Top ways to experience Hermitage Museum and Gardens and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
172 within 5 kms
Marco's Pizza
1
0.7 kmPizza
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
4
0.8 km$
Dockside Bar and Grill
11
0.8 km$$ - $$$ • Seafood
Golden City Chinese Restaurant
2
0.8 kmChinese
Domino's Pizza
2
0.7 kmPizza
Kobe Hibachi Grill & Sushi Bar
2
0.9 kmJapanese • Sushi
D'Egg West
38
1.4 km$ • American • Cafe • Diner
Oro Azteca
52
1.5 km$ • Mexican • Vegetarian Friendly
On Ice
6
1.7 kmAmerican
China Express
2
1.7 kmChinese
See all
Attractions
89 within 10 kms
Chrysler Museum of Art
1,011
Art Museums
Battleship Wisconsin at Nauticus
1,643
Ships
Norfolk Botanical Garden
1,106
Gardens
MacArthur Memorial
309
History Museums
Nauticus
1,097
Speciality Museums
Virginia Zoo
886
Zoos
Naval Station Norfolk
542
4.3 kmMilitary Bases & Facilities
Children's Museum of Virginia
288
Children's Museums
The Chrysler Museum Glass Studio
115
Speciality Museums
Hampton Roads Naval Museum
113
Military Museums
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
141 reviews
Excellent
82
Very good
47
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
2
free2venture
Virginia Beach, VA410 contributions
More collections than story of the house/family
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.
Written 23 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
george_shepard
Washington DC, DC44 contributions
Hidden Gem
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 13 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
scott r
Silver Spring, MD614 contributions
delightfully quirky folly created by relocated new yorkers
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 6 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
James R
1 contribution
Weddings!
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 2 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jocelyn H
1 contribution
Old and New Beauty.
May 2022 • Family
Broad range of Art work. Love the paintings and art deco statues. APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY CONTAINED INSIDE THE MUSEUM.
Written 22 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1060WestAddison
Washington DC, DC170 contributions
Beautiful grounds
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 17 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
metrochica
Washington DC, DC1,062 contributions
A hidden gem
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 1 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rebecca G
1 contribution
Enchanting and magical Hermitage
May 2021
Truly I felt honored to walk through the past of Mr. and Mrs. Sloan and their passion for architecture, beauty and the collection of art is like fine dining, not overwhelming but pleasingly exquisite. The home and gardens are art in itself and like nothing I have ever experienced. This home speaks of another time and place where serenity, peacefulness, and very good taste prevailed. Mrs. Sloan must have had a very magical heart to create such beauty from inside herself. A maturity level is essential to appreciate this experience.
Written 22 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mrmachine
Raleigh, NC123 contributions
disappointed with the state of the gardens and the random closing of the museum.
Apr. 2021
We arrived at the Hermitage around 12:20 pm. When we got to the door, we saw a printed sign that the museum would be closed for an hour for a special luncheon. There was no indication of what time the one hour started. I called the phone number and asked the woman who answered, what time will the luncheon end. She said, it was about to start now so it would end around 1:30. We walked around the gardens for a bit then left to get lunch. Note: there were a dozen or so women at a picnic table in the rear of the building. When we returned, we only saw a single employee inside. The museum was nice but quite small. The grounds were in a serious state of neglect with weeds all over the place. They advertise as museum and gardens. Not so much.
Written 2 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TheAmazingRain
Imperial Beach, CA83 contributions
An amazing little hidden gem
Oct. 2020 • Solo
The streets surrounding the Hermitage aren’t exactly in the best shape, but a few streets lead toward the bay, to cozy woods, and then suddenly you are upon this gorgeous little estate!

It’s the collection of one woman and she certainly had a taste for curios and relics from around the world.

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and it was just the nicest place I’ve ever stumbled upon in Norfolk.

Someone below mentioned being asked to pay for pictures, not sure what that’s about, no one bothered me while I walked and took photos.
Written 9 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 141
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Anything missing or inaccurate?
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing

Hermitage Museum and Gardens (Norfolk): All You Need to Know

Frequently Asked Questions about Hermitage Museum and Gardens
Hermitage Museum and Gardens is open:
  • Tue - Sun 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Restaurants near Hermitage Museum and Gardens: View all restaurants near Hermitage Museum and Gardens on Tripadvisor
© 2022 Tripadvisor LLC All rights reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy and Cookies StatementSite MapHow the site worksContact us

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.