Norfolk
Country: USA · Region: US Northeast · Currency: US Dollar
Norfolk is a major cruise port in Virginia's Hampton Roads region, home to the world's largest naval base and featuring a revitalized downtown with world-class museums, cultural venues, and waterfront dining. It offers a mix of Navy heritage, arts and culture, and modern attractions for day-trippers.
Top sights
Chrysler Museum of Art, Nauticus - National Maritime Center and USS Wisconsin battleship, MacArthur Memorial, Virginia Zoo, Norfolk Botanical Garden
Things to do
- Chrysler Museum of Art
- Free art museum featuring paintings, glass, porcelain, sculptures, and photos from African, Asian, Egyptian, Greek, and Pre-Columbian cultures, with daily free glass art demonstrations at noon.
- Nauticus - National Maritime Center with USS Wisconsin
- Naval museum with maritime artifacts and a decommissioned battleship offering self-guided tours of ship interiors (adult $15.95, additional $20 per person for engine room or bridge tours).
- Norfolk Botanical Garden
- Botanical garden at 6700 Azalea Garden Road requiring a timed ticket (adults $16, seniors/youth/military $14, under 3 free).
- Virginia Zoo
- Zoo open daily 10AM-5PM located at 3500 Granby Street.
Beaches
- Ocean View
- Norfolk's beach community on the Chesapeake Bay featuring relatively uncrowded beaches and undergoing revitalization as a sought-after neighborhood.
Where to eat
- Doumar's Cones and BBQ
- Birthplace of the ice cream cone, this 1934 location in Ghent features hamburgers, sandwiches, fries, and vintage diner items with a classic drive-thru.
- Todd Jurich's Bistro
- Upscale casual restaurant two blocks from waterside with four diamond award for food and Wine Spectator excellence award, appearing on every Norfolk Restaurant Week.
Bars and nightlife
- Charlie's American Cafe
- Cafe by day and nighttime music venue hosting independent music artists, located on Granby Street.
Forecast for Norfolk
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Weather in Norfolk by month
Averages from 2015 to 2024, not a forecast. Within about two weeks of a date, the live forecast above is the one to trust.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50°F | 36°F | 4.2 in | 10 |
| February | 55°F | 38°F | 3.7 in | 11 |
| March | 60°F | 43°F | 3.7 in | 9 |
| April | 69°F | 52°F | 3.6 in | 10 |
| May | 76°F | 61°F | 4.1 in | 12 |
| June | 83°F | 69°F | 4.2 in | 12 |
| July | 87°F | 74°F | 5.3 in | 15 |
| August | 85°F | 72°F | 4.6 in | 14 |
| September | 80°F | 69°F | 5.6 in | 11 |
| October | 72°F | 58°F | 3.6 in | 7 |
| November | 61°F | 47°F | 3.1 in | 8 |
| December | 55°F | 41°F | 3.7 in | 9 |
Getting around
Use the Tide Light Rail ($2 single/$4.50 all-day pass), Hampton Roads Transit buses, or the passenger ferry from Portsmouth to navigate downtown and major attractions.
What to eat
Doumar's Cones and BBQ in Ghent is famous as the birthplace of the ice cream cone, while Todd Jurich's Bistro offers upscale dining, and Granby Street and Ghent have numerous gourmet restaurants and bars.
Tips
Bring exact cash for buses and ferries as drivers do not carry change, or purchase an all-day pass from vending machines that accept cards.
Best for
Navy history, museums, cultural attractions
More ports in US Northeast
Baltimore · Boston · Cape Liberty · New York