Home to the largest naval station in the world, Norfolk is a modern shipping port with a fascinating maritime history. It overlooks the waters of Chesapeake Bay and boasts excellent museums and a charming downtown district packed with Heritage-listed architecture.

Things to do

Discover Norfolk’s architectural landmarks along the self-guided Cannonball Trail History Tour, which winds along the Elizabeth River. Witness the 18th-century St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Classical Revival architecture of the U.S. Custom House, as well as the Beaux Arts Old Norfolk Public Library.

Want to see one of the largest battleships ever built? Visit the waterfront Nauticus maritime museum where the immense World War II Battleship Wisconsin is moored. The adjacent museum features hands-on exhibits and interactive theatres for discovering Norfolk’s seafaring history and showcases displays detailing the design of the Wisconsin.

The Naval Station Norfolk is the largest of its kind in the world and home to one of the busiest airfields in the United States. Join one of the 45-minute tours offering up-close access to aircraft carriers, destroyers and amphibious assault ships, along with views of historic homes dating back to the Jamestown Exposition of 1907.

Art enthusiasts should visit the Chrysler Museum of Art, which features an extensive collection gifted by automotive heir Walter P. Chrysler Jr. It boasts one of the world’s most impressive collections of glass art, as well as significant European and American paintings dating back to the Middle Ages.

Getting around

Norfolk International Airport is located around 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre and there are regular trains to Boston and Washington D.C. Buses and light rail services access most corners of Norfolk, while the Hampton Roads Transit Trolley Tour showcases the top sights.