The world's largest navy base, and one of the busiest airfields in the country. Hampton-based company Tidewater Touring works with the base to offer 45-minute bus tours conducted by naval personnel; tours must be booked in advance (hours vary). Photo ID is required for adults.
Naval Station Norfolk
Virginia
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
12.28 MILES
One of the biggest, most comprehensive maritime museums in the world. The on-site USS Monitor Center houses parts of the Civil War–era Monitor, one of the…
5.81 MILES
A glorious setting for an eclectic collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt to the present day, including works by Henri Matisse, Albert Bierstadt,…
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
20.33 MILES
If you want to see an aquarium done right, come here. In various habitats, you can see a great array of aquatic life, including sea turtles, river otters…
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
23.47 MILES
Formerly the Yorktown Victory Center, this expanded exhibition space and living history museum vividly describes the build-up to the Revolutionary War,…
22.56 MILES
Yorktown Battlefield, run by the NPS, is the site of the last major battle of the American Revolution. Start your tour at the visitor center and check out…
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
25.68 MILES
We reckon this 112,000-acre refuge deserves an award for best name in the country. Some 30 miles southwest of Virginia Beach, it straddles the North…
6.36 MILES
This massive, interactive, maritime-themed museum has exhibits on undersea exploration, aquatic life of the Chesapeake Bay and US Naval lore. The museum's…
15.19 MILES
Shake off the Virginia Beach flash at this lower key 2888-acre woodland, which has 20 miles of hiking trails and 1.5 miles of beach, plus opportunities…
Nearby Virginia attractions
5.81 MILES
A glorious setting for an eclectic collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt to the present day, including works by Henri Matisse, Albert Bierstadt,…
6.36 MILES
This massive, interactive, maritime-themed museum has exhibits on undersea exploration, aquatic life of the Chesapeake Bay and US Naval lore. The museum's…
12.28 MILES
One of the biggest, most comprehensive maritime museums in the world. The on-site USS Monitor Center houses parts of the Civil War–era Monitor, one of the…
12.66 MILES
A fine introduction to Virginia's terrestrial and aquatic life, set in naturalistic ecosystems. The complex comprises open-air animal enclosures, an…
15.19 MILES
Shake off the Virginia Beach flash at this lower key 2888-acre woodland, which has 20 miles of hiking trails and 1.5 miles of beach, plus opportunities…
6. Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
19.45 MILES
Housed in an ultra-modern building, this museum has galleries hosting a rotating program of exhibitions by regional artists.
7. Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
20.33 MILES
If you want to see an aquarium done right, come here. In various habitats, you can see a great array of aquatic life, including sea turtles, river otters…
22.56 MILES
Yorktown Battlefield, run by the NPS, is the site of the last major battle of the American Revolution. Start your tour at the visitor center and check out…