Nestled in the heart of Durham lies Duke Gardens, a 55-acre botanical wonderland where the hum of cars and traffic disappear, birds serenade visitors from treetops and streams flow alongside pathways connecting people to more than 2,500 colorful plant species. Over 600,000 people visit Sarah P. Duke Gardens every year to experience an artful expression inspired by nature and to enjoy hours of discovery, exploration and inspiration. Admission to one of the top-ranked public gardens in the U.S. is free, with a small fee for parking.
This place is magical. It’s like a mini trip to Italy 😍 We didn’t have a lot of time to explore the entire garden but what we saw was heavenly. Great location for a stroll, a picnic, or just a relaxing time outdoors. Also good for all ages. Highly recommended
Siba Siddique
Dec 1, 2023
5
I have visited the Sarah P. Duke Gardens during all the seasons (cherry blossom season is the best imo), and these were the pictures I took during my latest visit. The routes are well-maintained with leaf blowers, and you can enjoy the fall colors and exotic plants such as cacti and chrysanthemums (in the Asiatic Arboretum). There are also cute nooks where you can spend time.
Justin Trosclair, D.C.
Nov 22, 2023
5
One more could you ask for. Great fall foliage and a really cool Japanese area with other Asian country plants. Nice bridges, chrysanthemums, tiered gardens, lots of places to escape from the rain too. Whole family enjoyed are 2 hours
Holly
Nov 9, 2023
5
*LOVED* this place!! We moved here from Idaho in September and have been exploring a lot. This has been our favorite place so far. If you are from here, you might not realize how special it is to have banana trees and bamboo just growing outside in nature under pine trees and elms and maple trees. In Idaho, there was only pine so you didn't see leaves change colors with the seasons at all. I can't believe how colorful everything is here!! It's the thing I had been looking forward to the most, and it didn't disappoint.
There's a smell outside as you walk around. It's this earthy tree smell that is my absolute favorite smell in the whole world (tied for the #1 spot with my daughter's head and my dog's feet). It was a 76 degree day with a light breeze and it felt like walking around in a rainbow heaven. The grounds are beautiful and there's lots to see. I'm certain we'll come back frequently.
That being said, I will give one suggestion. It's a little bit hard to get around with my daughter's wheelchair and it would be helpful if paths were marked with arrows showing which way to go if you're in a wheelchair. They had an info both but it was busy so we skipped it, and I'm sure they could have told us where to go. Alas! We had to backtrack a little bit here and there, but there were other ways to get around. We took a detour to the chapel which was about an 8 minute walk from the gardens, and we did have to go up some stairs for that part. It was so pretty though and barely out of the way. Worth seeing. I expected only one chapel, but the university has tons of buildings that look like ancient mini castles. I didn't expect it to be so utterly breathtaking.
Back to the gardens, there were some gravel areas inside the gardens that we decided to skip. Otherwise, the majority of the gardens were very accessible. We all loved this place so much.
Lilie Wilkinson
Oct 31, 2023
5
Visited with my boyfriend last Spring and the scenery was gorgeous. Lots of different kinds of flowers to view, as well as walking trails. We also stopped at the little shop and bought popsicles to cool down. Great place to visit and lots you can do!
Greg Laux
Oct 31, 2023
5
I'm a plant nerd, so I absolutely love it here. Going on overcast mornings means there won't be many people there. Parking is $2 an hour. Great for getting foliage reference photos for the artists out there.
Jacque 3777
Oct 28, 2023
5
Absolutely beautiful. Visited twice while in town and still didn't get to see everything because it was so big. My favorite was the vegetable garden which consisted of a compost and watering system and a bee keeping section. The workers and volunteers were super nice. There was a little building that sold snack and wraps that were delicious,fresh and reasonably priced. They also had a gift shop and area where you could purchase plants. The garden is free but you have to pay to park but the parking fee is reasonable but parking fills up quick.
Michael Cohen
Oct 18, 2023
5
The visit to the Duke Gardens on the campus of Duke University was spectacular. Much of the gardens were still in bloom. The staff, volunteers and workers were quite pleasant, very knowledgeable as well as helpful. It was a beautiful day to spend walking amid such floral beauty. We brought a simple picnic lunch to enjoy at the conclusion of our walk. If you are in the area, leave at least an hour or more to enjoy this treasure.
Bunny Flower
Oct 11, 2023
5
Awesome place to visit! We enjoyed the garden and it was just so mind-blowing that there’s such a beautiful and huge garden in Duke university! Highly recommend to pay a visit to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens if you are here in Durham.
Kat3
Oct 3, 2023
5
What an awesome place to relax, wander and soak up the calming vibes! From the time you walk in through the entrance, the waterfalls. beautiful gardens and varied wildlife just put you at instant peace! Honestly, I wish I'd brought a book and a blanket- this place just begs you to sit down and stay awhile! I now want to come back in the spring!
Mircea Ionescu
Oct 2, 2023
5
These gardens are a pleasant surprise.
You will need more than one hour to enjoy the place .
Lots of cute spots along with the pond, the fountains .
By the plants they have, I can say it's the prettiest at spring, but you can enjoy it all sumer long
They have packing and the is free entrance.
Greg Alford
Sep 30, 2023
5
Absolutely stunning gardens next to the Duke University campus. I like that they try to do the all natural. 55 acres of absolutely stunning scenery and on top of it all it’s free.
Khaleel Bremby
Sep 25, 2023
5
Simply blissful. I just sat and enjoyed the scenery for about an hour. I took a couple of photos and enjoyed myself. This place feels so peaceful.
maryroselol
Sep 24, 2023
5
After you figure how to pay for parking, you will be amazed at the beauty of this garden. It’s free to enter and has such majesty. Great place to come explore, relax, and spend time in a tranquil place. Many people come to peruse the garden, others come to have a picnic with friends and family in the greenway. Left this place feeling at peace.
