Such a beautiful place!Visited Duke Gardens for the first time last year during the spring and it was absolutely amazing experience. We went there for story time for kids and enjoyed our picnic here. The kids were thrilled too. The gardens are too big to enjoy every corners of them in one day. Some paths are difficult for strollers. Paid parking available. Definitely will come again.

Beautifully maintained garden in Durham. Entrance is free, but you need parking. It takes around 3hrs to see how the good stuff.Very shady even on a hot day. Highly recommend!

Absolutely beautiful place. I love it. Always a different experience in different seasons due to the changing of the trees and flowers . I’ve been here lots of times since 2001 and it never gets old. Great place to walk, have a picnic, take photos or just sit and read a book, whatever the case. It’s fun for everyone. I Love Duke Gardens!

Most amazing gardens and spectacular views. Visited the Duke Chapel and it was breathtaking. From hand carved wood trim to the hand made stained glass all around. The pews and the tomb of the duke family. The organs of more than 5,000 pipes and the chapel bells . This place is amazing. Glad we went.

What a beautiful place this was - The trails are well kept and informational signs keep you from getting a little lost. The flowers and plants have signage to educate yourself on each bit of life. Please be aware there is a fee for parking! Unfortunately I have to leave four stars: Multiple paths were closed off without warning and had to back track multiple times. Aside from that, it’s a wonderful morning/mid-day stroll before the North Carolina heat becomes too unbearable!

Breath Taking garden. Beautifully landscaped. The sort of views you can see. You can spend hours here and not see everything.the trails vary from smooth, grassy, gravel. Its so enjoyable to sit at all of the bench locations to enjoy the seating and the scenery and historical landmarks.Very well upkeep and lots of fun activities. Fowl feed available for purchase

Its a really nice place to visit with your family and friends. They a variety of different flowers and plants. They also have couple of lakes/ponds. Its a great place to send you weekend. You can also have a picnic there too. That also have a great parking lot, so u dont have to worry about not finding a parking. I really recommend people going there.

More like a 4.5. Was there after .y son graduation in later half of May. Weather was great and alto a little warm and later spring, lots of flowers still blooming!! Great variety of flowers and flora as you can see from the pics and the rolling hills with the ponds and water streams add to the beauty of it all. A nice souvenir store and info cente.. enjoy

Really beautiful relaxing place. ample parking available but it might be all taken during nice summer days. They have different sections dedicated to different themes and they transport you instantly to that culture. Also please try out their ice cream bars, really delicious and healthy looking.

If you are in the area, this is a MUST see! My visit took place towards the end of July, so the weather was hot and humid, however, the temperature for very little to dampen this little gem. Bring water and plan to walk.Parking will be well under $10 for the duration of your stay (at the time of this review it was about $1/half hour). There are meters that you pay for before entering.Given the heat of the day, the entrance walk way was worth the trip. Shady, cool and colors galore! The grounds are well maintained and there is literally an abundance (talking acres) of plant life in this place. I felt so at ease here. Would come again.

An absolutely gorgeous and well maintained garden. The paths and different plant life were absolutely amazing. You can tell just how much effort and care go into maintaining this beautiful garden immediately after walking through the entrance. Theres a small interactive area with edible fruits and vegetables as well as chickens, and the beautiful Duke Chapel is just a 5 minute walk away. Visiting this garden is a must for anyone in the Durham area.

Love these gardens! And it’s free, except for parking during the week $1/half hour.The gardens are so peaceful yet breathtaking.One of my favorite places in Durham.We came in the summer but Every season should be visited. The gift shop has lots of nice things to buy.

Beautiful gardens! We went while the cherry blossoms were blooming and explored the terraces full of daffodils and tulips.It was clear that the caretakers paid attention to details and everything was extremely well taken care of. I will definitely be back to explore the rest of the garden!

World class botanical gardens. So beautiful! Expect it to be busy in the spring and fall when the weather is nice. Also on weekends.Parking is $2 and there is overflow 3 blocks from the entrance. The gardens themselves are free. Gift shop and visitors center is at the front with maps. The gardens are split into 4 sections with different types of plants and landscape features in each.

Duke Gardens is my favorite place to go for a quick relief into nature, and it’s so easy to get to from anywhere in Durham. Very kid friendly, with some parts specifically tailored to younger guests. Dog friendly, but only in certain times. Don’t be one of those people who ignore the dozen “no dogs between 10:00am-5:00pm” signs. Parking is pretty good, but steep at $1/30 minutes. I guess it’s justifiable if it supports this great amenity for Durham.

Absolutely beautiful! Lots of trails and places to sit tucked away in quiet locations. A great place to take a walk or contemplate in peace. I cant wait to go back, and its free (aside from parking).

An absolutely beautiful and wonderful place to walk through. One could easily spend a few hours in the gardens. We packed some snacks and played on the south lawn. We loved that it was stroller friendly. We came on a weekday afternoon and it wasnt too busy.

One of my favorite place that I visited while in NC. It was divided into 4 sections and each one was unique and beautiful. The area was perfect to to walk and explore around and they had such gorgeous plants and structures, like stairs and ponds. It is a great place to take kids, they have a large grassy area where many people could sit and chill. Excited to come back when more plants are in bloom!

This ones a must visit at Duke! It especially comes to life during the Spring and the Summer. Youre almost very likely to encounter a pre-wedding shoot here or someone going down on their knees to propose.

Wonderful gardens! Many time gardens are bigger than the staff can maintain... Its understandable the decide to give us more and more plants... When what youd hope is for them to give you something about what a garden should look like. Something of how garden fits with the landscape... Fits with how we live.Theyre doing pretty good here. It feels like their a little over extended but on the whole they are able to manage a very large and complex garden.Good for them.

Lush, beautiful gardens in the middle of the Duke University campus. A site for many an alumni wedding shoot, no doubt. Free to visit and walk around. Tons of varieties, terraced with stone work, edged with a good-sized koi pond.

Beautiful scenery in the middle of Durham. Very well maintained park & facilities. A great day outside for just the cost of parking.

What a great place. Beautiful garden to walk around. I particularly like Asiatic Arboretum area but entire garden is just beautiful. Highly recommended.

This was a nice day trip. They had multiple gardens to explore. There were plenty of places to sit along the paths. A lot of the gardens were shaded so it was enjoyable even in the heat. We were able to exit the gardens and walk to the Duke Chapel down the road, them back to the gardens to finish exploring. Parking was $8 for all day and there was no entrance fee. I only saw 3 restrooms - one at the entrance, one Im the Japanese gardens, and one in the little hut where they sold ice cream/drinks. There was a large lawn where a few people were playing frisbee and having a picnic. Definitely worth the trip!

I literally fell in love with this wonderful place. you can even get married here if you want. free entry but parking is expensive, one dollar for 30 minutes.

Duke Gardens is a real treasure in Durham. Every time I visit the garden I get a genuine sense of peace. I’ve been hundreds of times. The terrace garden and koi pond are main attractions but you have to just wander through the entire garden to really appreciate its beauty. There’s parking at the entrance with machines to issue parking slips or you can just pay with an app. Instructions are on the machine.

It was our first time to visit such beautiful and very calm place. So quiet I could just bring the book with and not being Disturbed, I would recommend anyone to go there even do yoga there, just sit and listen to birds, or go exploring.

Such a beautiful place to visit! While parking has a fee visiting the Gardens is free to the public! It is a great activity to do when youre on a budget or if you just want to enjoy a nice day outside. The Gardens is family friendly with a massive variety of things to see throughout the Gardens. There is something for everyone!

The Duke Gardens are a gem. They are a relaxing place where you can take a stroll and feel at peace. The gardens have several Japanese-inspired areas that I find just beautiful.Its a great place to take a date so that you have some time to just talk and get to know each other. There are secluded areas for private conversation.I saw many people with their pets there as well.

Beautiful large garden with multiple areas that represent different types of gardening styles, plant biomes, and trail types. Great for getting outside and moving, your calves will be sore! Some of the trails are gravel and very hilly so be aware if you or your loved ones have mobility issues, it may not be the most accessible afternoon trip. My personal favorite is the waterfall in the Asiatic garden.

One of the best gardens I have ever visited! This is a wonderful place to visit. So many great things to look and discover that its hard to get it all in one visit. I love the beautiful landscapes and the integration of the different types of gardens. I would recommend visiting this place more than once, and during different seasons. Its a great place for photography and to spend time with the family.

My fifth time to the gardens. Absolutely beautiful and worth the trip. Great place to bring a blanket and relax. The gardens can get a little crowded but there are so many nooks and crannies that you can find a quiet place to chill. Hasnt gotten old to me and will go back on my next trip to Duke.

Absolutely beautiful gardens. Visited during a fairly busy Saturday afternoon but there was plenty of parking in a lot that was well within walking distance.My husband and I found a key on our walk there and delivered it to the front desk area in hopes of returning it to its owner. They were very friendly and appreciative of this. Everyone we interacted with was kind, and even though it was busy we never felt cramped, especially once in the actual park.Well worth a visit.

Duke Gardens is a world class garden thAt you need to check out on the campus of Duke University. I’ve been coming here since I was 2 and am now 47. A great place to relax and recenter your mind. Bring the family but leave the dogs at home....my wife is allergic to them

I went here because I was in the area for a job interview and had around 8 hours before my flight took off. It’s a quick Lyft ride from Cary and well worth it. I spent around 2 hours here. I was told I lucked out with the 75 degree weather in late October. There was still a lot to see even in October. Must go and see this if you’re in the area!!!

Wonderful gardens. Windsong paid and picturesque bridges take you through well maintained plantings of native and exotic species.In many places the paths are paved with intricately fitted field stone. Identifying signs are strategically placed throughout the gardens

Magnificent place to visit. Walk at your own pace, family oriented, ramps for wheelchairs. Educational and relaxing. A must do in Raleigh- Durham- Chapel Hill area.

It is an amazing garden. Recommend visiting during Spring, though. I truly enjoyed it eventhough all flowers werent in bloom and only saw only 1/3 of it. Unfortunately, some of the plants were in need of watering, but those that didnt looked beautiful. You can literally spend the whole day, here. Dress appropriately and take water, lots of trails to walk or run th through. Check out the photos of our visit in October. Definitely, coming back in the Spring.

Went here for a run and loved the asian trails. Made it feel like home!

Really beautiful gardens. Lots to explore with plenty of easy to miss areas like a reading corner for kids and little side paths. Great Discovery garden for kids to learn about gardening. Theyve just planted so their will be lots of budding vegetables soon.

I visited again last weekend with a friend and we appreciated the sand paths (permeable surfaces for water drainage, better for joints) and just to be back to marvel at the terraces and ponds. It’s so beautifully maintained and serene.I regret not taking advantage of the gardens while I was a student. I was at an outdoor concert with a friend near Chicago tonight, and she mentioned how she visited the Duke Gardens as a tourist...and it reminded me to post this picture I took at the gardens last weekend when I visited Durham/Duke for a wedding.I wish I enjoyed the gardens itself more instead of spending all my time “studying” and “writing papers” while sunning on the big lawn, or dashing through the woods to get to class in the Allen building.Truly enchanted place. Grateful for a chance to have had such beauty at my doorstep for the first few years of my adulthood.

Such a beautiful relaxing place to spend the day! It is free and they have green areas for a nice picnic!

Beautiful and we lucked out on the date. We went on a sunny and warm spring day with a nice breeze. The cherry blossoms in full bloom make the entrance feel magnificent. The grounds are extremely well maintained and everything is accurately labeled. A must seen if you are in town.

This is one of the few places that I just dont seem to get tired of. Always love to come visit the gardens every year.Great place for photos, weddings, a picnic date, or just to enjoy nature.The pictures are from eight years ago

Beautiful Even in the Off Season! Cant wait to go back when the flowers are blooming in spring and summer... Well worth going to see the different areas... Really enjoyed the Asian Gardens

Awesomeness. So beautiful......Peaceful.....nature at its finest!!

We visited these in Spring 2019 the day before we attended the Duke basketball game. I loved walking around the gardens. Everything is so beautiful. It was relaxing. People were walking, painting, laying around, playing in the open area, reading, talking, etc. The flowers are very pretty. There are several themed areas. There was a little farm area. There is over 5 miles of walkways/paths to walk. If I lived in this area I would visit often. I felt safe and felt super relaxed walking around. Visit the gift shop too! The staff we talked to were all friendly and helpful.

Really well maintained botanical garden with detailed maps to each location. The visitor center was good. You can get duck food for $1 from the store next to the visitor center. Do pick up a map which really helps you guide through the park. Overall spread in 55 acre but you can probably stroll through it in 3 hours or so. Parking is $2 per hour and you need to anticipate your stay duration and prepay for parking.

Beautiful, as always, in whatever season but particularly spring and summer. I do wish people would make sure their children arent littering (and not litter themselves!)

I cant believe this place is free to visit! Absolutely beautiful. If you are a photographer, definitely bring your camera. A beautiful place to take a stroll, observe nature, draw, or read a book. We cant wait to go back!

Beautiful garden. Its a nice place to be, take some time off your schedule and just enjoy the beautiful garden and the university.

Even in the winter when many of the trees have dropped their leaves, this a beautiful and serene place to come enjoy nature. Looking forward to seeing the gardens in the spring.

It’s a really nice, beautiful place to visit with family and friends.the garden has beautiful water features like couple of lakes or small ponds, small fountain.they have different varieties of trees, small plants, different flowers.they have place for picnic, big ground.we went there mid April.different flowers bloomed at that time.we saw there some people doing yoga, some people in group doing picnic.perfect place for photography.would like to visit there again.

One of the best gardens in NC. Very well maintained paths, beds, formal plantings. A must see.This will be my second post for the garden, both times my wife and I found it to be extremely enjoyable!!The first time we went it was summer, this second time it was winter. I didn’t expect much, but was pleasantly surprised to find the garden still beautiful and interesting. You have to pay at the parking lot, though I don’t think it is strictly enforced. Just follow the directions on the machine. If you use a credit card Be Sure You Take it out!!! Many people, including myself, have left the card in the machine!There were many shrubs blooming and many shrubs had red berries. This is because whoever planned this garden was very smart to include plants that had winter interest and not just plants, trees and shrubs that look good in spring, summer, and fall.It is too bad that dogs are not allowed from 10AM - 5PM. Couldn’t they just but up the same sign that states (like most parks do) Dogs must be leashed and picked up after?

Early April is peak for the bulbs and well worth seeing. Theres always beauty here year-round.

Beautiful gardens! Very clean and well kept. Its a beautiful place to visit if youre by the area. We enjoyed it!

A beautiful spring day at the Souths premier public gardens. This 4.28.18 review is accompanied by many photos I hope get you in the mood to visit soon. In addition to the marvelous show of color and beauty youll see in the photos, theres plenty of young buds and blooms yet to come.Parking may be a challenge on the weekend. On-site weekend parking is free before 1:00 PM and inexpensive afterward. There are two lots inside the main entry and a nearby overflow lot. For overflow, exit the Gardens main entry to the right (north) onto Anderson St. and drive about 100 meters and take a right into the overflow lot.If you find this review and the photos helpful, please click me a thumbs up, below.

Beautiful gardens! Nice walks all over. Parking is close by, we paid $4 for 2 hours.

So freaking beautiful. You can not find anything like this where Im from in Florida

Always a wonderful place no matter the season! Such a great place to bring kids and feed ducks! I used to always come here as a kid and it was so fun! Bravo Duke!!! Everyone who works here to make this place what it is should be proud!

Beautiful gardens to visit year-round. The trees are especially beautiful in the fall. The gardens are quite expansive so dont expect to see it all in one visit!

As always a beautiful place to spend a couple hours immersed in the beauty of nature. They periodically change the plantings so it seldom looks the same twice. Always worth the visit. Its free except for parking about $2/hr.

Really very nice garden and awesome beautiful flowers especially tulip and beautiful fishes in pond...

Beautiful gardens. Nice place to walk around with a stroller. Be aware that some places are not stroller compatible. I learned the hard way when I was moving through the Asian garden areas and couldnt locate a ramp.

Duke Gardens absolutely amazing!! The flowers were bright and colorful. The wildlife was a joy to watch. Unfortunately some areas were closed off due to construction but I will definitely return when they are finished. I cant wait to go back!

Such a beautiful place to visit. Always on our list of things to do in Durham. Lots of people were out enjoying the sunshine.

Spectacular spring bloom! Its hard to believe this is free for everyone to enjoy!

A very beautiful garden with tons of educational features. Great for a tourist-y trip as well as just everyday walks or relaxing in. The best thing about it is that its FREE!

Beautiful place! It is amazing how clean and organized is a garden. Its pity that we were in a hurry and couldn’t discover it more.

Place is really nice. It is open to the public. You only need to pay the parking. Go with time because there are a lot to nice places to take pics

Free gardens (but you need to pay for parking)... Beautifully maintained, very large, and plenty to see. A must see place to go when visiting Durham.

Today was so beautiful we decided to make a needed visit to Duke Gardens. This 55-acre public garden is a must see if you are in the Triangle, NC area. Located on the campus of Duke University, you could spend an entire afternoon browsing the various themed gardens. Everything there is beautiful! Its also a fun place to interact and greet new people. They have ample parking, a visitors center, multiple restrooms, water drinking fountains, and snack machines. I always leave the gardens feeling refreshed and happy.#localguide

As one can tell I particularly enjoyed the Asian gardens. Beautifully designed. Even in the bleak of winter its worth the trip.

A must see for the Durham area! Free to explore, and the terrace gardens are breathtaking.

Always a great place to visit! Seasonal flowers at their best. A good place for a stroll. Relaxing!

We went on a cloudy day in late winter/early spring and it was still worth a visit. The plants werent at peak bloom, but the gardens were still very scenic and serene. Its a great Sunday afternoon activity that will be enjoyed by the whole family

Glorious place for a stroll. Beautifully, well marked plantings. Streams, benches, lawns. Lovely! Different things to see at different times of the year.

The gardens were magnificent in mid April. It would be nice if they added more accessible trails.

One of my favorite places to visit in the Triangle. Beautiful foliage in the fall and spring. Havent tried in the winter yet, but would likely have a different kind of charm then as well. Many different sections cater to different activities. Theres a big open park where you can take kids and play, theres a rose garden, there are fountains, theres a pond with ducks At least something for everybody.

Beautiful gardens. Great anesthetics. The walk to the duke chapel is really beautiful. A must visit place in summer if you are nearby. Nicely landscaped and beautifully maintained.

Breathtaking. Very peaceful and well kept. A great place to take the family and they allow picnics on the grounds.

A amazing place just to be with your family and take pictures

Excellent gardens to visit with family. Free Entry Only Parking Charges.

Such a beautiful garden to visit. Mid to late March is the perfect time to see the cherry blossoms.

Do not recommend this place in Fall/Winter. It looked like a deadly, eeriest place with dried up ponds, loud construction going on. No flora or fauna to be seen. I am not sure why I am giving 4 stars, only because of Japanese garden with koi pond, maybe. It would 2-3 hours at most to explore all the trails. Through the garden, you can walk to find the chapel, worth it.

Very cool place with a lot of different types of flowers and plants. Even in late summer there were some beautiful flowers blooming and a lot to see.

Beautiful garden with a lot of beautiful nature and human made structures to see like the fountain when you first get in.

Very clean well-kept nice place and they had an orchid display show going on. Definitely stop by when in the area.

We visited the Gardens on March 7th, 2020 and there were some flowers in bloom but I can imagine this place in full bloom w ou told be amazing. It is large with different sections/areas. One area has a lot of bamboo and a trail through it. Parking is $1 per hour in the actual Gardens parking lot however if on Duke campus you can walk to it and through it.

This is an absolutely gorgeous and serene garden! It definitely encouraged my imagination and prompted calmness for me. This is a very large and luscious Gardens that are divided into several sections with amazing hardscapes, and well defined walking trails. They incorporate some fantastic water elements that make this sanctuary worth traveling from any corner of the world to experience this Eden in North Carolina!

Really pretty and clean place. Benches are located in the shade which is awesome, and only $1 per 30 mins for parking! Love it, definitely coming back.

Huge, filled with a variety of flowers. There are a few ponds with fishes and some nice bridges too. Benches and drinking water is available every few minutes of walking.

This is such a great place to spend the day! The flowers are always spectacular!Be sure to stop by the gift shop before you go down to see the ducks to purchase a bag of duck food.And bring a blanket & lunch to enjoy a picnic on the lawn.

Beautiful and expansive garden. $8 for 4hr parking. Many different types of gardens and great for photos.

Its the best place in Durham for nature lovers.. Its almost a kind of forest, I would say, full of rare floral plants, trees and many.. You can find hummingbirds, butterflies n water fowls really much closer...

This was definitely a lovely surprise outside of the busy, crowded I-85 corridor. My son and I spent several lovely hours enjoying the weather and the horticulture and the overwhelming beauty of the gardens. Will definitely make this a stop on our next visit to North Carolina.

Beautiful place. Feel close to nature.

Beautiful garden no matter what time of the year!

Beautiful garden,, with variety of plants and spots according to ones choice,, theres kid area, a lake huge garden,, place to sit n relax,, soothing and calming experience

The place where the beauty can be defined. Flowers, plants, lakes, fish everything here is beautiful. There is Duke chapel just in the walking distance. Perfect place to have pre-wedding shoots and even weddings. It is situated right in the Duke University area.