We had such a great little visit here over the weekend. We toured the gardens only this go around. However, most are open to tour! Cannot wait to go back and see all there is to see. Theres a small shop that has lots of cute and awesome souvenirs and other tid bits! Staff was all friendly and helpful! Clean restrooms where you get tickets as well as on the grounds!

We were busy doing other things around historic New Bern and bought tickets with only an hour left before closing. Because of the time restraint, our tickets were for the garden areas only. We really enjoyed a show, peaceful pace around the gardens. We like nature over manture most of the time.

Great place to walk around and just absorb the history and what it took to restore this place to what it truly was. Had no idea New Bern was the actual 1st settled capital of NC.

Very cool place of history. The palace and buildings arent open right now but the grounds are and they are beautiful. We came back another time for weapons week and Gary did a great job teaching us about muskets and did a firing for us. Beautiful place. Cant wait to come back when they are fully opened.

Always wanted to stop here when going to beach and it was a great time!The tour was great and palace was beautiful. The admission includes tours at other buildings in the area.The museum nearby has a lot of things for everyone in the family. Pepsi sponsored a nice interactive exhibit for children to experience what it was like in the past.

My first time attending there is plenty to see. We visited on Veterans Day

Had some time to spend in New Bern but not enough to visit all the buildings. You would need about 2.5 hours to see it all. Ended up seeing the lovely ground and gardens. Would visit again soon.

Very interesting historical tour! The guides are most enjoyable. Site show pre American Revolution and some revolutionary information and artifacts. Sometimes garden only tour is free. Special dancing and candlelight tours are available in December.

Our admission was discounted from $20 to $15 because of damage the palace incurred during Hurricane Florence which caused them to close a portion that is usually open. Tickets are purchased in a couple of different places and parking can be a challenge on the weekends.The tour is presented by volunteers who are wearing costumes from the era. The house and grounds were beautiful and the information was informative. I think my favorite parts of the tour were the staircase and the kitchen.

We attended Market Day with a 5, 6, and 9 year old... There was SO much for everyone to do! From gardens, muskets, games, marionettes, to even fencing, not to mention the palace tour! Everyone had an incredible day! Without the activities Im not sure the kids would have enjoyed it so much, but with the activities, this makes it a very enjoyable and memorable family afternoon!

There are two tours options - one for inside the palace where they take you inside the palace and give details about history and other one is garden tour where you can roam around the palace and explore the area. I would recommend this if you have 30 mins to 1 hour available for Garden tour.You can take pics and there are lots of vegetable and flowers plants.

Very nice recreation of the first governors mansion in North Carolina. It is very nicely done and as historically accurate as possible. It is unfortunate that the original mansion was demolished, but this is great and the guides are fantastic and know a lot about the historic context and provenance of the location. Ther gardens and side buildings are also beautiful and worth a walk through. They run a shuttle from the main building to the mansion which is also nice. Lots of parking so easy to visit.

The museum has not opened back yet (covid). Gift shop and gardens are open for you leisure tours. Very quiet atmosphere.

This was a nice spot to walk around although it was super hot the day we went. We only did the garden tour. There were only a few flowers in bloom. Everything else seems like it was just way too dry. Didnt take the house tour but the buildings looked interesting.

Love this place cant wait till covid is over so they can open up the rest of it

So amazing learning the early history of my home state!!

Amazing historically significant location in a beautiful town. Take a full day and do the full tour along with the house tours. The Stanly house is nearly as impressive as the palace. If you like Outlander this is the setting of several parts of the books and show.

A historic gem even if it isnt exactly original. Where I live you do not have precolonial history and if you did it would not look this nice. Plus the very knowledgeable guides dress the part and even offer demonstrations. My one quibble is I hardly heard mention of slavery, maybe I missed it but if you ask me its an important piece of the history.

Great tour guides dressed in time period clothing. Seems like the best job ever!

I remember going here with my parents when I was younger and have for many years I have wanted to take my wife and view the palace and the gardens. However when we did just visit recently I was rather disappointed because the gardens were not very impressive whatsoever.The tour of the palace and the nearby home sites were still interesting from a historical stand point. I do recommend checking the hours of the tours and plan ahead. If youre wanting to view everything you will need to allow at least 3 hours.

Very interesting. Really enjoyed my visit. People were kind and informative. Worth going to see. What a wonderful step back in time. Thank you from Oregon.

Such a great opportunity to learn the history of our first governors mansion. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. $20.00 covers the price of the mansion as well as several other locations in the area. Well worth the price.

Fantastic place to visit. The history here is amazing and the recreation of the rooms inside as well as the garden is just great. I would recommend this to anyone, but specially if you have visitors, please bring them and let them get a brief history of NC.

If you are in the City of New Bern for the first time the Tryon Palace should be on your list. Its an old time place with some history that expands beyond the palace. Try to go when the gardens are in bloom. The admission is a little pricey, ask for military, senior, or group discounts. If you decide its too pricey you can see the grounds by walking around the outside fence. You can also view the brochure about it. I think the trolley ride is more fun for a family. It takes you all over town including the cemetery and they tell and show you places not listed. Whichever you choose I am sure you will enjoy your day in beautiful New Bern. If you play Pokemon Go New Bern is awesome!

Its a nice and beautiful historical place but it needs looking after properly(the garden, the statute,the inside

The Gardens are STUNNING right now. Took my Sister and did a sweet 16 photo shoot. The gardens were the most perfect setting

It was beautiful garden areas some beautiful statues and history

Amazing, historically accurate reconstruction of the buildings of the first NC capital and governors residence. Costumed guides lead tours of the main house and the kitchen. The price of admission includes tours of several other houses from different periods as well.

Its an interesting place give you the history of the area and what went on in the early 18th century

This is a beautiful reproduction of the Governor’s Palace. The guided tours are short but well done. Great job by the guides!

Great event with some re-enactments and fun gun salute. Great views.

This was the first visit to the Palace for my husband and I. We have lived in Eastern North Carolina since 2003 and have been planning on visiting the Palace for a long time. We took advantage of the Memorial Day free admission for Veterans. We were glad we came and plan on returning, as we didnt get to see it all. It is absolutely beautiful! A guide takes you on a tour of the main house and gives you a history on it room by room. We had a very knowledgeable guide who gave us a very good and detailed history. It was very interesting! The kitchen office is awesome, as well. They give a detailed history and explain the equipment and how things were done. They wear time period clothes, and cook on wood every other day. My husband went to the garden and took a few pictures but the gardens are about 14 acres and it was almost 100° so we opted to skip the gardens and come back for that when it is cooler! We had a great time and learned alot in the process. We highly recommend visiting the Tryon Palace.

Very cool to see the buildings and learn the history.

I am not a big history buff, but I enjoyed learning about this place. The people who run it are very nice and knowledgeable, and answered every question I had in great detail, but in a understandable way. The views are great as well. Its also air conditioned, which is a huge plus.

Wonderful historic palace. Highly recommended. The gardens are delightful

Very nice place to visit to learn about NC early history. The gardens are recovering from hurricane Florence but nice to walk through. Take pictures. Several out buildings to visit.

I helped do a Fire Alarm renovation here in 2015. All the buildings now have a life safety system and added protection for all the exhibits.

Guided tour was like a Ken burns documentary. Turns out might not want to have Gov. Tryon over for dinner. Shane was perfect and was professional all the way. Thank you.

Have visited Governors Palace a few times highly recommend to anyone visiting New Bern. Nice gardens and a beautiful view of Neuse River!

It was really cool. The garden was awesome.

What a great place! Lots of history here. The grounds of the palace are simply beautiful, I was completely blown away by how beautiful it was in the time of year that my girlfriend and I went. Even in the middle of winter its beautiful! The guided tour of the interior of the palace was also good. It was a very long and in-depth tour that took us through every part of the house. Our tour guide seemed a little bland with a lack of enthusiasm, but thats something Im able to overlook given all the good that my visit here brought me.

Great place to visit if youre interested in history, still great even if youre not. The grounds are beautiful with views of the river with plenty of paths to walk. The guides were extremely informative and were able to answer every question I and the rest of the group had. I would absolutely visit this place again!

What s fun step back in time. Great information given to us on the tour!

This is a must see they are very informative and the gardens are beautiful.

Very educational I will definitely going to go back again! Keep up the good work!

Neat history lesson. Beautiful house and grounds. I think the garden was my favorite.

We just toured the gardens. It was nice to get out and walk around. Some neat things there. It was only $6 and took about an hour.

Fantastic historical site restored to its original colonial era condition. We took the holiday decorations tour and really enjoyed it. The docent was the head decorator so she really knew her stuff. Staff was wonderful and visitor office very convenient for tickets, bathrooms, and information. Looking forward to visiting during summer when gardens in bloom.

My hubby and I visited here March 7, 2020 (before COVID-19 restrictions became a thing). We did not make it to the palace in time for the last guided tour of the day, and the palace itself was already locked 45 minutes before the advertised closing time. The property main entrance gates were open, so we enjoyed roaming around the outside grounds on our own. Wed gladly return for a guided tour (earlier in the day) if we ever visit New Bern again.

It was a great day trip with the family to visit. Lots of historical things to see and learn about. The cafe at the welcome center was great for a quick bite to eat too. Employees/volunteers were all very nice and welcoming. The admission price was a little steep I think at $20 for everything....per person seems to be a little much.

Tryon Palace is so beautiful and the staff is great! They were very knowledgeable and answered every question we had! I have been here and to Biltmore, and personally I like Tryon better. It was more manageable and there were actual people to talk with and answer questions. Highly recommend!

Great spot to visit when stopping by New Bern. The historic reenactments were great and all the actors were very friendly.

Handsome buildings. Beautiful, relaxing grounds. A world away! Staff is helpful and professional. Special events on the lawn are exceptional. Make sure to take a walk all the way toward the water.

It was a fun place to stop and take pictures. Not really huge so we didnt spend alot of time there.

Loved the history. All the work to do this project thank goodness for there persistence to rebuild this out standing historically landmark.a must see...

We had only 2 hours so instead of purchasing the full package, we just bought the garden tour tickets. (Thanks to information staffers at the museum. They were a huge help.) That ticket allowed us to tour the history museum (well done; great chair exhibit if youre into furniture) and to see the short but very informative intro film. We toured the gardens of the governors mansion, which are not in the greatest shape, but the venue is very attractive and the educational signage very informative. (Inside, and in the blacksmiths shop, re-enactors in costume provide info, but we didnt have tix for that.) We then walked through some of the buildings and gardens sprinkled through the historical District. Loved The Academy - a couple of blocks away - which has very well done exhibits of both the Academy and its role as a hospital during the civil war, and of the role of New Bern during the Civil War and subsequent era of Jim Crow law and a little bit of civil rights history in Craven Country. A shuttle service, free with your ticket, makes getting from the museum to the Palace entrance easy. Only negative is that upkeep of the Palace garden needs a little boost.

Historical guides were all very enthusiastic and knowledgable. If taking young children be advised strollers are not allowed inside the buildings so I would recommend bringing some type of carrier.

The gardens were in a pretty disappointing state during our early August visit. There were lots of weeds, dead flowers and vegetables. I asked a groundskeeper to identify a particular flower that my wife was curious about and he was unable to. A slithering surprise ran us out of one of the areas in a hurry!! The gardens may look much better in spring time but I doubt we would return.,

Very Historical....beautiful Gardens. A must see while visiting New Bern

A dreamy place for a wedding or portrait session! Weve photographed a few weddings & shoots here and love it!

Pretty gardens, but not much to do there

I always enjoy visiting Tryon Palace. On the Fourth of July the gardens were free, and they had reenactments and other fun events all day. The living history exhibits they have are a great way to learn about our past. The grounds are beautiful for a walk, even on a hot day, and there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views.

Great tour by docents who really know the Palace. Our PKS Garden Club members enjoyed the tour.

The tour was great, the tour guide was super knowledgeable. Great experience!

Free day at Tryon Palace. Great fun.

This was such a cool experience! I loved walking around the house and the gardens! For the price you get do much more though! I would highly recommend doing this while you are in New Bern!

Our class thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour today for a field trip. Kids 3-12 stayed engaged, staff was wonderful, the entire grounds are beautifully maintained. I highly recommend bringing your school group!

What a great event to attend with family and/or friends. It would make a great date night or family outing. The kids would also enjoy having room to run free. Although it was very hot there was a nice breeze coming over the water which helped it feel cooler. The evening I attended, playing was the NC Symphony. The music selection had something for most folks. You could see the joy in those attending. Plenty of space. It is easy to maneuver a handicap scooter over the terrain although there is a soft spot near the rear gate entrance.

Very interesting, I didnt know that NC had a capital city before Rayleigh! We took the full tour and it was very interesting; the Palace, the gardens, the horse stables, the kitchen, the two homes across the street and the history center! They provided a cart to take us back and forth to the Palace and the History Center (almost a requirement in the hot humid weather of coastal NC in the middle of August). Enjoyed the tours of the Palace, kitchen and homes - the docents were very knowledgeable and entertaining, dressed in period costumes. We probably spent at least an hour and a half touring the Palace and grounds, another hour and a half touring the two homes, the Stanley house and the Dixon house, and another hour at the History Center; all in all a whole day trip and was well worth it. The History Center has a nice museum, restaurant and gift shop. Our thanks to the ladies who had the vision to rebuild the Tryon Palace!

Fun place but needs more interaction simple tour no excitement nothing to make you feel like your walking back in time

It was pretty fun to visit, but to be honest the gardens were underwhelming.... Just dont expect the Biltmore gardens and itll be ok. The New Bern area is super cool. Go on a nice day and plan to walk around. Its worth it.

Beautiful evening on the lawn listening to the NC symphony. Magical!

Make a plan and spend as much time as possible here. Many different houses and gardens to tour and the Palace is spectacular. Tours start every 30 minutes and take about 45 minutes for the Palace and 45 ninutes for 2 houses. The History center was great and the kids loved the interactive display. $2 off adult admissions were found in Crystal Coast visitors guide

Trip for all the family to learn about nc

Very interesting history about life in the 18th century. The palace is gorgeous.

This tour is very informative and interesting. The staff does a great job ofmaking you feel welcome. Gardens were beautiful and butterflies wereeverywhere! Dont miss this place if you visit New Bern.

Beautiful

Ticket were sold out

Wonderful hands on Historic experience. Very family friendly with fun information on the life of colonials. Who knew that people actually put bacon grease in their hair! Crazy!

Beautiful piece of United States history! The Tryon Palace historic sight is an accurate reconstruction of the original Governors Palace from the late 1700s. The original Palace had burned down shortly after the revolutionary war. Only the stables were saved from the fire, to later be used through the years as office and living space. The Palace was rebuilt and opened to the public in 1959 as an accurate historic education site. Tryon Place is open year round typically between 9am and 5pm. There are many opportunities to experience reenactments and educational programs. Along with special events hosted throughout the year including a Candlelight Christmas Tour and Party, Flower and Garden Show, Forth of July exhibition, Camping on the Lawn, and many more fun family friendly activities. My family joined the membership program so we could explore the gardens on any day in any season. A visit to Tryon Palace will absolutely be an enjoyable experience for anyone.

Early American history. Great architecture and fascinating history.

Its a nice historical place

If you love learning about the history of North Carolina, then this is the place for you.

The interesting and most enjoyable part of Tryon Palace is the magnificent house itself, plus all the nearby old dwellings (i.e. the Stanly house) that are associated with it. Unfortunately, the circa 2010 NC History Center next to Tryon Palace is newish (to me) and I find it resultantly uninteresting.Sadly, in my observation, ever since the NC History Center was built, everything else at the Tryon Palace and surrounding area has been (and continues to be) neglected, and it shows. The beautiful house itself is dusty, the foyer is vacant and devoid of any furniture, some rooms are closed off now.Other structures such as the Hayes House and Commission House look weathered and neglected. Most of the outdoor museum signs along the sidewalks with historical data are showing decay and disrepair, and can be rather difficult to read. :-(

Beautiful Gardens and takes you back to a different time and world.

The Christmas event was great. Having went to the Biltmore recently this was actually a much better event. Highly recommend!

Its always so beautiful here

So gorgeous and historical!

Tryon Palace is a great way to spend a beautiful day. If you enjoy history this tour will provide a wealth of knowledge of the early colonial time period. The tour will take you through the governors home, workers space, stables, gardens and grounds. The palace offers free grounds and free palace entry a few times a year. Check their calendar for future free admission events.Also twice a year Tryon Palace does Lanterns On The Lawn which is a ton of fun for the family. For a small fee you get a family plot on the rear lawn to pitch your tent and enjoy a night under the stars with your family.

Good place to learn about NC history, plus the people was incredibly helpful and friendly.

Very nice historical place with some very nice gardens .

Very beautiful landmark and gardens

Tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Well worth the cost of the day pass!

Great stop to stroll around and take pictures!

Just a neat place.

One of our favorite NC historical sites to visit. Its crucial for Outlander fans but also is a wonderful step back in time for families or any history lovers. The docents and volunteers are wonderful and passionate about the history. We are also huge fans of special events at Tryon Palace, such as the Christmas events. The historic homes that are part of the palace foundation are wonderful as well and full of fascinating history. The gardens are also lovely. Well worth the admission price.

Very nice. Tour guide was outstanding. Everyone was very helpful

Super nice and knowledgeable staff. Tour takes a few hours but is well worth it. The gardens are beautiful in spring. There are places to sit down through most of the tour just in case you need them. Would not suggest this for wheelchairs. A lot of steps and no wheelchair access.

Great time and great food and great seating, staff, and sites!! Came back the next day too!

Ever since I moved here from New York this was a place I wanted to visit.Interpretation of that time was well thought out.