//
City in Oklahoma, US
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Norman is a city in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma and in Cleveland County. With a population of 128,000 (2020), it is the third largest city in the state and is home to the University of Oklahoma (popularly known as OU), the state's largest and flagship university.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Houses a notable collection of French Impressionist art and a large collection of the Taos Society of Artists.
Make sure to see the "Cooper Skull," the crushed skull of a now-extinct bison, which is the oldest known painted artifact in North America.
A commercial gallery that shows cutting edge work by artists from near and far.
A bronze foundry, gallery and sculpture garden. It is a couple of blocks from Main St. but worth the walk.
Norman's premier gallery for Native American Fine Arts, Jewelry & Gifts. A fixture in Norman since 1990, previously on Main street. The gallery has a vast inventory of some of the Nation's most seasoned artists. From contemporary to traditional and ledger art, all styles all mediums are represented.
The National Weather Center is the headquarters of the OU School of Meteorology and houses many weather agencies, including the National Weather Service Norman forecast office, Storm Prediction Center, National Severe Storms Laboratory, and Oklahoma Mesonet. The National Weather Center also houses the Flying Cow Cafe. Reservations are required for tours, and visitors are encouraged to make reservations two to four weeks in advance. Visitors must check in with security upon arriving.
Is a great place to find a little country right in the city. It is small, but has so many trails that you can explore for hours. It is a peaceful and scenic place to walk or jog, with two or three ponds and native Oklahoma scenery.
A hip live music venue.
Inside Norman's cute historic train depot, hosts concerts and exhibitions.
Hosts a variety of live music and theatre performances.
Goldsby Gaming Center is open 24 hours. Here, you can play games ranging from eGames to bingo. Easy to access from I-35 and has a nice vibe for a smaller casino option. Grab a burger at the Goldsby Grill or head to the bar to watch sports on the big screen and enjoy a drink.
Riverwind Casino has over 2,700 electronic gaming machines with a poker room, 20 table games, keno and off-track betting. Inside are several restaurants including Willows Buffet, Chips 'N Ales and Seasons Food Court, which contains a Taco Bueno, Panda Express, Rick's Cafe and Burger King. There is a hotel on-site with 4 conference rooms and a 24-hour fitness center. For entertainment, there is the River Lounge, which houses local and regional music acts, and the Showplace Theatre, which brings in national touring music and comedy acts.
A nifty little gourmet grocery with a wonderful array of US and imported cheeses.
An expensive Italian restaurant that garnered an immediate following when it opened in 2006.
Mexican food.
A popular place for breakfast and brunch.
Gourmet pizza. Tuesday evenings they have a dim sum-style buffet.
Norman's first real Italian gelato and Lavazza espresso. Locally owned and operated.
Good Mexican food with great daily specials. Vegetarian friendly.
A Norman landmark.
Thai food served in a nice atmosphere in Norman's historic downtown.
Great food - expect to wait on the outdoor patio before being seated.
Norman's favorite authentic Indian restaurant. It even has Indian popsicles.
Excellent lunch buffet.
Reasonably priced lunch buffet with many vegetarian options.
Homemade pasta with a variety of sauces.
BBQ.
A basic Greek eatery.
Norman's oldest and most extensive wine and liquor store. Thousands of hard to find wines.
In historic downtown. Artsy new coffee shop. Great teas and pastries as well.
Walking distance from OU campus. Small bar with relaxed atmosphere and a pleasant outdoor patio space. Serves beer from Coach's microbrewery.
Bar and restaurant within walking distance of OU campus. Big outdoor patio space.
Bubble tea and espresso. New Campus Corner location now open.
Coffee shop with a nice atmosphere and good chocolates. Cafe style menu with artisan pizzas, panini, etc. Local art and performances, wine bar, gourmet coffees and teas, free Wi-Fi.
Built in 1994.
Has a number of interesting shops, listed above in the "See" section.
Also worth a shopping visit, especially for OU gear. Has a number of shops, bars and restaurants worth exploring.
Which begins across Main St. from the Sooner Mall (just west of I-35), houses many large chain stores and restaurants (Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Chili's, Applebees, etc.)
A small but useful natural foods store that sells a great variety including bakery items, fresh produce, bulk spices, and Burts's Bees.
An independent record store with a very cool T-shirt.
It's undistinguished but supplies the basics.
By bus
There are multiple daily Greyhound buses from Dallas. The bus stop is located at 506 North Porter Ave.
By train
Amtrak serves Norman with its once-daily Heartland Flyer, running between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. The southbound train departs around 9AM while the northbound leaves just before 9PM.
Norman has a small transit system, so it's easier to get around by car. Areas around the OU campus can be accessed on foot.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Oklahoma City · International · OKC
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Norman (Oklahoma) and United States.
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the best time to visit Hawaii in 2026. Compare whale seasons, big-wave surf, dry shoulder months, hotel rates, and island microclimates.
8 min read
InspirationDiscover the best places to visit in April. Compare Dutch tulip fields, Thailand's Songkran water festival, Roman spring gardens, and cherry blossoms.
6 min read
Travel tipsA practical guide to travelling with medication and refrigerated drugs like insulin and GLP-1s. Learn airline rules, customs papers, and cooling tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.