- Easy to combine with Washington DC, which is right next door
- Steamed blue crabs with Old Bay seasoning are a Maryland ritual
- Annapolis is a beautiful historic sailing town and home of the US Naval Academy
- Antietam and other Civil War sites are within easy reach
- Airports
- Baltimore/Washington (BWI) via a US hub or seasonal direct flights; Washington Dulles (IAD), direct from Heathrow, about 1 hour to Baltimore or Annapolis
- Best time to go
- April-June and September-October; summer for the beaches and crab season
- Type
- State
Maryland wraps around Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, and its life revolves around the water: sailing, crabbing, waterfront towns and seafood. It has a busy, characterful city in Baltimore, the historic sailing capital of Annapolis, Atlantic beaches at Ocean City and rolling hills and Civil War battlefields in the west.
It's very easy to visit alongside Washington DC, which it borders. For the wider picture, see our USA guide.
Things to do
- Baltimore's Inner Harbor – the National Aquarium, historic ships, and Fort McHenry, whose defence in 1814 inspired the US national anthem.
- Baltimore neighbourhoods – Fells Point's cobbled streets and bars, Federal Hill and the American Visionary Art Museum.
- Annapolis – Maryland's elegant capital, with colonial streets, the State House and the US Naval Academy.
- Crab feasts – crack steamed blue crabs dusted with Old Bay at a waterside crab house, or try a crab cake.
- The Eastern Shore – St Michaels, Chestertown and Oxford for quiet waterfront towns and maritime history.
- Ocean City and Assateague Island – a classic boardwalk resort, and a national seashore famous for its wild ponies.
- Antietam National Battlefield – site of the bloodiest single day of the American Civil War.
- Harpers Ferry and the C&O Canal – historic towpath walking and cycling along the Potomac River.
Where to stay
- Baltimore Inner Harbor and Harbor East – central hotels near the main sights.
- Fells Point – historic hotels and nightlife on the waterfront.
- Annapolis Historic District – inns and boutique hotels near the harbour.
- St Michaels – waterfront inns on the Eastern Shore.
- Ocean City – beachfront hotels and condos for summer.
Getting there
Fly direct from Heathrow to Washington Dulles (IAD), around an hour's drive from Baltimore or Annapolis depending on traffic. Baltimore/Washington (BWI) is the most convenient airport for Maryland and can be reached via US hubs or, at times, direct flights from London. MARC and Amtrak trains link Baltimore, BWI and Washington. A car is useful for the Eastern Shore and western Maryland. UK visitors need an ESTA.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are ideal for sightseeing, with mild weather and the sailing season in full swing. Summer is hot and humid, but it's peak season for blue crabs, the beaches and the Eastern Shore. The Annapolis boat shows in October draw sailors from around the world. Winters are cold but usually not severe.
Crab feasts are messy; wear something casual and order a pitcher and a side of corn on the cob.
Top attractions in Maryland
NatureCentral Park
Manhattan's 843-acre green heart, with lakes, meadows, bridges and woodland stretching for 51 blocks between Midtown…
LandmarkStatue of Liberty
The copper colossus in New York Harbor, a gift from France in 1886, visited by ferry with Ellis Island on the same trip.
Maryland on the map
Frequently asked questions
How far is Baltimore from Washington DC?
About an hour by car or under an hour by train, so it's easy to visit both.
When is crab season in Maryland?
Blue crabs are at their best from late spring to early autumn, peaking roughly from July to September.
Can you see the wild ponies at Assateague?
Yes. They roam freely on Assateague Island, but don't feed or approach them; they can bite and kick.
How many days do you need in Maryland?
Two or three days covers Baltimore and Annapolis; allow longer for the Eastern Shore or beaches.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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