Best Places to Visit in Delaware
Searching for the most beautiful places to visit in Delaware on vacation? Well, you are in the right place! From sandy beaches and peaceful gardens to exciting cities with museums and award-winning restaurants, this state has given me many exceptional memories. Here are the places that stole my heart that I hope you'll enjoy them too.
1. Rehoboth Beach
This was my favorite Delaware beach town to visit when we first moved to the East Coast. Coming in late fall felt especially nice: quieter streets, crisp mornings along the boardwalk, and easy access to great restaurants without the seasonal lines.
For me, Rehoboth Beach is a lively yet laid-back Atlantic coastal retreat that feels both nostalgic and vibrant. I learned that it was founded in 1873, and since then it’s grown into one of Delaware’s most beloved beach towns.
After an easy two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., I arrived to the smell of salt air and the sound of gulls overhead, instantly setting the mood for a few carefree beach days in "The Nation's Summer Capital". I loved staying at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel (from $114/night) for two days - I adored the Victorian seaside elegance, the ocean-view balcony, and the morning breakfast of blue crab omelet and locally roasted coffee on the terrace as the waves rolled in.
I enjoyed strolling along the mile-long Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, people-watching from a bench near the Bandstand, browsing Sea Shell Shop, and savoring homemade saltwater taffy and caramel corn at Dolle's Candyland. I also visited the Rehoboth Beach Museum to get a sense of the town’s early history, biked through Gordons Pond Trail in Cape Henlopen State Park, and even joined a local dolphin-watching cruise.
- Location Map
- Size: Approximately 1.6 square miles (4.1 square km)
- Location: In eastern Delaware, on the Atlantic coast
What I loved best:
My favorite experiences included the sunrise over the Atlantic, and fresh seafood at Henlopen City Oyster House in the evening.
2. Bethany Beach
This charming coastal escape in Southeastern Delaware wowed me with its wide, family-friendly beaches, windswept dunes, and classic boardwalk charm, perfect for a weekend getaway.
After a quick 2.5-hour drive east from Washington, D.C., I reached Bethany Beach, which struck me as peaceful, refreshing, and unhurried compared to its busier neighbors. I spent seven stress-free days at 3-star Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn biking along the shoreline, strolling along the wooden boardwalk, visiting the Fenwick Island Lighthouse, and unwinding on the powder-soft sands.
- Location Map
- Size: Approximately 1.2 square miles (3.1 square km)
- Location: In southeastern Delaware
What I loved best:
My favorite highlight was seeing all the wildlife: horseshoe crabs, osprey, ghost crabs, and dolphins in the distance.
3. Dagsboro, DE
This is one of my favorite small towns to visit in Delaware because it offers that peaceful atmosphere while still being close to Delaware’s beaches.
A scenic 20-minute drive inland from Rehoboth Beach, I planned our day trip to Dagsboro to visit the Delaware Botanic Gardens which were amazing. In addition, we enjoyed visiting the Prince George’s Chapel, explored nearby Clayton Theatre, walked along the tree-lined streets, restored 18th-century homes, and inviting local cafés. Lunch was at Porto Pizza & Grill, a friendly local spot with hearty portions and small-town warmth.
What I loved best:
Founded in 1747, this is one of Delaware’s oldest towns, feeling that sense of deep-rooted heritage as you explore its historic core was my favorite highlight.
4. Newark, DE
What I love most about Newark is the balance between lively downtown energy and quiet, leafy corners just steps away. Many hotels and campus-adjacent stays offer great views of the treetops or Main Street below, especially pretty during golden hour. Whether I'm unwinding after a day outdoors or heading out for dinner, the town feels warm, walkable, and welcoming.
We drove about 20 minutes west from Wilmington to Newark (population around 31,000). Home to the University of Delaware (founded 1743), I think that the town has a lively mix of colonial history and college culture.
We strolled along Main Street, lined with shops and cafés in 19th-century brick buildings, toured the Newark History Museum (inside a 1877 Pennsylvania Railroad station, free admission), and peeked into the UD campus green, with its Georgian architecture.
One thing to keep it mind, Newark shifts with the year, where it's bustling during the academic calendar, mellow in summer, and absolutely glowing in autumn when the surounding woods burst into fiery color, so when you visit will set the tone for your vacation here.
- Location Map
- Size: Approximately 9.3 square miles (24.1 square km)
- Location: In northern Delaware, near the Maryland border, west of Wilmington
What I loved best:
Dinner at The Greenhouse Gastropub where we had amazing sliders with lots of flavor was my personal highlight.
5. Milton
I absolutely adored this charming riverside town surrounded by serene natural beauty, from marshlands to sandy beaches just a short drive away. Milton had a warm, small-town feel with historic brick buildings, cozy shops, and craft breweries, all set against the backdrop of the Broadkill River and nearby Delaware Bay.
We drove about 45 minutes southeast from Dover to Milton (population around 3,200), founded in 1807 and named for English poet John Milton, with a shipbuilding and button-making history.
We toured the Milton Historical Society & Lydia B. Cannon Museum (free admission, housed in a former 1857 Methodist church), and admired the Victorian homes lining Union Street. Overnight we stayed at The Mansion Farm Inn, a boutique B&B in a restored farmhouse just outside town ($155).
- Location Map
- Size: Approximately 2.0 square miles (5.2 square km)
- Location: In northern New Jersey, Morris County
What I loved best:
Walking along the Broadkill River waterfront was a standout!
6. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Spread across the tidal salt marshes of Delaware Bay, this is a fantastic place where land, water, and sky seem to blend into one vast, living panorama. I thought it's the best place to visit in the USA for bird enthusiasts, just an hour’s drive from Philadelphia.
We drove about one hour south from Wilmington to reach Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (15,978 acres of tidal salt marsh, freshwater pools, and woodlands) and we started at the visitor center (free entry, $4 vehicle fee), then drove along the 12-mile wildlife loop, spotting snow geese, herons, and bald eagles.
- Location Map
- Size: Approximately 15,978 acres (64.7 square km)
- Location: In central Delaware
What I loved best:
Climbing the observation tower at Shearness Pool for sweeping marsh views was my personal highlight!
7. Lewes
Ready for a peaceful, history-rich coastal retreat? Check out Lewes, a real standout! Founded in 1631 by Dutch settlers, this place proudly calls itself “The First Town in the First State,” and from the moment I arrived, it felt like stepping into a living postcard. I loved the cobblestone streets, colorful clapboard houses, and the salty tang of the nearby bay drifting through the air.
I thought that Lewes is one of the best weekend getaways in Delaware. Why? First of, you can walk nearly everywhere in Lewes which I love on vacation. Secondly, there are many things to see and do for such a small town which I thought was very cool.
I spent two days wandering around the Historic District, visiting the Zwaanendael Museum, and strolling through Canalfront Park. The Gordons Pond Trail, connecting Lewes to Rehoboth Beach, was my personal highlight, a scenic, bird-filled route perfect for biking or walking.
What I loved best:
Evenings here were magical and my personal highlight. I loved watching the sky blush pink over the marina, browsing local shops along Second Street, and dining at Heirloom, an elegant yet cozy farm-to-table restaurant housed in a historic home, and I also enjoyed a casual lunch at Nectar Café, where the garden patio and seasonal ingredients made for a perfect midday pause.
8. Wilmington, DE
Set along the Christina and Brandywine Rivers, this is one of the most surprisingly beautiful urban areas I’ve visited in the Mid-Atlantic and I think it’s one of the best places to visit in the Northeast. Why? First off, Wilmington offers many green parks and peaceful waterfront paths which we've enjoyed on our weekends. In addition, I loved Wilmington's arts scene, which ads to the experience.
We drove 3 hours from NYC when I moved to the East Coast and I spent the afternoon exploring Market Street’s boutiques, admired the Delaware Art Museum’s Pre-Raphaelite collection ($14), enjoyed a memorable dinner at the James Beard–nominated Bardea for my birthday, and strolled along the scenic Riverwalk.
- Location Map
- Size: Approximately 17.0 square miles (44.0 square km)
- Location: In northern Delaware
What I loved best:
I loved staying two relaxing nights at the grand Hotel du Pont, with its gilded ceilings and elegant old-world flair. This hotel has won the AAA Four Diamond award so you can look forward to outstanding service
A downside? Prices at the higher-end hotels and restaurants were closer to a big-city level than a small-town getaway.
Local tip: If you live in Manhattan, you can take Amtrak here because it's fast and more relaxing than driving.
9. Delaware Bay
I found this to be one of the East Coast’s most serene and underrated coastal treasures! I love visiting the quiet beaches, tidal flats, and fishing villages that blend into a landscape that feels both wild and is also deeply historic.
We drove about 40 minutes south from Bombay Hook (25 miles via DE-1) on a day trip to Bowers Beach (population about 350), one of Delaware Bay’s oldest fishing towns, with a history as a 17th-century shipping port.
We visited the Bowers Beach Maritime Museum (Memorial Day through Labor Day, 2:00 pm until 4:00pm, free admission), and wandered to see the working docks.
- Location Map
- Size: Approximately 782 square miles (2,025 square km)
- Location: Between Delaware and southern New Jersey/li>
What I loved best:
Strolling along the quiet sandy bay beach was my personal highlight!
10. Delaware City
Ready for a peaceful, history-rich waterfront getaway? Check out Delaware City, a real standout! I loved spending my days walking along the canal and catching the ferry to Fort Delaware.
In addition, I loved how this place has an easygoing rhythm — part fishing village, part heritage port, and part peaceful escape from the faster pace of the nearby cities, perfect for a weekend reset!
After about a 1.5-hour drive north from our previous stop in Rehoboth Beach, I arrived to the sight of boats drifting past the Delaware City Marina and locals chatting along the canal promenade.
My personal highlights were visiting Fort Delaware State Park (Union Civil War fort on Pea Patch Island, $13 ferry ride across the Delaware River), strolling through the historic district lined with 19th-century brick homes, and browsing the Delaware City Hotel Museum.
- Location Map
- Size: Approximately 1.9 square miles (4.9 square km)
- Location: In northern Delaware
What I loved best:
For the night, we checked into Pleasant Hill Motel in nearby Middletown, DE just 20 minutes away. Pick up amazing cupcakes from Sweet Melissa Bakery & Coffee Shop was my personal highlight.
11. Winterthur
I found this to be one of Delaware’s most enchanting destinations, just an easy 30-minute drive north from Wilmington.
I spent most of my day trip exploring: touring the Winterthur Museum, which houses one of the world’s finest collections of American decorative arts (over 90,000 objects, from Shaker furniture to exquisite porcelain); strolling through the 58-acre naturalistic garden designed by du Pont himself; and pausing in serene spots like the Reflecting Pool and Enchanted Woods, a whimsical children’s garden inspired by fairy tales.
The Winterthur museum tour was my personal highlight — room after room revealing layers of artistry, taste, and history, each curated to reflect a different moment in American design.
Afterward, I visited the Winterthur Store, full of garden-inspired gifts and local crafts, and took a short tram ride around the vast estate to soak in the sweeping pastoral vistas.
What I loved best:
Lunch at the Garden Café was my favorite highlight, a light meal of seasonal salad and herbal iced tea enjoyed with views over the meadows.
12. Cape May, NJ
No discussion of the best places to visit in Delaware could be complete without this coastal town! I loved how everything in Cape May seems lovingly preserved — from the intricate gingerbread trim on the Emlen Physick Estate to the classic gas lamps along the promenade.
After an easy ferry ride across the Delaware Bay from Lewes, Delaware, I arrived to rows of candy-colored Victorian homes, horse-drawn carriages, and the faint scent of sea air mixed with saltwater taffy.
I checked into 3-star Montreal Beach Resort and spent two days exploring: wandering down Beach Avenue and the Washington Street Mall, browsing the cozy boutiques and ice cream parlors; touring the Cape May Lighthouse at Cape May Point State Park for sweeping ocean and bay views; and birdwatching at South Cape May Meadows, where migratory shorebirds flutter through the wetlands in soft morning light. I also loved visiting the Physick Estate Museum, a beautifully restored Victorian mansion offering a glimpse into 19th-century seaside life.
What I loved best:
For me, Cape May is one of the best vacation spots in Delaware. It's romantic, scenic, and a favorite escape I can’t wait to return to!
The evenings were pure magic — watching the sun melt into the Atlantic at Sunset Beach, then dining at The Mad Batter, a beloved local restaurant housed in one of Cape May’s classic inns, and local favorites like The Lobster House.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, buy the America the Beautiful Pass.
