Delaware · 20 Places · Best May, June, September, October
Delaware, the First State, packs remarkable diversity into the nation's second-smallest state — from the cosmopolitan Wilmington riverfront and historic New Castle's cobblestone streets to the Victorian beach resort of Rehoboth Beach and the wild marshes of Cape Henlopen. Rich in colonial and Revolutionary War history, home to major corporate headquarters and the DuPont dynasty's legacy estates, and bordered by Atlantic beaches, Delaware rewards visitors who look beyond its modest size.
Delaware occupies a narrow peninsula between the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Wilmington, the largest city, blends a revitalized riverfront with the Brandywine Valley's world-class museums and DuPont legacy estates including Winterthur and Longwood Gardens (just across the Pennsylvania line). Dover, the capital, anchors central Delaware with its historic Green and NASCAR's Dover Motor Speedway. The Beaches — Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, and Fenwick Island — draw millions of summer visitors and have earned Delaware a disproportionate coastal reputation. No sales tax makes the state a shopping destination in its own right. Delaware's role as the 'First State' to ratify the US Constitution in 1787 gives it deep historic resonance.
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The 20 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
A roughly one-mile wooden boardwalk running along the Atlantic shoreline in Rehoboth Beach, lined with arcades, ice cream and candy shops, and the Funland amusement park. It's the social spine of the town, walked by day-trippers and multi-generation vacationing families alike, and stays lively into the evening even after the beach itself empties out.
The former du Pont family estate north of Wilmington, holding one of the largest collections of American decorative arts and antiques in the country, displayed across a mansion with roughly 175 period rooms. The surrounding naturalistic garden, developed by Henry Francis du Pont over decades, is planted for successive seasonal color rather than formal symmetry.
A coastal park at the mouth of the Delaware Bay near Lewes, combining Atlantic beachfront with dune, pine forest, and salt marsh habitats, plus leftover concrete World War II observation towers along the shore. It offers a quieter, less commercial alternative to the nearby resort beaches, with trails, a nature center, and fishing pier.
A compact colonial-era town on the Delaware River south of Wilmington, with brick streets and 18th-century houses surrounding a village green that predates Delaware's statehood. Unlike a reconstructed historic village, most of the buildings are original and privately occupied, so the experience is a self-guided walk through a working town rather than a staffed attraction.
The original site of the DuPont Company's black powder mills on the Brandywine River, preserving stone mill buildings, worker housing, and the du Pont family's first American home on one riverside property. It traces the industrial and family history of DuPont from a gunpowder works into a chemical conglomerate, using the actual production buildings rather than replicas.
The production brewery of Dogfish Head, one of the earlier and better-known American craft breweries, located inland from the Delaware beaches in Milton. The guided tour walks through the brewing and bottling operation and ends with tastings of current and limited-release beers, giving a working look at the operation behind the company's off-centered branding.
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
This is the original Dogfish Head location, opened as a brewpub years before the company built its production brewery elsewhere in the state, and it still functions as a working restaurant-and-brewhouse rather than a tourist stop grafted onto a beach town. Food comes out of a wood-fired oven, which shapes the menu toward flatbreads, roasted proteins, and other dishes suited to that kind of heat. The room is a casual pub layout with the brewing equipment visible, built for beer flights and a loud, walk-in crowd rather than a quiet dinner.
This is the formal dining room of the Hotel du Pont, a Wilmington landmark built by the du Pont family, and the room itself carries that history: carved wood paneling, a coffered ceiling, and chandeliers that place it closer to a European grand hotel dining room than a typical American restaurant. The kitchen serves classic continental and American dishes rather than trend-driven small plates, aimed at business dinners and special occasions. It has also hosted live music at points in its history, reinforcing the sense of formal occasion over casual dining.
Set in Centreville along Kennett Pike, this is a restaurant built into an old tavern building, and it keeps that identity as a neighborhood gathering spot for the Wilmington-area horse country crowd rather than a beach or city dining destination. The kitchen runs a New American tavern menu that leans on updated comfort dishes and a raw or seafood component alongside a burger, rather than one strict cuisine. The bar area tends to be the liveliest part of the building, often busier and noisier than the main dining room.
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Delaware is compact enough to drive across in under 90 minutes. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL, 30 min from Wilmington) is the primary gateway; Baltimore/Washington International (BWI, 90 min) also serves southern Delaware. Amtrak's Northeast Regional and Acela stop at Wilmington Station. DART First State buses connect most of Delaware's towns. A rental car is strongly advised for exploring the beaches and Brandywine Valley estates.
Daily spend by tier in USD, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $40 | $130 | $320 |
| Food (per day) | $22 | $50 | $120 |
| Transportation | $8 | $12 | $35 |
| Activities | $5 | $25 | $80 |
| Daily total | $75 | $200 | $500+ |
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for United States.
Late spring and early fall offer the best combination of beach weather and manageable crowds. Summer is peak season at all Delaware beaches — book accommodations months ahead. Fall brings excellent conditions for Brandywine Valley museum visits and cycling.
At Delaware beaches, always swim between the lifeguard flags and check the beach patrol's rip current flag system before entering the water
In Wilmington, stay in the revitalized downtown core, Christina Riverfront, and Trolley Square neighborhoods; avoid Southbridge and parts of East Side after dark
Delaware's roads can be congested on summer Friday afternoons as beach traffic builds — plan arrival before 2 PM or after 7 PM
Horseshoe crabs spawn on Delaware Bay beaches in May-June — avoid disturbing them but the event is a remarkable wildlife spectacle
No sales tax means retail stores get crowded on weekends — shop early or on weekdays for outlet malls
No. Delaware has no state sales tax, making it a major shopping destination for residents of neighboring Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Prices are the sticker price — no tax added at checkout.
Delaware is known as the First State (first to ratify the US Constitution in 1787), for its Atlantic beaches (Rehoboth, Bethany, Dewey, Fenwick Island), the DuPont family's museum estates (Winterthur, Hagley), Dogfish Head Brewery, and tax-free shopping.
By car: Route 1 south from Wilmington, approximately 105 miles / 1.75 hours. By bus: DART Beach Bus (dartfirststate.com) runs seasonally between Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach; the ride takes about 2.5 hours and costs $4 each way. Book seats at dartfirststate.com or call (302) 652-3278.
The currency is the US Dollar (USD). ATMs are widely available. Credit cards accepted almost everywhere including beach boardwalk shops. Farmers markets may be cash-only — carry small bills for outdoor markets.
