Delaware

Small State with Big Charm

Delaware is a small state on the East Coast with big historical importance. Known as the First State, it played a key role in America’s early years. Today, its mix of city life and countryside offers quiet beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and well-preserved colonial towns like New Castle. Visitors can explore historic sites, enjoy local seafood at small restaurants or hike through parks with rolling hills. The pace is slower than big cities nearby, making it a place to relax while learning about early American history.

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State/Prefecture in United States

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.4

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

5/5

English is widely spoken and the primary language. Spanish is spoken by some communities and can be helpful in certain areas.

Birdwatching

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Delaware Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Good for relaxed beach getaways and coastal nature. Swim and sunbathe on Atlantic beaches, cycle through state parks and explore quiet seaside towns.

Place score

6.8

Best at:

Birdwatching

Spotless

Large cities

Sea

Walkable

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

❤️ 7

Couples

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Delaware, United States

❄️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

☀️

Jun

🔥

Jul

☀️

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

☀️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Beach season runs Memorial Day to Labor Day, late May to early September, with many shops, restaurants and boardwalk attractions closing or cutting hours afterwards

Summer weekends on the Atlantic coast (Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach): hotels book out months ahead and parking fills early

Hurricanes and nor'easters possible August to October and in winter, can disrupt coastal travel

Don't miss

🏞️ Explore the historic First State National Historical Park
🏛️ Tour the impressive Hagley Museum & Library grounds
🏖️ Relax on the sandy shores of Rehoboth Beach
🏰 Visit Nemours Mansion and Gardens, a Gilded Age estate
⚖️ Discover Delaware’s history at the New Castle Court House Museum

You've been here?

Why travel to Delaware?

Delaware attracts visitors with its historic towns like New Castle and Dover, pristine Atlantic coast beaches and tax-free shopping. Nature lovers will enjoy exploring the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Henlopen State Park. Despite its small size, Delaware offers varied cultural festivals and a relaxed pace perfect for a short getaway or day trips from nearby metropolitan areas. Travelers should note that while Delaware’s beaches are lovely, they can get quite crowded during peak summer. Public transport options are limited, so having a car is advisable for exploring.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Hagley Museum and Library
2 Old Swedes Church
3 Rehoboth Beach
4 Winterthur Museum and Gardens
5 Nemours Estate
6 Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
7 Cape Henlopen State Park
8 Zwaanendael Museum

🎡Places for activities

1 Dewey Beach
2 Bethany Beach
3 Cape Henlopen State Park
4 Seaglass at Rehoboth Beach
5 South Boardwalk
6 Lewes Beach

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Delaware Seashore State Park
2 Holts Landing State Park
3 Fenwick Island State Park
4 Trap Pond State Park
5 Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
6 White Clay Creek State Park
7 Brandywine Creek State Park
8 Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

🛍️Shopping

1 Dover Mall
2 Christiana Mall
3 Tanger Outlet Rehoboth Beach

🎈Events

Delaware State Fair
Rehoboth Beach Film Festival
Sea Witch Halloween Festival
Apple Scrapple Festival
Firefly Music Festival
Clifford Brown Jazz Festival
Delaware Wine & Food Festival
WinterFest at Rehoboth Beach
Dogfish Head Brew Talley
Delmarva Folk Festival

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Knowledge before you go

Pack light clothing; Delaware summers are hot and humid.
Reserve accommodations early during the spring break season, as hotels near Wilmington fill quickly.
Use public transit or bike rentals to avoid traffic congestion on I‑95 during peak hours.
Explore historic Rehoboth Beach at sunset for unique coastal views and local seafood markets.

How to travel to Delaware

Delaware is served by the Wilmington Airport with regional flights and Philadelphia International Airport nearby offers major international connections. Amtrak trains stop at Wilmington and Newark stations, linking to the East Coast rail network.

Access summary

Via Philadelphia (PHL): main gateway; trains or shuttles to Wilmington about 1 hour.
From Washington, D.C.: drive I‑95 to northern Delaware roughly 2–2.5 hours.
From Baltimore: drive I‑95 or US‑40 into Delaware around 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Delaware

Options range from beachside resorts and charming inns in the coastal towns to budget hotels and B&Bs inland. Rehoboth Beach and Lewes are favored by visitors for their hospitality and proximity to attractions.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Atlantic Sands Hotel

8.5

Travelodge by Wyndham Essington / Philadelphia Airport

7.1

HOTEL DU PONT

8.6

Quality Hotel Philadelphia Airport

7.4

Ramada by Wyndham Newark/Wilmington

7.9

Red Roof PLUS+ Philadelphia Airport

7.1

Ramada by Wyndham Vineland Millville Area

8.9

Breakers Hotel & Suites

8.9

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Philadelphia Airport

7.8

Hotel Wave Rehoboth Beach

8.0

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Delaware

Driving is the most practical way to explore Delaware, especially given limited public transportation outside urban areas. The DelDOT bus system provides service connecting major towns. Biking is popular along coastal park trails.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-13 %

Daily expenses in Delaware are around 13% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£88	£161	£378
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£53	£90	£173
🍝 Food per day	£28	£64	£178
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£7	£27

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£28
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£12.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3.50
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.30

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.90
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£85
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£14

Safety information overview

General safety

Delaware is generally safe for tourists with low violent crime rates. Usual precautions for urban areas apply, such as being aware of your surroundings and securing belongings.

Health & Medical

Delaware has good healthcare facilities in its cities, with hospitals equipped to handle emergencies. Visitors should carry routine medications and be aware of seasonal allergies.

Accessibility

Most tourist sites and accommodations provide accessibility features, though some historic buildings may have limited access. Urban areas have accessible public transportation and facilities.

Tap water

Tap water in Delaware is safe to drink and widely available. Bottled water is also commonly used for outdoor excursions.