Annapolis
Maryland's capital was briefly the capital of the United States (Nov 1783–Aug 1784), and the State House is the oldest US capitol still in continuous legislative use. The 18th-century brick streets of the historic district run downhill to the Chesapeake Bay-fed harbor — known locally as Ego Alley because boaters love to be seen there. The US Naval Academy occupies 338 waterfront acres on the Severn River; Maryland blue crabs come steamed with Old Bay; and Annapolis is the self-proclaimed sailing capital of America, with a fleet of charter sloops on the city dock most weekends.
Tours & Experiences
Browse bookable tours, activities, and day trips in Annapolis
📍 Points of Interest
At a Glance
- Pop.
- 40K (city) / 590K (county)
- Timezone
- New York
- Dial
- +1
- Emergency
- 911
Annapolis was the United States capital for nine months — from November 26, 1783 (when Congress arrived) until August 1784. The Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War was ratified at the Maryland State House in January 1784, and George Washington resigned his commission as Continental Army commander there on December 23, 1783
The Maryland State House is the oldest US state capitol still in continuous legislative use — opened 1779, never closed. The wooden dome (built without a single iron nail) is the largest of its kind in the country and the only state capitol that has served as the US Capitol
The United States Naval Academy occupies 338 waterfront acres on the north side of the Severn River — founded 1845, 4,500 midshipmen, and the oldest of the five US service academies. The academy adds enormously to the city's population for events: Commissioning Week (mid-May) brings 10,000+ guests for a single afternoon's graduation
Annapolis is the self-proclaimed Sailing Capital of America — 70% of US Naval Academy midshipmen sail; the city hosts the United States Sailboat Show every October (the country's largest in-water sailboat show, 50,000+ attendees), and on any summer Saturday the City Dock and Spa Creek are jammed with chartered cruising sloops
Maryland blue crab is the unofficial state shellfish — Annapolis's harbor restaurants steam them whole with Old Bay seasoning, and locals eat them by the dozen on brown paper-covered tables with wooden mallets and a beer. Peak season is July-September; off-season crabs are usually shipped from the Gulf
The Eastport bridge ("Spa Creek bridge") connects downtown Annapolis to the Eastport peninsula, home of Annapolis's working harbor (sailmakers, marine electronics, boatbuilders). Eastport residents have ironically declared themselves the "Maritime Republic of Eastport" since 1998 — annual tug-of-war across Spa Creek against downtown is a real event
The historic district is one of the most intact colonial-era streetscapes in the US — over 100 buildings predate the Revolution. Brick streets, gas-lit lampposts, and 18th-century townhouses descend from State Circle and Church Circle down to the City Dock — one of the very few US cities where you can still picture George Washington walking to dinner
Top Sights
United States Naval Academy
📌The 338-acre US Naval Academy "Yard" sits at the north end of downtown — visitor entrance via Gate 1 (King George Street). The visitor center has a free 12-min introductory film; guided walking tours ($14) cover Bancroft Hall (largest single dormitory in the country, housing all 4,500 midshipmen), the John Paul Jones Crypt below the Academy Chapel, and the Naval Academy Museum (free). Photo ID required for all visitors over 14. Noon Meal Formation in front of Bancroft Hall (12:05 weekdays, weather permitting) is a must-see.
Maryland State House
📌The oldest US state capitol in continuous legislative use — opened 1779. Free guided tours weekdays at 11:00 and 14:00; the Old Senate Chamber (where Washington resigned and the Treaty of Paris was ratified) is preserved with period furniture. The huge wooden dome (built without iron nails by colonial shipwrights) is climbable on extended tour. Photo ID required to enter; security at the front door.
City Dock & Ego Alley
📌The City Dock at the foot of Main Street is the working heart of harbor Annapolis — fishing boats, charter sailboats, the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial (commemorating where Haley's ancestor Kunta Kinte arrived as a slave in 1767), and "Ego Alley" — the strip of dock where boaters parade for prime visibility. On any summer Saturday, sailboats and powerboats cruise in and out for the express purpose of being seen. Free; the People's Park benches are excellent.
Historic Main Street
📌Main Street descends from Church Circle and the colonial-era St. Anne's Church (third building on site, 1859) down to the City Dock — colonial brick storefronts converted into independent restaurants, boutiques, and crab houses. Three blocks long; lined with 18th- and early-19th-century buildings. The Maryland Inn (1772, still operating as a hotel) at Church Circle and Main is one of the country's oldest continuously operating hostelries.
St. John's College
📌A 1696 founding (third-oldest college in the country) on a 36-acre campus a few blocks west of downtown — the Great Books curriculum has students reading Plato, Euclid, Newton, and Einstein in primary texts over four years. The McDowell Hall building (1742) and the Liberty Tree (a 400+-year-old tulip poplar that fell in 1999, with seedlings replanted) are highlights. Quiet wooded grounds; visitors welcome to walk through.
William Paca House & Garden
📌A 1763 brick Georgian townhouse on Prince George Street — home of William Paca, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Maryland governor. The 2-acre formal garden is a meticulous reconstruction of the original colonial plantings: terraced beds, fish pond, summer house. $15 adult ticket gets the house tour and garden admission. Allow 75 minutes.
Quiet Waters Park
🌳A 340-acre Anne Arundel County park 5 miles south of downtown along the South River — paved bike paths, a dog beach, kayak/SUP rentals on Harness Creek, and beautifully maintained gardens. The signature 6-mile bike loop is one of the best paved rides in the area. Parking $6 per vehicle; weekday mornings are nearly empty, weekend afternoons busy.
Sandy Point State Park & Bay Bridge
🏖️8 miles east of downtown — the swimming beach on the Chesapeake Bay closest to Annapolis, with a direct view of the iconic 4.3-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The fishing pier is excellent; lifeguards in summer; $5 day-use parking for Maryland residents (out-of-state $7). Combine with crossing the Bay Bridge for an Eastern Shore lunch in St. Michaels or Easton.
Off the Beaten Path
Boatyard Bar & Grill
In Eastport at 400 Fourth Street — a working-watermen's bar that doubles as one of the best crab cake spots in town. Order the colossal lump crab cake (no fillers, all backfin meat, $32), the rockfish sandwich, and a Natty Boh (the iconic Maryland beer). Walls covered in fishing photos; locals on the bar stools, not tourists. Cash and card.
Annapolis has many crab houses — Cantler's and Mike's are the famous bigger ones, but Boatyard is where Eastport residents and the actual sailmakers eat. The crab cake is exceptional and the bar feel is unfussed.
Cantler's Riverside Inn (steamed crabs)
6 miles east of downtown on Mill Creek — a classic Chesapeake crab house since 1974, accessible by car or by boat (dock parking available). Steamed crabs come in a half- or full-bushel, dumped on butcher paper with wooden mallets and pitchers of beer. Market price varies by season; expect $80–150 for a half-bushel of large crabs. Cash bonus; line is brutal on summer Saturday afternoons.
Eating a half-bushel of steamed Maryland blue crabs at a paper-covered table with mallets is one of those US food experiences that has to be done. Cantler's is the most authentic version close to the city.
Sunday morning Annapolis Farmers' Market
Saturdays April–October at Riva Road, near the County offices south of town — 40+ vendors of Anne Arundel County produce, blue crab vendors, Maryland honey, oyster farmers from the Bay, and barbecue smokers. Smaller and more local than the bigger Baltimore market; the soft-shell crab fritters and the South River oysters in October are highlights.
You meet the actual Chesapeake watermen who fished what you're buying — they'll tell you about the harvest, the weather, and the next-day fish run. Pure Bay culture.
Friday Tug-of-War for the Maritime Republic of Eastport
On a Friday afternoon in early November every year — the residents of Eastport and downtown Annapolis hold a tug-of-war contest across the Spa Creek bridge between the two neighborhoods. Eastport "secedes" from Annapolis annually for charity. Real, free, and entertaining; check the MRE website for the exact date. Beers and burgers afterwards on both sides.
The tug-of-war captures the genuinely odd quirk of Annapolis — a small colonial city with a working maritime neighborhood that keeps a sense of humor about itself. Tourists rarely know about it.
Maryland Hall sunset rooftop and harbor walk
The Maryland Inn rooftop bar (Treaty of Paris) on Church Circle — the only elevated public viewpoint over the historic district. Order a crab dip and a Manhattan, watch the sunset over State Circle, then walk down Main Street to the City Dock as gas lamps come on. Free to walk, $14–18 per cocktail. The Inn dates to 1772 and has hosted Washington and Jefferson.
Most "rooftop bar" experiences in US cities require dressing up. The Treaty of Paris is unfussed and the view over the colonial historic district at golden hour is genuinely beautiful.
Climate & Best Time to Go
Annapolis has a humid subtropical climate moderated by the Chesapeake Bay — hot humid summers (80°F+ days standard, with thunderstorms), cold winters with occasional snow, and pleasant springs and falls. The Bay temperature lags the air by 4–6 weeks, so swimming is best in August even though air is hottest in July.
Spring
March - May41 to 72°F
5 to 22°C
Excellent — comfortable temperatures, dogwoods and azaleas blooming, all attractions open. April brings shad and rockfish runs; May warms rapidly and humidity starts. Commissioning Week at the Naval Academy mid-May fills hotels.
Summer
June - August68 to 90°F
20 to 32°C
Hot and humid — daytime 28–32°C, often 90%+ humidity, with afternoon thunderstorms. Bay water swimmable (24–26°C in August), peak crab season. July 4th harbor fireworks are spectacular. Avoid midday outdoor sightseeing in heat waves.
Fall
September - November41 to 77°F
5 to 25°C
The optimal season — cooler, drier, photogenic light, and the United States Sailboat Show (early October) draws thousands. Boat shows pack hotels mid-October. Crisp days from late October.
Winter
December - February27 to 46°F
-3 to 8°C
Cold and damp but mild compared to New England — daytime usually around freezing or slightly above, occasional snow (10–15 inches per winter average), and the Bay rarely freezes. Many restaurants close patios; downtown is quiet and atmospheric. Holiday lights on Main Street are charming.
Best Time to Visit
May, September, and early October are the optimal windows — comfortable temperatures, blooming spring or crisp fall light, full operations across all sights. Mid-October is the United States Sailboat Show week (huge crowds, hotels triple). July–August is hot and humid but peak crab season. Winter is quiet and atmospheric but many boat operators close.
Spring (March–May)
Crowds: Moderate (Commissioning Week excepted)Excellent — comfortable temperatures, dogwoods and azaleas in bloom, all attractions open. Naval Academy Commissioning Week mid-May fills hotels. April brings the Annapolis Film Festival and lower rates than peak summer.
Pros
- + Comfortable temps
- + Spring blooms
- + Lower humidity
- + All operations open
Cons
- − Commissioning Week hotel premiums
- − Some early-April rain
- − Bay water still cold
Summer (June–August)
Crowds: HighHot and humid (28–32°C, 90% humidity) but peak crab season and full festival calendar. July 4th harbor fireworks are spectacular. Bay water swimmable. Max tourist density on weekends.
Pros
- + Peak crab season
- + July 4th fireworks
- + All sailing operations
- + Bay water warm
Cons
- − Heat and humidity
- − Thunderstorms
- − Sea nettles
- − Hotel rates peak
Fall (September–November)
Crowds: Very high during Boat Shows; moderate otherwiseThe marquee window — crisp light, foliage in late October, and the United States Sailboat Show / Powerboat Show in early-mid October (50,000+ attendees, hotels triple). September is calmer and excellent.
Pros
- + Best photographic light
- + Comfortable temps
- + Boat shows
- + Crab-eating still in season early Sep
Cons
- − Boat-show week hotel premiums
- − Booking far ahead essential mid-October
- − November chilly
Winter (December–February)
Crowds: LowMild compared to New England — daytime around freezing, occasional snow, and the historic district is quiet and atmospheric. Many sailboat operators close. Naval Academy still operates and tours run. Hotel rates at lowest.
Pros
- + Cheap hotels
- + Atmospheric quiet
- + Mild temps for the latitude
- + Holiday lights on Main Street
Cons
- − Sailing operations closed
- − Bay water too cold
- − Some restaurant patio closures
- − Limited daylight
🎉 Festivals & Events
United States Sailboat Show
Early-mid October (5 days)The largest in-water sailboat show in the country — 50,000+ attendees, 200+ boats in the water at the City Dock and Spa Creek, plus the Powerboat Show the following weekend. Hotels triple in price; book 6+ months ahead.
Naval Academy Commissioning Week
Mid May (5 days)Graduation week for the senior class — Blue Angels air show over the Severn River, Color Parade, and the iconic graduation hat-toss. 10,000+ family and guests fill hotels.
Annapolis Film Festival
Late March4-day film festival across multiple downtown venues — independent and documentary focus. $200 festival pass; individual screenings $15.
July 4th Harbor Fireworks
July 4Fireworks launched from a barge in the harbor — viewable from the City Dock, Eastport, and many boat-club docks. Free; arrive by 19:00 for a spot.
Annapolis Maritime Republic of Eastport Tug-of-War
Early NovemberA genuinely odd local tradition — the Eastport neighborhood "secedes" annually for charity, with a tug-of-war across the Spa Creek bridge against downtown. Free, real, fun.
Annapolis Christmas Lights & Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade
Mid DecemberDecorated boats parade down Spa Creek; Main Street is gas-lit-lamp-and-ivy holiday decor at its finest. Free to watch from the City Dock.
Safety Breakdown
Moderate
out of 100
Annapolis is generally safe, especially the historic downtown, City Dock, Naval Academy area, and Eastport — comfortable to walk at any hour. Some outlying neighborhoods see higher property crime; tourists rarely venture there. The most genuine practical safety risks are weather-related (summer thunderstorms, Bay-water swimming hypothermia in shoulder seasons) and the inevitable parking ticket if you misread a sign.
Things to Know
- •Downtown street parking is metered and aggressively enforced — read meters carefully, the parking-enforcement officer arrives within minutes of expiration
- •Summer thunderstorms can be sudden and severe — lightning kills boaters every year; check radar before going out on the water
- •Chesapeake Bay sea nettles (jellyfish) appear July–September — stings are unpleasant but rarely dangerous; lifeguards at Sandy Point have vinegar
- •Bay water in May and October is colder than it looks (15–17°C) — don't swim alone; hypothermia risk if you fall off a sailboat
- •Eastport is safe but the bridge sidewalks are narrow — pedestrian-vehicle conflicts in summer when locals walk to the crab houses
- •Naval Academy security: photo ID required, no weapons or large bags, and stay on marked paths inside the Yard
- •Crab-house walking after a beer-and-Old-Bay lunch: brick sidewalks downtown are uneven, especially Main Street's lower blocks; comfortable shoes essential
- •Ticks (Lyme-carrying deer ticks) are real outside the city in Quiet Waters or on Eastern Shore parks — check after wooded hikes
Emergency Numbers
Emergency (all services)
911
Annapolis Police non-emergency
+1 410-268-9000
Anne Arundel Medical Center
+1 443-481-1000
US Coast Guard (Bay)
+1 410-576-2693
Costs & Currency
Where the money goes
USD per dayBackpacker = hostel dorm + street food + public transit. Mid-range = 3-star hotel + neighbourhood restaurants + transit cards. Luxury = 4/5-star + fine dining + taxis. How we calibrate these numbers →
Quick cost estimate
Customize per category →Estimates based on regional averages. Flight prices vary by season and airline.
budget
$95-140
Budget motel in Parole or near BWI, breakfast bagel, food-truck lunch, a casual crab-cake dinner, Naval Academy walking tour, no rental car
mid-range
$180-300
Mid-range downtown hotel ($170-260), restaurant dinners with wine, half-bushel of crabs at Cantler's, Maryland State House and Paca House entries, rental car included
luxury
$500-900
Maryland Inn or Westin Annapolis ($300–500), the Treaty of Paris lunch, full-day chartered sailboat ($500+), Inn at Perry Cabin Eastern Shore overnight side trip
Typical Costs
| Item | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| AccommodationBudget motel (Parole / BWI area) | $90–140/night | $90–140 |
| AccommodationMid-range downtown hotel | $170–270/night | $170–270 |
| AccommodationMaryland Inn / Westin Annapolis | $280–450/night | $280–450 |
| FoodCoffee + pastry | $6–9 | $6–9 |
| FoodCrab cake sandwich at lunch | $22–32 | $22–32 |
| FoodSit-down dinner with wine | $40–70 | $40–70 |
| FoodHalf-bushel steamed crabs (Cantler's) | $80–150 (market) | $80–150 |
| FoodFull-bushel steamed crabs | $160–280 (market) | $160–280 |
| FoodMaryland blue crab dinner with sides | $50–80 per person | $50–80 |
| FoodNatty Boh or Maryland craft beer | $5–8 | $5–8 |
| TransportUber/Lyft in town | $7–15 | $7–15 |
| TransportUber/Lyft BWI ↔ Annapolis | $35–55 | $35–55 |
| TransportRental car/day mid-size | $50–90 | $50–90 |
| TransportWatermark water taxi | $5–8 | $5–8 |
| TransportDowntown parking meter | $2/hr | $2/hr |
| TransportGarage parking all-day | $12–18 | $12–18 |
| ActivityNaval Academy guided tour | $14 | $14 |
| ActivitySchooner Woodwind sunset sail | $60–80 | $60–80 |
| ActivityKayak rental (1 hr) | $15–25 | $15–25 |
| AttractionMaryland State House tour | Free | Free |
| AttractionWilliam Paca House & Garden | $15 | $15 |
| AttractionHammond-Harwood House | $10 | $10 |
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- •The State House tour, City Dock, Naval Academy outdoor walk-through, Main Street, and most colonial walking-tour content are free
- •Visit in shoulder season (March–April or November) — hotel rates 30–40% lower than summer or boat-show weekends
- •Avoid the United States Sailboat Show / Powerboat Show weekends in October if you don't want sailboat-show prices — those weekends triple hotel rates
- •Eat your big crab meal at lunch — Cantler's lunch crabs are the same crabs at $20–30 less per person than weekend dinners
- •Maryland sales tax is 6% (no tax on clothing or grocery food); cheaper than nearby DC (6%) and Virginia (5.3-7%)
- •Buy a Naval Academy basics tour ($14) instead of the upgraded options — covers all the highlights
- •The Watermark water taxi is $5–8 to Eastport — cheaper than dealing with parking on the Eastport side and a fun harbor cruise
US Dollar
Code: USD
The US dollar is the only currency accepted. Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) accepted everywhere; tap-to-pay widespread. ATMs at every bank. Cash useful for Cantler's Crab House (cash bonus), parking meters (mostly accept cards but some still take coins), and tipping. Maryland sales tax 6%; no tax on most clothing or unprepared groceries.
Payment Methods
Cards accepted everywhere. Maryland sales tax 6%. Anne Arundel County does not have an additional local sales tax. Restaurant meals subject to 6%. Hotel tax is 13% (state + county). Note Cantler's Crab House gives a small cash bonus — bring some bills.
Tipping Guide
18–22% on the pre-tax total. 20% standard. 25%+ for exceptional service. Many POS terminals show 18/20/25% buttons.
Same 18–22% as standard restaurants. Steamed-crab service is messy work; tip generously when servers handle 6–8 dozens with multiple sides of butter.
$1–2 per drink at counter, 18–20% on a tab. Sailing club / yacht club bars: 20% standard, more for service-rich evenings.
$1 or rounding up; 10–15% on multi-item iPad orders.
15–20% taxi, in-app Uber/Lyft.
Bellhop $2–5/bag, housekeeping $3–5/night, concierge $10–20.
Half-day charter: $20–40 per person. Full day: $40–80. Captain + mate on a sunset cruise: $50 total.
How to Get There
✈️ Airports
Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall(BWI)
30 mi northBWI is the primary airport for Annapolis — major US carriers (Southwest dominant), full international service. 30-mile drive south on I-97 takes 35–45 minutes. Uber/Lyft to Annapolis $35–55, taxi $55–70, the BWI MARC train to DC then Amtrak/local bus is convoluted (most travelers rent a car or use rideshare).
✈️ Search flights to BWIReagan National (DCA)(DCA)
32 mi westReagan is the closer DC option — drive across the Wilson Bridge and around the Beltway in 40–60 minutes (traffic dependent). Uber/Lyft $50–75. Useful for short-haul domestic east-coast flights.
✈️ Search flights to DCADulles International (IAD)(IAD)
60 mi westDulles is the third option — major international flights and budget carriers. 60–75 minutes by car via I-66 and the Capital Beltway. Uber/Lyft $90–120.
✈️ Search flights to IAD🚆 Rail Stations
BWI Marshall Rail Station (30 mi north)
Amtrak Northeast Corridor service to NYC (3 hr Acela, $80–280; 4 hr Northeast Regional, $50–120), Washington DC (40 min, $20–50), Boston (6 hr, $120+). MARC commuter trains connect BWI to DC Union Station. Annapolis itself has no rail service.
🚌 Bus Terminals
Annapolis Transit Hub
Greyhound and Megabus pickup at the Annapolis Transit hub or BWI for service to NYC ($25–60), Philadelphia, and DC. Limited intercity bus service compared to BWI/DC.
Getting Around
Downtown Annapolis is small and walkable — historic district, City Dock, Naval Academy, and St. John's College all within a half-mile. A car is useful for day trips (Sandy Point, St. Michaels, DC, Baltimore) but downtown is best done on foot. Parking is the main hassle: limited, metered, and aggressively enforced. Annapolis Transit (the local bus) has limited tourist use.
Walking
FreeDowntown Annapolis is roughly 0.6 miles from the Naval Academy gate to St. Anne's Church to the City Dock. Brick sidewalks on the historic streets are uneven; comfortable walking shoes essential. Walking is by far the best way to see the colonial district.
Best for: Historic district, Naval Academy, City Dock, Main Street
Rental Car
$50–90/dayUseful for day trips (Sandy Point, St. Michaels, DC, Baltimore) and reaching Cantler's Crab House. All chains at BWI airport (30 min north); Hertz and Enterprise have offices near downtown. Rates $50–90/day. Downtown parking is metered ($2/hr Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00) or $6–18 in garages — note the Hillman Garage and Knighton Garage close to City Dock.
Best for: Day trips, Cantler's, beaches, Baltimore/DC
Uber & Lyft
$7–55 typicalBoth work well in downtown Annapolis (3–8 min waits). Fares $7–15 in town, $35–55 from BWI airport. The 30-mile BWI ride saves the rental-car expense if you're not doing day trips.
Best for: Airport runs, evening dinners, no-car visits
Watermark Water Taxi
$5–8 per crossingA small water-taxi operation runs between City Dock, Eastport, and the Naval Academy in summer (April–October) — useful as a fun way to cross to Eastport for crabs without dealing with parking. $5–8 per ride, runs hourly afternoons. Departures from the City Dock.
Best for: Crossing to Eastport, scenic harbor tour
Annapolis Transit
$2 single / $4 day passThe local bus system — $2 single, $4 day pass. Routes connect downtown to outlying areas (West Annapolis, Parole, Riva Road shopping); not particularly useful for tourists.
Best for: Locals; limited tourist utility
Walkability
Downtown is exceptionally walkable — colonial brick streets, slow traffic, and comfortable distances between sights. The hill from City Dock up Main Street to the Maryland State House is steep but only 3 blocks. Eastport is reachable by foot (15 min via Spa Creek bridge) or water taxi.
Travel Connections
Washington DC
The US capital — Smithsonian museums (all free), the National Mall, the White House and Capitol, the wartime memorials. Easy day trip from Annapolis; consider taking the MARC train from BWI airport rather than driving into DC.
Baltimore
The Inner Harbor, Camden Yards (Orioles baseball), Fort McHenry (where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner in 1814), and the National Aquarium. Maryland's largest city and a clear cultural complement to Annapolis's small-colonial vibe.
St. Michaels (Eastern Shore)
A picture-postcard Chesapeake Bay sailing and crab town — Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum ($16, with the screwpile lighthouse), oyster houses, and Talbot Street antiques. The drive across the 4.3-mile Bay Bridge is the iconic Maryland highway moment.
Solomons Island
A boating town at the mouth of the Patuxent River — the Calvert Marine Museum (excellent fossils from the Calvert Cliffs), waterfront restaurants serving stuffed rockfish and crab cakes, and Drum Point Lighthouse. Full-day trip; worth the drive on a clear weekend.
Entry Requirements
Annapolis is a US domestic destination. International visitors typically connect via BWI (the primary airport, 30 mi north) or Reagan/Dulles (DC airports). Photo ID required for any Naval Academy visit (over age 14); REAL ID required for all US domestic flights from May 2025.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
| Nationality | Visa Required | Max Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Citizens | Visa-free | Unlimited | REAL ID compliant driver's license or US passport required for domestic flights from May 2025. Photo ID required for Naval Academy entry. |
| UK / EU / AU / NZ / JP | Visa-free | 90 days via ESTA | ESTA authorisation ($21) required before departure; valid 2 years for multiple short trips. Passport required for Naval Academy entry. |
| Canadian Citizens | Visa-free | 180 days | Passport required for air travel. Naval Academy entry requires passport. |
| Mexican Citizens | Yes | 180 days with B1/B2 | B1/B2 visitor visa required. |
| Most Other Nationalities | Yes | 180 days with B1/B2 | B1/B2 visitor visa required; apply at US embassy in home country. |
Visa-Free Entry
Tips
- •Photo ID required for all Naval Academy visitors over 14 — passport for international visitors, driver's license or REAL ID for US visitors
- •No weapons, large bags, or backpacks inside the Naval Academy — security checks at Gate 1
- •REAL ID required for US domestic flights from May 2025
- •Maryland is in Eastern Time (ET) — same as DC, NYC, Boston
- •No tolls on most Maryland roads, but the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (US-50 E) charges $4 westbound only; toll plazas accept E-ZPass and credit card
- •Recreational marijuana is legal in Maryland (21+, 1.5 oz limit) but cannot be transported across state lines or onto federal lands (which includes the Naval Academy)
Shopping
Downtown Annapolis shopping is concentrated on Main Street and Maryland Avenue — colonial townhouses converted into independent boutiques, jewelers, and Naval Academy/Maryland-themed gift shops. The Westfield Annapolis Mall (15 min west of downtown) is the suburban-mall option. Maryland sales tax is 6% (no tax on most clothing or unprepared food).
Main Street
historic shoppingThe 3-block stretch from Church Circle down to the City Dock — independent boutiques (Annapolis Boatique, Maryland Federation of Art Gallery), jewelers (the city has a long tradition of fine jewelry shops), and Naval Academy memorabilia. Most shops keep colonial-era operating hours (10:00–18:00, closed earlier on Sundays).
Known for: Independent boutiques, Naval Academy gifts, jewelry
Maryland Avenue
historic shoppingThe diagonal street running from State Circle to the Naval Academy gate — antique shops, art galleries (Annapolis Marine Art is excellent), small boutiques, and 18th-century townhouses. Less touristy than Main Street; quieter; better for serious antique shopping.
Known for: Antiques, marine art, fine boutiques
West Annapolis / Annapolis Towne Centre
shopping district15 min west of downtown by car — a small upscale shopping district (Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole has chain restaurants and stores like Whole Foods, Apple, Sephora) plus the older West Annapolis village (Bay Ridge Avenue) with quirkier indies.
Known for: Chain retail, grocery, suburban necessities
Westfield Annapolis Mall
shopping mallTraditional indoor mall 15 minutes west of downtown — Macy's, Apple, Sephora, food court. Useful for emergency purchases or rainy-day backup.
Known for: Chain retail
🎁 Unique Souvenirs to Look For
- •A jar of Old Bay Seasoning from any Annapolis grocery — the iconic Maryland spice blend, $4–6 for the small tin, $8 for the big one (the standard for steamed crabs)
- •A Naval Academy "Go Navy Beat Army" hat or T-shirt from the Visitor Center gift shop or Mids Market — $25–35; the dress-blue replica midshipman jacket is $80+
- •A bottle of Boordy Vineyards or Black Ankle Vineyards Maryland wine from a downtown wine shop — $20–35, distinctive Maryland viticulture
- •A sailing print or photograph from Annapolis Marine Art — original signed prints $50–300, the city's sailing heritage on canvas
- •A pound of Maryland blue crab meat (jumbo lump, $40–60/lb at Phillips or Cantler's) packed for travel — vacuum-sealed, ice pack, makes the perfect crab cake at home
- •A handcrafted ship model from the Annapolis Maritime Museum gift shop — small models $50–150, larger $300–800
- •A bottle of Lyon Distilling Maryland rye whiskey — local craft distillery on the Eastern Shore, $40–60
Language & Phrases
English is universal. Annapolis has a distinct Bay-and-Naval vocabulary that takes adjustment, plus a Maryland accent on certain words (the famous "wooder" for water, "Bawlmer" for Baltimore) — though Annapolis itself is more standard than Baltimore proper.
| English | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Annapolis | Just "Annapolis" — never "A-town" except by college students; locals shorten to "Naptown" only ironically | an-NAP-o-lis |
| The Yard | The 338-acre US Naval Academy campus — used as a noun by midshipmen and locals: "I'm heading to the Yard" | THE Yard, capitalized |
| Mid / Plebe | Mid = Naval Academy student (midshipman); Plebe = first-year midshipman, Youngster = sophomore | MID / PLEEB |
| Ego Alley | The strip of City Dock where boaters parade for visibility — used affectionately and ironically | EE-go ALL-ee |
| The Bay | Chesapeake Bay — locals say "the Bay" with no ambiguity. "Going down the Bay" means heading southward by water | THE Bay |
| Crab feast | A communal meal of steamed Maryland blue crabs — typically a half- or full-bushel on a paper-covered table with mallets, beer, and corn | CRAB feast |
| Old Bay | The iconic Maryland spice blend (paprika, celery salt, mustard, pepper) — sprinkled on crabs, fries, popcorn, and beer rim. Made in Baltimore since 1939 | OLD Bay |
| Watermen | The Chesapeake Bay's commercial fishermen — distinct from sport fishermen; a multigenerational profession | WAH-ter-men |
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