Visiting Annapolis

Park your car, put on your walking shoes, and wander the streets of historic downtown Annapolis. Everything in downtown Annapolis is walk-able. You’ll find plenty of shops and galleries for browsing. Or maybe you’d rather take an organized  tour of the city. There are walking tours, trolley tours, boat tours, and even Segway tours.

The Annapolis Visitor Center is a good place to start your day in the city.  It is located at 26 West Street (next to Gotts Court Garage) and is open daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day) from 10:00am to 5:00pm. There’s also a visitor information booth at City Dock.

There’s also a visitor information booth at City Dock, which is another good place to start your explorations. You can watch the waterfront activity at the dock or take a tour onboard a motor or sailboat, or maybe paddle around the shoreline in a kayak. Plus, the Gate 1 visitor’s entrance to the beautiful, historic Naval Academy grounds is located adjacent to City Dock.

Where to Stay

We’ve featured some favorite hotel options below. For more choices, visit our Annapolis Hotels page.

Note: We participate the Kayak and VRBO affiliate programs, so you get easy comparative rate shopping for hotels plus up-to-date information on vacation rental availability, and we get an opportunity to earn a commission from your visit to these websites (thank you!)

The Big Downtown Hotels

There are three large hotels lined up along West Street as you enter downtown Annapolis. The Westin is the furthest out and the Graduate is the closest to the center of the historic district.

The Westin Annapolis – About at 10 to 15 minute walk to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, making this hotel one of the best options if you’re attending a football game or other event there.

Hilton Garden Inn Annapolis Downtown – The Hilton Garden Inn is closer to the Maryland State House than the football stadium but within about a 15 to 20 minute walk of each. The most affordable hotel in this group.

Graduate Annapolis – Colorful décor, bike rentals, a pet-friendly policy, and vintage college vibe make the Graduate stand out from the crowd. And it’s the closest of the West Street hotels to the center of historic downtown Annapolis.

Lodging in the Heart of Historic Annapolis

Historic Inns of Annapolis – A long-time favorite consisting of three historic inns located in the heart of the Annapolis historic district. A great choice if you want to fully enjoy the historic downtown experience. The properties include Governor Calvert House, Robert Johnson House, and the Maryland Inn.

Annapolis Waterfront Hotel – Located on the water, adjacent to the Annapolis City Dock. This hotel property has changed hands several times of the years. It’s now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

Bed & Breakfasts – We’ve set up a separate page just for the B&Bs.

Annapolis Vacation Rentals – There are vacation home rentals available in historic downtown Annapolis as well as the surrounding area. VRBO has all the information you’ll need about vacation rentals in and around the city.

Annapolis Trip Planning Resources

Official City of Annapolis Website. Calendar of events, a map of the city, and a bus schedule.

Visit Annapolis.  Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Visitors Bureau

United States Naval Academy. The Navy’s Officer training school.

Annapolis Yacht Club.  Racing and cruising in the Annapolis area.

Historic London Town. A 23 acre park located on the South River in Edgewater, Maryland.

Annapolis Real Estate Listings.  With an interactive real estate map.

Annapolis Restaurants.  Read customer reviews of restaurants in Annapolis.

Annapolis Golf Courses.  Golf course information and maps at TheGolfNexus.com.

Annapolis Traveler Reviews and Hotel Deals.  Read traveler reviews and find the best deals at TripAdvisor.com (affiliate link)