Maryland welcomes you with charming coastal towns, beautiful nature parks, historical highlights, and a million sailboats. Follow us to the Chesapeake Bay and enjoy the sweet life by the sea!
| Capital: | Annapolis |
| Area: | 32,000 km² |
| Population: | about 6.2 million |
| Location: | Northeast of the USA |
| Nickname: | The Old Line State, The Free State |
| Hotspots: | Ocean City, Fort McHenry, Chesapeake Bay |
| Time zone: | UTC -5 (Eastern) |
Maryland is one of the oldest US states and lies in the Northeast of the country. It borders Pennsylvania to the North, Delaware to the East, West Virginia to the West, and Virginia, as well as Washington D.C. to the South.
In terms of area, Maryland is a comparatively small state, ranking only 42nd out of 50. Like most New England states, however, it is very populous. In fact, Maryland ranks fifth among the most densely populated states, behind New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Most of the population lives in the central Baltimore metropolitan area, which is also part of the Boswash megalopolis.
Based on population, the largest cities in Maryland are:
| Stadt | Einwohner |
|---|---|
| Baltimore | 586,000 |
| Columbia | 105,000 |
| Germantown | 91,000 |
| Waldorf | 81,000 |
| Silver Spring | 81,000 |
Despite its small size, Maryland has varied landscapes. In the West, the peaks of the Allegheny Mountains rise to over 1,000 m in altitude. The Piedmont region in the center is dominated by rolling hills with oak and pine forests.
The Eastern part of Maryland is dominated by water, more precisely by the Chesapeake Bay. Before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, a total of nine rivers form this huge bay, which is considered the largest estuary in the USA. It influences both the climate and economic activity throughout the state of Maryland.
The flat Eastern part of the Old Line State is part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are warm with up to 30 °C, and winters are short and mild with lows of -2 °C.
In spring and fall, you'll find both optimal travel weather and modest visitor numbers in Maryland.
The best time to discover Maryland and its sights is from April to June before the peak summer travel season begins. With pleasant temperatures and plenty of sunshine, great events await you, for example, the "Maryland Film Festival" or the "Maryland Craft Beer Festival."
By the end of August, most beach vacationers leave Maryland, and you can benefit from moderate hotel prices. Although autumn in Maryland can be a bit rainy and windy, it offers great event highlights such as the “Maryland Seafood Festival” in Annapolis and the “Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show” in Baltimore.
If you're flying into Maryland, you'll likely arrive at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, where Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, among others, take off and land.
However, there are hardly any direct flights from Maryland to Europe. The only connections we could find were overnight flights from Baltimore to London Heathrow at a price of around € 700. In most cases, a stopover is necessary, for example, in Charlotte, New York City, or Toronto in Canada.
The densely populated US East Coast is home to a number of international airports. If you want to travel to Maryland, you should definitely also check for flights to New York JFK, Newark, or Philadelphia. You can usually find a good deal on a ticket. The Northeastern United States has a well-developed road and rail network, so you can get to Maryland quickly with a rental car or the AMTRAK express trains.
Don't forget: If you are not a US citizen or Green Card holder, you will need a visa or ESTA to enter Maryland.
With an ESTA, you can stay 90 days visa-free in the USA. Apply online now!
Baltimore-Washington International Airport is located about 13 km to the South of Baltimore, near the town of Glen Burnie. When you land there, you have the following options to get to your accommodation:
MTA Light Rail trains run from the lower level of the main terminal to downtown Baltimore, Timonium, and Hunt Valley. The one-way ticket price is $ 1.90.
At the Baltimore Airport, you have the option to book a shuttle. They depart from zone 4. Your hotel may even offer a free hotel transfer. In this case, you will be picked up in zones 1 or 3. It is best to contact your hotel directly for more information.
Cabs are available in Maryland at the prime rate of $ 3.00. For each kilometer driven, you pay an additional $ 1.86.
There are 37 State Parks, 6 State Wildlife Management Areas, 5 State Forests, and 4 National Wildlife Refuges within the state boundaries of Maryland. These are the most beautiful landscapes:
Cunningham Falls State Park, located West of Thurmont, is home to Cunningham Falls, the longest cascading waterfall in Maryland. This popular recreation area is also a hiker's paradise, with a variety of trails ranging from short, flat trails for beginners to challenging, rocky sections for experienced hikers!
A few miles away from the city of Cambridge, you will find the marshes of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The region on Maryland's Eastern Shore is a popular destination for birdwatchers, as migratory birds passing through flock to the pristine landscape for a break. From the visitor center, you can head out for a hike or a cruise along the Wildlife Drive.
Assateague Island with Assateague State Park is located on a barrier island off Maryland's coast. On the Eastern side of the island, you'll find a long stretch of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, perfect for swimming and surfing in the summer. On the sheltered side, you can enjoy fishing and canoeing. Assateague Island is also known for its wild horses, which you are sure to see running across the dunes and grasslands while touring the island.
These ten sights are a must-see when you travel to the Old Line State of Maryland:
If you want to discover exciting city highlights, you have to check out Maryland's two most important towns, Baltimore and Annapolis.
Baltimore welcomes you with a wide range of cultural and recreational facilities. Follow in the footsteps of Navy history with a visit to the museum ship USS Constellation, tour the city's many great art museums, and enjoy the enchanting scenery at the Botanical Gardens.
These city highlights are waiting for you in Baltimore:
Maryland's capital Annapolis looks back on a long naval tradition and is therefore also known as the "Sailing Capital of the USA." The picturesque coastal town is home to the long-standing US Naval Academy, the former governor's palace William Paca House, and St. Anne's Church.
Be impressed by these city highlights in Annapolis:
Our tour of Maryland begins in Baltimore Harbor, where you'll get an exciting glimpse into American history. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is a former military stronghold that was especially important during the British-American War. It was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's poem "The Defense of Fort McHenry," which later served as the lyrics to the American national anthem. While you're on the waterfront, you should also pay a visit to the USS Constellation. It is the last sailing ship from the Civil War era that has been preserved to this day.
We then drive about 150 km South to the mouth of the Potomac River, where you can visit the St. Mary's City Historic District. Here, European immigrants founded the fourth settlement on American soil in 1634. The buildings from the early colonial period were reconstructed in the 1960s and are accessible to visitors as an open-air museum.
We then continue to Norfolk at the Southernmost end of Maryland and cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The gigantic structure spans the Chesapeake Bay over a length of almost 7 km and was the longest overwater steel structure in the world when it was completed in 1952.
At the other end of the bridge, the Delmarva Peninsula and Ocean City, Maryland's most famous tourist destination, await us. Here, we check into one of the many beach hotels, take a spin on the Ferris wheel, relax on the 16 km long dream beach, and end our day with a walk along Ocean City's famous Boardwalk.
We bet you'll want to share your Maryland travels with your friends and followers. Some of the best photo opportunities in the Old Line State can be found at these five locations:
The state of Maryland has a lot of seafood but also sweet and savory dishes on the menu. How about these regional specialties?
Do you want to learn even more about the state of Maryland? You may not have heard of these interesting facts yet:
You have fallen for Maryland's charms and wish to stay forever? Read the following tips that will help you get closer to your dream of immigrating to the Old Line State.
Maryland is one of the wealthiest states. Thus, the small state, which also benefits from its proximity to Washington, D.C. has the highest density of millionaires and the lowest poverty rate in the country. The economy is diverse but particularly prosperous in high technology, bio-sciences, manufacturing, international trade, and other services.
Unfortunately, Maryland's economic success is also accompanied by a high cost of living. Overall, they are about 13 % higher than the US average in the Old Line State, and as much as 26 % higher in Annapolis. If you want to find the most affordable place to live in Maryland, check out the cities of Arbutus, Bel Air, Brunswick, Easton, Glenarden, or White Marsh.
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