Things to do & places to visit in Dover, Delaware, United States

With NASCAR at the Speedway, harness racing at Dover Downs, 10 nationally recognized museums, plus historical attractions galore, it's easy to see why the capital of Delaware is a great weekend destination. Check out the world's largest cargo plane, stationed at Dover Air Force Base, or explore the beginnings of recorded sound at the Johnson Victrola Museum. It's the perfect time to visit the Biggs Museum of Art, which is running a special exhibition to celebrate its 10th anniversary. "Artful Living: the Legacy of Sewell C. Biggs" features fine and decorative art gems from the private collection of the local patron and museum namesake. Also worth a visit: the Delaware Agricultural Museum and the John Dickinson Plantation, where staff, dressed in period costume, explain and reenact life in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Round out the day with a meander around Green and Loockerman Streets downtown. Lined with historic Colonial and Victorian buildings, plus specialty book, candle and jewelry stores, it's a great place to shop or sample the local fare at a neighborhood cafe or restaurant.

Dover city in Delaware, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Saturday, May 04, 2024, 16:21.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Air Mobility Command Museum (962 reviews)
- Great Military Aviation History Visit
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Located on the Dover Air Force Base, this museum showcases the history of military aviation through exhibits and a sizeable collection of planes that have been used throughout history. Our outside aircraft ramp will be available for you to see 25 historical military aviation aircraft. Main exhibit gallery is now open for both self-guided and docent led tours. The below guidelines apply: Museum hours are Wednesday–Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See more..
5.0 Johnson Victrola Museum (136 reviews)
- Dover, DE
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Speciality Museums

Named in honor of local inventor E.R. Johnson, this museum explores the sound recording industry from its beginnings and includes displays of early talking machines, records and other relics from the 1890s to 1929. See more..
5.0 Delaware Public Archives (31 reviews)
- A Wealth Of Information For The State Of Delaware
Saturday: Libraries

Are you into ancestry? Are you looking for records of Births, Death, Marriages, Land grants or transfers that took place in Delaware? If your answer to this question is Yes, then you have come to the right place. I have been very successful at finding the missing links to my family ancestry at the Delaware Public Archives. They have a library of books and you can do your research through their card index system which is organized by category. Research and find the microfiche index numbers and view the film on one of many viewing machines. You can also print out your findings or be sure and bring a usb thumb drive and save the image to the drive. If you don't have a thumb drive you can purchase one from them at a nominal price. The service is free and you only pay for the copies that you make. They even offer scheduled research classes which you can learn how to perform more effective research techniques. See more..
5.0 Children's Theatre (2 reviews)
- Production of The Christmas Carol
Theaters
Precious historical theater that is comfortable and offers good sight lines everywhere. The cast members are very talented, including the singers. See more..
4.5 John Dickinson Plantation (136 reviews)
- Hidden gem
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM Historic Sites

Once owned by a wealthy Quaker tobacco planter, this plantation has been converted to a living museum where visitors can tour the grounds and interact with staff dressed in period costume. See more..
4.5 Old State House (117 reviews)
- Very nice tour
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Government Buildings

The original State House goes back to 1791 and has had many uses over the years. In 1976 it was restored back to its original appearance. You don't need a reservation to get a tour, just show up 10-15 minutes in advance. You see three rooms, the lower floor as well as two rooms upstairs. The tour guide was very informative and gave lots of history of Delaware as well as the building, including the various Constitutions of Delware as well as how the boundaries and territorial changes that made Delaware to the state it is today. See more..
4.5 Biggs Museum of American Art (106 reviews)
- Much bigger than I thought
Saturday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Art Museums • History Museums

This museum, named after a local art collector, features American painting and crafts from Colonial portraiture to 20th-century Impressionism, with a special focus on the work of local artists from the Colonial and Federal periods. See more..
4.5 First State Heritage Park (55 reviews)
- Unexpected surprise!
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent More than 3 hours Parks

First State Heritage Park is Delaware's first urban "park without boundaries" that links historic and cultural sites in the city that has been the seat of government since 1777.First State Heritage Park is a partnership of state and city agencies under the leadership of Delaware State Parks. Admission to all sites is free. See more..
4.5 Fordham Brewing Co. (55 reviews)
- Good drinks, great people
Saturday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Breweries

The brewery and tap room have really come into their own through the handful of years I’ve patronized it. In the world of craft beer, this place is a go to for me and a neighborhood gem. They have amazing pricing for their solid offerings and their events are as affordable as they are pleasant. Most importantly, they’re staffed by wholesome community building folks who do plain nice things. See more..
4.5 Christ Episcopal Church (27 reviews)
- A house of worship that lives and breathes to love and support one another.
Religious Sites

We have been members here for many years. The music is so inspiring [particularly when there isn't a pandemic!]. They sing the psalms, the gloria, the sanctus, and the kyrie [as they are meant to be!]. The staff and the parishioners are loving, kind, and welcoming. See more..
4.5 Schwartz Center for the Arts (21 reviews)
- Local Author writes impactive book and seeks launch venue.
Saturday: Theaters

Hi, I am a local who in his teen years was an Usher at the Capitol Theatre for three years. My name is Rick L. Johnson. I was an entry level usher in 1978 from the assistance of my best friend and local hero Gerald W. Mayan who also worked there and was killed in an Osprey Aircraft testing accident several years ago now. It was a great job and experience and each time an employee was needed, our boss would get us to see if we had another "friend" that he could hire. Consequently, we had about five teenage High School friends all working there. Times change but those days were the best. To the point now. I have recently researched, written and yes even published now, a book on certain enlightenment I have received, "There Is A Doorway" and I am pursuing a book launch locally in the very near future. Hoping to stir some interest with this explorative post. Anyone..? See more..
4.5 Delaware State Police Museum and Education Center (20 reviews)
- Awesome old time colection
Speciality Museums • History Museums

See the development of policing since 1926. See more..
4.5 Delaware Governor's Mansion (Woodburn) (15 reviews)
- Nice visit
Historic Sites • Government Buildings

Nice visit on the 1st Saturday of the month, for a history nerd our docent was wonderful. Would visit again. See more..
4.5 Dover Skating Center (3 reviews)
- Friday night fun
Sports Complexes
My husband and I took our son to teen night. He brought his own roller blades so we didn't have to pay skate rental. We watched for twenty min then decided the place was reputable to leave him and pick him back up. The staff was friendly, music was good and we will be returning. See more..
4.0 Dover Downs Casino (1.050 reviews)
- Clean, A+ Covid Precautions, Good Variety Of Gaming
Casinos • Horse Tracks

A huge entertainment venue that features horse racing, a hotel and restaurant, plus 2,000 slot machines ranging from a nickel to $50 per play. See more..
4.0 Spence's Bazaar (102 reviews)
- Friday stop.
Saturday: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM Flea & Street Markets

The food court is busy and lots to look at. Be aware the majority of the pre-packaged items are NOT Amish. Read the labels. Sticky bun purchase with pecans was ok at best. Not enough nuts and the coating lacked taste. Apple bread made by Lena's bake shop is very heavy but lacked apples. The "flea market" area is dark, dank, and creepy. Allot of the stuff has been there for years. I'd skip that part. See more..
4.0 Legislative Hall (60 reviews)
- Nice but not open weekends
Saturday: Government Buildings

This is another capital building with nice architecture. The building is two floors connected by a center staircase. The first floor gives access to the chambers and offices while the second floor gives access to balconies overlooking the chambers, as well as more offices. Much of the inside is white and green. Look for portraits of famous Delawareans as well as important moments in Delaware history. The building's architecture looks pretty much the same throughout to the point where it's hard to tell the House and Senate Chambers apart. It's free to enter and you are free to take a self guided tour. Only thing I don't understand is why this building is only open weekdays while other state capitols are open seven days a week. Thankfully they offer virtual tours on their website for those who can't make it. See more..
4.0 Firefly Music Festival (23 reviews)
- Awesome
Music Festivals

This four-day music festival in Delaware has been featuring big-name and emerging live acts since 2012. Over 100 bands perform throughout the event across seven different stages. The lineup features every type of music from alternative rock to EDM, attracting a wide range of fans. Held at Dover International Speedway, the expansive grounds include restaurants, bars, a market and even campsites, where attendees can pitch a tent to get the full festival experience. See more..
4.0 Delaware State Visitor Center (21 reviews)
- Great visit and very informative
Visitor Centers • History Museums

Visitor center includes two galleries of state-related exhibits. See more..
4.0 Dover Green Historic District (13 reviews)
- Tour of the Green started at John Bell's
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Not sure where to write about the awesome tour of the Green. Our guide was one of best guides encountered on all of our travels. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and interesting story teller about Dover history/ American history. Her name was Theresa and wish we could have given her a big tip; instead we made a donation to the park. She spent over an hour with us because there was not a tour after ours. See more..
4.0 SIlver Lake Park (9 reviews)
- Nice park
Spent 1-2 hours Parks

This is a nice park to walk in. The area I was in had two bridges crossing the creek, making it possible to walk a complete loop. The views of the creek and lake from these bridges is fantastic. The one bridge however is very narrow and you have to move to the side if someone comes. There's grills for picnics in in a playground too. Just a word of caution, a lot of people fish in the creek, including from the bridges. Make sure to keep alert when they cast their line. See more..
4.0 Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village (2 reviews)
- Worth Visiting the Museum
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • History Museums
Main Exhibit Hall" Visitors will marvel at the many inventions and monuments to engineering that played a key role in the growth and expansion of agriculture in the First State. Our authentic 1890's Village, Loockerman Landing, illustrates life in a rural Delaware village in the 1890s. Visit the General Store, whose proprietor has just stepped out; the Farmhouse where the midday meal is being prepared; the School House where lessons have been interrupted for the day; the Train Station where the mail has just arrived on the afternoon train and the Church where preparations are already underway for Sunday services. Afterwards, visit the Blacksmith and Wheel-Wright Shops for horse shoes and wagon wheels; the Mill to pick up flour for making bread. See more..
4.0 Delaware State University (1 review)
- Fun night sky viewing
Universities & Schools
Occasionally Del State opens up their observatory to the public. It is very interesting to get a large telescope view of the night sky. Backyard telescopes don't have that kind of reach. It is not ADA accessible just so you know because you have to climb a lot of stairs to get to the observatory. See more..
3.5 Pickering Beach (56 reviews)
- A typical bay beach
Beaches

Pickering beach is a typical Delaware beach. I see a lot of bad reviews . It's really not fair to compare a bay beach to a Oceanside beach. Pickering has small to non existent waves. Bay beaches are more for boating, kayaking,fishing and relaxing.swimming is iffy. Some days it's clean and other days it's murky. When the wind comes from the East there's no flys. When it comes from the East it blows in flys and mosquitoes. This I noticed is typical of all Delaware bay beaches. See more..
3.5 Dover Mall (43 reviews)
- eh.been here done that
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Shopping Malls

standard mall. not that large or busy. couple empty store fronts. See more..
3.0 Constitution Park (1 review)
- Tiny little park
Spent < 1 hour Parks
Need to rest a moment while walking around Dover? Good place to sit for a moment. Diagonal from the Schwarz Center for the Arts. See more..
2.5 Kitts Hummock Beach (2 reviews)
- Nice beach for a walk
Spent < 1 hour Beaches
This is NOT a swimming beach. There is very limited parking. In spring and early summer, there will be lots of horseshoe crabs, both living and dead. We went in the fall, and enjoyed a lovely walk. See more..
Kent County Courthouse (0 review)
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings • Government Buildings
See more..
City of Dover City Hall (0 review)
Saturday: Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
See more..
Dover Commons (0 review)
Shopping Malls
Greetings from the entire team at Dover Commons. We hope you will enjoy tax-free shopping in our outdoor community center boosting a dozen stores ranging from apparel to entertainment to services. You'll find all of your favorites, including Pier 1 Imports, Chuck E. Cheese's, Catherine's, Plato's Closet, and more! Conveniently located adjacent to Dover Mall and just off of US Route 113, one mile south of Scarborough Road, Dover Commons serves the entire Delmarva Peninsula, including Kent, Sussex, and New Castle counties and beyond. See more..