The Most Charming River Towns In Delaware
Delaware may be the second-smallest state in the United States, but nearly half of the state is bordered by rivers, bays, and the salty Atlantic Ocean. It is also home to several charming riverfront towns that serve as top tourist destinations, bringing almost 30 million tourists to the area annually. These towns combine rich history, vibrant culture, and scenic waterways, making them ideal spots for history buffs, art lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Here are seven of the most charming river towns in The First State, so named because the tiny state was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787.
New Castle
New Castle is a beautifully preserved colonial town with cobblestone streets, well-preserved architecture, and its historic district is a must-visit stop for any history enthusiast. Call it colonial chic, this walkable riverside gem was once briefly the capital of Delaware, until it was relocated to Dover in 1777 during the Revolutionary War. Today, the stately New Castle Courthouse Museum, built in 1775 and one of the oldest surviving courthouses in the U.S., is the heart of the small town on the banks of the Delaware River.
Other museums to explore include the Dutch House and the Amstel House, a storied 1730s mansion that reflects the rich cultural and political life during the 18th century. Behind the museums, spend some time in the shared garden, once busy “kitchen gardens,” which have been transformed into a beautiful, inspired reflection of New Castle’s history under Dutch, Swedish, and British rule. Finish the day in historic New Castle with a visit to Battery Park, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Delaware River.
Delaware City
A beautiful port town steeped in history and culture, Delaware City is on the east side of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal right across from Fort Mott State Park, New Jersey. Part of the legendary Three Forts Triangle that includes Fort Delaware, Fort Mott, and Fort DuPont, the town is rich in American Civil War history. One of the top attractions along Delaware City’s scenic waterfront is Fort Delaware on one of the most beautiful islands in Delaware, Pea Patch Island, once home to over tens of thousands of Confederate prisoners of war.
Today, Fort Delaware State Park is a short ferry ride away, where costumed interpreters take you back in time to tour the officers’ quarters, barracks, ordinance room, blacksmith shop, and more. After spending time on the supposedly-haunted island prison, head back to Delaware City and enjoy happy hour at Dolly Spankers (a local institution formerly known as Crabby Dick’s) on the riverfront and share a bowl of drunken mussels with friends.
Milford
Milford is a charming town with a vibrant arts scene and a peaceful 15-mile tidal creek, known as the Mispillion River, running through town. An extremely walkable town, the scenic mile-long Riverwalk is the perfect place to explore the once-thriving shipbuilding hub as you stroll along the water, past pop-up art installations, street murals, and historic shipyard sites, including the living museum, the Vinyard Shipyard. This year, Milford is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Riverwalk Freedom Festival on September 20, 2025. This all-day, annual tribute to the heroes of 9/11 is the largest outdoor event in Milford, featuring live music, rubber duck races down the river, local food trucks, craft and artisan vendors, and a fireworks display at dusk, best viewed from the Riverwalk.
For outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, and birders, the DuPont Nature Center, located in the Milford Neck Nature Preserve, is renowned as one of the premier spots on the East Coast for observing migrating shorebirds. You’ll find the Nature Center where the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek converge at Delaware Bay.
Lewes
Nicknamed "The First Town in the First State," Lewes oozes coastal charm, thanks to its unique location at the point where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic meet at Cape Henlopen State Park. Less crowded with tourists than the popular nearby beach towns of Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach, Lewes still boasts beautiful shorelines with a bit more room to stretch out your beach towel at beaches like Savannah Beach, Johnnie Walker Beach, or Herry Point in Cape Henlopen State Park, which is easily accessible from town.
Much loved by outdoor enthusiasts from all over the U.S., there’s so much for everyone to discover at Cape Henlopen. Military history buffs will love the Fort Miles Artillery Park, Battery 519 Museum, barrack buildings, and more, in this key strategic fort during World War II. Nature lovers can enjoy the abundant wildlife, diverse habitats, and miles of hiking and biking trails. Finally, stop by the Seaside Nature Center, which features a 500-gallon touch tank and numerous exhibits. It is also the headquarters of the park’s borrow-a-bike program.
Seaford
Seaford is a laid-back rivertown situated along the Nanticoke River, the largest river flowing into the Chesapeake Bay on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. As its name, “Del-Mar-Va,” suggests, the peninsula encompasses portions of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. It is home to the highest concentration of bald eagles in the northeastern United States. A small, peaceful community, the town is remarkable due to its natural beauty, scenic views, and numerous outdoor activities in the nearby 4,400-acre Nanticoke Wildlife Area, including fishing, birding, hiking, and paddling along the river.
For fans of Seaford’s layered history, the Seaford Historical Society preserves much of the town’s past in various locations around town, like the Seaford Museum, which has a fascinating collection of exhibits on shipbuilding, its reputation as the “Nylon Capital of the World,” and Patty Cannon, one of America’s most notorious murderers. Another attraction is the beautifully restored and fully furnished Governor Ross Mansion, a rare and complete Victorian Italianate mansion, circa 1860. The mansion sits on twenty acres of land and includes a stable, a granary, and a smokehouse.
Smyrna
For a dose of small-town America at its finest, Smyrna blends historic charm and natural beauty, with a quaint downtown featuring shops, cafés, and well-preserved buildings like the landmark 1870 Smyrna Opera House. Once a theater, movie house, and cultural center, the Opera House was restored in 2003 and now hosts music concerts, plays, and art exhibits. For a deep dive into more of Smyrna’s history, add a trip to the Smyrna Museum to your itinerary, which is located in a building that once housed soldiers during the War of 1812. The museum was donated to the Duck Creek Historical Society in the 1980s and currently displays a collection of vintage Valentine's Day cards, as well as an exhibit on Delaware’s role in the Revolutionary War.
For outdoor enthusiasts, there is no shortage of waterways to explore in Smyrna, from boating on Lake Como to fishing from the pier at Woodland Beach, paddling on Duck Creek Pond, or birdwatching and hiking around the salt marshes in the peaceful 16,000-acre Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
Bowers Beach
Bowers Beach is a tiny fishing village whose motto is “the way life used to be.” Thanks to the two rivers that flow past Bowers Beach, the St. Jones and the ominously-named Murderkill River, and Delaware Bay, there are plenty of water-related activities to while away the time in this underrated gem of a beach town. From kayaking, swimming, and relaxing on the sand to beachcombing and fishing for flounder from the Bowers Beach jetty, the tiny village has a lot going on. For fans of maritime history, the Bowers Beach Maritime Museum delves into the town’s past and also serves as the unofficial host for many events throughout the year, like the annual Buccaneer Bash. For a stunning end to a Bowers Beach day, catch the sunset over fresh seafood like JP’s signature crab cakes and jalapeno margaritas, from an outside table on the deck at local institution, JP’s Wharf.
With riverfront strolls, colonial ghosts, maritime lore, and the slow-moving river as a soundtrack, Delaware’s small river towns deliver charm at every turn. Paddle the Mispillion, sip happy hour cocktails in haunted Delaware City, or birdwatch in the marshes of Smyrna and Bowers Beach, where life moves as gently as the rivers that shape them. From New Castle’s impeccably preserved 18th-century streets to Milford’s artsy boardwalk and duck races, each town has a distinct rhythm, making a trip to any of the most charming river towns in Delaware a top priority this year.
