This Is The Friendliest Small Town in Maryland
With over 60 shops and restaurants, Berlin earns a spot on any list of Maryland's friendliest towns. The town offers free parking and public restrooms throughout downtown. Leashed pets are welcome in outdoor spaces and on restaurant patios. Annual events draw people through the year with the Peach Festival in August and the Bathtub Races in June among others. Multiple lodging options sit in Victorian-era buildings around town. Alongside locally owned stores like Treasure Cove Shoppe, Berlin is a place to make memories and meet friendly people.
Rolling Out the Welcome Mat: Town Amenities
The first thing you notice about Berlin is that parking is free. Park for free on Main Street and any of the side streets and in lots at St. Paul's Church (on the corner of Bay and Church streets), behind The Sterling Tavern on North Main Street, at the Post Office on Broad Street, and at Stephen Decatur Park on Tripoli Street.
When you step out of your vehicle, take your furry friend with you, because leashed pets are welcome at outdoor events, on restaurant patios, and in some stores. Ask before going in. Many places will offer a bowl of water and even a treat. Well-kept public restrooms are located next to Town Hall on William Street. Be sure to stop at the Welcome Center for information and a map of the town. Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter to find out what's going on during your visit.
Over 60 Shops and Eateries
A stroll down Main Street reveals an eclectic mix of shops. Reignite your home's decor with unexpected pieces found in Relish Decor, including kitchen tools and rugs. Check out the latest urban-beachy clothing at Fathom & Co. Although Main Street has many shops, head down the side streets too, like Pitts Street for antiques at the Treasure Cove Shoppe.
Take a break from shopping with lunch at The Sterling Tavern on Main Street, where locals go for fresh oysters, scallop cheesesteak, or their popular steak and cake (sirloin with a house-made crab cake). Or soak in the relaxing atmosphere of Drummer's Cafe in the Atlantic Hotel, where you get a view of the historic district from the porch. Top off your day with dinner at chef-owned Blacksmith Berlin on Pitts Street, featuring locally sourced, handmade, relaxed fine dining on inventive seafood dishes, beef, and an extensive vegetarian and vegan menu too.
History and a Touch of Whimsy
History surrounds you as you walk down the streets of Berlin, where 47 of its buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, some dating back several centuries. In fact, its Main Street sits where a path once connected the Assateague and Pocomoke tribes. The town's name is believed to be a contraction of the Burleigh Inn, a local tavern. Traditionalists still use the original pronunciation, with the accent on the first syllable, as BER-lin, but no one minds if you use the more modern Ber-LIN.
Find out about local history at the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum, including information and artifacts from 1832 to the present. Find out about the town's connection to the racehorse Seabiscuit and the movies "Runaway Bride" and "Tuck Everlasting." And, for an experience you aren't likely to find elsewhere, visit the Mermaid Museum on the corner of Main and Jefferson Street. The displays showcase mermaid lore and fantasy through art and unique gifts.
Festivals, Concerts, and Events
Berlin keeps a busy calendar of events and activities that bring the community together while also attracting visitors. The Producers Only Farmers Market runs every Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm, May through October, on Main, Pitts, and Commerce streets. A petting farm is also available from 9 am to 11 am.
A number of events recur annually, like the Bathtub Races held on June 12, 2026, the Peach Festival on August 1, plus summer concerts in the parks. Fall brings the Berlin Chamber Fiddlers Convention, September 25-26. December is unforgettable in Berlin, with Ice Ice Berlin on November 27, featuring ice sculptures all around town, the tree lighting at 6 pm, and shops open late. Throughout the month are meetups with Santa, Hanukkah festivities, and free carriage rides on certain days. Young believers who drop off their letters to Santa at the post office, or the red mailbox at Ocean Pines, will receive a letter back and a free treat coupon.
Arts and Entertainment District
As a Maryland-designated Arts and Entertainment District, Berlin is considered a hub for artists, musicians, and other creative individuals and activities. Many Berlin stores sell local artists' work, and posters in windows announce concerts, competitions, and performances happening in town. Visit Art Collective at the Factory, a nonprofit that provides studio space to create, gallery space to exhibit to the public, and community space for events. The collective often hosts lessons, workshops, art shows, open mics, and other events, such as the 2nd Friday Art Walk.
Henry Fine Arts Studio showcases regional artist Patrick L. Henry's scenic paintings of the Eastern Shore, his travels, and the people he has met along the way. Also visit Jeffrey Auxer Designs to see and buy the glassblower's creations or take classes in the art of glassblowing. Berlin also showcases many large murals on buildings throughout the town.
Walkable, Bikeable, and Accessible
Downtown Berlin packs so much fun, food, and festivities into its compact area that it's easy to just park once and walk all around town. Stop at the Welcome Center for a map of downtown businesses. The center's foyer is open 24 hours a day and stocked with brochures about things to do in town. Several walking tours are available, such as the Berlin History Walking Tour. Bicyclists are welcome to share the roads by riding with the traffic on downtown streets, and following Maryland's motorist laws, including yielding to pedestrians. Helmets are recommended for all riders, and required by law for those under 16. The town is generally ADA compliant with wheelchair accessibility on the sidewalks, in restrooms, and in many stores, restaurants, and hotels.
Day Trip or Overnight
Berlin is conveniently located just 9 miles from Ocean City, Maryland, and about the same distance from Assateague Island. It's ideal for a day trip while visiting either area or other surrounding towns. However, with so much to experience in Berlin, it could not be fully appreciated in just one day. Consider staying for one or more nights at area hotels such as The Atlantic, a 100+ year old, renovated Victorian-era hotel. Its 15 guest rooms are appointed with antiques and period furniture. The two-hundred-year-old Inn Berlin Bed & Breakfast features five guest rooms. Built in the Federal style, it was updated with Victorian touches, and both styles can be seen in recent renovations that kept some original features.
Berlin is the Whole Package
An arts and entertainment hub, a shopping destination, a Victorian town; Berlin is all of these and more. The town could be described as a foodie's delight with carefully curated dishes, or a place to kick back with a piled-high burger and a beer. History lovers are drawn to the town's Victorian architecture and brick sidewalks, while art lovers enjoy work by local and regional artists in oil, watercolor, sculpture, glass, and more. Whether you visit for a specific event or are just curious to find out what is so special about the town, Berlin's merchants and town officials will welcome you like a neighbor, and you will know you are in the friendliest small town around.
