Overview
Germantown is an unincorporated city in the Capital Region of Maryland.
1 sights · 2 things to do · 7 places to eat · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Germantown
Maryland Soccerplex
A huge sports complex with a 4,000-seat main stadium. There are 19 natural grass fields, 3 artificial fields, 8 indoor basketball/volleyball courts, 2 miniature golf courses, 2 BMX courses, a tennis center, an archery co…
King Barn Dairy Mooseum
A museum showcasing the farming history of Montgomery County.
Black Hill Regional Park
An 1,800-acre park, with hiking trails, centered on Little Seneca Lake, a reservoir stocked with largemouth bass, tiger muskie, channel catfish, bluegill, and crappie for recreational fishing. Kayaks, canoes, and rowboat…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Washington, D.C.)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- IAD Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles — 19 mi away (major hub). Directions
- DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington — 26 mi away (major hub). Directions
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) is a 45 minute drive from Germantown. It is also accessible via ICC Bus 201.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $70–$90 a night (typical $80), from 4 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $8 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$100, mid-range ~$130, comfortable ~$200.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning King Barn Dairy Mooseum, Maryland Soccerplex
- Lunch Cafe Hong Kong
- Afternoon Black Hill Regional Park
- Dinner Royal Bagel Bakery & Deli
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Germantown is a suburb of Washington DC and has a population of approximately 90,000 people. According to the 2010 census, the population is 36% white, 22% African-American, 20% Asian, and 18% Hispanic.
Even though its early settlers were generally English and Scottish, the area got its name from several German-owned shops that were in the area in the 1840s.
George Atzerodt, a conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, fled to his cousin's farm in Germantown instead of carrying out his assigned task of assassinating Vice President Andrew Johnson.
Baseball player Walter Perry Johnson lived in Germantown between 1935 and his death in 1946.
Get in
By plane
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) is a 45 minute drive from Germantown. It is also accessible via ICC Bus 201.
Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is a 40 minute drive from Germantown.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a 40 minute drive from Germantown.
By MARC Train
MARC Train, Brunswick line, offers service to/from Union Station in Washington, D.C., as well as service to/from Rockville, Gaithersburg, Frederick, and Harpers Ferry. is located at the corner of Liberty Mill Road and Mateny Hill Road
By bus
RideOn Bus operates service between Germantown and other locations in Montgomery County, including Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Wheaton. These buses also can be used to get to/from the Metrorail stations with service to Washington DC.
By car
From D.C. and the south or west, take the Capital Beltway (I-495) to Interstate 270 North. The main exit near the city center and Montgomery College is exit 15 for MD-118 Germantown Rd, with exit 16 MD-27 (Father Hurley Blvd) to the north and exit 13 Middlebrook Rd to the south. The other major road leading north from Gaithersburg is MD-355 (Frederick Rd).
Get around
A car is best used to get around the city. The county public bus system, RideOn Bus, can be used if traveling the major roads.
See
Do
Do Black Hill Regional Park
An 1,800-acre park, with hiking trails, centered on Little Seneca Lake, a reservoir stocked with largemouth bass, tiger muskie, channel catfish, bluegill, and crappie for recreational fishing. Kayaks, canoes, and rowboats are available for rent from the boathouse.
Do Maryland Soccerplex
A huge sports complex with a 4,000-seat main stadium. There are 19 natural grass fields, 3 artificial fields, 8 indoor basketball/volleyball courts, 2 miniature golf courses, 2 BMX courses, a tennis center, an archery course, a driving range, and a swim center. Events include: D.C. United Open Cup matches, Real Maryland, NCAA Conference Championships, Discovery Cup, and the Mid-Atlantic Cup.
Buy
Shop Butler's Orchard
A big farmer's market on a 37-acre farm that, throughout the seasons, lets you pick your own strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, pumpkins, and cut your own Christmas trees! Family-friendly events are common, such as hayrides and bonfires, strawberry blossom tours, Bunnyland, and birthday parties.
Eat
Eat Cafe Hong Kong
Arguably the best Chinese restaurant in Germantown. The food is always hot and very good. Dinner-sized portions tend to be very large.
Eat Honey Pig BBQ
Authentic Korean restaurant owned by a Korean immigrant that serves Korean BBQ, bibimbap and other Korean specialties at reasonable prices. They also have locations in Ellicot City, Annandale and Centreville.
Eat India Palace
A nice, comfortable Indian restaurant with a full bar that is most popular for its lunch buffet. The buffet is perfectly fine, if not much distinct from any other Indian buffet, but it is unique in offering "all-you-can-drink" beverages, including mango lassi! Most Indian restaurants charge exorbitant prices on their lassis, so this is a decadent treat.
Eat Lancaster County Dutch Market
A great spot for groceries or a sit-down meal, they have various vendors selling baked goods, fresh local produce, cheeses, candy, Amish soft pretzels, and fresh cut flowers. There is also a BBQ pit on-site (mostly serving chicken, with the odd rotisserie rabbit thrown in) as well as a small full-service restaurant.
Eat Royal Bagel Bakery & Deli
If you enter Royal Bagel and don't immediately start salivating, then your sense of smell has been seriously damaged. Run by a family who were baking bagels in New York, who realized it was time to introduce great New York bagels to the fine state of Maryland. The bagels are indeed excellent (along with the great breakfast bagel sandwiches), but there are also a bunch of tasty pastries and cakes behind the counter. From the deli come the enormous subs, which are some of the best around.
Eat Sabai Sabai Simply Thai
A very stylish restaurant, with food that has a good claim to being the best Germantown has to offer. Full bar, crowded F-Sa nights, and very vegetarian friendly.
Eat Yuraku
A popular sushi restaurant.
Sleep
Go next
- South on I-270 leads south to Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Bethesda towards Washington, D.C.. Going north leads to Frederick.
- Rural Montgomery County, just northwest of Germantown, includes some good outdoor attractions, especially Sugarloaf Mountain—the Maryland Capital Region's favorite climb, with great views over the surrounding farmland, as well as Little Bennett Regional Park, which has tent campgrounds.
Nearby
Gaithersburg
City / town · 46 listings · 4 mi away
Rural Montgomery County
Rural area · 17 listings · 5 mi away
Rockville
City / town · 64 listings · 9 mi away
Olney
City / town · 18 listings · 11 mi away
Potomac
City / town · 5 listings · 12 mi away
Great Falls
City / town · 8 listings · 13 mi away
Glenmont
City / town · 19 listings · 14 mi away
Kensington
City / town · 13 listings · 15 mi away
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