Overview
Silver Spring is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is considered to be an "edge city". It sits next door to Washington, DC, and had about 82,000 residents in 2018. It has redeveloped its downtown district with an outdoor shopping plaza called "Downtown Silver Spring", and is criss-crossed by four creeks that are the basis for parks offering hiking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, and tennis courts.
6 sights · 9 things to do · 13 places to eat · 9 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Silver Spring
National Park Seminary
Dating back to 1887, this site, formerly a finishing school for girls and resort community, is odd. Inspired by the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, the Seminary owner decided to build 10 buildings of styles around the world …
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station
A restored railroad station from 1945.
National Museum of Health and Medicine
Museum of the history of military medicine.
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
A 1938 theater, now restored and home to the American Film Institute and Shopping Center.
Acorn Urban Park
The 12-acre Acorn Park sits on the site of the spring the surrounding area was named after. While small, its acorn-shaped gazebo and grotto are hard to miss.
Sligo Creek Trail
10.2-mile (16-km) hard-surface trail through the park along Sligo Creek. Popular for walking, running, and bicycling.
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.
- DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BWI Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Baltimore — 23 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Inexpensive, Moderate in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station, Memorial Bust to the Homeless Mayor, The Old Tavern Mural
- Lunch Ghar-E-Kabab
- Afternoon Silver Spring Outdoor Ice Skating Rink at Veterans Plaza, Ellsworth Plaza Water Sprinklers
- Dinner Mandalay
- Evening Kefa Cafe
Day 2
- Morning National Park Seminary
- Lunch Pacci's Trattoria
- Afternoon National Museum of Health and Medicine
- Dinner Goldberg's Bagels
- Evening Urban Winery of Silver Spring
Day 3
- Morning Washington D.C. Northern Boundary Stone
- Lunch The Society Restaurant & Lounge
- Afternoon Woodside Urban Park
- Dinner Mi Rancho Tex Mex Restaurant
- Evening Silver Branch Brewing Company
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
In addition, there are many chain restaurants such as Chipotle, Panera Bread, and Jimmy John's.
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
Silver Spring is just across the northeast border of Washington D.C. at Eastern Ave.
As the story goes, Silver Spring was named after a spring with flecks of mica that was discovered in 1840. Francis Preston Blair, one of the organizers of the Republican Party, discovered the spring and owned most of the land that now comprises Silver Spring. He named his mansion Silver Spring after the spring. The spring is said to have been located in what is now Acorn Park on East-West Highway.
Get in
By Metrorail
Go Silver Spring Metrorail Station
Silver Spring is served by the Red Line of the Metrorail system, which travels directly into Washington, D.C.
By bus
From outside of Montgomery County
From other points in Montgomery County
- Ride-on-Bus operates service between downtown Silver Spring and other locations in Montgomery County, including Rockville, Bethesda, and Wheaton.
Get around
By foot
The entire downtown is very compact and easily traversed by foot.
By bus
Van Go Shuttle is a free purple bus that offers frequent service around Silver Spring M-Th from 7AM-midnight and F Sa from 7AM-2AM.
Metrobus and Ride-on-Bus operate service around Silver Spring.
By bicycle
For information on bike-sharing programs in the Washington, DC area, see Washington DC#Get_around.
See
See National Park Seminary
Dating back to 1887, this site, formerly a finishing school for girls and resort community, is odd. Inspired by the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, the Seminary owner decided to build 10 buildings of styles around the world including a Greek theater, a Japanese pagoda, and a Dutch windmill. Following the Great Depression and World War II, the Seminary could barely make ends meet, and the entire property was commandeered by the U.S. Army's Walter Reed Medical Hospital in 1942. The military demolished historic property and generally neglected the beautiful exotic and Victorian buildings. Gaining official historic status saved many of the buildings from demolition, but the neglect continued, allowing the elements and vandals to take their toll. In the 1980s, the "Save Our Seminary" group formed to protect what was left, and did an admirable job. The Army returned the historic Seminary properties to private hands and they were restored.
Monuments
Do
Do Ellsworth Plaza Water Sprinklers
Outdoor water sprinklers where children play during the summer.
Parks
Buy
Eat
Eat Ghar-E-Kabab
Ghar-E-Kabab (The House of Kabab) serves traditional Indian and Nepalese cuisine -- much of it vegetarian.
Eat Goldberg's Bagels
Best New York-style bagels in Silver Spring. Kosher. Closed Saturdays. Long lines Sunday mornings. Arrive when they open in the morning for the freshest bagels.
Eat Lebanese Taverna Cafe
Tasty Lebanese fare.
Eat Mandalay
While the restaurant's ambiance may not lend itself to fine cuisine, Mandalay offers some of the best Burmese fare in the Washington area -- a mix of Indian, Chinese, and Thai cuisines.
Eat Masa Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi
Authentic Japanese teppanyaki style cooking, with sushi, noodle and vegetable dishes prepared table-side.
Eat Mi Rancho Tex Mex Restaurant
Fresh Tex-Mex at reasonable prices, with both indoor and outdoor seating, an extensive selection of Margaritas, and house-made chips and salsa.
Eat Moorenko's Ice Cream
Small-batch, locally sourced gourmet ice cream. Creative, unconventional flavors. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Eat Parkway Deli
One of Washington area's most well-known New York-style delicatessens. The attached restaurant is frequently busy on Saturday mornings, owing to the area's large Jewish community. (Not Kosher.)
Eat The Society Restaurant & Lounge
Caribbean food. Good DJs.
- .
Eat Pacci's Trattoria
Traditional Italian dishes in a historic general store.
Eat Beteseb
One of the most popular Ethiopian restaurants in Silver Spring's Little Ethiopia. Basic decor belies an expansive menu with regional specialties, many vegetarian options.
Eat Roger Miller Restaurant
Laid-back, long-running staple for West and Central African dishes, with a focus on Cameroon and Nigeria. Goat, fried and roasted fish, fufu and stews, jollof rice.
Eat La Casita Pupuseria & Market
Original location of beloved local pupuseria chain, with breakfast and smoothie options and market selling Central American goods.
In addition, there are many chain restaurants such as Chipotle, Panera Bread, and Jimmy John's.
Drink
Bars, breweries, and wine
Drink McGinty's Public House
Lively Irish pub with live music and a good whiskey selection.
Drink Quarry House Tavern
This bar has been a neighborhood staple for over 70 years. At first glance it's just a friendly looking dive bar, but upon further inspection it reveals itself as something of a gastropub—the food is heads and shoulders above usual bar fare (fried pickles are a must), and they have a great, long list of Belgian beers! Live bands on weekends and a weekly Rockabilly night Sa.
Drink Silver Branch Brewing Company
Local brewery with indoor and outdoor seating in a courtyard. Also known for their large pretzels.
Drink Third Hill Brewing Company
Local brewery with several different selections available. Light food is also served.
Drink Urban Winery of Silver Spring
Locally made wine, beer, and spirits.
Cafes
Drink Black Lion Cafe Coffee and Pastry
Coffee, espresso, tea, frappes, smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and soup. All coffee beans come from Ethiopia.
Drink Fenton Cafe
Sweet and savory crepes and espresso prepared to order in a cozy environment.
Drink Kaldi's Social House
Comfortable cafe for strong coffee, espresso, as well as tea and pastries. Lovely roof-top seating.
Drink Kefa Cafe
A quaint cafe and art gallery owned and operated by two Ethiopian sisters. Serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and soups.
Sleep
Inexpensive
Moderate
Go next
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