While Annapolis is the perfect size for a day trip, it is also a favorite getaway for a quick break or a romantic weekend, revered by Baltimoreans and Washingtonians for its ambiance and character. Budget-conscious visitors or those who need space may want to consider staying at one of the larger hotel chain properties near the newly developed Annapolis Towne Center or by the Annapolis Mall, where prices tend to be lower than downtown. If you plan to stay in the historic district, be ready to spend from $170 on a weekday up to $280 and beyond on a weekend in this popular resort town. Many of the hotels listed here offer breakfast with their lodgings; if yours doesn’t, consider trotting over to Chick and Ruths Delly for an inexpensive rib-sticking breakfast.

The location can’t be beat at the Marriott Annapolis Waterfront (80 Compromise St., 410/268-7555, www.annapolismarriott.com, $269-379), although guest rooms that overlook the parking lot, Dumpsters, and rowdy Pusser’s Bar next door are less than ideal—if you’re going to spend the money to stay here, pay for an upgrade to a water view, with spectacular scenery of Spa Creek, marinas, and the City Dock. Close to shopping, restaurants, the Naval Academy, and nearly all of the city’s historic sights, a recent renovation has freshened the interiors, with a beige and blue color palette, rooms with flat-screen TVs, and comfortable bedding and linens.

For a historic view and feel, the State House Inn (25 State Circle, 410/990-0024, www.statehouseinn.com, $149-179) on State Circle directly across from the State House was built in 1786 and now contains eight guest rooms furnished in period and reproduction furniture. Most have views of downtown and the water; some have fireplaces. The front porch is an ideal place to rest after a day of sightseeing. This is an inn, not a bed-and-breakfast, although its coziness and charm bear all the markings of a B&B, including the sitting room where guests can enjoy a good book. All guest rooms have private baths and free wireless Internet access.

Another intimate lodging is the William Page Inn (8 Martin St., 410/626-1506, www.williampageinn.com, $175-235), a 1908 cedar-shake American foursquare home near the Naval Academy gates with five guest rooms and period furnishings, including the Fern Room, with direct access to the wraparound porch, or the Marilyn Suite, under the dormers, which occupies the entire third level. A front porch, common room, and patio with Adirondack chairs provide public spaces for guests to mingle and relax.

The Governor Calvert House (58 State Circle, 410/263-2641, www.historicinnsofannapolis.com, $159-184), with 51 guest rooms, is among the larger inns downtown, a 1727 building once home to Benedict Leonard Calvert, who served as governor from 1727 to 1731. The upscale boutique lodgings feature elegantly appointed guest rooms and offer full-service amenities like a cardio workout room and Internet access along with proximity to the State House and colonial gardens. It is operated by the Historic Inns of Annapolis, a group that has two other downtown properties, the Maryland Inn and Robert Johnson House.

Adrift from the bustle of downtown, the Inn at Horn Point (100 Chesapeake Ave., Eastport, 410/268-1126, www.innathornpoint.com, $159-269) lies across Spa Creek from historic downtown, accessible by water taxi and just a 15-minute walk to the City Dock through a neighborhood and across a drawbridge. This quirky Victorian home contains five guest rooms, each named for a famous yacht made by a neighborhood yacht company and dressed in cottage style. Breakfast is served at this B&B; according to Coastal Living magazine, it is one not to miss.