8 Best Things to do in Baltimore, Maryland

Planning a trip to Baltimore and wondering what to do? You’re in the right place!

Baltimore is best known for its maritime history and iconic Maryland blue crabs, but the city has much more to offer than the harbor. This independent seaport city is known for its many firsts, hip neighborhoods, baseball games, scenic views, and world-class art.

There’s actually a lot to see and do here, and I’m sure you’ll want to make the most of your visit, no matter how short it is. To make things easier, we’ve put together some of our favorite things to do in Baltimore, from indoor skydiving, sloths, and dolphins to local food you definitely need to try. Let’s get right into it!

Baltimore at a Glance 

Before we get into the best things to do in Baltimore, here are a few practical tips to make your trip a little easier.

Important Tip: Skip the rental car if you’re staying downtown!

Getting from the airport: BWI Airport is around 15 minutes from downtown by car, depending on traffic. The best way to get to the city is by taxi, rideshare, or public transportation.

Parking: If you’re driving, check your parking options ahead of time. Plenty of garages are available downtown, and you can even reserve a spot in advance. 

Save on attractions: Baltimore has some great free attractions, including the Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art, so you can add a few cultural stops to your trip without spending extra on tickets. 

How We Would Spend 3 Days in Baltimore

🏛️ Day 1: History, Aquariums & Nighttime Fun
Explore Baltimore on a historical sightseeing tour, stop at Fort McHenry, spend the afternoon at the National Aquarium, then finish the day with dinner and either glow-in-the-dark splatter painting or drinks with a view at Topside. 

🦀 Day 2: Views, Forts, Fells Point & A LOT of Food
Start with breakfast and a great view from Federal Hill Park, visit Fort McHenry, then spend the afternoon around Fells Point on a food walking tour before finishing the day with live music. 

🎨 Day 3: Art, Food & Hampden
Visit the Walters Art Museum, choose between Topgolf or Rawlings Conservatory, then enjoy dinner in Hampden and finish with ice cream.

Want more details? Check out our 3-day Baltimore itinerary here for the complete plan!

Things to do in Baltimore 

1. Taste your way through historic Fells Point 

If you came to Baltimore for the food, you’ll definitely enjoy this walking food tour around Fells Point. This is Baltimore’s lively waterfront, with restaurants, markets, cafes, and lots of historic buildings, so there’s SO much to see and do. Over four hours, you’ll explore it all, learn some interesting history tidbits, and stop at local spots for some delicious food.

You’ll get to try some typical Chesapeake Bay and Maryland dishes, and I really liked that we weren’t just eating at the usual tourist spots. We tried everything from crab cakes, tacos, and salads to Nepalese chicken, plus pastries and coffee to finish.

In other words, there was a ton of food! By the end, we’d had enough to make up a full meal, so definitely don’t eat a huge lunch before you go. You’ll also get one drink included, although you can always buy another if you feel like it.

As you walk around Fells Point, your guide will also share the neighborhood’s history and point out some of the old buildings, which are pretty cool to photograph. Since you’ll be walking quite a bit, make sure you wear comfortable shoes.

Overall, if you want to eat some good food, explore Fells Point, and pick up a few Baltimore stories along the way, this is a fun one to try. And clearly, we aren’t the only ones who enjoyed it— check out the five-star reviews here to see why this is the best food tour in Baltimore! Just plan ahead if you’re interested, as the tour only runs on weekends.

2. Get to know Baltimore’s stories with a local guide 

If you’re short on time and want a proper introduction to the city, this historical sightseeing tour with a local guide is pretty hard to beat! You’ll explore Baltimore neighborhoods and hear fun stories and random facts behind the places you pass. 

You’ll see Little Italy, Shot Tower, City Hall, Battle Monument, the Bromo Arts District, CFG Bank Arena, historic rowhomes, restaurants, Cross Street Market in Federal Hill, and more! There’s also a 20-minute stop at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, where admission is free.

The meeting point at the harborfront Visitor Center was pretty convenient, and the van was clean and comfortable. I also liked that it was a small group. The tour can have up to 11 people, but there were only three couples when we went, so even better!

We kept asking questions, and our guide had plenty of local tips to share, so we left with lots of ideas for places to check out later. At only an hour and a half, it was also easy to fit into our day, and having two different times to choose from was definitely helpful.

All in all, if you’re visiting Baltimore for the first time, I’d do this one early in your trip. It’s a fun way to get an idea of the different areas and decide which ones you want to explore more on your own.

3. Dive into Baltimore’s famous National Aquarium 

If you’re spending time around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, make sure you leave some time for the National Aquarium. It’s one of the city’s most famous attractions, and there’s a LOT to see inside. You’ll find everything from Blacktip Reef and Shark Alley to Jellies Invasion, Living Seashore, and rainforest areas with sloths and tropical birds.

There are also coral reef habitats and the new Harbor Wetland floating habitat right in the Inner Harbor. Yep, a floating wetland! I really enjoyed the dolphin exhibit, and there’s a cafeteria where you can grab a few snacks and hang out for a bit if the crowds get to be too much. To avoid the busiest times, arrive early in the morning.

I think this is a great stop on a rainy day or when it’s hot outside, and you need to cool off for a few hours. And if you’re traveling with kids, they’ll definitely have plenty to keep them busy.

The best part is the location. Once you’re done exploring the aquarium, you’re right back in the Inner Harbor, so you’ve got restaurants, cafes, Harborplace, and the waterfront all within easy reach.

General admission includes the exhibits and daily presentations, but tickets are timed, so you’ll need to choose an entry time when booking. Admission is currently $50 per person, and I’d book ahead since it’s pretty popular.

4. Take in the harbor views from Federal Hill Park 

The Inner Harbor is probably the part of Baltimore you’ll see most in photos, with walking paths, benches, restaurants, museums, and boats everywhere. From the top of Federal Hill, you can see quite a bit of it at once, which makes this a fun place to start your Baltimore sightseeing without spending a dime. 

And yes, you have to walk up the hill to get there, but don’t worry, it’s not exactly a mountain! There’s also a path winding around the park, so if you have a stroller or need wheelchair access, you can get to the top without dealing with the stairs. 

The park itself is well maintained, with beautiful flowers and a small playground. I’d do this one at the beginning of your trip, especially if it’s your first time in the city. It’s a really nice stop if you’re traveling with the family, but honestly, even if you’re just looking for somewhere peaceful to sit, enjoy the view, and snap some photos, it’s worth coming up here. And if you’re visiting in summer, you might even catch a festival or a movie under the stars.

You can combine it with the American Visionary Art Museum or Maryland Science Center, then head back toward the water for lunch or a drink. And did I mention it’s free? Always a win! 

5. Let loose with glow-in-the-dark splatter art  

If you’re looking for something totally different to do in Baltimore, this private glow-in-the-dark paint experience is definitely worth putting on your radar!

For an hour, you get to make a complete mess with fluorescent paint while listening to music and just having fun. We got disposable suits, gloves, and all the painting gear before heading into the splatter room, lit with black and colorful lights. You can also play your own music if you want to make it a bit more personal.

Be warned, it gets messy! We blasted paint all over our canvases, the walls, the ceiling, and each other. We enjoyed being silly and basically acting like kids again. And don’t worry if you’re not artistically inclined, as it’s all about having fun. 

The hour was actually perfect, although we somehow finished our canvases before it was over. We ended up buying two more canvases halfway through and kept going, and they just let us pay for the extras at the end.

It’s a really fun family-friendly experience, especially if you want to spend an hour doing something completely different. Judging by all the five-star reviews, plenty of other people have had just as much fun getting messy here as we did! Just be prepared to get paint EVERYWHERE!

6. See world-class art at The Walters Art Museum  

If you’re into art and history, or want to spend a few hours somewhere free, sophisticated, and shaded, The Walters Art Museum is perfect. The museum opened in 1934 and is located in Mount Vernon, one of Baltimore’s prettiest historic neighborhoods. You really don’t need to spend the whole day here, since it’s easy to squeeze in between other stops or pair with a short walk around the area.

Inside, you’ll find a bit of everything, from paintings and sculptures to ancient objects, manuscripts, jewelry, and decorative arts. The galleries themselves are pretty impressive too, with beautiful rooms worth seeing before you even get to the artwork.

One place I really liked was the Hackerman House. It’s connected to the main museum, and you can also get in directly from Washington Place. There’s 19th-century art and contemporary ceramics inside, but it’s the marble floating staircase everyone comes for. It leads up to a Tiffany glass ceiling, which was definitely one of my highlights. 

The museum is rather large, and if you need help, plenty of employees are scattered throughout to point you in the right direction. We went at 3 pm on a Wednesday, and it wasn’t crowded at all, which made it even nicer to wander around.

I think this museum makes for a lovely break from sightseeing, especially if you’re traveling with the family, as a couple, or even on your own. Plus, it’s free, so you can’t really complain!

7. Feel the rush of skydiving indoors 

For those looking to get their heart racing, this indoor skydiving experience will give you just enough of an adrenaline rush without actually jumping out of a plane! You’ll get two flights inside a vertical wind tunnel, and no, you don’t need any previous experience.

Before you get started, there’s a short training session where they explain everything you need to know, so you’ll be ready in no time. Then it’s time to get in the tunnel and fly! And don’t worry, your instructor stays with you the entire time, regardless of your experience level.

You get to fly twice, with each flight lasting 60 seconds, and let me tell you, one minute goes by FAST! If you’re having fun and want to stay in there a little longer, you can add another one-minute flight for an extra $20. At the end, you’ll get a certificate of flight achievement, which is a nice little souvenir to take home. 

They offer different times throughout the day, but plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early so you have time to check in before your reservation. Kids as young as 3 years old can try it, although anyone under 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign their waiver.

We had such a blast doing this! There’s something pretty wild about stepping into the tunnel and suddenly floating through the air, and those 60 seconds go by ridiculously fast. Just wear comfortable clothes and well-fitting, lace-up sneakers or running shoes, and get ready to fly!

8. Walk through history at Fort McHenry

You can’t talk about Baltimore’s history without mentioning Fort McHenry! This waterfront fort played a huge role in one of the country’s most famous stories, but you definitely don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy visiting. Between the old fort, harbor views, and spacious grounds, it’s a fun change of pace from the busier Inner Harbor.

This is where the Battle of Baltimore took place during the War of 1812, and the events here inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that later became “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Pretty cool, right?

The Star Fort is the main attraction, but there’s more to see around the site, including the surrounding grounds, waterfront paths, and visitor center. The grounds are also home to cherry trees, so if you’re visiting Baltimore in late March or early April, you may be lucky enough to catch them in bloom!

Park rangers give you background on the fort, and there’s an introductory film before you start exploring. You’ll then have the opportunity to watch the flag change (and maybe assist), which is pretty fun to see and do.

Admission to the fort is currently $15 per person. You can buy your pass online, and keep in mind that they don’t accept cash at the fort. Give yourself some extra time to wander around the grounds afterward, especially if the weather is nice. It’s one of those Baltimore attractions where you get the history without spending the entire visit inside a museum, which we really enjoyed!

Where to Stay in Baltimore 

Now that you know all the fun things to do, it’s time to figure out where you’re going to stay if you haven’t decided yet. Baltimore is a pretty big city, so choosing the right area can make getting around a lot easier. We’ve picked out a few of our favorite hotels, from budget-friendly stays to more luxurious options, so let’s see what might work for you. Just make sure to secure your spot early, because places here book up fast!

The Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore – $$$

Our favorite luxury choice here is The Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, right by the waterfront, so you get pretty amazing views of the Inner Harbor. It’s perfect if you’re into European old-world elegance and local artwork. 

You’ve also got an upscale American gastropub and a European-style café in the lobby, where you can grab a coffee or fresh pastries before heading out for the day. The highlight is definitely the outdoor rooftop area with a multi-purpose sports court for tennis, basketball, and volleyball, which you don’t usually see in downtown hotels. 

The location is also hard to beat. You’re just steps from the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center, so you can easily walk to some of the main attractions. Price-wise, expect to pay anywhere from around $150 USD to $500+ USD per night, depending on when you visit. Check your dates and book your stay at The Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore here!

Staybridge Suites Baltimore – $$

If you want a comfortable place to stay without spending a fortune on a fancy hotel, Staybridge Suites Baltimore is definitely worth checking out. Since it’s an all-suite hotel, you get quite a bit more space for your money, and every suite comes with a kitchen, so you can cook your own meals when you feel like it and save a little on eating out too.

If you’re short on time, you’ll also get a free breakfast buffet every morning, so you can grab something to eat and head out sightseeing. On top of that, there’s a complimentary evening social with light dinner bites, wine, and beer. You also get access to free laundry facilities, which parents with children will especially appreciate if you’re staying for more than a few days.

From here, the Inner Harbor waterfront is just two blocks away, so you’re pretty much close to everything. Prices start at around $140 USD per night. See current rates and lock in your dates here!

Hampton Inn & Suites Baltimore – $

If you’re looking to save even more, Hampton Inn & Suites Baltimore is a great option. It’s right downtown, affordable, and you even get a little bit of history with your stay. The hotel sits on the site of a historic bank property dating back to 1906. You can even see the original bank vaults- pretty cool, right?

You also get free breakfast, an indoor pool, a gym, and spacious rooms, plus you’re just a short walk from major attractions like the National Aquarium and the Baltimore Convention Center. There’s also a convenience store on-site if you need something and don’t feel like heading back out.

With prices starting at around $95 USD per night, we think it’s a pretty good deal for the location and everything you get with your stay. Check availability and book your stay at Hampton Inn & Suites Baltimore here!

Want more options? Browse through all the listings for Baltimore here!

Thanks for reading!

Baltimore is one of those cities where you can start the day surrounded by centuries of history and somehow end it covered in fluorescent paint! We had such a fun time discovering all the different sides of the city, whether we were eating our way around Fells Point, watching dolphins at the aquarium, flying through a wind tunnel, or simply enjoying the harbor views. And, of course, no trip here would be complete without at least one Maryland crab cake!

For more ideas around the country, check out our other USA blogs, where we share plenty of firsthand tips and experiences from our travels. Or stick around and keep planning with a few more of our favorite guides below!

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