Baltimore is a top destination in Maryland with a little bit of everything to offer visitors – a harbor, art museums, sports, kid-friendly attractions, and lots of delicious food. There are numerous historical sites to visit that take you beyond all the famous hotspots of our capital city.
Fresh seafood is one of Baltimore’s most significant claims to fame, and there are many attractions to walk between to build up an appetite for your dinner! The city has been featured in various movies and TV shows, and the Inner Harbor is a great place to start a day of exploration. Overall, these are some of the best things to see and do when you visit Baltimore, Maryland.
Catch a Game at Oriole Park, Camden Yards
What Is It? Whether you’re an Orioles fan or not, a trip to Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a must for any visitor to Baltimore.
Why Do It? This stadium is one of the most famous in the entire country, and it’s conveniently located just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor. This is a retro-style stadium that has been well-preserved and offers beautiful views of the city from the stadium seats. While you’re here, you can also visit the Orioles Hall of Fame and Museum.
Good to Know: Stadium tours are available to learn about the stadium and the legends who have played here. If you’re visiting Baltimore during baseball season, check the team’s website to see if you can catch a game while you’re in town.
Visit the Edgar Allen Poe House & Museum
What Is It? Baltimore was the famous poet Edgar Allen Poe’s birthplace, and you can visit the Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum when you’re in town.
Why Do It? It’s in a brick house at 203 Amity Street and features Poe memorabilia that has been preserved from when Poe and his family lived here in the 1830s. It is believed that the poet and storyteller composed many of his pieces while in this home.
Good to Know: This is a small attraction, but the staff is very knowledgeable and can answer questions you may have.
Check Out the Walters Art Museum
What Is It? There are a few great art museums in Baltimore, but one of the best is the Walters Art Museum.
Why Do It? This is a free museum that has been open for over a century and has everything from Renaissance paintings to Ethiopian art, an Egyptian collection, and Asian art. One big highlight is the Medieval gallery, which has suits of armor that date back to the Middle Ages.
Good to Know: Check the museum’s website to see which exhibitions are being featured and if any special events are happening while you’re traveling in the area.
Walk Around the Fell's Point Historic Area
What Is It? Fell’s Point is a historic area that used to be a shipbuilding district. Back then, the area provided entertainment for the seamen.
Why Do It? William Fell was a Quaker that built his first storehouse in this area in the 1700s. Today, it has been beautifully restored with restaurants, cafés, and shops to provide entertainment options for locals and tourists who come to visit. The district encompasses about 765 acres with many 18th and 19th century buildings, antebellum warehouses, and Victorian architecture.
Good to Know: You’ll find this area between Aliceanna, Wolfe, and Dallas Streets and the Baltimore Harbor. Ghost tours, history tours, water taxis, and festivals are popular here.
Learn From the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
What Is It? Fort McHenry is one of the best places in the Baltimore area to learn about local history.
Why Do It? This was a battle site during the War of 1812 and provided the inspiration for America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Good to Know: Exhibits to check out include military memorabilia, electric battle map, restored barracks, restored flagpole, commander’s quarters, guardhouse, powder magazine and the enlisted men’s quarters.
Relax at Patterson Park
What Is It? When you visit Baltimore, plan to spend a couple of hours relaxing in Patterson Park, which is a favorite place for both locals and tourists.
Why Do It? Here you’ll find a swimming pool, pagoda, dog park, marble foundation, and panoramic views of the city. This is a popular place to attend an outdoor concert, join a birdwatching tour, or even take a gardening class. Many species of birds call this park home, so it’s an excellent itinerary spot for wildlife lovers.
Good to Know: Other places in the park include an ice skating rink, playground, recreation center, and casino. You’ll find this park between East Baltimore Street, South Patterson Park, South Linwood, and Eastern Avenue.
Get Inspired at the American Visionary Art Museum
What Is It? The American Visionary Art Museum is an art museum on Federal Hill that is perfect for art lovers with eclectic tastes.
Why Do It? There are lots of quirky exhibits inside that help visitors explore how art and technology impact everyday life. This is also a great museum for the kids because there are hands-on and fun exhibits that entice the imagination.
Good to Know: You can learn more about what the museum considers to be “visionary art” on its website before you visit. Overall, there are over 4,000 pieces in the collection and exhibits rotate over time.
Be Entertained at the Vagabond Theatre
What Is It? Located at 806 South Broadway in Baltimore, the Vagabond Theatre is a small playhouse that offers an intimate experience for theater lovers.
Why Do It? This is the city’s oldest continuously running theater company, and it’s been entertaining guests since 1916. The cast has performed shows like The Old Couple, All My Sons, The Complete History of America, and Motherhood Out Loud. The Vagabond Theatre in its current Fell’s Point location opened up in 1974.
Good to Know: You can buy tickets online in advance, so check the theater’s website before your trip to see what’s playing.
Reflect at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History & Culture
What Is It? Another must-visit museum for your trip to Baltimore is the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.
Why Do It? This site honors the state’s African American history and culture, as well as the African diaspora.
Good to Know: Lewis was a lawyer, entrepreneur and philanthropist in the city that desired to start a museum dedicated to these causes.
Spark Your Curiosity at the Maryland Science Center
What Is It? The Maryland Science Center has been on the local scene for over 200 years and is one of the oldest instructions of its kind in the nation.
Why Do It? It’s one of the premier attractions in the Inner Harbor and a great place to take the kids to get them interested in science topics. There is an IMAX theater and lots of different types of exhibits to spark your curiosity.
Good to Know: This 170,000-square-foot museum offers full-day and part-day programs and workshops, so visit the museum’s website before you visit to see if anything fun is going on.
