Things to do in Baltimore
- Baltimore was the site of the first successful telegraph message sent in the United States, transmitted from the B&O Railroad station to Washington, D.C. in 1844.
- The city is home to the oldest operating railroad station in the United States, Mount Clare Station, established in 1830.
- Baltimore has the highest number of public statues and monuments per capita of any city in the United States.
- The Star-Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry.
- Baltimore's rowhouse architecture is unique in the U.S. for its prevalence of white marble steps, which are traditionally scrubbed and maintained by residents.
About Baltimore
Baltimore is a historic deep-water port city on the Chesapeake Bay, defined by its maritime heritage and industrial legacy. It serves as the primary economic hub of Maryland, famously housing the National Aquarium at the Inner Harbor. Visitors can explore the foundations of American military history at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine or appreciate diverse collections at The Walters Art Museum. The city's geography is anchored by expansive public green spaces, including Druid Hill Park, which demonstrate its 19th-century urban planning.
Highlights of Baltimore
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Zoos
Explore the massive multi-story tropical rainforest exhibit and deep-sea aquatic galleries.
Historical places
Walk the ramparts where the successful defense against the British inspired the U.S. national anthem.
Museums
View an expansive collection spanning from pre-dynastic Egypt to 19th-century Europe in a historic townhouse setting.
Museums
Tour the site of the nation's first passenger railroad, housing an extensive collection of historic locomotives.
Museums
Browse a world-class collection of Matisse paintings and extensive post-war contemporary works.
Parks
Ascent the park's steep hill for the most iconic panoramic view of the Baltimore Inner Harbor skyline.
Parks
Visit one of the oldest public parks in the country, featuring a historic conservatory and miles of walking trails.
Venues
Attend a major Broadway-style production within this meticulously restored 1914 movie palace.
Top things to do in Baltimore
The 128 highest-rated places in Baltimore, ranked by travellers.
1
Zoos
The National Aquarium is a nonprofit aquatic facility located on Baltimore's Inner Harbor, housing over 20,000 animals a...
2
Historical places
Fort McHenry is a coastal star-shaped fort located on Locust Point in Baltimore, Maryland. It is primarily recognized as...
3
Zoos
Established in 1876, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is the third oldest zoo in the United States. It spans 135 acres with...
4
Parks
Patterson Park is a 137-acre public green space in Southeast Baltimore that serves as the centerpiece for the surroundin...
5
Museums
The Walters Art Museum houses a diverse collection spanning from the third millennium BCE to the 21st century. The insti...
6
Venues
The Hippodrome Theatre is a cornerstone of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center in downtown Baltimore. Originally o...
7
Parks
Druid Hill Park is a 745-acre historic urban park in Baltimore designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. It houses the Maryland...
8
Parks
Federal Hill Park offers the most iconic elevated vantage point of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the downtown skyline. Th...
9
Museums
The B&O Railroad Museum is widely considered the birthplace of American railroading, situated on the site where the Balt...
10
Museums
Port Discovery Children's Museum is housed in the historic 1904 Fish Market building in downtown Baltimore. It features...
11
Museums
The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) is a premier fine arts institution housing over 95,000 objects. It is globally recogni...
12
Parks
Canton Waterfront Park is a 7.7-acre public space located on the site of a former cannery along the Baltimore Harbor. Th...
13
Historical places
Edgar Allan Poe's grave is located within the Westminster Burial Ground in Baltimore, Maryland. The site features a prom...
14
Parks
Rocky Point Park and Beach is a 375-acre waterfront destination located on the Chesapeake Bay in Essex, Maryland. The pa...
15
Museums
The Baltimore Museum of Industry is situated in a former 1906 oyster cannery on the Inner Harbor, highlighting the labor...
16
Parks
North Point State Park occupies the former site of the Bay Shore Amusement Park, which operated between 1906 and 1947. T...
17
Museums
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is the premier institution dedicated to Maryland's African American history, culture, and s...
18
Venues
Baltimore Center Stage is the State Theater of Maryland and operates as a non-profit LORT B regional theater. The facili...
19
Parks
Sherwood Gardens is a six-acre private park in Baltimore's Guilford neighborhood known for its massive annual display of...
20
Museums
Historic Ships in Baltimore manages a collection of significant maritime vessels docked in the city's Inner Harbor. The...
21
Museums
The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum is the first wax museum in the United States dedicated to the preservation and p...
22
Parks
The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens is the second-oldest glass conservatory in the United States...
23
Historical places
The Washington Monument in Baltimore is the first major architectural monument dedicated to George Washington. Completed...
24
Places of interest
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Baltimore is a museum dedicated to oddities, physical curiosities, and bizarre artifacts col...
25
Museums
The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum is a modest two-story brick row house where the writer lived between 1832 and 1835. I...
26
Museums
The Maryland Science Center is a prominent institution located on Baltimore's Inner Harbor, featuring three levels of in...
27
Venues
Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity theatre located in downtown Baltimore that operates as a resident company of a...
28
Parks
Fort Howard Park is a 78-acre public waterfront park located on the Patapsco River, formerly serving as a significant mi...
29
Parks
Wilson Point Park is a waterfront recreation area located on a peninsula extending into the Middle River in Baltimore Co...
30
Temples
The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore and is distinguished b...
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Baltimore on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Baltimore
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) offer the most comfortable temperatures for walking the waterfront and park areas while avoiding the peak humidity of mid-summer.
3 days, which provides enough time to cover the Inner Harbor institutions, regional museums, and historical sites like the harbor forts.
The city features a combination of the Light Rail, Metro subway, and a free Charm City Circulator bus network, though many central districts remain highly walkable.
The Inner Harbor and Harbor East offer the best proximity to major tourist sites and dining, while Fells Point provides a more historic, boutique lodging experience.
Baltimore is considered a mid-range destination, generally more affordable than nearby Washington, D.C., and major northern coastal cities.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 128 curated attractions in and around Baltimore, ranked by traveller ratings.
National Aquarium is the highest-rated place to visit in Baltimore right now.
The largest category is parks, with 34 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Bayonne, New Jersey, Downtown Los Angeles, Washington, D.C..
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