Top 20 things to do in Baltimore!

What to Expect from Baltimore

Baltimore is a town for explorers, artists and dreamers. If you’re looking for things to do in Baltimore that will awaken your senses, inspire new thinking and spark your spirit of adventure, you’ll find it here. We invite you to wander through eclectic neighborhoods and visit a variety of attractions at your leisure, or select from one of our many guided tour opportunities. Scroll down for our recommendations of what to do in Baltimore.

❋ Food

The Baltimore restaurant scene is thriving. Sample food from award-winning chefs and try cocktails from innovative mixologists—they're the reason Baltimore consistently ranks as a Top 10 food city nationwide.

❋ Museums & Attractions

Whether you’re partial to art, science, history, or a niche interest, you’ll find distinctive attractions that draw you in to learn and wonder, and create fun memories.

❋ History & Monuments

Baltimore is rich in history, with monuments and historic sites commemorating significant periods in history—not just to the city, but to the nation, as well.

❋ Music & Performances

From outdoor concerts to indoor acoustic venues to large stages, from local bands to performer residencies to top international names—Baltimore will entertain you.

Top 20 Things to do in Baltimore

Inner Harbor

Cruise around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor with a ride on a Baltimore Water Taxi to get you to your next destination, or just enjoy the views!

Patterson Park Observatory

You can’t miss getting a view of the iron, wood and glass Patterson Park Observatory, a stunning four-story observation tower built in the 1890s. The park is also home to a duck pond, an ice skating rink, dog parks and plenty of open space to roam.

The Maryland Zoo

Waddle your way to The Maryland Zoo to see the award-winning Penguin Coast exhibit, home to the largest colony of endangered African penguins in North America.

National Aquarium

Get an up-close view of the sharks at the National Aquarium while visiting Blacktip Reef and Shark Alley.

Lexington Market

Try some of Maryland’s famous steamed blue crabs or jumbo lump crab cakes at Faidley’s Seafood in the historic Lexington Market. Not a fan of crabs? We have other seafood too!

Maryland Science Center

See the massive dinosaur replicas on display at the Maryland Science Center in the Inner Harbor. When it’s over, stop by the Davis Planetarium or rooftop observatory to experience the stars.

National Great Blacks In Wax Museum

Explore history at the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, where 150 life-sized wax figures

Baltimore Museum of Art

Art aficionados will delight at the collections on view at The Baltimore Museum of Art — don’t miss your chance to see the world’s largest collection of Henri Matisse’s artwork.

Fort McHenry

The birthplace of the American national anthem is right here in Baltimore. Francis Scott Key wrote the words that would become “The Star-Spangled Banner” while watching a battle at Fort McHenry, which is now a museum and public park.

Chessie Dragon Paddleboat

Take a ride into your childhood fantasies with a ride on a Chessie Dragon paddleboat or an electric Pirate Ship in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Port Discovery Children’s Museum

If you’ve got kids in your crew, don’t skip Port Discovery Children’s Museum and its SkyClimber. No one will get bored exploring 80,000 square feet and three floors of adventure.

American Visionary Art Museum

Looking for a completely different art experience? Visit the American Visionary Art Museum, entirely comprised of works by self-taught artists.

Walters Art Museum

Travel through seven millennia at the Walters Art Museum, home to 36,000 objects that include coats of armor, Roman sarcophagi and Fabergé eggs.

Reginald F. Lewis Museum

See life and history through the eyes of Black Marylanders at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, which features thousands of works of art and historical artifacts in its collection.

Edgar Allen Poe Museum

Follow in Edgar Allan Poe’s Baltimore footsteps by visiting his one-time home (now a museum), statue, favorite pub, gravesite and more. 

Frederick Douglass-Isaac Museum

Honor the contributions of African Americans to Baltimore’s shipbuilding industry at the first African American-owned shipyard, the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum. See what life what was like for Frederick Douglass when he lived here.