Baltimore · USA
Things to Do in Baltimore: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
The best things to do in Baltimore, ranked by real traveller reviews: sail the Inner Harbor on the Summer Wind, eat crab cakes on a Fells Point food tour, tour Fort McHenry where the national anthem was written, walk the National Aquarium, climb Federal Hill for the skyline, visit Edgar Allan Poe’s grave and catch the Orioles at Camden Yards. Compare tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
137 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Baltimore
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Baltimore
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Baltimore by interest
Whatever brings you to Baltimore — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Inner Harbor
Lively waterfront.
ExploreFort McHenry
Anthem’s birthplace.
ExploreNational Aquarium
A world of water.
ExploreCity sightseeing
Charm City highlights.
ExploreHarbor cruise
From the water.
ExploreFood & crab
Chesapeake flavours.
ExploreGhost tours
Haunted history.
ExploreBaltimore highlights
Harbor & history.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Baltimore
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Inner Harbor
Lively waterfront.
15 toursView tours
Fort McHenry
Anthem’s birthplace.
10 toursView tours
National Aquarium
A world of water.
10 toursView tours
City Sightseeing
Charm City.
15 toursView tours
Harbor Cruise
From the water.
10 toursView tours
Food & Crab
Chesapeake flavours.
10 toursView tours
Ghost Tours
Haunted history.
10 toursView tours
Baltimore
Harbor city.
15 toursView tours
City awayInner Harbor
Lively waterfront.
from $25View trips
City awayFort McHenry
Anthem’s birthplace.
from $18View trips
City awayNational Aquarium
A world of water.
from $24View trips
City awayCity Sightseeing
Charm City.
from $25View trips
Harbor awayHarbor Cruise
From the water.
from $42View trips
City awayFood & Crab
Chesapeake flavours.
from $69View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Baltimore visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild and blooming — ideal for the harbor.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp days and fewer crowds.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm and humid, but lively.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cold and quiet, good for museums.
For crab
Summer and early autumn are crab season.
Best overall
Spring and autumn for mild, comfortable days.
One day
The Inner Harbor and the Aquarium.
Two days
Add Fort McHenry and a crab feast.
Three+ days
Add a cruise and day trips.
For the harbor
The Inner Harbor and a cruise.
For history
Fort McHenry and the old city.
For food
A Chesapeake crab tour.
On foot
The harbor and Fells Point are walkable.
Water taxi
Water taxis link the harbor neighbourhoods.
Tours
City tours and cruises cover the sights.
Charm City Circulator
A free bus loops the main areas.
Where to stay
Stay near the Inner Harbor or Fells Point.
US dollar
The USA uses the dollar; cards widely taken.
Aquarium
Book timed tickets ahead in peak season.
Inner Harbor
Stroll the promenade and historic ships.
Fort McHenry
Catch the flag change on the ramparts.
Crab
Order steamed crab with Old Bay seasoning.
Harbor cruise
A sunset cruise gives the best skyline.
Combos
Some tours pair the harbor with the Aquarium.
Aquarium
Timed tickets sell out — book ahead.
Harbor cruises
Cruises fill up in summer — reserve early.
Food tours
Small crab tours fill up — book ahead.
Ghost tours
Evening walks fill up — reserve early.
City tours
Sightseeing tours fill up — book ahead.
Summer
Peak summer is busiest — book far ahead.
Harbor tour
Around $25–50 for an Inner Harbor tour.
Aquarium
About $24+ for National Aquarium entry.
Harbor cruise
Roughly $42–90 for a harbor cruise.
Food tour
Around $69 for a crab and food tour.
Ghost tour
About $25 for a ghost walking tour.
How to save
Join group tours to save over private ones.
When to visit
Baltimore through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Mild & blooming.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Harbor & crab.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Humid.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Crisp & calm.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Nov–Feb
- Best for
- Quiet museums.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold.
People also ask
Baltimore travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Baltimore?
Ranked by traveller reviews: 1) the Baltimore historical sightseeing tour, 2) a Fells Point walking food tour, 3) the ‘Baltimore Bewitched’ Poe and ghost tour, 4) an Inner Harbor sail on the schooner Summer Wind, 5) the Fells Point haunted pub crawl, 6) the National Aquarium, 7) Fort McHenry National Monument, 8) an Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 9) the American Visionary Art Museum and 10) the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters, both free.
How many days do you need in Baltimore?
Plan one to two days. Day one: the National Aquarium first thing, the historic ships and the Top of the World observation deck, a harbour cruise, then Fells Point for crab cakes, bars and a ghost walk. Day two: Fort McHenry in the morning, Federal Hill and the Visionary Art Museum, lunch at Lexington Market, the Walters and Mount Vernon, and an Orioles game or Little Italy dinner. Baltimore also works as a day trip from Washington, D.C.
What to do in Baltimore for free?
The Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum, Federal Hill Park at sunset, the waterfront promenade from Canton to Locust Point, Fells Point’s historic streets and Broadway Market, Poe’s grave at Westminster Hall, Mount Vernon Place and the Peabody Library’s reading room, Hampden’s quirky 36th Street, Patterson Park, Druid Hill Park and the Baltimore Farmers’ Market under the Jones Falls Expressway on Sundays. Fort McHenry’s grounds and visitor centre are free.
What are the best day trips from Baltimore?
Annapolis and the U.S. Naval Academy (40 minutes), Washington, D.C. (one hour by MARC train), historic Ellicott City (20 minutes), Havre de Grace on the Chesapeake (45 minutes), Gettysburg battlefield (90 minutes), St. Michaels and the Eastern Shore (90 minutes), and the Amish country around Lancaster, Pennsylvania (90 minutes).
What to do in Baltimore at night?
Fells Point’s waterfront bars and live music, a Poe ghost tour or haunted pub crawl, an Orioles night game at Camden Yards or a Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium, a sunset or moonlight sail on the Summer Wind, Power Plant Live’s clubs, Little Italy’s restaurants, a show at the Hippodrome or Baltimore Soundstage, Federal Hill’s bars and Horseshoe Casino. In December, Hampden’s Miracle on 34th Street lights draw crowds every evening.
What is there to do in Baltimore in winter?
The Miracle on 34th Street lights in Hampden (Thanksgiving to New Year), the German-style Christmas Village at the Inner Harbor, ice skating at the Inner Harbor rink, Ravens home games through January, the National Aquarium, the museums and the B&O Railroad Museum indoors, and steamed crabs and oyster season in Fells Point. Winter is cold (highs around 40°F) but hotel prices are at their lowest.
What are the best things to do in Baltimore with kids?
The National Aquarium’s dolphins and rainforest, the Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery Children’s Museum, the historic ships including the submarine USS Torsk, the dragon paddle boats in the harbour, the B&O Railroad Museum, the Maryland Zoo in Druid Hill Park, Fort McHenry’s flag-raising and an Orioles game at family-friendly Camden Yards.
When is the best time to visit Baltimore?
April to June and September to October — mild weather, harbour cruises running and baseball season. Preakness weekend in May is the busiest of the year. Summer is hot and humid; winter is cold but cheap and festive from Thanksgiving to New Year.
Is the National Aquarium in Baltimore worth it?
Yes — with its Atlantic coral reef, blacktip reef sharks, tropical rainforest and Australian gorge, it is one of the best aquariums in the country and the anchor of the Inner Harbor; allow three hours. Tickets are timed, so book online in advance, and go on a weekday morning to beat school groups.
137 Baltimore experiencesfrom $18 · free cancellation
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