I have been playing tourist throughout my first year living in Baltimore and now I can help the lucky folks visiting this beautiful, diverse city with my list of recommended places to explore. Get ready, here are my tips to enjoy the “Charm City”!

First off, you may be wondering why Baltimore is often called the Charm City. Well, Baltimore is indeed very “charming” but it got its nickname in the 1970s when the mayor decided to do an advertising campaign to counter some challenges with rising crime and an economic downturn. So, he created a tourism campaign calling Baltimore the “Charm City” to highlight the city’s good side vs. the issues they were facing. The campaign offered visitors the opportunity to pick up a charm bracelet when they visited Baltimore. Visitors could then receive charms at each of the highlighted attractions they visited. One of the charms was a crab-of course! The goal was to make the charm both a souvenir and a tangible reminder of Baltimore’s unique appeal. The promo wasn’t considered successful at the time but the nickname “Charm City” has hung on. I have yet to see one of these charm bracelets but I’m hoping to find one in an antique store one day.

Whether coming here for a conference or just a weekend to see the Orioles or Ravens play (I can walk to both stadiums from my house-how lucky am I??), there is so much to be enjoyed so I’ve broken it down by areas of town. There are many other wonderful places to experience in Baltimore, and I look forward to discovering them all, but I only write about what I know. Baltimore is a special place and I’m happy to call it home. One of our famous residents, John Waters, summarizes the spirit of Baltimore best: “I would never want to live anywhere but Baltimore. You can look far and wide, but you’ll never discover a stranger city with such extreme style. It’s as if every eccentric in the South decided to move north, ran out of gas in Baltimore, and decided to stay.”

INNER HARBOR/FEDERAL HILL

I live in Federal Hill and can walk to the Inner Harbor in ten minutes so we go there a lot!  Here are the highlights of this beautiful area that should be on every visitor’s must see list:

Federal Hill Park was discovered by John Smith in 1608, and sits above the Inner Harbor providing the best view of Baltimore. This hill played a role in several wars including the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Tunnels were built under the hill to store ammunition. I walk this park every day with my dog as we live just a block away. I feel lucky to see this awesome view on every walk. There is a great playground for the kiddos here. Bmore Licks has the BEST homemade ice cream and is just a short walk away. Trust me you must try this ice cream. If you are needing food and not just ice cream, walk a block to The Outpost for dinner, a cute neighborhood joint. We love their Happy Hour from 4-6. If you want a variety of food to pick from, you can go a few blocks from the park to Cross Street Market where you can get pizza, empanadas, diner food, cocktails, etc. African Jollof Bowl at Cross Street Market was recently featured on national news for their spicy soulful food. Expect lines!

Maryland Science Center is THE place for kids to run around for hours on the several floors to see dinosaurs, fly paper airplanes, lay on a bed of nails and check out all the hands-on science exhibits. Entrance fees may seem pricey at $29.95 adults/$21.95 kids but you really can spend the whole day there. We have a yearly pass and go there often. Right on the harbor, just a block away from Federal Hill Park.

The American Visionary Art Museum is $15.95 and totally worth the price of admission. Located at the base of Federal Hill Park, the gift shop is the best museum gift shop I’ve ever been in. If you just want to shop, tell the front desk and there is no charge to visit the gift shop. Make sure to check out all the museum buildings and their outside sculptures. One building has unique art exhibits that are always changing and one has super cool kinetic sculptures in it. Closed on Monday/Tuesday.

National Aquarium is another all-day destination. We have a yearly pass for the whole family because it is pricey for just one visit at $50 adult/$40 child. That being said, it’s worth it. It is vast with so many things to see and experience. Check out the daily schedule for events. Be sure to check out the wetlands outside and don’t miss the rain forest. Dolphins cavorting in their big pool are fun to watch as well.

Fort McHenry should be on every visitor’s list. Not only is it a beautiful waterfront park you can walk around (cherry blossoms galore in the Spring!) but going through the visitors center and the well preserved fort ($15 fee for this entry) brings Baltimore’s rich history to life. O Say Can You See!

HARBOR EAST/LITTLE ITALY

Once you walk around Inner Harbor, just past the National Aquarium, you will be in the Harbor East/Little Italy neighborhood. Harbor East is the upscale area downtown where you’ll find the Four Seasons hotel on the water, shops like Anthropologie, Warby Parker, Madewell, etc. and a Whole Foods grocery. Up for some jazz? We love going to Keystone Korner, where you can enjoy good food and watch a variety of jazz acts. We frequent Harbor East Cinemas, which features plush recliners and cocktails while you watch movies. If you want to eat where Prince Harry recently visited when he was in town, go to upscale Charleston, where James Beard award winner Chef Cindy Wolf will make your French/Low Country meal memorable. Also in this area is the Reginald F. Lewis Museum  that celebrates African American art, story, and culture in Maryland. Check it out!

Settled by Italian immigrants in the late 1800’s, Little Italy has lots of family-run restaurants, outdoor bocce courts where leagues play throughout the summer and fall and cultural events including an outdoor film festival each summer. It is very charming. More info here: https://baltimore.org/neighborhoods/little-italy/

La Scala is just one of the Italian restaurants in Little Italy but it distinguishes itself because you can also play bocce ball at their indoor court. The summer dress code is as follows: “No Hats are allowed; Ladies and Gentlemen: No tank tops or sportswear. Shorts are acceptable.” La Scala offers a Complimentary Shuttle Service accommodating up to 11 guests and is available for those within 2.5 miles of the restaurant so if you are staying in the Inner Harbor, you can use this service to get there. Go throw some bocce balls while enjoying outstanding pasta. Just don’t wear a tank top!

Vaccaro’s Bakery is legendary in Baltimore. Around since the 1950’s, you can’t go wrong with the Italian cookies, the cannoli’s, and they also serve lunch. We got a sampler box of all their top sellers and it did not disappoint.

FELLS POINT

If you keep walking about the harbor just past Little Italy, you’ll find Fells Point, which is a historic waterfront neighborhood established in 1763 and just a few blocks east of the Inner Harbor. You could walk from Federal Hill to Fells Point or take the free commuter ferry across the Inner Harbor. Known for its maritime history, it features cobblestone streets, over 161 buildings on the National Historic Register, and a vibrant atmosphere with numerous restaurants, shops, and pubs. The Saturday Farmer’s Market in Broadway Square is filled with good food and handmade items. Don’t miss the hummus stand with the delicious pita chips-look for the line!

Fells Point has served as the home to jazz singer Billie Holiday and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. You can visit the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum | Visit Baltimore and learn more this piece of Baltimore history.  Stroll the cobblestone Thames Street for the best boutique shopping in downtown Baltimore. Want a more casual meal? Established in 1784, the Broadway Market in Fell’s Point is now a bustling food hall with a variety of food stalls. I highly recommend Sophia’s Place European Deli for amazing soups, desserts (cheesecake!) and chicken pot pies. All homemade and delicious!

Take a US Ghost Adventure tour around spooky Fells Point (at night!). We took one last fall and it was a great way to learn about the history of the area AND to see if you could spot a ghost. Use this code: https://usghostadventures.com?ref=y2eyngu to book and save 10% off! Check out on your tour the Horse You Came in on Saloon – Originally founded in 1775, the oldest saloon in America still serves drinks and sometimes ghostly offerings. Poe supposedly hung out here during his Baltimore years!

If you want a really cool hotel experience, The Sagamore Pendry is gorgeous. With an outside infinity pool overlooking the harbor, they also have a spa and a fancy restaurant and cocktail bar. My daughter and I went for a special “movie night” last fall and roasted marshmallows while watching movies projected onto a screen by the pool. If I ever do a “staycation”, this is where I will go.

MOUNT VERNON/REMINGTON/DRUID HILL

The Baltimore Museum of Art is free and open Wednesday through Sunday. Well worth the 15 minute drive from the Inner Harbor area. Eat lunch at the fabulous restaurant on site, Gertrude’s, one of the best in the city. Go for a cocktail right down the street at Mama Kokos after you hit up the BMoA. It’s a vibe.

The Walters Art Museum is free and open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free! Then check out one of the most majestic libraries in the country, Peabody Library, which is a block from the Walters. Check the open hours though before you go as they vary by week. Also in the neighborhood is a cool indie bookstore and cafe, Red Emma’s. Who doesn’t love a bookstore? You could walk from the Inner Harbor to this area-about 1.5 miles.

Maryland Zoo is expansive so wear your walking shoes. Feed a giraffe, watch the penguins play and get a boozy Snowball. If you have any energy left, check out indie bookstore, Atomic Books, close by.

Rawlings Conservatory is free (donation suggested) and is next to the Zoo. There you can enjoy not only beautiful plants but the atrium is stunning. Definitely worth a stop if you go to the Zoo.

WEST BALTIMORE

The B & O Railroad Museum is the perfect place for train geeks. Baltimore is known as the birthplace of American railroading, as the first stone of the railroad was laid here and where the nation’s first mile of commercial railroad was constructed.

Edgar Allen Poe is one of Baltimore’s many famous citizens. The Poe House and Museum chronicles the tragic life of this author. You can also take a bus tour and explore the enduring mystery surrounding of Edgar Allan Poe’s life and death in Baltimore. Each bus tour begins at the Baltimore Visitor’s Center on the Inner Harbor and stops at Poe’s graves (he has two!) plus the sites where Poe was found and where he passed away. If you don’t have a car, this is the way to explore Poe while you are in town ($49/person).

Don’t want to venture out on your own?

Take a Baltimore Walking Tour 2026 Baltimore Monuments Walking Tour (with Reviews) to cover the key local, national and historical experiences through monuments and statues.

Baltimore historians give great walking and boat tours as part of the Heritage Society: Events – Baltimore Heritage Love historic cemeteries? They have a tour for you! They can help you climb into the catacombs to see Poe’s gravesite. We took a Federal Hill tour because that is our neighborhood and we wanted to understand the history of where we lived. The guides are passionate about history and make it come alive for you.

“MUST HAVE” CHARM CITY FOOD

1. Berger Cookies available at the groceries around town. Thick layer of chocolate fudge on top of a vanilla soft cookie. It is to die for! When my sister visited, she liked them so much she loaded up her suitcase with several packages to take home.
2. Bmore Licks ice cream-several locations/unique flavors in hard or soft serve. We live a block away and often get several pints to go! Banana pudding is my favorite.
3. Egg Custard Snowball-snowball stands all over town. Maryland Zoo has boozy snowballs. Just sayin’.
4. Lemon stick-famously served at the mid-Spring Flower Mart. Lemon with a peppermint stick! Sucking on the stick and squeezing the lemon produces a sweet, minty, lemony drink that is uniquely Baltimore.
5. Café Dear Leon for the famous crab bagel. Expect lines and they sell out quickly-get there when they open at 6 am Tuesday-Sunday!
6. Kocos Pub is renowned for its crab cakes-lunch or dinner. The best of Baltimore!
7. Seafood at Locust Point Steamers in Federal Hill-get out the hammer and crack crabs! Maryland crab season peaks from July-September for the meatiest crabs.
8. Enjoy an Aperol spritz outside on the waterfront in Inner Harbor on a beautiful day at Bellini’s Harborview or go for a spectacular sunset view. Get pizza or sandwiches at the Italian deli next door at  Dipasquales.
9. Ekiben is on everyone’s must eat list when in Baltimore and is a James Beard finalist serving unique spin on Asian + Ethiopian cuisine. We can walk to one of their locations to get takeout. Casual dining at its finest!
10. Gertrudes at Baltimore Museum of Art for Maryland features locally sourced farm-fresh food that preserves Chesapeake culinary traditions with crab, oysters and shrimp entrees. Get the warm hush puppies with lemon curd and homemade preserves. Oh my!!!
11. Mama Kokos for coffee and cocktails and food. Known for it’s cool vibe no matter what time of day.
12. Nihao for all you can eat upscale Chinese weekend brunch. You must get the scallion pancake-unlike any you have ever had!

GETTING AROUND BALTIMORE

Driving:

Baltimore is like any big city in that driving can be challenging. I try to not drive and get around by walking, ferry, bus and Uber/Lyft. If you must drive, I hope you have a small car to navigate tiny streets and you know how to parallel park in a tight space. You’ll notice residents tuck their side mirrors to avoid getting them ripped off by passing cars. There are many one-way streets, so pay attention. We still remind my husband of the time he went the wrong way before executing a quick U-turn. With that in mind, look both ways when crossing one-way streets as bikes, scooters, and even cars go the wrong way. Another Baltimore heads up is that many (and I do mean many!) cars do not stop at stop signs-it’s more of a suggestion in Baltimore. Drive and walk accordingly. Be safe out there!

Inner Harbor ferry service:

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has two main ferry-style services: the free Harbor Connector (public transit Mon-Fri) and the paid Baltimore Water Taxi (on‑demand + sightseeing). Both operate from multiple Inner Harbor piers and are the primary ways to move around the waterfront by boat.

Bus Service:

The Charm City Circular bus is free and stops at over 100 places along five routes, passing through some of Baltimore’s best-known neighborhoods—from Mount Vernon to Federal Hill, and from the University of Maryland to Harbor East.

Train Service:

We are so lucky to have an Amtrak here in Baltimore! From its downtown location, we have been able to hop onto trains to travel up and down the East Coast to Washington, DC, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, etc. If you are arriving by train to Baltimore, it’s probably easiest to just grab an Uber or Lyft to get to where you are going.

Arriving from BWI Airport:

To take the light rail from BWI Airport to downtown Baltimore’s Penn Station, follow these details:

• The BWI Marshall Airport Light Rail Station is located immediately outside the lower level of the terminal building, adjacent to Concourse E.
• Travel Time: The journey takes about 30 minutes to downtown.
• To go to Penn Station, exit the train at Mt. Royal Avenue and take the Penn Station Light Rail. There is only one fare for both trains at $2.00 each way. From there, you can take an Uber or Lyft to get to where you are going.
• Frequency: Trains run every 20 to 30 minutes.
• For more information, you can check the official MTA Light Rail page here.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE DIVERSE BUSINESSES IN BALTIMORE HERE IS LIST OF JUST A FEW:

BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES*:

• Urban Reads Bookstore (Charles Village)
• Vinyl & Pages/Cuples Tea House (Inner Harbor)
• Tribe Social cafe (downtown)
• Mama Kokos (north downtown)
• Ekiben (several locations-great food)
• Koba Café (Federal Hill)
• Yebo Kitchen (Charles Village)
• Taharka (best ice cream-several locations but I go to the one at Cross St. Market)

WOMAN OWNED BUSINESSES*:

• Atomic Books (Hampden)
• Greedy Reads (Fells Point)
• The Urban Oyster (Hampden)
• Blue Moon Café (several locations-we go to the one in Federal Hill)
• Oleum (vegetarian) (downtown)
• Charleston (Fells Point)
• The Empanada Lady (downtown)
• Pandora’s Box (Federal Hill) Just blocks away from me, I go there for gifts!

LGBTQ+ OWNED/SUPPORTED BUSINESSES*:

• Red Emma’s Bookstore (Mount Vernon) Near Peabody Library/Walters Art Museum
• Charm City Books (Seton Hill) Love their shop dog!
• Atomic Books (where John Waters receives his fan mail so you may run into him!)
• Lord Baltimore Hotel (downtown)
• The William Fell hotel (downtown)
• Hotel Revival (downtown)
• Papermoon Diner (near the Baltimore Museum of Art) the vibe is so cool here!
• Bird in Hand Café and Bookstore (Charles Village)
• Bmore Licks – best ice cream! (Federal Hill)

*I realize that there are hundreds of businesses in each of these categories but here are just a few that I personally know of!

ENJOY YOUR BALTIMORE JOURNEY!