2 days in Baltimore

Day by day

1. Day 1: National Aquarium and Historic Ships in Baltimore

   National Aquarium, Historic Ships in Baltimore, Port Discovery Children's Museum and Maryland Science Center, then Oriole Park at Camden Yards in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Aquarium

      A walkway spirals up through tanks representing different habitats.

   2. Late morning

      Historic Ships in Baltimore

      The Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse stands on Pier 5.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Steamed blue crabs

      Crab houses across the city and suburbs; the best season runs roughly from late spring to autumn, when local crabs are plentiful.

   4. Afternoon

      Port Discovery Children's Museum

      It is a short walk from the Inner Harbor in the old Fish Market building.

   5. Late afternoon

      Maryland Science Center

      It is a good choice for older children who have already done the aquarium.

   6. Evening

      Oriole Park at Camden Yards

      Walk along Eutaw Street inside the ballpark to find the home-run plaques, and try pit beef or crab fries from the stands.

2. Day 2: Fort McHenry National Monument and Baltimore Museum of Art

   Fort McHenry National Monument, Baltimore Museum of Art, American Visionary Art Museum and Federal Hill Park, then Fells Point waterfront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fort McHenry National Monument

      The visitor centre film ends with a dramatic reveal of the fort, and you can walk the ramparts, barracks and powder magazine.

   2. Late morning

      Baltimore Museum of Art

      It also has a large holding of Antioch mosaics, African and contemporary art, and two sculpture gardens.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Crab cakes

      Faidley's Seafood at Lexington Market is the classic; seafood restaurants in Fells Point and Federal Hill also serve them.

   4. Afternoon

      American Visionary Art Museum

      Its mosaic-covered buildings at the foot of Federal Hill are hard to miss, and the outdoor sculpture yard includes a giant whirligig.

   5. Late afternoon

      Federal Hill Park

      It has been a lookout since the 18th century and was occupied by Union troops in the Civil War, whose cannon are still here.

   6. Evening

      Fells Point waterfront

      Arrive by water taxi from the Inner Harbor, and walk the harbour-side promenade east towards Canton.

Before you go

• National Aquarium: Timed-entry tickets are sold online and weekend slots can sell out in summer.

If it rains

• Swap in Walters Art Museum (Mount Vernon): Don't miss the Chamber of Wonders and the arms and armour galleries; combine with the Washington Monument across the square.
• Swap in Lexington Market (Downtown West): Go at lunchtime for a crab cake from Faidley's and a Berger cookie for dessert.
• Swap in B&O Railroad Museum (Southwest Baltimore): Check the schedule for the short train ride, included with entry on most days, and look up at the roundhouse's roof.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–26 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.4 hours in December to 14.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Tram. The Light RailLink runs north–south from BWI airport through Camden Yards and downtown to Penn Station and the northern suburbs.

More or fewer days

• One day in Baltimore
• 3 days in Baltimore

Questions travellers ask