Free things to do · Baltimore · United States
6 free things to do in Baltimore
Baltimore without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
,_10_Art_Museum_Drive,_Baltimore,_MD_21218_(40330853244).jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Baltimore without paying an entry fee: Baltimore Museum of Art, Federal Hill Park, Walters Art Museum and Fells Point waterfront are all free. The Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters, the Basilica, Federal Hill Park and the harbour promenade are free.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 6
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Museum · Charles Village
1.Baltimore Museum of Art
Go straight to the Cone Wing for the Matisse paintings, then finish in the sculpture garden with Rodin's The Thinker.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Federal Hill
2.Federal Hill Park
Climb the steps from Key Highway at sunset, then walk down for dinner on Cross Street or Light Street.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Museum · Mount Vernon
3.Walters Art Museum
Don't miss the Chamber of Wonders and the arms and armour galleries; combine with the Washington Monument across the square.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Fells Point
4.Fells Point waterfront
Arrive by water taxi from the Inner Harbor, and walk the harbour-side promenade east towards Canton.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- After dark
- Couples
Religious site · Mount Vernon
5.Baltimore Basilica
Visit outside service times, and look for the crypt and the skylit dome above the altar.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Street · Hampden
6.Hampden and 36th Street
Visit on a weekend afternoon for the shops, or in December after dark for the 34th Street lights.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Village | Baltimore Museum of Art | 2–3 hours |
| Federal Hill | Federal Hill Park | 30–45 minutes |
| Mount Vernon | Walters Art Museum and Baltimore Basilica | 2 hours + 45 minutes |
| Fells Point | Fells Point waterfront | 2–3 hours |
| Hampden | Hampden and 36th Street | 2–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Locust Point
Fort McHenry National Monument
Arrive by water taxi from the Inner Harbor or Fells Point in season, and ask about the timing of the flag-change programmes.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
Landmark · Mount Vernon
Washington Monument, Mount Vernon Place
Climb on a clear day, then walk the four park squares of Mount Vernon Place and past the Peabody Library.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
.jpg){kind=link}
Market · Downtown West
Lexington Market
Go at lunchtime for a crab cake from Faidley's and a Berger cookie for dessert.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Poppleton
Edgar Allan Poe House and Poe's grave
The house is small and open on a limited schedule; check ahead, then visit the grave at Westminster Burying Ground, about 20 minutes' walk away.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours for both
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Jonestown
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture
Combine it with the nearby Jewish Museum of Maryland and Little Italy for a walk through Jonestown's history.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
More ways to save
- The Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters, the Basilica, Federal Hill Park and the harbour promenade are free.
- Take the Light RailLink from BWI for a couple of dollars instead of a taxi.
- Crab prices fall when local catches are plentiful in late summer and early autumn; ask about all-you-can-eat crab nights.
- Hotels near the Inner Harbor rise sharply on Orioles, Ravens and convention weekends; Mount Vernon and Charles Village are often cheaper.
- A water taxi day pass works as a harbour cruise and transport in one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Baltimore expensive to visit?
Baltimore is moderately priced for most visitors, but 6 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Baltimore?
Baltimore Museum of Art: Go straight to the Cone Wing for the Matisse paintings, then finish in the sculpture garden with Rodin's The Thinker.