How many days · Baltimore · United States
How many days do you need in Baltimore?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Baltimore Heritage, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
3 days is the sweet spot for Baltimore, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the Inner Harbor, the aquarium, Fort McHenry and an evening in Fells Point. A third day adds the free art museums in Mount Vernon and Charles Village, Hampden and a crab feast; add a day for Annapolis or D.C.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.4 h (Dec) to 14.9 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | National Aquarium, Historic Ships in Baltimore, Fort McHenry National Monument and Baltimore Museum of Art |
| 2 days | Good | Baltimore Museum of Art, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and American Visionary Art Museum |
| 3 days | Ideal | Federal Hill Park, Walters Art Museum and Washington Monument, Mount Vernon Place |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Annapolis |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Annapolis and Washington, D.C. |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Baltimore add up to roughly 22–27 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are National Aquarium (3 hours), Historic Ships in Baltimore (2–3 hours) and Baltimore Museum of Art (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| National Aquarium | 3 hours | Inner Harbor |
| Historic Ships in Baltimore | 2–3 hours | Inner Harbor |
| Fort McHenry National Monument | 2 hours | Locust Point |
| Baltimore Museum of Art | 2–3 hours | Charles Village |
| Oriole Park at Camden Yards | 3 hours | Camden Yards |
| American Visionary Art Museum | 2 hours | Federal Hill |
| Federal Hill Park | 30–45 minutes | Federal Hill |
| Walters Art Museum | 2 hours | Mount Vernon |
| Washington Monument, Mount Vernon Place | 45 minutes | Mount Vernon |
| Fells Point waterfront | 2–3 hours | Fells Point |
| Lexington Market | 1 hour | Downtown West |
| B&O Railroad Museum | 2–3 hours | Southwest Baltimore |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on National Aquarium and Historic Ships in Baltimore |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for National Aquarium |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Annapolis and Washington, D.C. |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.4 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.9 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Baltimore with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | About 56 km | 4 days |
| Philadelphia | About 144 km | 3 days |
| New York City | About 273 km | 5 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Baltimore?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the Inner Harbor, the aquarium, Fort McHenry and an evening in Fells Point. A third day adds the free art museums in Mount Vernon and Charles Village, Hampden and a crab feast; add a day for Annapolis or D.C.
+Is a week too long in Baltimore?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Annapolis and Washington, D.C..