Things to Do in Baltimore: Museums, Games, Parks and Weekend Ideas (2026)

• Walters Art Museum: art from ancient Egypt to the 1900s in Mount Vernon. General admission is always free, including special exhibitions.
• Baltimore Museum of Art: a major modern and contemporary collection next to Wyman Park. General admission is free with a free ticket you reserve online or at the desk; some special exhibitions are ticketed.
• National Aquarium: the city's best known attraction, on the Inner Harbor piers. Ticketed; book ahead for weekends.
• American Visionary Art Museum: self-taught and outsider art at the foot of Federal Hill. Ticketed.
• Maryland Science Center: hands-on exhibits, a planetarium and an IMAX theater on the Inner Harbor. Ticketed.
• B&O Railroad Museum: historic locomotives in the original 1884 roundhouse, west of downtown. Ticketed.
• Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine: the fort whose defense in 1814 inspired the national anthem. The grounds, visitor center and film are free; the historic star fort area charges an entrance fee (cashless).

Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium sit next to each other a short walk from the Inner Harbor, and light rail stops at both. College Park and Annapolis are each about an hour's drive from downtown, depending on traffic.

• Inner Harbor promenade: a waterfront walk linking Harbor East, the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill. Free.
• Federal Hill Park: a hilltop park with one of the best views of the harbor skyline. Free.
• Patterson Park: about 130 acres in East Baltimore with a pagoda, a boat lake, an ice rink and sports fields. Free to enter.
• Druid Hill Park: one of the country's oldest large city parks, with a lake loop, trails and the Rawlings Conservatory. Free to enter.
• Harbor Connector: free commuter boats run by Baltimore City DOT, linking spots such as Fells Point (Maritime Park), Canton Waterfront Park, Locust Point and Federal Hill. Routes and hours changed in March 2026, so check the city schedule.
• Baltimore Water Taxi: the private, ticketed Water Trolley runs seasonal routes between Harborplace, Fells Point and Fort McHenry, plus on-demand rides booked in its app.

• Lexington Market: Baltimore's historic public market, rebuilt in a new building downtown, known for crab cakes and lunch counters. Check current hours before you go.
• Broadway Market: a renovated public market in Fells Point with food vendors and a seafood restaurant. A good stop on a Fells Point walk.
• Fells Point and Harbor East: cobblestone streets, waterfront restaurants and shops, all walkable from the harbor.

• Maryland Zoo: a large zoo inside Druid Hill Park. Ticketed.
• Port Discovery Children's Museum and the Maryland Science Center: indoor options near the harbor for rainy days. Ticketed.
• Patterson Park and Druid Hill Park: free playgrounds, open lawns and seasonal activities.

• Free culture day: the Walters in the morning, a walk up Charles Street through Mount Vernon, then the BMA in the afternoon.
• Harbor day: the National Aquarium or the Science Center, lunch in Fells Point, then a water trolley ride out to Fort McHenry when it is running.
• Game day: a walk from the Inner Harbor to Camden Yards or M&T Bank Stadium, with dinner in Federal Hill.
• Park day: the Druid Hill Park lake loop and the Rawlings Conservatory, or a lap around Patterson Park and the pagoda.
• Artscape: Baltimore's large, free outdoor arts festival returns each year, but dates and location have shifted in recent years. Check the official Artscape and city pages for the current schedule.

If being near the harbor, a big park or game-day walks matters to you, those are good starting filters for a home search. Our team can help you compare Baltimore neighborhoods by home type, price and commute, and walk you through the city's buyer programs.