Baltimore is such a beautiful place to visit for tourists for there are lots of wonderful attractions, historical landmarks, delicious foods, and great people. What’s even more amazing is that a lot of these attractions you may enjoy without hurting your budget. Indeed, as a matter of fact, a lot of attractions in Baltimore are for free for locals and tourists to enjoy.
Scott Rouch has compiled the most affordable to free things to do while having a vacation in the Charm City in his post at Where Traveler. These activities are a combination of arts, history, transportation, foods and so much more. Browse some of the attractions below to find out how awesome they are.
22 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Baltimore
Charm City lives up to its name with its diversity of free and inexpensive attractions.
The charm of Baltimore is on display from arrival and it doesn’t take much digging to find free and cheap things to do.
It doesn’t cost much to discover the city’s historic churches, libraries and monuments which are spread through the town and art lovers will be enticed by the quality and volume of works at city museums.
Art/Museums
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American Visionary Art Museum: This one-of-a-kind museum on the bottom of Federal Hill houses the best works from self-taught artists. About five to 10 percent of the museum’s collection is on display outside—that you can see for free—including the “Giant Whirligig,” a three-ton, multicolored wind-powered sculpture.
Artscape: Each summer for three days, Baltimore explodes with art as the city plays host to America’s largest free arts festival. The 350,000-plus Artscape festival-goers experience every medium both indoors and outdoors from traditional performances by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to experimental music, live concerts, exhibitions, dance and so much more.
Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum/Statue: The Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum pays homage to local son and baseball hero Babe Ruth with exhibits like “Babe Batted Here,” with artifacts including his jersey from Baltimore’s St. Mary’s Industrial School and “The Historic House,” with the upstairs room in the house where Ruth was born. Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 and the statue of Ruth—or “Babe’s Dream”—stands just outside the Eutaw Street entrance. he’s been there since 1998.
Baltimore Museum of Art: Just three miles north of the Inner Harbor, the Baltimore Museum of Art is free to the public, open Wednesday through Sunday. The museum is known for its historic, modern and contemporary art and has works from distinguished artists like Matisse and Gauguin. Wednesday at the museum means free guided tours of the exhibitions and collections. Relax in lush garden settings while touring two sculpture gardens covering almost three acres.
Evergreen Museum and Library: The Evergreen Museum and Library has 48 rooms in a lavish Gilded Age mansion, home to more than 50,000 belongings of the Garrett family, who made their riches in the B&O Railroad. Find items such as rare books and decorative arts or tour the property’s lush 26 acres.
Maryland Institute College of Art: This degree-granting art college connects with the public by playing host to exhibitions and events from a diverse group of artists including students. Find works of art in 11 galleries and spaces or attend performances in three separate event venues.
Attractions
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Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower: It’s easily one of Downtown’s most recognizable structures, standing 15 stories tall, and when it was built in 1911 it was the city’s tallest building. Now, the tower showcases local and regional artists with free exhibitions. The museum room on the 15th floor features Ernest Dimler’s multigenerational collection of Bromo Seltzer bottles. Explore the tower on a Saturday open house and take a guided tour to the clock room ($5 donation) on the hour from 11:30 am-2:30 pm.
Cylburn Arboretum: Tour the grounds of the 207-acre public park and explore over 20 themed gardens or walk along three miles of wooded trails. Take a guided tour with a Cylburn docent or go off on your own with a free self-guided cell phone tour.
Enoch Pratt Free Library: Dating from before 1900, the headquarters for the city’s library system on Cathedral Street takes up a city block. While one of the country’s oldest libraries, the main location is more than up-to-date offering eBooks and audiobooks in addition to the traditional variety. There are children’s story times, free films and career advancement seminars free to the public.
Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center: The Eubie Blake National Jazz and Cultural Center engages diverse audiences through exhibits, dance workshops, film series and much more. Explore the center’s art galleries to see the best from local artists, attend programs or workshops or head to the open mic on Be Free Fridays, the last Friday of every month.
Federal Hill Park: Federal Hill Park, just blocks away from and with gorgeous panoramas of the Inner Harbor, is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. As a key overwatch position during the Civil War and War of 1812, this public park is a great picnic area with a view of the city. Afterward discover Federal Hill, walking down cobblestone sidewalks to find a range of locally owned shops and restaurants. The Cross Street Market is the spot to grab seafood or produce during the day then becomes a lively night spot after dark.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine: Visit the military installation that defended Baltimore during the war of 1812, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Transportation
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Charm City Circulator: Get to key parts of Baltimore City for free on the Charm City Circulator. These 30 hybrid electric shuttle buses travel along four routes making stops every 10 to 15 minutes—including the Inner Harbor and Fell’s Point—and connects to rail and subway lines.
Baltimore Water Taxi: The Baltimore Water Taxi is the perfect way to beat the heat of the street while getting where you’re going. Explore the harbor’s 17 landing sites an unlimited number of times with an all-day pass ranging from $6-$14.
These are awesome places to visit while in Baltimore without hurting much of your budget. Tourists love the historical value of some of these landmarks and artworks found in these museums. If none of these attractions piqued your interest, then these best things to do in Baltimore posted by Vacation Idea could convince you do stroll the Charm City a little longer.
25 Best Things to Do in Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland, offers an array of unique attractions, great museums, hotels, wedding venues and excellent restaurants for couples and families planning a weekend getaway. View ancient works of art at The Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art, stroll through the beautiful Sherwood Gardens, and dine at excellent seafood restaurants. If you are traveling with children, best things to do in Baltimore, MD, include the Maryland Science Center, the Maryland Zoo and the National Aquarium.
1.The Walters Art Museum
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Founded in 1934, the Walters Art Museum, located on North Charles Street in Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon Cultural District, is one of the top Baltimore, Maryland attractions. William Walters and his son Henry Walters organized the museum’s collection: the artwork was initially displayed in the family’s mansion, but a new palazzo-style building was later constructed in the early 1900s to house the collection.
The Walters Art Museum contains art from ages of antiquity to the 20th century, including Asian, Byzantine, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artwork. The museum offers free walk-in tours as well as family and school tours led by trained volunteer docents. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday.
2.The Maryland Zoo
After a visit to the Maryland Zoo, you will feel like you’ve gone on a voyage through the African savannahs. At this incredible zoo, you have the opportunity to visit Samson the elephant or Hassan the lion and his cubs, Luke and Leia. Get a sense of the Panamanian jungle when you visit endangered Panamanian Golden Frogs in the Chimp forest. If you are bringing kids, take them to the Giraffe Feeding Station, where the long-necked creatures will literally slurp the food right out of their hands.
If you are looking for fun things to do in Baltimore with kids, be sure to stop by the zoo. There are more than 1,500 animals of 200 species in the zoo, and you can see many varieties of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles in the settings that replicate their natural habitats. The Maryland Zoo is located in Druid Hill Park and sits on about 160 acres of land. It was established in1876, and it is the third oldest zoo in the U.S.
1876 Mansion House Drive, Baltimore, Maryland, Phone: 410-396-7102
3.Things to Do in Baltimore: National Aquarium
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Opened in 1981 as part of Baltimore’s urban renewal project, the National Aquarium is located on East Pratt Street on the Inner Harbor. This enormous aquarium holds over two million gallons of water and is home to more than 17,000 aquatic animals representing over 750 species.
In addition to the aquarium, there is also a 4D Immersion Theater and several exhibits of interest, including the open ocean shark tank and the marine mammal pavilion. The National Aquarium offers several guided tours such as the “Insider’s Tour” and the “Shark Behind the Scenes Tour.” It also offers programs such as “Dine and Discover” and “Sea and Tea.” If you are wondering what to do in Baltimore on a rainy day, the aquarium is a great place to visit.
501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 410-576-3800
4.Maryland Science Center
Located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the Maryland Science Center helps visitors experience science as something fun, exciting, and inspiring. The center’s mission is to create awareness about the important role science plays in day-to-day life and to motivate young people to consider pursuing careers in science. The Center features a large modern IMAX theatre, the Ramsey observatory, and many permanent and temporary exhibits.
The Maryland Science Center is one of the best things to do in Baltimore with kids. Kids can easily get hooked on science after looking through a telescope, playing with real lab equipment, or watching the inside of their own bodies on a special screen. The Maryland Science Center is great fun for both children and grown-ups. Its many outreach programs and interactive exhibits attract huge numbers of teachers and students.
These are affordable attractions and right just downtown Baltimore, very accessible for tourists who want to explore Baltimore. Majority of these attractions involves arts, culture, and history, so if these are your thing, Baltimore is the right place to live. If you’re looking for some nightlife, there are also cheap but cool places to hang out at night in Baltimore. Jasmine Eppes of Culture Trips has the list of some of the affordable but fun nightlife activities in Baltimore.
Where to Go for Nightlife in Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland, is another city that doesn’t sleep. The nightlife is vibrant and exciting, and there are many places to bar hop and dance until the sun rises. A majority of this nightlife takes place downtown so you can make a night of it and stay overnight to be fresh and ready to go in the morning.
One of the best things to do in downtown Baltimore is to go for a night out at the theatre. Downtown, there is the Hippodrome Theatre, which has an extensive history, as well as an exciting line-up of theatrical productions. Many shows that are on Broadway now have a traveling cast that tour the United States of America, and bring these amazing productions to people who aren’t able to make it to New York City. This is a great way to not only experience culture, but you’ll also be able to see an unbelievable live play with a talented cast.
Once you leave the Hippodrome Theatre, feel free to move on to Power Plant Live!, which is located near the Baltimore Inner Harbor. At Power Plant Live!, be prepared to be entertained with a variety of things to do, such as bar hopping, eating a mixture of different foods, and enjoying plenty of alcoholic beverages from the various bars inside. It’s the perfect nightlife scene as there are plenty of places to party.
After leaving Power Plant Live!, why turn in for an early night? Stop by Nacho Mama’s in Canton for a hubcap margarita. A hubcap margarita is exactly what the name states – a margarita-filled hubcap with a variety of juices mixed in to make the perfect margarita for you and your friends to enjoy. The Mexican food that’s also served at this restaurant is spicy, cheesy, and delicious in nature. The food ties in perfectly with the margarita hubcap so that you’ll enjoy the margarita even more. Learn more here…
With a combination of arts, culture, history and the modern nightlife, Baltimore is certainly an amazing place to visit for tourists, as well for those who want to stay for good. Baltimore has more to offer than meets the eye. There are still lots of stuff that needed to be discovered, and that can only be done if you stay here longer.
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