Baltimore Maryland Inner Harbor Fort McHenry and Crab Feasts

Why visit Baltimore

Baltimore played an outsized role in American history. Its shipyards built fast clipper ships, its port welcomed waves of immigrants, and in September 1814 its defenders at Fort McHenry held off a British naval bombardment, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the words of The Star-Spangled Banner.

Today the Inner Harbor is often cited as a model for waterfront redevelopment, and the surrounding neighborhoods each have a distinct personality, from historic Fells Point and Federal Hill to cultured Mount Vernon and quirky Hampden.

The Inner Harbor and Federal Hill

Inner Harbor promenade and Historic Ships

The brick promenade around the Inner Harbor links most of downtown's attractions, with paddle boats, harbor cruises and views of the skyline. Moored along its edge are the vessels of Historic Ships in Baltimore, led by USS Constellation, a sloop-of-war launched in 1854 and the last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy.

National Aquarium

On Pier 3, the National Aquarium opened in 1981 and is the most visited attraction in Maryland. Highlights include a multi-story Atlantic coral reef you descend around on a spiral ramp, an open-ocean shark tank, a rooftop tropical rain forest and an Australian river gorge exhibit.

Federal Hill Park

Rising above the south shore of the harbor, Federal Hill Park offers one of the best views in the city, looking across the water to downtown's towers. The hill served as a signal post for incoming ships and was fortified by Union troops during the Civil War.

American Visionary Art Museum

At the foot of Federal Hill on Key Highway, the American Visionary Art Museum is devoted to work by self-taught artists, from farmers and mechanics to people with no formal training at all.

Fort McHenry and the historic waterfront

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

On Locust Point, at the mouth of the harbor, star-shaped Fort McHenry was built in 1798. During the British bombardment of September 13 and 14, 1814, its garrison held firm, and the sight of a huge American flag flying at dawn inspired Francis Scott Key's poem.

Fells Point

East of downtown, Fells Point was established around 1763 and was once a busy shipbuilding port. Its cobblestone Thames Street, brick rowhouses, antique shops, music stores and many pubs now make it the city's most atmospheric neighborhood, especially in the evening.

Canton and Harbor East

Between Fells Point and downtown, Harbor East is a polished district of hotels, shops and restaurants on the water. Further east, Canton has a broad waterfront park, a promenade linking it to Fells Point and a neighborhood square full of bars and casual restaurants.

Mount Vernon, museums and markets

Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place

North of downtown, the Mount Vernon neighborhood centers on four elegant park squares arranged in a cross around Baltimore's Washington Monument, the first major monument honoring George Washington. Surrounded by grand nineteenth-century townhouses, churches and the Peabody Institute, it is one of the most handsome urban spaces in the country.

Walters Art Museum

On the edge of Mount Vernon Place, the Walters Art Museum holds a superb collection spanning ancient Egypt, Greek and Roman art, medieval manuscripts and armor, Renaissance and Baroque paintings and Asian art. General admission is free.

Baltimore Museum of Art

Further north, next to the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University, the Baltimore Museum of Art occupies a neoclassical building designed by John Russell Pope.

Lexington Market

Established in 1782, Lexington Market is one of the oldest public markets in the country and moved into a bright new market building in 2022, with around fifty merchants. It is the place to try a Baltimore crab cake, fresh oysters, local sweets and quick lunches.

B&O Railroad Museum

West of downtown, the museum long known as the B&O Railroad Museum occupies the old Mount Clare Station and its soaring roundhouse, on the site where the Baltimore and Ohio began America's first railroad.

Food and local flavors

Baltimore is a crab town. The classic experience is a tray of steamed blue crabs coated in spicy seasoning, eaten with mallets and plenty of paper towels, usually from late spring to early fall.

Other local favorites include pit beef, thinly sliced charcoal-grilled roast beef piled on a roll with horseradish sauce; Berger cookies, soft cake-like cookies topped with a thick layer of fudge; and the city's traditional snowballs, shaved ice with flavored syrup, in summer.

Where to stay

The Inner Harbor is the most convenient base for first-time visitors and families, with large hotels within walking distance of the aquarium, ships, Camden Yards and the convention center.

Harbor East and Fells Point suit couples and nightlife lovers who want waterfront walks, good restaurants and historic character, with boutique hotels in converted warehouses and old buildings.

Mount Vernon is ideal for culture lovers, with historic inns and smaller hotels near the Walters, the Washington Monument and Penn Station.

Best time to visit

Spring, from April to June, brings pleasant temperatures, the start of baseball season at Camden Yards, the Kinetic Sculpture Race and the Preakness Stakes, the middle leg of horse racing's Triple Crown.

July and August are hot and humid, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, though the harbor breeze, evening ballgames and summer festivals help.

Getting there and getting around

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is about ten miles south of downtown. From the terminal, the Light Rail runs directly to the Inner Harbor area, or you can take a free shuttle to the BWI rail station for Amtrak or MARC commuter trains to Penn Station.

Downtown, the Inner Harbor, Fells Point and Mount Vernon are walkable or a short ride apart. The Light Rail runs north to south through downtown, the Metro Subway connects downtown with the northwest, and free Charm City Circulator buses have served key neighborhoods; check current routes before relying on them.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start at the National Aquarium when it opens, then walk the Inner Harbor promenade and board USS Constellation and the other historic ships.

Second day

Take the water taxi or drive to Fort McHenry for a morning visit and a walk along the seawall.

Third day

Spend the morning in Mount Vernon, visiting the Washington Monument and the Walters Art Museum. Grab lunch at Lexington Market, then choose between the Baltimore Museum of Art and Hampden, or the B&O Railroad Museum for railroad fans.

Practical tips

• Book National Aquarium tickets online with a timed entry, especially on weekends and holidays.
• Take the Light Rail from BWI to avoid airport rental and downtown parking hassles.
• Check the Orioles and Ravens schedules; game days bring heavy traffic and higher hotel demand near the harbor.
• Steamed crabs are messy; wear clothes you do not mind splashing and ask staff to show you how to pick them.
• Stick to busy, well-lit streets at night and use rideshares for longer trips after dark.
• Pack light layers in spring and fall, and sunscreen, a hat and water in summer.

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