A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Baltimore vs. Saint Louis for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Baltimore and Saint Louis can help you decide which place is right for you.

Baltimore

Baltimore is a colorful, historic, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Saint Louis

Saint Louis is a unexpected, fascinating, and under rated city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Baltimore and Saint Louis: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Baltimore than Saint Louis. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Baltimore is very popular for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Saint Louis attracts visitors for its museums. Baltimore is more touristy than Saint Louis and is known for the Inner Harbor and its many water based activities. It is also well known for the National Aquarium. Saint Louis is famous for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West.

How is Baltimore different from Saint Louis?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Saint Louis and Baltimore. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Saint Louis is a world-class destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Saint Louis are among the most recognizable in the world. There are a surprising number of museums around town. For art museums you should visit the Contemporary Art Museum, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. For history, the Griot Museum of Black History, the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum, and the Lewis & Clark Museum and Boathouse are all interesting. There are also science, educational, and children's museums. And of course, there's the iconic Gateway Arch.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Baltimore can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is known for its historic ships that are found in the Inner Harbor. There are many other museums around town as well like the American Visionary Art Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Many days can be filled exploring the many art, history, or science museums in the area.

Is the Food Better in Baltimore or Saint Louis? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Baltimore is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Baltimore makes for a great culinary experience. The city's location near the Chesapeake Bay means that there are many great local seafood dishes. Blue crab is a regional favorite and is often served as crab soup, crab dip, or crab cakes. You'll find many famous restaurants in the Inner Harbor, but if you want something more local you should check out Little Italy or Fells Point.

Saint Louis has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are some local dishes that originated here. Toasted ravioli had its start in St. Louis. There's also a St. Louis style pizza. Diners, cafes, and sandwiches are all part of the food scene and be prepared for cheese, meaty, and satisfying.

Is Baltimore or Saint Louis Better for Nightlife?

Baltimore is well known for nightlife. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

Baltimore is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a vibrant city with many night time activities like breweries, night clubs, and cocktail bars. There's even outside the box activities like ballroom dancing or arcade bars.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint Louis has a few options to choose from. Visitors often hang out in the downtown area, particularly around Washington Avenue, for the nightlife scene. Live music is popular, especially the blues, and there are many local venues worth checking out.

Is the Shopping Better in Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Saint Louis and Baltimore.

Baltimore is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Shopping is a great way to experience the different neighborhoods around town. For high end shopping head to Harbor East. For a bit more history check out Federal Hill. Hampden is known for its quirky style and Fell's Point is particularly popular with tourists.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Saint Louis. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Is Baltimore or Saint Louis Better for Families?

You'll find high quality kid-friendly activities in either Baltimore or Saint Louis.

Baltimore is a very kid-friendly city. The National Aquarium is a highlight for many families. It's an impressive aquarium with dolphins, sharks, puffins, and fish. Also in town is the Port Discovery Children’s Museum which has many interactive exhibits. The Maryland Science Center, the Maryland Zoo, and the many historic ships in the harbor also offer educational opportunities for kids. For something a bit different, check out Urban Pirates in the Inner Harbor.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Saint Louis. There's a surprising number of activities for kids around town. There's the St. Louis Zoo and the City Museum with many hands-on exhibits for kids. There's also the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary and several farms with animals and nature. Forest Park is an impressive urban park as well.

Is Baltimore or Saint Louis Better for Couples?

Both Baltimore and Saint Louis are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Baltimore makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Most visitors spend the majority of their time around the Inner Harbor. There are restaurants and romantic hotels that are perfect for couples. The city also has many entertainment options and other activities that make for a great date night.

Saint Louis is a good city for couples to visit. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.

Is Baltimore or Saint Louis Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Baltimore is a good destination for backpackers. However, Saint Louis is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Baltimore. There are a couple of hostels around town, but most international travelers overlook this city.

Saint Louis is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a number of affordable motels around town but no real hostels.

Is Baltimore or Saint Louis Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Baltimore and Saint Louis.

Public transit in Baltimore can get you to some places easily. There are water taxis and a free downtown bus service that's called the Charm City Circulator. MTA also operates a metro and a light rail system.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Saint Louis. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Is Baltimore or Saint Louis a more walkable city?

Baltimore is well known for its walkability. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Baltimore is very walkable. The downtown area is the most walkable part of the city. In particular, the Inner Harbor and Fells Point are particularly walkable.

Saint Louis is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are walkable, like the downtown area and the sections around the Gateway Arch.

For even more information, also check out Is Baltimore Worth Visiting? and Is Saint Louis Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Saint Louis or Baltimore?

How long in Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Baltimore and Saint Louis. In our opinion, Baltimore has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Baltimore than Saint Louis. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Baltimore, and 1-3 days is enough time in Saint Louis.

Families should spend more time in Baltimore than Saint Louis. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Baltimore, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Baltimore than Saint Louis. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Baltimore that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Baltimore than Saint Louis if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Baltimore.

One day in Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse city of Baltimore. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Saint Louis. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Saint Louis has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the historic destination of Baltimore. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the under rated destination of Saint Louis. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Baltimore or Saint Louis?

The colorful city of Baltimore offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the unexpected city of Saint Louis. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the museums. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Baltimore. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Saint Louis is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When comparing the travel costs between Baltimore and Saint Louis, we can see that Saint Louis is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Baltimore Expensive? and Is Saint Louis Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Baltimore has a larger population, and is about 90% larger than the population of Saint Louis. When comparing the sizes of Baltimore and Saint Louis, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Baltimore or Saint Louis?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Baltimore or Saint Louis in the Summer?

Both Saint Louis and Baltimore are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Baltimore in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Saint Louis for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Baltimore is generally around the same temperature as Saint Louis. Daily temperatures in Baltimore average around 78°F (25°C), and Saint Louis fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Baltimore. Baltimore usually receives less sunshine than Saint Louis during summer. Baltimore gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Louis receives 309 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Baltimore. In July, Baltimore usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint Louis. Baltimore gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Baltimore or Saint Louis in the Autumn?

Both Saint Louis and Baltimore during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Baltimore for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Saint Louis because of the shopping scene.

Baltimore is cooler than Saint Louis in the autumn. The daily temperature in Baltimore averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Saint Louis fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).

In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Baltimore often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Louis. Baltimore gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Louis receives 203 hours of full sun.

Baltimore usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Saint Louis. Baltimore gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Baltimore or Saint Louis in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Baltimore and Saint Louis. The winter months attract visitors to Baltimore because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Saint Louis this time of year.

It's quite cold in Saint Louis in the winter. The weather in Baltimore can be very cold. In the winter, Baltimore is much warmer than Saint Louis. Typically, the winter temperatures in Baltimore in January average around 32°F (0°C), and Saint Louis averages at about 31°F (-1°C).

Baltimore usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Louis during winter. Baltimore gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Louis receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Baltimore usually receives more rain than Saint Louis. Baltimore gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 2 inches (52 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Baltimore or Saint Louis in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Baltimore as well as Saint Louis. The activities around the city are the main draw to Baltimore this time of year.

In April, Baltimore is generally cooler than Saint Louis. Daily temperatures in Baltimore average around 54°F (12°C), and Saint Louis fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Baltimore this time of the year. In the spring, Baltimore often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Louis. Baltimore gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Louis receives 229 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Saint Louis. Baltimore usually gets less rain in April than Saint Louis. Baltimore gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Saint Louis and Baltimore