Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Baltimore?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Baltimore?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Baltimore, Maryland? Most people spend two to three days in Baltimore during their visit. After all, the vibrant city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, taste delicious cuisine, enjoy an evening out, and go shopping.

Baltimore, Maryland is a popular destination for its impressive aquarium and fun Inner Harbor. The city is filled with diverse neighborhoods and many different museums. There are historical ships that highlight the city's maritime past. There are also many excellent restaurants that let you sample the local seafood from the Chesapeake Bay.

Do you have one or two days to visit Baltimore? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Baltimore?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the vibrant city of Baltimore, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, taste delicious cuisine, enjoy an evening out, and go shopping. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside two to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Baltimore

Don't miss the National Aquarium during your trip to Baltimore, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. 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.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Federal Hill Food Tour ($71)
  • Little Italy and Jonestown Food Tour ($73)
  • Fells Point Food Tour in Baltimore ($74)

Baltimore is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The downtown area is the most walkable part of the city. In particular, the Inner Harbor and Fells Point are particularly walkable.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Baltimore?

To do everything that Baltimore has to offer, you'll need more than a weekend, but two or three days does allow you a bit more time to explore. You'll have a chance to experience at least some of the highlights. In addition to the great museums and landmarks and fun food, visitors can enjoy the shopping, big city activities, and local culture. By staying a night or two, you'll be able to take advantage of the most interesting activities found here, and we have some suggestions below.

Baltimore, Maryland, USA Baltimore, Maryland, USA

How to spend 2 days in Baltimore

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Baltimore will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Baltimore a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. 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.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. 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.

Public transit in Baltimore is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite 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.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Baltimore, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

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