Baltimore is the perfect city to visit for a weekend trip. I am lucky to have a good friend who lives in Baltimore, so I visit at least once or twice per year. Baltimore is easily accessible by bus, flight, train. I always have such a fun time and am blown away by the amount of fun things to do in Baltimore! A weekend in Baltimore is the perfect amount of time to see some of the fun sites around the city.
Baltimore has some really quaint and cute neighborhoods filled with shops, restaurants, and galleries to explore. And of course, a Baltimore weekend trip wouldn’t be complete without checking out some of the amazing breweries in the area. The city has a cool brewery scene that has really taken off over the past few years.
Below I have outlined a few of my favorite things to do during a weekend in Baltimore. There are many activities on this list, so I recommend choosing just a few of the below activities (depending on your interests) for your Baltimore weekend trip.
Baltimore Weekend Trip: Top Things To Do
Visit Fells Point
Fells Point is a must-see neighborhood in Baltimore. Its cobblestone streets and historic buildings will make you feel like you have been transported to Europe.
Fells Point has a lot of cute shops and galleries to explore. Ten Thousand Villages is a cool shop with fair-trade crafts from all over the world. Seasoned Olive is a great spot to try award winning olive oils and balsamic vinegar.
While you are in Fells Point, be sure to grab a drink at Max’s Taphouse and a gourmet hot dog at Stuggy’s (their veggie option is amazing!).
Go Brewery Hopping
A Baltimore weekend trip is perfect for anyone who loves unique breweries and specialty beer. There are a ton of cool breweries to see while spending a weekend in Baltimore.
First- be sure to visit the Guinness Open Gate Brewery. It is the first Guinness brewery to open in the U.S. since the 1950’s. They have huge indoor and outdoor seating areas, great food options, and offer guided brewery tours. Be sure to make reservations in advance if you are interested in a brewery tour.
There are also some great breweries located in the neighborhood of Brewers Hill. Brewers Hill got its name because it used to be home to two major breweries, the Gunther Brewery and the National Brewery (Natty Boh). While these two breweries are no longer operating in Brewers Hill, there are some new breweries popping up in the neighborhood including Mobtown Brewing and Monument City Brewing.
Some other cool breweries in Baltimore include Ministry of Brewing (a ministry converted to a brewery) and The Brewer’s Art which has a dungeon-like basement.
Visit Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry is a star-shaped fort located in the heart of Baltimore. It was a major site in the War of 1812 where American soldiers defended the fort against British soldiers.
In addition, it is the place where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words to the U.S. national anthem after witnessing the battle.
Fort McHenry is also considered a national park, so by visiting Fort McHenry you can scratch an additional national park off your bucket list! If you like to visit national parks, then Fort McHenry is a must-add to your Baltimore weekend trip.
Eat!
Baltimore has amazing restaurants in a variety of cuisines. A few favorites include Annabelle Lee Tavern (an Edgar Allen Poe themed bar with excellent food) and Di Pasquale’s (a long standing Italian deli/cafe).
For Thai food, visit Thai Street Kitchen and be sure to try their Khao Soi (a northern Thailand curry soup dish with both soft and crunchy noodles).
In the same building as Thai Street Kitchen is Taharka Brothers which has amazing ice cream (both regular and dairy-free!).
Take the Baltimore Water Taxi
The Baltimore Water Taxi offers transportation to many sites along the Baltimore Inner Harbor including Canton, Fell’s Point, Fort McHenry, and the aquarium.
In addition, they offer BYOB Sunset and Twilight Cruises, and Brews Cruises. This is a really fun and unique activity to add to your Baltimore weekend trip.
For more info including tickets and schedules, check out their website.
Visit the American Visionary Art Museum
The American Visionary Art Museum is located in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood. Tickets to the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) range in price from $9.95 (students/children) to $15.95 (adults). An advanced ticket purchase with timed entry is required. AVAM is accessible via public transit or by taking the Baltimore Water Taxi to landing 4 (The Rusty Scupper).
As described on their website, AVAM “specializes in original thematic exhibitions that seamlessly combine art, science, philosophy, humor and especially social justice and betterment”. It is a very unique museum that is a must-add activity to your Baltimore weekend trip!
Explore the Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is home to many of the most popular sites in Baltimore (including the American Visionary Art Museum mentioned above). Some other sites to check out along the inner harbor include the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, and the Historic Ships of Baltimore.
Looking for more weekend trips? Check out:
