Things to do in Baltimore for self travelers
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appAll self-guided activities
This self-guided audio tour explores Baltimore through African American history, art, civic memory, and waterfront heritage. It will especially interest first-time visitors who want to understand the city beyond its skyline and discover the people, movements, and cultural landmarks that shaped it. The route begins at the Inner Harbor, where Baltimore’s maritime identity comes into view, then heads to the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park and Broadway Pier to trace stories tied to the working waterfront. From there, the tour moves inland to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum and the Star Spangled Banner Flag House, before continuing to the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art. In the final stretch, you pass through Mount Vernon to the Walters Art Museum, then continue to the Billie Holiday Statue, Arena Players Incorporated, and Orchard Street Church, with a stop connected to civic life along the way. The tour ends at the Maryland Woman Heritage Center. Along the route, the most memorable experiences include standing where maritime history comes alive, encountering powerful museum storytelling, seeing tributes to Billie Holiday and Frederick Douglass, and feeling Baltimore’s rich mix of resilience, creativity, and community.
Welcome to Baltimore! This self-guided in-app audio tour is a real catch for history buffs as it narrates the city's past in detail across downtown historic sites. You will start the tour looking up at the hallmark Bromo Seltzer Tower, and get to know how a local pharmacist gave the city the Florence-like appearance. Baltimore is all about creepy stories! Go to Davidge Hall and get startled by how the early medical students procured cadavers for dissections back in the 19th century. Then, you will hear some gravedigger tales at the haunted Westminster Church and Cemetery, and see a monument to macabre writer Edgar Allan Poe who is buried there. After that, the tour will take you to the elegant Mount Vernon neighborhood and introduce you to one of the city's most prominent benefactors, Enoch Pratt. At the sett-stone square nearby, you will see the first monument to America's first president. Don't miss browsing the Walters Art Museum's premier collection of international art and artifacts next door! After enriching spiritually, you might want to summon the spirits in the city securing the story of the Ouija Spirit Board. You will finish the tour at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, a splendid gift from Enoch Pratt to Baltimoreans, and be amazed by the architecture and interiors of Baltimore's "haven in the city". Join this tour and relive the action-packed stories behind the old iconic facades of Baltimore!
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About Baltimore
The best tours to do in Baltimore with kids are:
The best indoor tours in Baltimore for rainy days are:
The best walking tours to do in Baltimore are:
The best tours in Baltimore are:
The must-see attractions in Baltimore for a first visit are:
Insider tips for visiting Baltimore
WeGoTrip Inc is a local guide who has been publishing tours since for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Baltimore on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Baltimore.
When I’m in Baltimore with kids, I always recommend the Inner Harbor area, but with a local twist: start at the National Aquarium early, then walk the waterfront promenade toward Rash Field. The new playground there is fantastic, and the harbor views keep adults happy too. For family-friendly things to do in Baltimore, this stretch works because everything is close, stroller-friendly, and easy to break up with snacks at Cross Street Market nearby. Locals know the harbor is best in the morning before it gets busy. If you’re sorting out attractions in Baltimore and what to see in Baltimore, this is one of the few tours in Baltimore you can really shape around your family’s pace.
When I visit Baltimore, I like to mix the waterfront with neighborhoods that feel lived-in. For standout attractions in Baltimore, I’d start in Fells Point for the cobblestones, small shops, and harbor views, then walk or take the water taxi toward Federal Hill for the skyline overlook locals actually use. If you’re deciding what to see in Baltimore, I’d add the American Visionary Art Museum and a stop in Hampden to browse The Avenue and grab a crab cake. Baltimore rewards wandering, which is why I think self-paced routes beat rushed tours in Baltimore. Early evening around the harbor is my favorite time to be out.
When I visit Baltimore, I go straight for the classics: steamed blue crabs dusted heavily with Old Bay, jumbo lump crab cakes with very little filler, and pit beef sliced rare with horseradish. Locals in Baltimore will argue over crab houses, but I always tell first-timers to try crabs only when they have time to sit, pick, and make a mess. For a real taste of Baltimore, don’t skip coddies or a lemon peppermint stick if you spot one at a market. If you’re using a travel guide Baltimore visitors trust, food should be high on your list of things to do in Baltimore, because the city’s identity is on the plate.
I usually tell friends to give Baltimore at least two full days, and three if they like museums, neighborhoods, and food as much as I do. In my travel guide Baltimore advice, one day disappears quickly between Fells Point, the Inner Harbor, and Federal Hill, especially if you stop for crab cakes or linger on the waterfront. A second day lets you explore Hampden, the Walters Art Museum, or the Visionary Art Museum without rushing. If you visit Baltimore only for a night, you’ll get a taste, but Baltimore really opens up when you have time to move between its neighborhoods.
When I’m exploring Baltimore alone, I usually head to Fells Point and just let the day unfold on foot. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Baltimore because the cobblestone streets, old waterfront warehouses, and coffee shops make solo wandering feel easy, not awkward. From there, I like walking the harbor promenade toward Harbor East and stopping anywhere that looks interesting. If you’re weighing attractions in Baltimore and what to see in Baltimore, this route gives you history, people-watching, and great views without needing fixed plans. Baltimore is also one place where self-paced days often feel more rewarding than structured tours in Baltimore.
When I’m showing someone Baltimore, I usually steer them to Fells Point, Mount Vernon, Hampden, and Federal Hill because each feels completely different. For attractions in Baltimore, Fells Point gives you cobblestones, harbor views, and old taverns; Mount Vernon has elegant squares and the Walters Art Museum; Hampden is where I go for quirky storefronts along The Avenue; and Federal Hill has one of my favorite skyline lookouts in Baltimore. If you’re deciding what to see in Baltimore, these neighborhoods tell the city’s story better than sticking to one district. I always think wandering them at your own pace beats most organized tours in Baltimore.
If I could time a trip, I’d visit Baltimore for Artscape, the Maryland Fleet Week and Flyover, or the Fells Point Fun Festival. Artscape brings huge outdoor installations and neighborhood energy, while Fleet Week makes the waterfront in Baltimore feel especially lively with ships, music, and great people-watching. In October, Fells Point Fun Festival is one of my favorite things to do in Baltimore because the historic streets actually suit the crowds and live music. My travel guide Baltimore tip is to book around one event but leave time for neighborhoods too, since Baltimore is at its best when a festival spills naturally into the rest of the city.
In my travel guide Baltimore advice, I usually say late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. May and early June feel especially good in Baltimore because the harbor breezes help, outdoor patios are busy, and you can walk Fells Point, Mount Vernon, or Federal Hill without summer humidity wearing you down. I also like October, when Baltimore has that crisp, lively feel and neighborhood festivals start popping up. If you visit Baltimore in midsummer, plan around the heat and spend more time near the water or in museums. For things to do in Baltimore, the city is simply easier and more enjoyable when the weather lets you wander.