Free Things To Do in Baltimore

Explore the Baltimore Museum of Art’s internationally renowned Cone Collection and the largest and most significant collection of Henri Matisse’s works in the world—all for free. Outside the BMA’s walls lies the lavish Sculpture Gardens, featuring two terraced gardens, fountains and 34 sculptures. Every Sunday, the museum hosts free drop-in art making workshops from 2-5 p.m. in the Joseph Education Center, which also has several interactive artworks that will appeal to all ages.

The Baltimore Museum of Art’s Sculpture Gardens are open to the public.

Get in touch with your inner artist by exploring free exhibitions at Baltimore’s School 33 Art Center. The exhibitions showcase the work of artists from the mid-Atlantic region.

Located in the former Ripley’s Believe It or Not Space on the second floor of the Inner Harbor‘s Light Street Pavilion, Creatively Black Baltimore is a groundbreaking free art exhibition that houses more than 400 works of art by 80 Black Baltimore-based creatives. The breadth of sculptures, multimedia pieces, graffiti, portraits, photography and textiles underscores the vibrancy and diversity of Black expression, and their placements in each room speak to the artists’ willingness to collaborate with and inspire one another. And if you love what you see, you can take it home with you! All the art featured in Creatively Black Baltimore is for sale via QR codes pasted below each piece.

The Walters Art Museum’s popular Chamber of Wonders holds hundreds of small artifacts and preserved animals and insects.

The Walters Art Museum owns more than 36,000 pieces of art and offers free general admission. Enjoy the displays of knights’ armor, ancient statues, colorful paintings, Fabergé Eggs and the Chamber of Wonders. The museum hosts a variety of free family programs as well, from drop-in art classes on Saturdays and Sundays to museum tours with family-friendly guides.

The exterior of the American Visionary Art Museum is almost as interesting as what you’ll find inside. The building is surrounded by colorful and interesting sculptures that you can explore for free at any time. Museum admission fees apply for access to indoor galleries.

The sparkling mosaic “Cosmic Galaxy Egg” by Andrew Logan at the American Visionary Art Museum lends itself to a great photo op.

The Enoch Pratt Free Library is one of the oldest free library system in the country, and it continues to enchant book lovers of all ages with its immensity. The library has 22 neighborhood branches that feature free classes, musical performances, children’s story times, special guest speakers and more throughout the year.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the first metropolitan cathedral built in the United States. This historic site contains neoclassical architecture, a 17th-century organ, stunning artwork and more.

On-campus galleries exhibit student work as well as visiting artists that you can enjoy for free at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

MICA, the Maryland Institute College of Art, in Baltimore’s Bolton Hill neighborhood is recognized as one of the nation’s top art schools.

You don’t need to enter Fort McHenry to understand how it inspired our national anthem. Visit the surrounding park to take in the grandeur of the fort for free and stop in the Visitor Center to discover the history behind its walls. (It’s worth the entrance fee, though, just to stand atop the ramparts and check out the other exhibits at the star-shaped fort.)

Aerial view of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.

A tribute to former president George Washington, the Washington Monument is the centerpiece of Mount Vernon. Take a virtual tour and learn about the history free of charge with touchscreens at the base of monument. Admission applies to climb to the top of the tower.

Climb to the top of the Washington Monument for breathtaking Baltimore views.

Climb aboard, tour and learn the fascinating history of any one of the massive ships that visit Baltimore’s Inner Harbor each year. As host to about 24 ships annually, the harbor provides a port for tall ships (large, traditionally-rigged ships) and naval vessels from all over the world, as well as Baltimore’s very own Pride of Baltimore II. Visit Sail Baltimore‘s website to view the schedule of incoming ships.

Each year, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor hosts dozens of visiting tall ships, which are open for public tours once docked.

Edgar Allan Poe and his wife, Virginia Clemm, are buried in the Westminster Hall cemetery. While you’re paying your respects to this great American writer, keep a look out for gravestones belonging to other prominent Maryland citizens.

Dedicated to Baltimore businessman Pierce John Flannigan III and located near Pier 5 Hotel, Pierce’s Park is much more than just a park. It’s an imaginative space of discovery where children can interact with locally-created sculptures intended for climbing, learn homonyms engraved in the sidewalk and make music with the metal sculptures.

On Thursdays in July and August at 8:30 p.m., grab a blanket or a folding chair and catch a free film on Federal Hill. Flicks from the Hill is sponsored by the American Visionary Art Museum, and admission into the museum is free on these days starting at 5 p.m. You can also catch free movies on The Lawn at the Baltimore Peninsula and at various city parks through the Rhythm & Reels series.

The Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar offers the best deals on produce, herbs, flowers, fruit and more. The market, located underneath the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday and Saratoga streets, is open every Sunday from April to late December. Enjoy musicians, street performers, food samples and people-watching. And while you’re at it, check out some of our other farmers markets around the city.

Find fresh produce and flowers at the 32nd Street Farmers Market in Waverly.

It’s a fountain you can actually play in! Come down to the Inner Harbor to let the little ones cool off with the Walter Sondheim Fountain’s 53 interactive water jets. While they play, you can sit back and enjoy people-watching and take in breathtaking views of the harbor.

On the first Thursday of the month from May to September, WTMD hosts its First Thursdays concert series in Canton Waterfront Park. Come by to meet fellow music lovers, to see a live show and grab food from some of the best food trucks in town.

Baltimore is lucky enough to have plenty of green space within city limits. Enjoy a leisurely picnic or go for a jog through one of our public parks like Patterson, Druid Hill, Federal Hill or Canton Waterfront. Find the perfect park for you.

Where can you find an open-air, rooftop observatory in the middle of the city? Just head to the Maryland Science Center, where you can stargaze like an astronomer with the help of the center’s 10-foot telescope. Fun fact: The refurbished telescope was built in 1927!

The Maryland Science Center’s rooftop observatory holds the Clark Telescope, which can achieve a magnification of up to 300X.

• Baltimore Museum of Art
• Walters Art Museum
• School 33 Art Center
• Enoch Pratt Free Library
• Baltimore Basilica
• MICA
• Fort McHenry
• Washington Monument
• Westminster Hall
• Pierce’s Park
• Go to a farmers market
• Walter Sondheim Fountain
• Walk around the Inner Harbor
• See the view from Federal Hill
• Go mural hunting