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Things to Do in Baltimore for $25 or Less

It's easy to have fun in Baltimore without breaking the bank. Here are twenty things you can do in Charm City that won't cost you more than $25.

It’s not hard to get your money’s worth in Baltimore. The city offers a multitude of inexpensive experiences for visitors of all ages. You can get access to everything from award-winning museums to historical sites for less than $25. Want it even cheaper? Learn about our favorite free things to do. Read on to uncover some of Baltimore’s best-kept secrets that are easy on the wallet.

Hop Around

Discover Surprises Inside Baltimore's Museums

Port Discovery Children's Museum

The perfect place for learners of all ages, Port Discovery is one of the nation’s top children’s museums offering 80,000 square feet and three floors of interactive stations. Enjoy multiple role-playing exhibits, an indoor sports court, water activity room and so much more!

Admission: $21.95

Reginald F. Lewis Museum

Exterior of the Lewis Museum

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is a short walk from the Inner Harbor and Little Italy.

Explore the history and culture of African American Marylanders at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Celebrate the incredible accomplishments and learn about the struggles of several famous Marylanders, including Frederick Douglass. Past exhibitions have included works by Jacob Lawrence, an installation on Black superheroes and a presentation on the depiction of African American women.

Admission: $9 for children (free for children under 6); $12 for adults. Save $3 using the BoP Pass.

National Aquarium

Every Friday after 5 p.m. you can enjoy everything the National Aquarium, located in the heart of the Inner Harbor, has to offer at a very discounted price. Yup, that includes the award-winning Blacktip Reef and the colorful Jellies Invasions!

Admission (on Fridays after 5 p.m.): $19.95 for children; $24.95 for adults

The National Aquarium

Come face to face with sharks and stingrays at the National Aquarium! Photograph by Jason Varney.

The Baltimore Streetcar Museum

The north Baltimore neighborhood of Hampden is home to The Baltimore Street Car Museum. Enjoy rides, tours and exhibits exploring Baltimore streetcars, which operated between 1859-1944.

Admission: $10 for children; $15 for adults

Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum

Edgar Allan Poe’s spirit and legacy are celebrated everyday throughout Baltimore. So much so that we turned his home into a museum. Tour the tiny brick row house where Edgar Allan Poe wrote the stories that defined the modern genres of mystery and horror.

Admission: $5 for children; $10 for adults

Room in Edgar Allan Poe Museum

Explore the birthplace of the man whose stories defined the horror genre for decades, Edgar Allan Poe. Photograph by Justin Tsucalas.

National Great Blacks in Wax

In 1983, Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin founded the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum in downtown Baltimore with four wax figures. Today, the museum’s 10,000-square-foot facilities features more than 100 life-like figures of civil rights leaders, cultural icons and scenes from history like the full-scale model of a slave ship.

Admission: $12 for children (free for children under 3); $15 for adults. Save $2 using the BoP Pass.

Sankofa Children's Museum of African Cultures

Connected to Sankofa African & World Bazaar, the Sankofa Children’s Museum aims to educate all children on African history and cultures through play and fun interactive activities. Children can solve puzzles, play musical instruments and, occasionally, watch performances of traditional African dance from the Biney Group.

Admission: $12 for a two-hour tour. Buy one, get one free with the BoP Pass.

Visit Baltimore's Historic Buildings and Landmarks

Historic President Street Station

At the Historic President Street Station you can learn about Baltimore’s 19th century railroads and enslaved people’s journey to freedom along the Underground Railroad. You can even walk the secret passage President Lincoln once followed to avoid an assassination attempt.

Admission: FREE for children 12 and under, $2 for ages 13-18, $3 for adults

Fort McHenry National Monument

Step back in time and explore Fort McHenry, the birthplace of our National Anthem. The 42-acre park grounds are free to explore at your leisure, but the ticketed museum includes numerous war artifact exhibitions and historical information about the War of 1812.

Admission: FREE for children; $15 for ages 16 and up

Family in Fort McHenry

Travel back in time and explore the 42-acre birthplace of the National Anthem!

Enoch Pratt Free Library

One of the oldest free public library systems in the world, Enoch Pratt strives to provide equal access to informative materials and educational opportunities to all individuals. In addition to books and audio materials, the library offers a plethora of free services like legal counsel, tech support and one-on-one research sessions with expert librarians. Check their event calendar for free fun activities, like 3D printing, treat making and, of course, readings.

Admission: FREE

Historic Ships

Side view of the Lightship Chesapeake in the Baltimore harbor.

Play pirate for a day on board one of Baltimore’s historic ships.

Travel back in time and climb aboard one of the Historic Ships in Baltimore. Walk the decks, tour the rooms below and learn about naval history and life at sea.

Admission: FREE for children under 5; $7.95 for children; $19.95 for adults

The Washington Monument

View of historic monuments in downtown Mount Vernon.

The top of Baltimore’s Washington Monument offers one of the best views of Charm City.

Located in the historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Washington Monument and its surrounding park is a must-see in any season! Tour the free gallery to learn about George Washington and if you’re feeling up to it, grab your athletic shoes and climb the 227 stairs to the top of the monument. Trust us, the views can’t be beat!

Admission: $4 for children; $6 for adults

Savor the Flavors of Baltimore

Guinness Open Gate Brewery

Traveling abroad doesn’t have to break the bank. Get a taste of Ireland at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery. As the sister location to this Dublin-based beer company, Open Gate combines classic Irish and Baltimorean flavors to create one-of-a-kind brews. Take a free tour of the facility to learn how these original beers are made, or pay a small fee for a flight or bite to eat at the on-site pub. Guinness also regularly hosts free events like holiday movie nights and summer concerts, making it a fun and affordable destination for the whole family.

Tours: FREE; see menu for food and beverage prices

Aerial view of Guinness Open Gate Brewery and yard

Guinness Open Gate Brewery includes a brewery, taproom and restaurant.

Sagamore Spirit Distillery

Bottles at Sagamore Spirit Distillery

After touring Sagamore Spirit’s facility, treat yourself to a guided whiskey tasting! Photograph by Jason Varney.

Tickets to the Sagamore Spirit Distillery in Port Covington include an hour-long walkthrough where you can get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the distillation, aging and bottling processes. Guests 21+ can then enjoy a guided whiskey tasting at the conclusion of the tour.

Tours: $21.60

 

Farmers Markets

Colorful vegetables at the Farmers Market in Baltimore at the 32nd Street Market.

Colorful vegetables at the Farmers Market in Baltimore at the 32nd Street Market.

Each and every one of Baltimore’s farmers markets is a foodie’s paradise! Most are open spring through fall and these markets pop up all over the city throughout the week. Enjoy seasonal bounty, search through handcrafted souvenirs and groove to local live music.

Admission: FREE

Support Baltimore's Small Businesses

Lumière Candle Studio

Let your creativity run wild at Lumière Candle Studio as you blend fragrances, pour wax and label your own creation. The studio will provide everything you need to craft your own candle, from the jar to the wick and fragrances. BONUS: the studio is BYOB!

Classes: Starting at $20

KSM Candle Co.

a woman pours wax into a glass container

Create your own candles at a workshop led by KSM owner Letta Moore.

KSM Candle Co. offers vegan-friendly candles, incense, sprays and just about anything else you need to create an inviting atmosphere in your home. Take a little of Baltimore home with you, courtesy of the dozens of costready-made scented candle options, or create your own custom scent at a workshop.

Cost: $22 for a 12 oz candle, $12 for a 4 oz candle. Save 20% with the BoP Pass.

Drama MaMa Bookshop

Drawing on Baltimore’s rich literary historyDrama MaMa owner Alisa Brock curated a space built to inspire the next wave of budding authors. Sip on a latte while you browse for a newly released novel, re-read a classic, or write your own in one of Drama MaMa’s custom journals. For a fun experience, come to one of the Riverside bookshop’s “Wine & Bind” book-binding events to make your own.

Cost: $25 for a full-sized journal, $15 for a mini journal. Save 15% on large journals and planners with the BoP Pass.

GRIND Gym

You might not think to add a gym to your list of things to see while traveling to Charm City, but GRIND is worth the stop. Located in the historic power plant building on Pratt Street, the 14,000 square foot facility blends a vintage aesthetic with modern equipment, and wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows allow you to enjoy stunning views of the Inner Harbor while working out. The best part? You don’t have to sign any contracts or register for free trials; simply drop in whenever you’re ready to break a sweat.

Day pass: $20

Natasha's Just Brittle

At Natasha’s Just Brittle, crunchy brittle and melt-in-your-mouth chocolates are on the menu, but so is outstanding quality. Natasha’s treats are made with real, wholesome ingredients and a satisfying dose of hometown pride.

Cost: $12.99 for a half-bag of brittle. Save 20% with the BoP Pass.

Natasha's Brittle being made in Baltimore.

Natasha’s Brittle is handmade in Baltimore.

Berries by Quicha

LaQuicha Brown, owner of Berries by Quicha, opened her second location in Federal Hill in 2017 after great success at her first location in East Baltimore. Her gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries are irresistible with flavors like bacon, vodka-infused and cheesecake-stuffed.

Cost: $21.99 for a half-dozen custom box. Receive a free berry with the BoP Pass.

Find more Black-owned businesses and one-of-a-kind shops in Baltimore. 

Participate in Beloved Baltimore Traditions

Camden Yards

Camden Yards Entrance

Take yourself out to a ballgame and enjoy delicious ballpark foods at Camden Yards.

Believe it or not, you can enjoy a Major League Baseball game in Baltimore for as little as fifteen bucks! At the beautiful Oriole Park in Camden Yards you can indulge in one of many ballpark food favorites and prepare to take part in fun traditions such as declaring your allegiance to ketchup, mustard or relish in the great hot dog race.

Tickets: Starting at $15

Mobtown Ballroom

Every Monday and Friday night, this Station North cafe and ballroom hosts East Coast swing nights for beginners and professionals alike. The evening starts at 8 p.m. with a beginner lesson, followed by an open dance at 9 p.m. You can also enjoy beverages at the Mobtown bar and, on select evenings, live music.

Cover: $7 on Mondays ($10 with the lesson); $10 on Fridays (lesson included)

Baltimore Water Taxi

The oldest transportation system of its kind in the country, The Baltimore Water Taxi is the best way to travel to more than 30 attractions and neighborhoods during the warmer months. Enjoy hour-long sunset and twilight cruises around the harbor on select dates.

Tickets: $10 single use regular tickets; $16 Sunset & Twilight Cruises

A water taxi in the Inner Harbor.

A water taxi in the Inner Harbor.

Baltimore Heritage Tours

Baltimore Heritage is a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving and promoting Baltimore’s historic buildings and neighborhoods. Follow knowledgeable tour guides while riding bikes, climbing scaffolding and walking up and down hilly streets all across the city, all while learning about the rich heritage of our more than 200 neighborhoods.

Tickets: $10

Inner Harbor Paddle Boats

Spend a warm summer day on the water by climbing aboard a Chessie dragon paddle boat, named for the Chesapeake Bay on which they cruise. Located at Pier 1 on the Inner Harbor, these paddle boats are operated by Living Classrooms Foundation, which uses the enterprise to support its job training programs for local youth.

Tickets (Wednesday through Friday): $20

The Loch Ness Monster has nothing on Chessie, named for the Chesapeake Bay.