Things to Do in Baltimore for $25 or Less

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

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

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

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

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’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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

Traveling abroad doesn’t have to break the bank. Get a taste of Ireland at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, the only Guinness brewery in the United States. 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, like the Over-the-Moon Milk Stout. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Every Monday and Friday night, this Pigtown 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)

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.

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

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.