Indoor Activities in Baltimore
Poor weather doesn't need to put a damper on your Baltimore getaway.
As much as we’d love for your Charm City itinerary to include tours of our stunning Inner Harbor and scenic parks, we recognize that the weather doesn’t always allow for outdoor exploration. Luckily, there’s just as much fun to be had indoors in Baltimore. Spend a hot, cold or rainy day exploring a museum, watching a movie, getting your game on, unleashing your creativity or shopping for souvenirs—the water will be waiting for you when the sky clears.
Baltimore Museums for Every Interest
Leave bad weather at the door as you meander through Baltimore's many museums.
Kid-Friendly Museums
Get up close with all kinds of marine life at the National Aquarium.
A poor-weather day doesn’t have to squash your child’s play time. There are several kid-friendly museums in Baltimore that will keep your children’s bodies and brains active. With a giant ship, model diner, art studio, four-story Sky Climber and more, Port Discovery takes a hands-on approach to learning and encourages children to engage their imaginations. They’ll also get a hands-on experience at the National Aquarium’s Living Seashore exhibit, where you can pet horeshoe crabs, moon jellies and Atlantic stingrays. Across the water, the Maryland Science Center invites kids to dig for dinosaur fossils, touch a cloud, participate in lab experiments, try their hand at furniture making and more.
Art Museums
It follows that a city with as innovative and diverse a creative scene as Baltimore’s would be home to multiple art museums that uplift myriad mediums, cultures and artists. The American Visionary Art Museum is the place to discover unconventional works by self-taught artists and say hello to Fifi, the famous pink poodle that rolls through Charm City during the annual Kinetic Sculpture Race each May. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Museum of Art houses the world’s largest public collection of works by Henri Matisse, in addition to showcasing artists of color, women and local talents. And if you’re looking for a global art experience, head to the Walters Art Museum in Mount Vernon. Their collection of more than 36,000 objects spans seven millennia, and includes indigenous artifacts, Roman sarcophagi and Fabergé eggs.
Not your typical art museum, AVAM spotlights unconventional artists such as farmers, prison inmates, mathmeticians and more.
History Museums
At the Reginald F. Lewis museum, you’ll learn about the incredible accomplishments and struggles of African American Marylanders.
A “City of Firsts,” Baltimore is proud of its pioneering spirit and its contributions to American history, as evidenced by its multiple museums devoted to the subject. The Maryland Center for History and Culture contains the largest collection of Maryland history from pre-settlement to the present day, with their most prized item being the original manuscript of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” At the B&O Railroad Museum, you can ride a train along the first stretch of track laid in America and view the largest collection of rolling stock in the country, while the Baltimore Museum of Industry houses the oldest surviving steam tugboat and a spice grinder owned by Old Bay-inventor Gustav Brunn. Then there are the museums bringing marginalized history to the forefront, including the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, the Jewish Museum of Maryland, the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum and the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum.
Movie Theaters in Baltimore
Upgrade the ultimate rainy-day activity with a trip to one of these independent theaters.
Perhaps it’s not surprising that the home of John Waters would boast a rich film culture in which movies are viewed not only as a form of entertainment, but an invaluable art form and community-building activity. Consequently, you won’t find any stuffy, big box theaters here but rather independent cinemas that range from sleek and spacious to cozy and historic. Just a couple blocks from the water, Harbor East Cinemas offers a modern movie-watching experience with power recliners, seat warmers and gourmet concessions. In addition to hosting the annual Maryland Film Festival, the artfully-designed SNF Parkway Theatre holds several screenings of both locally-produced documentaries and films and popular movies throughout the year. The Senator, a 1939 Art Deco theater on the National Register of Historic Places, offers a more retro screening experience. Don’t let the old-timey marquee fool you, though; The Senator still plays current releases in addition to oldies and cult classics. Similarly, the historic Charles Theatre in Station North (one of John Waters’ favorite city spots) screens arthouse, independent and foreign films as well as the occasional Hollywood blockbuster.
Charm City's Playful Spaces
Unleash your inner child at Baltimore's indoor gaming and recreational spaces.
Indoor Sports
Patterson Pins is keeping duckpin bowling alive in Baltimore.
It can be hard to maintain a carefree, childlike spirit as an adult, but Baltimore’s indoor sports spaces invite you to play. Wait out extreme weather at Mustang Alley’s, an upscale 12-lane bowling alley and bistro with a chef-inspired menu and locally brewed beers. There’s also Patterson Pins, an 80s-style arcade with two duckpin bowling lanes and a video game-inspired cocktail menu. Rather practice your swing? Located near M&T Bank Stadium, Topgolf’s covered, climate-controlled hitting bays can help you improve your game any time of year. A fully-indoor option is Five Iron Golf in Harbor East, state-of-the-art Trackman technology and high-speed cameras create an unparalleled golf simulation experience. On your breaks, enjoy a drink at the bar or a round of pool. Finally, end your day at La Scala—a Little Italy mainstay with an indoor bocce court.
Game Bars
If you need more than drinks to distract you from the weather outside, head to a Baltimore game bar, starting with GameOn Bar + Arcade in Federal Hill. The brightly decorated spaces offers a nostalgic gaming experience, featuring Frogger, Pac Man, Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker and more. Down the street, Ropewalk Tavern provides a pool table, duckpin bowling, Skee-Ball and foosball hockey; it’s a great place to grab a bite, too, if you’ve worked up an appetite from all that gaming. Switch gears and head north for a calming interlude at No Land Beyond, a cozy board game bar. Use the stoplight coding system to select a game and settle into the relaxed atmosphere. Close out your day at Hampden’s Holy Frijoles, whose tagline says it all: “Viva Taco! Viva Pinball!” Pick a margarita and burrito, then have some fun with the restaurant’s 15 pinball machines. They are rotated out monthly, so you’ll always be surprised at the selection.
For a cozy night out, settle in with a board game at No Land Beyond. Photo by Ana Tantaros, Side A Photography
Must-See Baltimore Performances
Escape the outside world with an immersive comedy show, play or concert.
Comedy
Brighten up a dreary day with a trip to a Charm City comedy club. There are several places to have a laugh here, from The Port Comedy Club and Baltimore Comedy Factory to Mobtown Comedy shows at The Royal Blue and Zissimos Bar. Feel like unleashing your inner comic? Baltimore Improv Group hosts a class series and one-off workshops, as well as interactive shows, nearly every week, offering an opportunity to meet new people while exploring your silly side.
Theater
Listen to comedians and spoken word poets, such as Unique Robinson, perform at Motor House.
As a haven for the arts, it feels like there’s a theater around every corner in Baltimore. Whether you’re hoping to see the latest Broadway play or an indie black box production, we have a venue that fits your vibe.
Music
Baltimore’s live music venues range from intimate clubs for underground artists to huge arenas fit for A-list celebrities and national acts. There’s also our thriving classical and jazz scenes, largely anchored by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra—helmed by generational talent Jonathon Heyward—and Keystone Korner—one of the most famous jazz clubs in the country.
Art & Fitness Classes in Charm City
Spend an indoor day picking up a new skill at a Baltimore workshop.
Dance Classes
Learn how to Lindy Hop at Mobtown Ballroom in Station North. Photo by Jerry Almonte.
From swing dancing to two-stepping, Baltimore boasts a booming dance scene—but the best part is that it’s ultra beginner-friendly. Mobtown Ballroom and Cafe offers drop-in beginner Lindy Hop lessons on Monday and Friday evenings, followed by hours of social dancing. They also have a full kitchen and bar with a revolving door of menu items, making it the perfect all-in-one spot for a night out. Bmore Urbana hosts a Latin dance social every Thursday at Pigtown’s Mystique Brewing, with a beginner bachata class taking place beforehand. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Baltimore Honky Tonk invites you to grab your cowboy boots and learn the country two-step during their monthly live band dance parties at Waverly Brewing Co.
Group Fitness
Don’t let bad weather stop you from getting some movement in; there are plenty of places to sweat it out in Charm City. Those wanting a high-intensity workout can visit Corner Team, a boxing gym in the heart of Baltimore with $10 drop-in classes. There’s also GRIND Gym, located in the historic Power Plant building with unparalleled views of the Patapsco River, which offers daily passes for $25. For a calmer vibe, Tribe offers body dance, yoga, pilates, restorative movement and more based in the ancient Chinese philosophy of wuxing while Baltimore Breathwork hosts private and group meditations, sound baths and manifestation breathwork workshops.
Artistic Workshops
Unleash your creative spirit through a hands-on class taught by a Baltimore maker. Sculpt or paint your own pottery, build a terrarium, learn how to cook a Michelin-star worthy meal, try your hand at book binding and more.
