Greetings, Internet Stranger, and welcome to a one day in Baltimore itinerary. I’m so excited to take you to Baltimore, which is a truly lovable city once you get to know it. Quick, what do you think Baltimore, Maryland is most famous for? Is it the harbor? The crabs? The Orioles?
Want to cut right to the chase, Internet Stranger? The best activity in Baltimore is this Fells Point Food Tour with tons of five-star reviews!
Or if you want to explore all tours in Baltimore, check this search engine right here to find the best deals!
Well, no matter what you said, you’re in luck! We’re going to fit all of those amazing attractions and more into our one day in Baltimore itinerary! Pretty soon, you’ll be saying that Baltimore is one of the most underrated cities in the country.
One Day in Baltimore Itinerary
Where to Stay
We’re going to spend our whole morning of this one day in Baltimore itinerary at the harbor area, so why not pick a hotel there as well? That way we can sleep in as much as possible. I suggest the Staybridge Suites in the Inner Harbor.
The rooms are absolutely massive, comfortable, and clean, there’s free Wifi, coffee, and breakfast, and the location was perfect for exploring all the main attractions like the Aquarium, the harbor, and Camden Yards. Plus, the staff was very helpful and took great care of my luggage when I arrived early in the morning.
To book this hotel for your one day in Baltimore itinerary, just click here.
And if you’d rather explore other options in Charm City,
you’ve got over a hundred other options to choose from here.
This search engine will help you find the perfect place to stay during your one day in Baltimore itinerary. With hundreds of options to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find something for your schedule and budget.
One Day in Baltimore Itinerary
Morning: National Aquarium
So before coming to Baltimore, I would have thought that the National Aquarium would be in Washington DC. After all, that is our nation’s capital. But it turns out that the National Aquarium is really in Baltimore!
Not only that, but this aquarium is the most popular tourist attraction in the entire state of Maryland! So it’s just sick and wrong to have a one day in Baltimore itinerary and not include this on your list! I suggest buying your tickets in advance online here because the lines will be quite long. Like I said, it’s popular!
We sadly do not have time to see every single fish and fish-adjacent creature in the National Aquarium on this itinerary. But we will have time for me to teach you…
Three Fun Facts: National Aquarium
1) What’s the Most Unique Part of the Aquarium?
Since we’re in Maryland, I would say that’s the section dedicated to the different types of waters that you find in the Old Line State. (The Old Line State is Maryland’s kind of confusing nickname. Does anyone know what it means?) You’ve got the Assateague Beach, the Chesapeake Marsh, and the Allegheny Stream, among many others.
You’ll find replicas of all these different aquatic environments at the National Aquarium. And of course, we all know what water dweller to look out for when we’re in Maryland, don’t we?
Yes, it’s our old friend the crab! Doesn’t he look delicious? But do not try to eat him. They’ll absolutely kick you out of the National Aquarium for that.
2) What About More Exotic Plants and Animals?
They’ve got that at the National Aquarium too! Head to the rainforest exhibit, where you can meet this gorgeous Polly. I would not have expected birds to live at an aquarium, but it’s nice that the National Aquarium is so inclusive.
You can also head to the Australia exhibit and meet some fabulous turtles. My favorite was the Irwin’s turtle, which had been discovered by the late Steve Irwin.
But I can’t be sure that this turtle pictured above is actually the Irwin turtle. It could be one of the other turtles in the exhibit. One thing I learned is that it’s hard to tell one turtle from another.
3) What Are the Coolest Looking Animals?
There are so many, it’s hard to know where to start! I was fairly amazed by this creepy, lurking catfish… Do you think his whiskers are sharp and pointy?
And of course, no aquarium is complete without a few Nemos floating around. All the children at the aquarium will flip for these clownfish, guaranteed.
I’m pretty sure this fish is a ghost. BOO!
But my favorite creature in the aquarium were the multi-colored poisonous dart frogs. The coolest was this white guy above who is apparently known as the Terrible Poison Dart Frog.
That’s so mean! Just because he is a poisonous dart frog doesn’t mean he has no feelings! But apparently his skin has enough poison to kill 10 people, so he kinda deserves that name.
24 Hour Tip
Don’t miss the 4D movies at the aquarium! They cost extra, but they are worth it. I saw one called Being Dolphin and I got my face splashed with water while my seat tossed around as I stared as some majestic aquatic mammals. It was like the world’s prettiest roller coaster.
One Day in Baltimore Itinerary
Early Afternoon: Harbor Cruise
Now that we’ve seen all the wonderful creatures that inhabit the deep, it’s time to get up close and personal with the water itself! (I mean, don’t literally jump into the water. I’m pretty sure that’s illegal, even in Baltimore.)
Check rates and availability of this cruise by going right here!
No, we’re going to float on the water itself on a gorgeous Harbor Cruise! I suggest booking in advance, so you’ll be sure to have a spot on the pleasure cruise.
You can go ahead and book a spot on this tour by going right here.
I don’t want to spoil all the sights and smells on the tour, but I can guarantee you’ll see some of Baltimore’s finest hotels…
An old Domino’s factory that once received the largest shipment of sugar ever…
The Andre the Giant of Boats…
And finally, Jimmy Carter’s old submarine.
24 Hour Tip
Truly, there is something for everyone.
Don’t forget to reserve your spot on the boat in advance right here.
And eat a big breakfast at your hotel in the morning and don’t get lunch. We have a big late afternoon of eating ahead of us!
One Day in Baltimore Itinerary
Late Afternoon: Fells Point Food Tour
Sometimes it fills my heart with sadness to think that there are people who don’t know how pretty Baltimore is. So that’s why I’m taking you to Fells Point, which is arguably the prettiest part of Baltimore, for a fabulous food tour!
Check rates and availability of this great tour by going right here!
The tour was completely booked up the day I attended, so I recommend buying your ticket in advance.
You can reserve a spot quite easily by going here.
I can’t guarantee that you’ll eat at the exact same restaurants as I did, but I can be sure you’ll have tons of fun. Then get ready to enjoy your guide, your other companions, and your…
Approximately Top 5: Fells Point Food Tour
1) Tavern Time
Our first stop was at this adorable tavern where we noshed on elevated bar snacks. On top, you see caramelized Brussels sprouts which managed to be sweet, savory, and ever so slightly bitter.
Below that, you have crab dip tater tots because people in Maryland put crab dip on everything. I once had to stop a Baltimore woman from putting crab dip on her baby’s head.
Drinks are extra, but I highly recommend ordering the Crush, which is a specialty cocktail all over Fells Point. It’s not hard or fancy to make; you just need juice, vodka, Triple Sec, and tons of ice. You could have about three of these things before you noticed you were tipsy.
Of course, if you’d rather have a beer, you need to order local favorite Natty Boh. That’s just science.
2) Fancy Restaurant
We’re going to go a little more upscale with this place, a restaurant that actually opened during the pandemic. It’s a tavern like our first stop, only a more upscale version.
And what says upscale tavern more than sliders? Especially, fried chicken sliders that are delightful crispy. These babies are just a smaller version of the full-sized chicken sandwich, but I don’t think anyone could eat a whole chicken sandwich and still finish the food tour.
We were served a plethora of fancy bar snacks along with the sandwich: house-made pickles, and chicken corn dogs made with maple chicken sausage and apple cider mustard. With the maple and apple together, these corn dogs tasted like autumn just exploded in your mouth.
This restaurant is also famous for cocktails, so most of us ordered one with our food, even though it was extra. Mine was the ouroboros, which sadly didn’t feature a snake eating its own tail.
However, it did feature mezcal, aperol, chartreuse, and egg white, and it was both lovely to look at and smoky and flavorful to drink, so I can’t complain too much about the lack of snakes.
3) Denzel’s Sharkbargrill
I’m not 100 percent sure what a Sharkbar is, but I am 100 percent sure that Denzel’s is the place to go in Baltimore if you want to eat some delicious Jamaican food. The owners just took over the restaurant a little over a year ago and are super-involved and friendly. How often do you get to meet the head chef of a restaurant personally?
But enough about people! Let’s move on to the really important stuff: food! Above, you see all the deliciousness you get to eat on the Fells Point food tour. There’s authentically spicy jerk chicken, comfy rice and beans, and snappy fresh veggies. I couldn’t even finish all of it because we still had our dessert stop left. But I would come back any time and try the jerk chicken.
I don’t happen to be Jamaican, but you don’t have to take my word that it’s authentic. There was a Jamaican couple on the tour, and they complimented the food and even bought some special bread pudding to take some home with them. That’s high praise indeed!
4) Dessert!
Our dessert, however, will not be bread pudding. Instead we’re going to an adorable local hangout, for a chocolate dessert and a special cocktail!
This was a little like an adult version of peanut butter and jelly with milk, except instead of a milk, you get a White Russian cocktail. Mmmm! The Dude abides, and so do we.
And look at that peanut butter and jelly! It’s not just a normal sandwich; it’s a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich made with French toast instead of bread. (If for some reason you are not able to go on the food tour, I definitely recommend going to Todd Conners and getting this treat for brunch.)
Check rates and availability of this great tour by going right here!
24 Hour Tip
Those are all the secrets of the food tour that I can share with you for now.
You can go ahead and book the tour by going here to find out the rest!
One Day in Baltimore Itinerary
Evening: Baseball at Camden Yards
Ok, if you’re not in Baltimore during baseball season, this will be a little tricky. You can do something ordinary like go to a movie or see a show instead. But if you are in Charm City during the warmer months, you should definitely head over to Camden Yards and watch the much beleaguered Orioles try to get a win at home. It’s just a beautiful ball park.
Look at how charming and all-American that is! Even the cheap seats have great views. And there were plenty of cute special events and videos during the game, so even if you’re not incredibly into baseball, there will be something to watch. My favorite was a video of the Orioles attempting to draw a picture of the state of Maryland without looking at a map. (It’s…not an easy state to draw.)
The Orioles are not the greatest team, so I can’t promise they will win while you are there. But if their best player, Cedric Mullins, is playing, at least you’ll enjoy watching him smack the baseballs around.
And in fact, when I attended, the Orioles did beat their rivals, the nearby Washington Nationals. This rivalry is so vicious that a punching fight broke out near me and security had to break it up. (I was not involved in the punching…or was I?)
Anyway, after the Orioles won, the fans were so jubilant that we all spilled into the streets and starting cheering all the way back down to Baltimore Harbor where my hotel awaited. Just don’t tell any of those people that I’m really an Atlanta Braves fan. I don’t want to blow my cover.
24 Hour Tip
Don’t miss the chance to get a Raven Beer if one is available! Edgar Allen Poe died in Baltimore, and the city is loyal to him to this day. Their football team is even named the Ravens, after Poe’s most famous poem. So you can always check out a Ravens game if you happen to visit Baltimore in the winter.
24 Hours in Baltimore
What to Pack
- An excellent small cell charger so you can keep taking pictures all during your one day in Baltimore itinerary.
- The best full-length guide to the state of Maryland, so if you bop out to Maryland’s capital city Annapolis, you can use this guide for that as well.
- These great TSA approved clear toiletries bags, so I can always keep spare toothpaste and travel sized toiletries in any carry-on
- The most reliable travel umbrella that is small enough to fit in my purse, but strong enough to stand up to powerful winds on our one day in Baltimore itinerary
- My book Get Lost, that I wrote myself with all my best travel tips. This book will show you how travel can take you on a journey of self-discovery.
One Day in Baltimore Itinerary
How to Get There
By Car: This is an easy way to get to your one day in Baltimore itinerary, if you are coming from somewhere else on the East Coast in the United States. You can even drive here easily from places as far away as Morgantown, West Virginia or Pittsburgh.
However, I don’t know how to drive, so this wasn’t an option for me. You’ll need a car for this one day in Baltimore itinerary, but Uber is widely available if you don’t drive. If you need to rent a car, you can use the search engine Expedia to find the best price from the available car rental companies.
By Plane: Fortunately there is a convenient airport right in Baltimore itself. No matter where you are coming from, I’m sure you can find either a direct or a connecting flight into Baltimore. (Again, I recommend using a search engine like Expedia to search for the best prices on flights.)
By Train or Bus: I used the Amtrak train to get from NYC to my one day in Baltimore itinerary, and it was both cheap and convenient, like I like my pizza. If you’re on more of a budget, you can take the bus, which pretty much is always cheap. Peter Pan and the Hound both go to Baltimore.
That’s a Perfect One Day in Baltimore Itinerary!
What would you do with a one day in Baltimore itinerary? Would you drink a beer made by Edgar Allen Poe? Please email me at stellajane@aroundtheworldin24hours.com and let me know!
Note: If you want to know how I put my travel itineraries together, just click here. Keep in mind that while each article is about how to spend 24 hours in a place, that doesn’t mean you should ONLY try a one day in Baltimore itinerary. If you have time for another day in Baltimore, try this itinerary!
