How to Spend One Day in Baltimore

Aisha Springer is a blogger at Urban Escapist, a travel and wellness blog that encourages self-care through travel and local exploration. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook. She’s here to share her expertise on how to spend one day in Baltimore.

I absolutely love Baltimore. Despite its reputation of looking like “The Wire,” it’s called Charm City for a reason. From its historic neighborhoods with cobblestone streets to its friendly residents, vibrant art community, and growing food scene, there’s a lot to love about Baltimore. For anyone who hasn’t visited yet, I put together an easy, one day in Baltimore itinerary that highlights some of the best the city has to offer in just 24 hours.

9:30 am: Start your one day in Baltimore in the Fells Point neighborhood with breakfast at Water for Chocolate. Water for Chocolate specializes in Southern-inspired comfort food. They serve brunch from opening until 3 pm daily and are a local favorite. With only 20 seats plus some outdoor seating, getting there early is key so you don’t have to wait.

After breakfast/brunch, walk off the food and mimosas by heading towards Thames Street which runs along the water. There are plenty of stores and boutiques to stop into. Or it’s also nice to just look out on the water, especially when the weather is nice.

11 am: The neighborhood of Mt. Vernon is full of history and culture and is a necessary stop when visiting Baltimore. It’s also very walkable. It’s easy to visit places like The Walters Art Museum, the George Peabody Library, and the Baltimore Basilica, the country’s first Roman Catholic Cathedral.

1 pm: Next, walk or take a quick car ride to Lexington Market for lunch. Lexington Market is a historic indoor market that includes a variety of food stands. You can have your fill of fresh seafood or ready-to-eat food vendors. Or you can try a few of the foods Baltimore is known for like berger cookies from Berger’s Bakery or my favorite crab cakes from Faidley’s Seafood. On the weekend, you may find live music in the market. So grab a seat and enjoy your lunch while doing some people watching.

2 pm: Baltimore is also known as the home of Edgar Allan Poe and has multiple historic sites dedicated to him. One is Westminster Hall and Burying Ground. Westminster Hall is a former church and Poe’s grave is located on its grounds. The site also includes catacombs under the church with tours available during the week.

3 pm: For a natural sanctuary in the middle of the city, stop by Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It has some breathtaking outside gardens. Inside are four main rooms: Mediterranean, desert, tropical, and the palm room. Each room features plants from different climates. This can be a quick stop, but I always find it relaxing to walk through the conservatory. You can also take a moment to sit on a bench and take in the gentle sounds of the water.

4 pm: Just a few minutes away is Dovecote Cafe, a local cafe whose owners are known for their community presence and support of local artists. Stop in for a coffee. I also strongly suggest getting a slice of pineapple upside down cake. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

5 pm: Next, take a ride downtown for dinner at Puerto 511, a Peruvian restaurant run by a husband and wife team from Peru. The restaurant is small and is located in an unassuming former townhome. Just be sure to call ahead to make a dinner reservation. Puerto 511 has some of the best Peruvian food I’ve had outside of Peru and I always enjoy supporting a family business. The restaurant is BYOB, so feel free to bring a bottle of wine to accompany your ceviche or lomo saltado.

7 pm: As the sun starts to set, head to the Inner Harbor, one of the most common tourist spots in the city. It’s always nice to take a walk along the water and see the harbor lit up at night. Stop into the World Trade Center Institute building and take the elevators up to the Top of the World Observation Level where you can get a 360 degree view of the harbor and downtown Baltimore.

If you’re in the mood to stay out late and want a bit of an upscale option, Wit & Wisdom is located inside the Four Seasons in Harbor East, just a few minutes walk from the Inner Harbor area. Head there for cocktails and the DJ, and make sure to take advantage of their large patio lounge overlooking the water. Another good option is an Argentinian restaurant and lounge just a couple blocks away called Bar Vazquez. Here, you can catch a live flamenco guitarist on Friday evenings or a tango quartet on Saturdays.

Have a good night’s sleep because you just covered the best of Baltimore in one day! xx