The Ultimate Solo Travel Guide to Baltimore
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Since moving to D.C., I’ve made it a mission to explore as much of my new home as possible, including surrounding cities. I found exactly what I was looking for when traveling solo in Baltimore, MD.
Whether you have a day, a weekend, or a week, there is so much to do in this underrated city! Here is my itinerary for traveling solo in Baltimore.
Getting to Baltimore
If you are visiting from the D.C. area, it is only about an hour away, which makes a trip quick and easy. I usually drive, but Amtrak does stop here too, so you have options. If you’re flying in, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is located close by.
Where to Stay
Mt. Vernon Neighborhood: Hotel Indigo Baltimore
On my first visit to Baltimore, I chose Hotel Indigo. This boutique hotel had a great price, I was able to check in early, and the literary theme throughout was right up my alley. The other great thing about this hotel is the parking, which is only $14/night.
Inner Harbor: Hyatt Regency
My favorite place to stay location-wise is the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor. It is walking distance to the harbor, the National Aquarium and tons of popular restaurants and attractions.
Butchers Hill: Airbnb
Airbnb is always my favorite option when trying to keep costs low. The Hopkins-Butchers Hill Private Master Suite meets that criteria in a great, hidden gem neighborhood of Baltimore.
Day 1: Mt. Vernon and Patterson Park
The Washington Monument
In the Mt. Vernon neighborhood, your first stop should be the original Washington Monument. I had no idea that there was another monument besides the one in D.C., so this was a cool learning experience for me. Completed in 1829, 20 years before the more famous monument was even started, the Baltimore Washington Monument is a great spot for stunning views of the city.
It is $6 to walk to the top, which I think is reasonable for the views. There are 227 steps set in a spiral to climb up, which is no joke. Warning: if you are claustrophobic, you may want to skip this. I was feeling a little weird about half-way up, and another girl climbing up was really freaking out. It gets pretty tight and disorienting in the spiral and there is only one window early on in the climb. Also, if it’s hot outside, that can make things worse, since there’s no air conditioning.
Now that I’ve freaked you out, I will follow that by saying it’s totally worth it! The top of the monument has 4 windows, one facing each direction, so you get to see all aspects of the city. Since the top isn’t a huge area, they only let about 5 people up at a time, and I actually got to be up there by myself for a bit. After the climb up, it was nice to just relax and take in the views for a few minutes.
The Walters Art Museum
Right beside the monument is The Walters Art Museum, one of the most eclectic museums I’ve ever been to, with art and artifacts spanning over 7 millenia. I was super excited when I realized they have whole galleries dedicated to Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art (Hercules is my favorite Disney movie, so yeah). They also have very interesting Asian art exhibits.
*Tip: The security staff requests that all backpacks are worn on your front, so if you don’t want to feel like a dork (I sure did), don’t bring a backpack. Oh, and did I mention entry is free?
Patterson Park
If you end up staying in Butchers Hill or want to see where the locals hang out, plan a picnic or leisurely walk through Patterson Park. The park has a restored pagoda, swimming pool, ice-skating rink, and boat lake. It also hosts events like a summer concert series, Halloween lantern parade, food truck festival and LatinoFest.
Day 2: Inner Harbor and Fells Point
National Aquarium
When traveling solo in Baltimore, plan for at least one day to check out the neighborhoods by the water, including Inner Harbor. And the best thing to do here is visit the National Aquarium. I’m not usually an aquarium person, but this one is a must-visit. The exhibits, from the dolphins to the special exhibit on jelly fish when I visited were outstanding.
Fells Point
The Fells Point neighborhood has cobblestone streets, charming storefronts and the hip Broadway Market. This food hall has everything from Asian to southern to ice cream in an open and casual environment. As a solo traveler, I love places like this to eat, as there’s no special or designated seating and I feel more comfortable eating on my own. I greatly enjoyed my chicken and waffles before heading back out to explore.
Federal Hill Park
Across the harbor from Fells Point is probably the best location for a skyline view of Baltimore. Federal Hill Park is on the southern side of the Inner Harbor area and sits high enough to get some amazing shots. The Federal Hill neighborhood is also fun to wander and stop into some of shops.
Day 3: Rawlings Conservatory and Baltimore Museum of Art (Plus Donuts!)
Rawlings Conservatory
If you are a plant or nature lover, add Rawlings Conservatory to your must-visit list when traveling solo in Baltimore. With 5 greenhouses exploring plants from the Mediterranean to the tropics, plus an outdoor garden, this is a fun activity rain or shine. i particularly loved the palm house and the succulent wall. *Tip: Although admission is free, a reservation is recommended and a $5 donation is appreciated.
Baltimore Museum of Art
Another great free activity is a visit to the Baltimore Museum of Art. The art includes the largest holding of Henri Matisse’s works in a public institution, which I loved. It also has a wonderful sculpture garden with lots of seats to relax and enjoy the view.
Bonus: Diablo Doughnuts
If you don’t know this about me yet, I am OBSESSED with donuts. So I always make at least one donut stop when traveling. Although it was a bit out of the way, Diablo Doughnuts was definitely worth it. And if you’re visiting D.C., I’ve got you covered on donuts here too.
Side Note
I want to admit something about this trip. If you’ve read my post about getting pictures of yourself while traveling solo, you’ll know that I usually get some photos including myself on my solo trips. Well, I had the perfect spot picked out for a picture, and I CHICKENED OUT. I know, I know. I could have asked this couple at the top of the Washington Monument to take a picture of me, but I lost my nerve and didn’t ask. While this isn’t the end of the world, as I still got some great shots, I still regret not asking. Who knows. The picture in my head may not have turned out like I hoped, but I’ll never know since I didn’t ask.
Baltimore is one of my favorite destinations for a solo trip. I hope this ultimate solo guide has given you ideas for traveling solo in Baltimore. If you’ve visited Baltimore, what was your favorite part?
34 Comments
Emmarie
Hi Jordan! Thanks for the tips! By the way is it safe to drive around in Baltimore. Planning a trip there for next year.
Jordan
Hi Emmarie,
That is a great question! I will say that with any city, there are certain parts that may not be as safe as others. If you are staying in any of the areas I listed or other touristy spots, then you should be ok. I’m not sure what your comfort level is when driving in the city, but some parts will be tricky to find parking. A lot of hotels will offer deck parking for an extra fee if you want to go that route. I hope this helps but please let me know if you have any other questions! I hope you have a great trip!