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Fells Point, Baltimore, MD

Photo: Matthew Binebrink, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffDate NightFree

Fells Point

Waterfront along Thames St at the foot of Broadway · Baltimore, MD

Why you should go…

Fells Point is a waterfront neighborhood on the Patapsco River, established as a town in 1729 by William Fell, where shipyards built the fast topsail schooners known as Baltimore clippers. You can wander the Belgian block streets along Thames Street, browse antique and music shops, and stop at one of its many pubs. Frederick Douglass worked here as an enslaved caulker in 1835, and the old City Recreation Pier served as police headquarters in the TV series Homicide.

  • #historic district
  • #waterfront
  • #pubs
  • #cobblestone streets
  • #maritime history

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Fells Point, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    National Aquarium

    $25–$50

    See sharks, dolphins, jellies and a tropical rain forest at a large aquarium on Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    Quirky Fun

    American Visionary Art Museum

    Under $25

    Explore art by self-taught creators, from Vollis Simpson whirligigs to kinetic sculpture, on a campus beside Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Inner Harbor

    Free

    Stroll a waterfront promenade lined with museums, historic ships, seafood restaurants and boat tours in downtown Baltimore.

    0.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Maryland Science Center

    $25–$50

    Explore three floors of hands-on science exhibits, dinosaur skeletons, a planetarium and an IMAX theater on the Inner Harbor.

    1.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Baltimore, Maryland

    Free

    Maryland's largest city, known for its historic Inner Harbor, rowhouse neighborhoods, and blue-crab dining scene.

    1.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

    Under $25

    Walk the ramparts of the pentagon-shaped fort whose 1814 defense inspired the words of the national anthem.

    1.5 mi awayMore like this