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Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD

Photo: Chris6d, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicFamily FavoriteFree

Inner Harbor

Waterfront promenade along Pratt and Light Sts · Baltimore, MD

Why you should go…

The Inner Harbor is Baltimore's downtown waterfront, where a promenade links the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center and the Historic Ships in Baltimore fleet. You can tour the USS Constellation, built in 1854 and the only surviving ship from the Civil War, or get on the water by sightseeing cruise, paddle boat or kayak. Seafood restaurants line the shore, and Pier Six Pavilion hosts outdoor concerts in summer. The Baltimore Visitor Center sits on the west shore at 401 Light Street.

  • #waterfront
  • #promenade
  • #historic ships
  • #harbor cruises

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 Inner Harbor, 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.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • 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.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • 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.

    0.3 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.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Fells Point

    Free

    Walk Belgian block streets past historic rowhouses, pubs, shops and the waterfront of Baltimore's old shipbuilding port.

    0.9 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.

    2.1 mi awayMore like this