Baltimore Inner Harbor

Highlights include the Harborplace shopping center, waterfront restaurants serving up fresh seafood and other specialties, and Baltimore’s pyramid-shaped National Aquarium—home to jellyfish, dolphins, and sharks. You can also learn about the city’s seafaring history at the Maritime Museum.

Whether you want to stroll along the promenade or cruise above the city in a helicopter, there are multiple options for exploring Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area. Dinner cruises and yacht charters are a good way to explore Chesapeake Bay, while ghost tours and walking tours typically depart from the Inner Harbor area and include visits to sites such as Key Bridge, Fort McHenry, and the Federal Hill neighborhood.

• The Inner Harbor is great for kids, as many of its attractions are within easy walking distance.

• Most of the Inner Harbor is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, with ramps and elevators throughout. Limited parking at the Visitor Center is specifically designed for visitors with disabilities.

• Dogs are allowed along the waterfront promenade.

• Many Inner Harbor restaurants serve up Baltimore's specialty: crab cakes and other crab-based dishes.

The Inner Harbor is bounded by President, Lombard, Greene, and Camden streets. Water taxis are a good way to get around; from the Inner Harbor, you can cross the Bay to Little Italy, Fells Point, and Canton. Day passes are also available for the Metro Subway and bus systems.

The Inner Harbor typically hosts events during spring, summer, and fall. Although summer can be hot and humid, the breeze off Chesapeake Bay cools things off a bit. Baltimore has milder winters than most Northeast cities, so this can still be a pleasant time to explore.

Baltimore's (and Maryland's) history is long and complicated. Learn all about it—and mingle with paranormal-activity buffs from all over the world—on a ghost tour or wicked-history tour, which includes stops at the city’s most haunted spots.

Once an industrial waterfront, Baltimore’s historic Inner Harbor neighborhood is now a bustling tourist destination known for shopping, entertainment, dining, and museums. Stroll along the Inner Harbor Promenade or enjoy a seafood dinner overlooking the water. The Inner Harbor also is home to the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center.

Don’t miss bird’s-eye views overlooking the waterfront from the World Trade Center’s Observation Level on the 27th floor. Grab a cocktail while taking in the same view from the Four Seasons’ 29th floor bar, The Bygone. Those who prefer solid ground can enjoy the city panorama from Federal Hill Park.

Yes. While cruise ships only dock in the nearby Port of Baltimore, visitors can catch smaller boats and sailboats from the Inner Harbor. Options include brunch or dinner cruises, sightseeing rides, and narrated cruises that also pass by Fort McHenry (a stop on the Baltimore Water Taxi).

Yes—with sensible precautions. The Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Canton, and Federal Hill are among the city’s safest neighborhoods, and travelers are unlikely to encounter any problems during their stay. But, as with any big city, visitors should avoid walking alone at night or wandering outside of well-lit areas.

Yes. The National Aquarium—featuring sloths and piranhas—is a hit with kids of all ages. Younger children (10 and under) can explore three floors of interactive displays at the Port Discovery Children’s Museum. Or, you can opt for a paddleboat rental or a tour of docked Navy warships and submarines.

Head to the Inner Harbor’s entertainment district: Power Plant Live! Bars, nightclubs, lounges, and more are all within walking distance and boast a weekly roster of events. For a more casual night out, you can indulge in pizza and beers or try your hand at ax-throwing.