Discover the City

Baltimore City has a small town feel within a big city setting.  For many visitors it is a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of the bigger east coast cities.  The hostel is located downtown in the heart of the vibrant city center full of restaurants, clubs, attractions, museums, and historic buildings with beautiful architecture.  Whether you are looking to spend your day shopping, visiting one of the many attractions, sitting by the water doing some people watching, or exploring one of the more than 200 neighborhoods - Baltimore City has something for everyone!

 
Baltimore Visitors Association - General visitor information on Baltimore City. 

Baltimore City Paper- Free alternative paper distributed weekly.  Has information on upcoming events and city happenings.

Baltimore Collegetown Network - Information on over 15 area colleges and activities. 

Baltimore Fun Guide - Searchable list of upcoming events in the city. 

Downtown Baltimore - Information about downtown Baltimore including events. 

Baltimore City Government - Information on Baltimore from the City Government.

Click on Map for Larger View

Happenings you Don't Want to Miss!!

Heritage Walk: Heritage Walk is a 3.2 mile (5 kilometer) walking trail through four fascinating centuries of American history. The trail connects 20 historic sites and museums in a compact area that spans four city neighborhoods: the Inner Harbor, Little Italy, Historic Jonestown, and City Center

Star-Spangled Trails - Explore this system of guided and self-guided walking, biking, and driving routes to encounter inspiring stories of our nation’s heritage, set in the unique landscape of the Chesapeake’s largest city. 

Stories - 

Baltimore - Washington DC Vacation: Days 1 and 3 - Blog and photo essay on a three day trip to the region in mid April of 2009.  Photos of the Baltimore Hostel and sites around Baltimore, including the Edgar Allan Poe gravesite. 

Edgar Allan Poe Sites in Baltimore - Blog and photo essay on a stop off in Baltimore from a four city tour (Washington DC to New York).  Photos from the hostel, Edgar ALlan Poe Sites, Lexington Market, and Dentistry Museum. 

Inner Harbor

Located a short 15 minute walk from the hostel, the Inner Harbor is Baltimore City's main tourist attractionn.  The Inner Harbor is a great place to go for shopping at Harborplace and the Gallery.  If you are looking for something to eat, sit down and belly up to a table at one of the many Inner Harbor restaurants.  Ever wanted to look a shark in the eye?  Take a trip to the  National Aquarium and get up close and personal with a few sharks in the GIANT shark tank.  If you want to explore the weird side of life, be sure to check out the Maryland Science Center.  

 If you want to see the city from the water, rent a paddle boat or take a trip on one of the many cruises.  Or for a more practical venture, take the water taxi  to other destinations along the waters edge. 

If you are more budget minded, take a stroll down to the harbor and simply take in the crowds.  Enjoy the people watching, be entertained by one of the many street performers, or catch an outdoor live show near the Hard Rock Cafe.  Be sure to walk past the Science Center to the south side of the Harbor and climb to the top of Federal Hill for a view you will not soon forget.   

If you are in the mood for a movie or some more shopping, walk past the Hard Rock Cafe to the new neighborhood of Harbor East.  Harbor features freatures modern shopping, fine restaurants resturants, a brand new movie theater, and a health food grocery.   

The Neighborhoods

Baltimore City is a city of neighborhoods.  With over 200 neighborhoods to explore you are sure to find something that meets your fancy.  Here are a few neighborhoods that their thier own unique "downtown" areas and are all within a short distance from the hostel. 

Fells Point is just east of the Harbor East neighborhood and offers cobble stone streets filled with small pubs, local shops, dozens doezens of eateries.  Located along the water, and one of the stops on the Water Taxi, Fells Point is a must see stop for those looking for a unique night life experience or wanting to pick up some local Baltimore fare.  It is also great for relaxing along the water or in the square, as it is not as commercialized or crowded with people as the Inner Harbor.

Fells Point often closes its streets for a festival or special event, but it is the place to be during the Fells Point Fun Festival held in early October.  The streets become crowded with costumed clad locals on Halloween (October 31) as the streets are once again closed for the best Halloween party on the east coast. 

Little Italy is a little piece of Italy located right here in Baltimore City.  Located just north of Harbor East and between the Inner Harbor and Fells Point, Little Italy is full of traditional eateries, shops, and culture.  If you are looking for a traditional home cooked Italian meal, stop in on a Friday night at the Little Italy Sons of Italy Lodge and fill up for only $8.  Be sure to attend the Italian Festival in early June and take a seat for the FREE outdoor movies held Fridays throughout the Summer months.       

Federal Hill is located just south of the Inner Harbor and offers restaurants, bars, and shopping.  The music venue 8 x 10 sees both local and national acts to the stage.  If you are in the neighborhood be sure to stop in the Cross Street Market for one of the best indoor markets in town.  The Cross Street Market offers locally grown fresh vegetables, meat, seafood, and lots of really great prepared food.  It is the perfect spot to grab lunch. 

Mount Vernon is history come alive, and it happens to be the neighborhood the Baltimore Hostel borders.  The center of it all, the (original) Washington Monument, is located just a quick 5 minute walk from the hostel.  Climb to the top and get a view of the entire city or relax in any one of the four parks that surround its base.  At anytime of the year you can find events happening around the monument like the Baltimore Book Festival and Flower Mart.  Mount Vernon is rich with culture and hosts dozens of restaurants, shops, and lots of great architecture.  It is also home to Baltimore's gay district, which holds the annual Gay Pride parade and street festival in late June.  Be sure to stop into Brewers Art for a brewed on site local beer that is one of the best you will ever taste.  Also, while you are at it, take a stroll just up the street and venture into the historic Belvedere Towers for a bite at the Owl Bar located on the first floor.  Then jump into the elevator and experience the 13th Floor with live music, dancing, and a surrounding of windows that give you a wonderful view of the city.  If it is history you are after, get your fill at the Maryland Historical Society. 

Hampden is located just a few light rail stops and a short walk away from the Hostel.  This neighborhood was made famous as the backdrop for John Waters movie Pecker.   A true Baltimore Neighborhood located far away from the shiny facades of the touristy Inner Harbor, Hampden is a unique blend of newly gentrifying artists, young professionals, hip families, and of course the very colorful traditional locals.  Home of the The Avenue - several blocks of local shops, restaurants, and artists outposts - Hampden hosts many festivals including the Hon Fest and the Hampden Fest.  Every holiday season  hundreds of people flock from miles around to gaze upon the Miracle on 34th Street, an entire block of lights, tacky decorations, artist creations, and other such celebrations of the season.  No trip to Baltimore is complete without a stop off in Hampden.  Be sure to eat at some of the great independently owned restaurants including Golden West, Holy Friojles, The Dogwood Deli, and Rocket to Venus.    

 Station North Arts District is an up and coming area located just north of the Mount Vernon neighborhood around Penn Station and MICA.  With the heart of this neighborhood located at Charles Street and North Avenue, the highlight of this district are the amazing people who continuously work so hard to make it what it is.  Just a few years ago this neighborhood was a vast wasteland of bombed out buildings, prostitutes, and trash.  It represented a few block strip that made the walk from Mount Vernon to Charles Village that much scarier.  Today, though, it is overflowing with underground music events, art installations, and a strip along North Avenue that is slowly but surely turning into the place to be.  The music underground that has made Baltimore so famous including Dan Deacon, Video Hippos, Ponytail, and others of the Wham City fame are a vibrant part of this neighborhood.  Wham City currently hosts shows and weekly dance parties at the Zodiac, and the Copy Cat building where it was all started is located a few blocks east of Charles Street.  The short two blocks on Charles Street just up from Penn Station is home to the Charles Theater (a wonderful independent movie theater), Velocipede, the Metro Gallery, Club Charles, The Depot, The Zodiac, The hexagon, Strand Theater, and Everyman Theater.  Just around the corner on North Avenue you have the Wind Up Space, Joe 2, Load of Fun, and Single Carrot Theater.  With plans for more restaurants, bars, and clubs coming into the area this is the place to watch over the next several years.  On a Friday or Saturday night just plant yourself on Charles Street and go from bar to club to art venue, you can't go wrong.