Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Baltimore

Accommodation

$25-60 per night

Hostels with shared rooms, budget motels, basic B&Bs in outer neighborhoods

Food & Dining

$15-35 per day

Fast food, food trucks, corner stores, happy hour specials, cooking at hostels

Transportation

$3-12 per day

Public buses, light rail, walking, occasional rideshare splitting

Activities

$0-25 per day

Free museums, waterfront walks, free festivals, occasional paid attraction

Use the free Charm City Circulator bus for downtown areas instead of rideshares (typically 100% savings on short trips)

Eat at neighborhood spots in areas like Canton or Hampden rather than Inner Harbor tourist zones (usually 30-50% cheaper)

Visit museums on free community days or with library passes (can save $15-25 per attraction)

Stay in neighborhoods like Federal Hill or Fells Point for lower accommodation costs but easy harbor access (typically 20-40% less than waterfront hotels)

Take advantage of happy hour specials at local restaurants (usually 25-50% off food and drinks)

Use public transportation day passes instead of individual fares (typically saves 20-30% with multiple trips)

Book accommodations well in advance, especially during baseball season and summer months (can save 25-40%)

Staying only in Inner Harbor area hotels without comparing nearby neighborhoods (can cost 50-100% more for similar quality)

Relying solely on rideshares instead of learning the public transit system (typically 3-5x more expensive for regular trips)

Eating every meal in tourist areas like Inner Harbor without exploring local neighborhoods (usually 40-80% markup)

Not checking for free events and festivals, especially in summer months (missing out on $0 entertainment vs $20-50 paid activities)

Booking last-minute during peak seasons like baseball playoffs or summer festivals (can pay 100-200% more)