Baltimore derives its name from Lord Baltimore (real name Cecilius Calvert), a religious free thinker, to whom the English King Charles I handed over what is now Maryland for administration in 1632. The city emerged from a trading post in the 17th century and became the largest town in the state of Maryland .
A flourishing industrial metropolis with one of the largest sea ports in the USA has emerged since the beginning of the 20th century. The sheltered harbor on the broad funnel of the Patapsco River is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Chesapeake Bay and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. More information on the official website.
Edgar Allen Poe died in this town, and the “Star-Spangled Banner” and baseball star Babe Ruth were born here. The first railroad in the USA ran here and the first telegraphic connection was established. At the end of the sixties of the last century, Baltimore was one of the first cities in the USA to get rid of the large and mostly unsightly factories in the inner city area and to transform the city center into architecturally interesting buildings for apartments and shops. Baltimore’s million dollar “renaissance” should finally be completed in 2002. Baltimore likes to choose Charm City or Clipper City as a nickname, but one is also not reluctant to hear Crabtown. The Baltimore Orioles Baseball team has a good name, local football favorites are them Ravens.
Baltimore is a traffic junction between Washington DC (approx. 60 km southwest) and Philadelphia (approx. 170 km northeast). The city has around 800,000 inhabitants in the urban area and around 2.5 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. It is the seat of large industrial companies (e.g. Procter & Gamble) and also has a good reputation as a university town (John Hopkins University, private, approx. 4,000 students; University of Maryland-Baltimore Co., state, since 8,900 students). Most of the main sights in the city center are within walking distance. A special feature are the water taxis, which connect all attractions in the port area by ship.
Transport links
Several highways lead to Baltimore. The main access from the south is I-95 with access to Downtwon via I-395 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. I-70 and US 40 lead from the west into the city center. The northern access opens I-83. Baltimore is surrounded by a ring road called I-695. The Harbor Tunnel Thruway (I-895, toll road) and the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-94, toll road) also offer good diversion options.
In the village, Charles Street divides Baltimore into east and west, Baltimore Street into north and south. The street numbers increase to the east and west. With the exception of Eutaw Street, most streets in Baltimore are one-way streets.
Traffic information
The maximum speed in urban areas is generally 30 miles an hour. The rush hours are from 7.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Turning right is allowed at red lights. Parking is possible at parking meters (controlled by meter). Parking is around $ 2.50 an hour.
Airports
Baltimore is only 10 miles / 16 km from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and is well connected to it by shuttle, taxis, light rail, Amtrak railroad and limousine service. The page airporthotelguide.com calls hotels near the airport.
Railways and long-distance coaches
- Amtrak Station on Charles St. (Penn Station), Tel. 800-872-7245
- MARC commuter trains run between Baltimore and Wahington DC on weekdays, tel. 410-539-5000, 800-325-RAIL
- Greyhound bus station in Kebede-Tadesse (Fayette St.).
Water taxes
In the Inner Harbor area, water taxis run about every 15 minutes during the season, otherwise every 45 minutes. The enterprise Baltimore Water Taxi is the oldest company of its kind on the site with 16 blue and white boats. There are full-day tickets with an unlimited number of boardings and a connection to 30 attractions. Tickets are bought on board.
Public transportation
Local public transport is served by the Mass transit administration (MTA). Local transport includes buses, two tram lines (between Hunt Valley – Glen Burnie and Penn Station and BWI Airport) and one subway line (metro subway between Owings Mills Station and Johns Hopkins Hospital with 14 stops).
Buses: payment upon boarding, the exact fare is required Stations are announced.
Light Rail: Also runs through downtown Baltimore between Timonium, Camden Yards, and Glen Burnie, but rarely stops close to attractions. Easy access to BWI Airport and Amtrak’s Penn Station-Baltimore. Tickets can be bought at the boarding station. To get in, a button must be pressed on the outside, to exit the green button on the exit door must be pressed.
Baltimore Metro Subway: Tickets are available from machines at every stop.
Daily Newspaper
The most famous newspaper is the The Baltimore Sun.
Taxes
The sales tax (sales tax) for Maryland is 5%, Baltimore levies a 7.5% lodging tax and a surcharge of 11.5% on rental cars.
Hotels, apartments and holiday homes
Find hotels, apartments and vacation rentals in Baltimore on www.booking.com.
Climate and Weather
Spring has temperatures around 18 to 20 degrees Celsius with cooler evenings. April is rainy (April showers bring May flowers). Summer is crab season and the best time for water sports. July and August are more often hot and schooly. Autumn has temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius; the Indian sum in October is often warmer. The winters are cold, sometimes with snow and ice.
- January: -3.9 to 6.6 degrees
- February: -3.3 to 7.7 degrees
- March: 0.6 to 12.2 degrees
- April: 6.1 to 18.8 degrees
- May: 11.7 to 24.4 degrees
- June: 16.1 to 28.9 degrees
- July: 18.8 to 30.5 degrees
- August: 18.3 to 29.4 degrees
- September: 14.4 to 26.1 degrees
- October: 7.7 to 20 degrees
- November: 1.1 to 13.9 degrees
- December: -3.3 to 7.7 degrees