Baltimore Museum of Art

A top-tier encyclopedic art museum with free general admission — home to the Cone Collection, the largest public holding of Matisse in the world, plus strong contemporary wings and two lovely sculpture gardens. Next to Johns Hopkins' Homewood campus. If you see one traditional art museum in Baltimore, the free price makes this and the Walters an easy double bill.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

What are the BMA's hours?

Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm, with Thursdays open late until 9pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays and a handful of holidays.

What is the Cone Collection at the BMA?

Sisters Claribel and Etta Cone spent decades buying directly from Matisse and Picasso in Paris, and their collection — the world's largest public Matisse holding, around 3,000 works overall — landed at the BMA. The recreated Cone apartment rooms are a highlight.

Is the Baltimore Museum of Art really free?

Yes — general admission is always free; you just reserve a free ticket online or grab one at the welcome desk. Special ticketed exhibitions cost extra, but the permanent collection alone is worth the trip.

BMA or Walters — which art museum should I pick?

Both are free, so ideally both: the Walters (downtown, Mount Vernon) covers antiquity through the 19th century; the BMA leans Matisse, modern, and contemporary. If you're based near the harbor with no car, the Walters is easier; if Matisse matters, BMA.

Does the BMA have a restaurant?

The museum has an on-site café/restaurant option and you're steps from the Charles Village and Remington food scenes — Gertrude's Chesapeake Kitchen has historically been the museum's beloved sit-down spot; check current status when you book. R. House food hall in Remington is a 5-minute drive.

How long do you need at the BMA?

Two to three hours hits the Cone Collection, the contemporary wing, the American galleries, and a stroll through the sculpture gardens. Free admission means you can also do a focused one-hour visit without guilt and come back.

How do I get to the BMA from downtown Baltimore?

It's about three miles north, next to the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus — a 10-15 minute rideshare, or MTA buses up Charles Street. There's a paid lot and decent street parking nearby; it's not really a walk from the Inner Harbor.

Are the BMA sculpture gardens free too?

Yes — two terraced gardens with works by Rodin, Calder, and others, open seasonally during museum hours. They're one of Baltimore's nicest quiet outdoor spaces and criminally under-visited.

Nearby in Ask Baltimore

• Baltimore Museum of ArtAttraction0.01 km · 0 min walk
• Papermoon DinerRestaurant0.41 km · 5 min walk
• Charles VillageNeighborhood0.49 km · 6 min walk
• R. HouseMarket0.56 km · 7 min walk
• Café Los SueñosCafé0.71 km · 9 min walk