Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Any good advice where to live in Baltimore

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- United States (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/)

- - Any good advice where to live in Baltimore (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/any-good-advice-where-to-live-in-baltimore-90312/)

Any good advice where to live in Baltimore

I´m relocating from Europe to Baltimore. I need some suggestions for the best areas to live. I´m on a budget and I´m looking for an apartment but don´t know which area to stay away from. Appreciate any help.

Do you want to move into the city itself or in the suburbs? If suburbs is there a preference of North,South,East,West? If you are commuting everyday where will that be? Love to help you if you can be more specific about what area. Charlie

I agree with Charlie. We need to know a lot more, since the neighborhoods in the city and suburbs vary greatly in terms of charm, cost, crime, distance from center city, etc. Do you want to retain a European feel? Do you like to walk to stores, post office, etc.? Is nightlife important to you? Do you enjoy interaction with neighbors? Tell us more.

Thank you Charlie and Rudy, I start working at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott. I´m not sure but I have seen that this place is in the middle of the city. I won´t have a car at the beginning so it would be advisable for me to live next to a Metro Station or to live more or less in city´s center. Of course I love the Night Life so I don´t want to live in a suburb elder and retired people prefer. Thank you again you guys for your answers. Take it easy....

Hi Roland Living in Baltimore myself without a car, I feel very equipped to answer your query. While Baltimore is quite a bit better than many American cities as far as public transport is concerned, it is also FAR worse than in many European/Canadian cities or the better USA cities like Boston, NYC, DC, Philly. People are pretty hooked to their car. I would say that I am definitely in a small minority of those living with a car. A few words of warning: the Metro does not run on Sunday and really only takes you to a few points downtown anyway and some of the suburbs. It comes once every 10(peak)-20 minutes or so even on weekdays. I live on the main north/south drag (Charles/St. Paul) and even on my street, buses up and down are infrequent on weekends(one every 20 minutes or so) and after 7pm. (Rush hour, they're pretty frequent.) The Light Rail runs more frequently and on Sunday but only until 7pm. If you're looking for vibrant nighlife, you might be disappointed; but it depends what you want. Baltimore has no area that matches the vibrancy of parts of Philly, NYC, Boston, London, Paris, Montreal, Toronto, etc... To see people, you can go to the Inner Harbor; but honestly it's mainly tourists here... There's Fell's Point, where the college fraternity/sorority crowd hang; not my scene and not too accessible by public transit, but maybe you'd like it. Overall the feel is preppie at F.P.. Federal Hill is supposedly a neighborhood that's gentrified some, but I have YET to check it out. Honestly, I think the best area for you is Mount Vernon, located between the financial district (Inner Harbor, Downtown) and Penn Station. It's the area that is most "urban" in feel, with restaurants and less mainstream people. Light rail, Metro, MARC/Amtrak trains (to DC, Phila, NY, points south & north) are quite accessible; also you're about a 20 minute walk from your work, which is also easily accessible by public transport. Be warned, this area is not lively in comparison to the other cities I mentioned, but if I were to pick again, I would choose that area. As for me, I live in Charles Village, about 18 blocks north of the train station, near the Johns Hopkins main campus. I do all right without a car and this area is starting to get livelier and there's more greenery than in Mount Vernon. However, as an employee at Hopkins, I use the Johns Hopkins shuttles, which allow me to function more easily in this neighborhood without a car. It might be tricky for you to live in Charles village working at the Marriott, although it would be do-able (you'd probably have to wait for buses sometimes). To me, though, this area, which serves as a hangout for Hopkins students, has a more quiet, almost suburban feel than Mount Vernon. Anyhow, it WILL be a culture shock for you I'm sure, coming from Europe. Baltimore does have some interesting places to see; though. I'm sure your time here will be eye-opening at very least. All the best. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me. Dan

Well, I think Dan has got me beat as far as advice on where to live in the city. If you ever decide to move to the suburbs then post again and I'll give you my two cents worth. PS Visit Annapolis one day. You'll love it.

The Marriott Hotel is in the Inner Harbor, where it's very expensive to live. High rise condo units are in the stratosphere, not exactly budget. I can't imagine that you can get along in the Baltimore area for very long without a car. Probably the Fells Point area is a good place to live, because you can walk to work, restaurants, night life, ball games, cultural events, etc. I defer to Roland, though, who has given you excellent advice.

I meant Daniel, who gave excellent advice. Sorry for the error.

Roland, I live in Baltimore, in the Federal Hill neighborhood, which is one of the neighborhoods in the Inner Harbor, on the west and south side of the Harbor. The new Waterfront Marriott is in the Inner Harbor East. I think Baltimore is a friendly and beautiful place to live, and I am very happy there. Most people who visit here really like it. However, I agree with Daniel that while Baltimore does have nightlife, it is nothing compared to New York or big European cities. The Metro is a joke! It serves a very limited area, and there is no stop near the new Waterfront Marriott. However, the bus system is pretty good. It serves all of the downtown neighborhoods--you will be using that for most of your transport needs if you don't have a car. I agree with everything Daniel said about the Mount Vernon neighborhood, which is begins about 4-5 blocks north of the Inner Harbor and continues on for about 8-10 blocks north. The people who live there seem more sophisticated and urban--more like your typical European or New York city-dwellers. I also think the architecture there is the most beautiful in the city. The stretch of neighborhood along Charles Street has interesting restaurants and bars. There are shops within walking distance, although not any food markets. Also, apartments in that neighborhood are much cheaper than in the most of the neighborhoods in the Inner Harbor area. The only drawback to Mount Vernon is that it is not within walking distance of the Marriott, although you can take the bus. I would also recommend Fells Point, which begins about 7-8 blocks east of the Marriott, and continues for about another 10-12 blocks east. It is the closest neighborhood within walking distance to the Marriott (although still a bit far to walk in cold weather). Apartments there are cheaper than other downtown neighborhoods, except for Mount Vernon. It is a very old neighorhood (by American standards)--cobblestone streets, quaint, small houses. It has lots of nightlife--part young, part older. Nice restaurants, interesting shops, lots of bars--can get very loud on weekends, and a small market. People who live there seem to be a little younger and a little more mainstream than Mount Vernon. Federal Hill is very pleasant to live in, probably has the most young couples and single professionals of all downtown neighborhoods; it looks like Fells Point, but it's not quite as old, and it's quieter. It too has good restaurants, bars, and a small food market. There's also another train station--Camden Station--within walking distance. You can catch commuter trains from there on weekdays to and from Washington DC. Federal Hill apartments are more expensive than Mount Vernon or Fells Point. No matter which neighborhood you choose, you will find that the people in your neighborhood are friendly and get to know each other, which is unusual in most American cities. Good Luck!! Mer

I assumed the Waterfront Marriott was at the Inner Harbor, which is within walking distance of Mount Vernon. Apparently I'm mistaken and it's closer to Fells Point. Excuse my error.

Hi all you guys.... Thank you very much for your worthful advices.... Thank you :-)