The Walters Art Museum

The basics

The collection extends over four floors; some people start at the top and work their way down. Pace yourself, as the objects on display cover over seven millennia. The main atrium is filled with sculptures from antiquity. Upstairs, exhibits are grouped by both period and geography, divided between ancient, medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, and Asian art. Hackerman House, next door, can be reached from the third floor and contains Indian, Tibetan, and Nepalese art as well as Mesoamerican sculptures and contemporary ceramics.

There’s a lot to take in, so make sure you allot yourself enough time. Anything less than two or three hours, and you may walk away feeling you’ve only scratched the surface. In addition to the permanent collection, there are also temporary exhibits focusing on an impressive range of topics: Recent shows included Ethiopian religious art and the work of a Baltimore-born quilter and textile artist.

Things to know before you go

• Carrying heavy bags or coats? There are free lockers available; just head to the left of the main entrance on the corner of Centre and Cathedral streets as you walk in.
• No food is allowed inside the museum, although visitors can drink water from a bottle within the lobby. Exceptions are granted for medical reasons.
• There is a museum café that keeps regular business hours and stays open late on weekends. Food and drink are available for purchase.
• Both the main Centre Street entrance and the quieter Upper Charles Street entrance are accessible to visitors with limited mobility and using mobility aids. Museum staff are on hand to assist visitors as needed.
• The Conservation Window on the main building’s fourth floor is open every Friday and Saturday afternoon, allowing visitors the opportunity to see how museum how conservators repair museum pieces.

How to get there

The Walters Art Museum is located in the historic Mount Vernon district and can be easily reached by car or public transit. If driving, parking is available in a lot at 600 Cathedral Street; spots can be reserved and paid for in advance. The museum is also located near the Charm City Circulator (Purple Line; fare is free), Centre Street stop on the light rail, and Silver, Green, Yellow, Pink, Purple, 91, 103, and 95 MTA bus lines.

When to get there

Like many museums in Baltimore, the Walters Art Museum is closed every Monday and Tuesday. Otherwise, the museum stays open every day from mid-morning until late afternoon. Check the events calendar on the official website, as you’ll find guided art-making workshops, sketching sessions, and games. Some events require advance registration, while others are held on a drop-in basis. The first Thursday of every month, the museum hosts an adults-only “make and mingle” cocktail.

Get your Matisse fix at the Baltimore Museum of Art

Located just a 10-minute car ride or 20-minute light rail ride from the Walters Art Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art is part of Johns Hopkins University and is one of the city’s top museums, along with the Walters. It is best known for its collection of more than 1,000 paintings from the French post-Impressionist Matisse, although the wide-ranging permanent exhibit also includes Congolese sculptures, Indigenous arts of the ancient Americas, Asian art, and more. Admission is free.