USA Guide
The Capital Region
Arrival
Baltimore-Washington International Airport ( 
410/859-7111, 
www.bwiairport.com ) is ten miles south of the city center. The cheapest way to get into the city is on the MTA commuter rail system ( 410/539-5000 or 1-800/RIDE-MTA, www.mtamaryland.com ; 25min; $1.60), which connects BWI to the restored Pennsylvania Station, half a mile north of downtown, at 1515 N Charles St. Penn station is also the arrival point of Amtrak trains ( 1-800/USA-RAIL); because it's in a dicey neighbourhood, you should either take a cab downtown or get on the Penn-Camden light-rail shuttle (Mon– Sat 6am–11pm, Sun 11am–7pm; $1.60 single), which stops downtown. Shuttle vans from the airport go to downtown Baltimore, including Super Shuttle ( 1-800/BLUE VAN, www.supershuttle.com ; 20min; $35 single). Greyhound buses stop south of downtown, at 2110 Haines St, though this is in a grim area, too; take a taxi downtown or bus #27.
Pick up free maps and guides at the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, 401 Light Street, near the Maryland Science Center (April– Oct 9am–6pm; Nov– March 9.30am-4.30pm; 410/837-7024 or 1-877/BALTIMORE, www.baltimore.org ), or from its booths at the airport and train station.