The 42 Best Things to Do in Boston

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• Potential Places to Remain in Boston
• Premier Hotels in Boston
• Highly recommended hotels ideal for families visiting Boston

Boston Things To Do – Tips & Advice

• Boston is smaller than imagined, and most attractions are within a twenty minute walk of downtown. Public transportation is easy and reliable, even out to suburbs like Salem. A car is completely unnecessary most of the time.
• Traversing the Liberty Path early during your stay, if possible. It’s a great way to see the historic highlights while becoming familiar with how the city is structured.
• Many of Boston’s historic sites have free admission to the public, but their operating hours may be limited to certain times of day or only offer tours on specific hours or days. Check websites to plan visits wisely based on hours of operation.
• The Whale Watching Cruise from Boston is excellent.

The Top 42 Things to Do in Boston

1. Museum of Fine Arts

   The MFA in Boston houses over 500,000 works of art, ranging from ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary creations, with one of the largest Japanese art collections outside of Japan and an extensive variety of French impressionist works. Founded in 1870, the museum now sees over a million site visitors per year. Be prepared to spend a few hours here, as the collection is overwhelming in scope and size! If you only have around an hour or so, grab a highlights map, which guides visitors through twelve masterworks in an hour, such as Monet’s Water Lilies, or one of their specialized excursions focusing on African American or Latin American art or a tour aimed toward families.

2. Boston Public Garden

   

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3. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

   

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4. Trinity Church

   The congregation at Trinity Church has called the area home since 1733, but the present building was constructed after the devastating Great Boston Fire. Designed by renowned architect H. H. Richardson, this landmark church solidified his fame and stands as the first structure built in the then novel Richardsonian Romanesque style. Breaking from the traditions of its time, the church was built in the shape of a Greek cross with an open interior layout. Among its many artistic features are hand-painted murals my John La Farge, stained glass windows by several different artists, and intricate mosaics. Consistently ranked among the top ten of America’s most important and influential architecture, Trinity Church has been featured in the film The Boondock Saints and the videogame Fallout 4. Guided and self-guided tours cost $7, with the exception of the complimentary tour following Sunday morning service at 11:00 in summer and at 12:15 in winter. Visitors should definitely check their online calendar for current scheduled tours; self-guided tours are possible Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 – 4:30 and on Sundays from 12:15 – 4:30).

5. Little Italy

   This area of the North End in Boston is the oldest inhabited region, with brick roads and an old world feel. Buildings here span centuries and incorporate the Paul Revere House from the late 1600s and the Old North Church from the early 1700s, though most came much later. In the early twentieth century, the neighborhood became home to the largest populace of Italian immigrants in the city and still maintains that character, with several Italian fine dining restaurants, bakeries, and vendors selling fresh pasta, olive oil, and coffee. If you’re lucky enough to be in Boston on the last Sunday in August, do not miss the Feast of St. Anthony, with its decorated streets, 10 hour long parade, live music, and over a hundred food carts, a celebration named by National Geographic as “The feast of all feasts.”

6. Boston Public Library

   

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7. Freedom Trail

   This walking route winds for approximately two and a half miles beginning at Boston Common and concluding at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown on the opposite side of the River. There are sixteen historically notable sites along the trail, all designated with bronze markers embedded in the sidewalk. Several companies offer guided tours led by docents dressed in period clothing, but visitors can easily self-guide along the trail, as its entire length is prominently marked in red brick and free maps are available at the visitors’ center in the Common. Most of the locations are free to tour, but admission is charged at three stops: The Paul Revere House, the Old South Meeting House, and the Old State House).

8. Black Heritage Trail

   This walking path covers nearly one and a half miles through Boston, primarily in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, which was historically home to Boston’s black residents before the Civil War. The trail starts at the Shaw/Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial in Boston Common and concludes at the African Meeting House. Many of the sites along the trail are private houses, like the Lewis and Harriett Hayden House, home of famous abolitionists and a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Museum of African American History operates two of the final stops, the Abiel Smith School and the African Meeting House, and offers tours of the sites regularly throughout the day).

9. Back Bay

   

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11. Warren Anatomical Museum

    Merely a few display cases on the fifth floor of Harvard Medical School`s Countway Library of Medicine comprise The Warren, an anatomical and pathological museum originally employed for instructing medical students. The collection is small but filled with noteworthy items. Most famously, it exhibits the skull of Phineas Gage, a rail worker who survived an iron rod through his head (the iron rod is also here), though his personality drastically changed. The Warren also possesses the inhaler utilized in the first ether-aided surgery, a specimen of conjoined twins, and a Beauchene skull. The museum can be tricky to locate, as entry is on the rear of the concrete library building, not on the street. Simply sign in at entry; admission is free).

12. All Saints Way

    In the North End in an alley off Battery Street you’ll find All Saints Way, a monstrous Catholic icon collection owned by Peter Baldassari. He began accumulating saint cards as a child, and now the collection has expanded to include thousands of framed portraits, figurines, and handcrafted art showcased high up the brick walls. The alley is on private property and gated, though much of the collection is visible even when the gate is closed. When the gate is open, though, Baldassari has been known to give brief tours to visitors who ask. If you tell him your birthday, he may even locate the shrine for your patron saint.

13. Bunker Hill Monument

    The notable site of Bunker Hill was the location of the initial major confrontation between Colonial and British forces and one of the deadliest battles of the entire Revolution. Even though the British were victorious in the engagement, this fight was important for the colonists, who saw how much harm they could inflict through their efforts. Standing at a little over 67 meters tall, visitors to the monument are permitted to climb to the top (the panoramic views are incredible), but you must first obtain a complimentary climbing pass from the Bunker Hill Museum (43 Monument Square, at the base of the hill). At the foot of the monument, there is a statue erected to honor Colonel William Prescott, leader of the rebel forces, who allegedly gave the order “don’t commence firing until you see the whites of their eyes” to the troops with dwindling ammunition.

14. USS Constitution Museum

    Also nicknamed “Old Ironsides”, this wooden-hulled vessel is considered the world`s oldest commissioned naval ship still floating today. Named by President Washington and launched in 1797, the vessel is renowned for defeating five British warships in the War of 1812. The Constitution is located on the northern shore of the Charles River in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Guests can board the ship for a tour and photos; check the website for hours and note that the final tour boards a half hour before scheduled closing. All must pass security screening, and visitors over 18 will need to present photo identification).

15. Abiel Smith School

    Constructed in 1835, the Abiel Smith School functioned as the initial public school for African American children in Boston, replacing the school located in the African Meeting House. For two decades it continued serving in this role until all Boston public schools were integrated in 1855. Currently the site is home to the Museum of African American History (the museum oversees both the school and the African Meeting House) and is a stop along the Black Heritage Trail. Open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 Photograph attribution

16. African Meeting House

    Constructed in 1806, the African Meeting House represents the oldest surviving black church in the United States. Functioning as more than solely a place of worship, this locale operated as a hub for the abolitionist movement; Fredrick Douglass spoke here, encouraging freed African Americans to serve in the Civil War, and it was here that the 54th Massachusetts Regiment recruited their ranks. This location marks the final stop on the Black Heritage Trail. Entry is permitted exclusively through scheduled guided tours. Sign up for a time slot (they run every 30 minutes) at the Museum of African American History inside the Abiel Smith School.

17. Edgar Allan Poe Square

    In this small public space located across from Boston Common, visitors can see a life-size bronze likeness of author Edgar Allan Poe hurriedly making his way down the sidewalk. Crafted in 2014 following an online fundraising campaign, the dynamic statue depicts Poe with his jacket flapping open as a raven bursts dramatically from his suitcase, scattering papers and a human heart behind him. The square also pays tribute to Poe, who was born nearby, through a brief historical plaque and a relief carved with his image.

18. Beacon Hill

    Mainly consisting of private homes, Beacon Hill historically housed over half of Boston’s African American population and was central to the nation’s abolitionist movement. Today, this remains one of the most costly places to reside in Boston. Here you’ll find iconic gas lanterns glowing over brick sidewalks, Federal Style row houses, antique shops, boutique stores, and refined little eateries. This neighborhood is within walking distance of nearly all of Boston’s attractions, while the main draw here is its charming architecture and historical significance. Must-see sites here are connected by the Black Heritage Trail, and involve the Abiel Smith School (the first public school for free black Americans), the African Meeting House (first black church in America; central rallying place for the abolitionist movement), and the Lewis and Harriett Hayden House (a stop on the Underground Railroad). The gold-domed Massachusetts State House is also here, while Boston Common forms Beacon Hill’s southern border).

19. Bodega

    In the Back Bay neighborhood on Clearway Street resides an unmarked convenience shop with windows stacked to the ceiling featuring cleaning supplies, sodas and snacks, attended by an staff displaying no nonsense. Yet stepping straight back through the Snapple machine reveals a secret door accessing a high fashion sneaker store selling the latest shoes, caps and accessories. Operating over a decade without advertisement, signage or phone number (only recently acquiring a website), they`ve earned renown as a haven for sneaker aficionados, partnering with Adidas and popping up in Tokyo.

20. Brewery Tour

    

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21. Cambridge

    Renowned for being home to prestigious universities Harvard and MIT, Cambridge is located directly north of Boston across the Charles River. With a large proportion of residents of university age, Cambridge is a lively city with an intellectual atmosphere appealing especially to millennials. Numerous trendy boutiques, sidewalk cafes, coffeehouses, and bars oriented toward this demographic can be found, particularly near the lively Harvard Square area. The schools in the region are accompanied by excellent museums dedicated to diverse topics, the most prominent being the engaging Museum of Science renowned for its butterfly house and hands-on electricity demonstration. However, there are many additional museums exploring specific subject matters such as Islamic and Asian art, archaeology of Semitic cultures, the history of medicine, and comparative zoology among others. Cambridge is expansive, requiring time to fully experience its offerings, so planning a day or two here is recommended. Spend a morning walking or kayaking along the Charles River before venturing to a few museums. Try vintage apparel at a secondhand shop and finish the evening in lively Central Square among craft cocktails featuring mezcal.

22. Greenway Carousel

    Located within the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the merry-go-round has 36 seats upon a diversity of creatures indigenous to Massachusetts, including crabs, harbor seals, owls, and grasshoppers. This accessible merry-go-round is designed with consideration for both children and adults with auditory and physical disabilities. Admission is $3 or 10 for $25. It operates on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 6pm seasonally, generally from April through October, sometimes outside these months pending weather permits.

23. Cheers

    There are two places in the city where visitors can visit, but the ideal atmosphere is found at the location in Beacon Hill. Originally opening its doors in 1969 as the Bull & Finch Pub (changing its name to Cheers in 2002), this bar served as inspiration for the well-known TV show and featured in establishing shots for the opening credits. Though now appealing more to tourists, the bar plays such an integral role in Boston’s identity that the city named the block after one of its long-time bartenders, Eddie Doyle, who worked there for over 35 years before the show aired. With a central location and laidback environment, this venue makes for a nice spot to unwind after exploring the city.

24. Boston Common

    Perhaps the most famous landmark in the city is Boston Common, being the oldest park in the United States dating back to 1634. The 50 acre park initially began as cattle pasture and later served as an encampment for British troops in the pre-Revolutionary years, a place for capital punishment, and more recently has functioned as a public park hosting concerts, gatherings, protests, and addresses (notable speakers there incorporate Martin Luther King, Jr. and Pope John Paul II). This park is a stop along the Freedom Trail, where approximately a dozen guides dressed in Revolutionary-era clothing can regularly be seen. It`s also home to the Shaw/54th Regiment Memorial, marking the initial site on the Black Heritage Trail. Throughout the winter season the Frog Pond ice skating rink is in full swing.

25. Historic Cemeteries

    There are two historic cemeteries located along the Freedom Trail: the Old Granary Burial Ground and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. The Old Granary is busier of the two cemeteries. Established in 1667 with the interment of John Wakefield, this cemetery holds the graves of notable figures such as Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams, as well as victims of the Boston Massacre. It also contains a substantial memorial marking the Franklin family burial plot, despite Benjamin Franklin being laid to rest in Philadelphia. Copp’s Hill joined the Freedom Trail as a more recent addition, though it is actually an older cemetery dating back to 1659. This location serves as the final resting place for Prince Hall, an abolitionist who founded one of America`s first African Masonic lodges. Additionally buried here are prominent ministers Cotton, Increase, and Samuel Mather from the time of the Salem Witch Trials, along with Robert Newman, who hung the signal lanterns with the coded messages (“one if by land, two if by sea”). The Snow Hill Street side of Copp’s Hill houses numerous unmarked graves of African Americans who resided at the base of the hill.

26. Old North Church

    This is the location where signal lanterns were hung to indicate messages, following the guidelines set by Paul Revere. The Old North Church is a mission dating back to 1723 belonging to the Episcopalian denomination, and it is considered the oldest church in Boston. Its tower is its most notable attribute, where the lanterns were displayed. But upon facing toward the organ inside, four exquisitely carved wooden angels sitting on the balcony railing can be seen, which were plundered from a French ship and gifted to the church by pirate Thomas Grunchy in 1746. The church welcomes visitors free of charge, although they recommend a $3 donation for maintenance purposes.

27. Faneuil Hall

    Established in 1743, Faneuil Hall is renowned today for its variety of food stalls, retailers, and indoor/outdoor shopping center. Also called “The Cradle of Liberty,” notable speakers like Samuel Adams advocated here for independence from Britain; a sculpture of Adams stands directly in front of the entrance. This marketplace and assembly hall was created in 1743 and remains a hive of activity, filled with street performers, political gatherings, shopping excursions, and dining.

28. Fenway Park

    Home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, Fenway Park is the oldest stadium still being used in Major League Baseball. Due to its age and location, its dimensions are somewhat confined, resulting in some unusual attributes, the most renowned being the Green Monster, the short left field wall close to home plate, and the Lone Red Seat in the right field bleachers, which marks the greatest home run ever hit at Fenway.

29. Boston Harborwalk

    Following the edge of the waters, the Boston Harborwalk includes piers and docks stretching from Charlestown down to Castle Island with planned expansions to ultimately span a full 76 km. Views are stunning in this locale, where visitors can soak in sights of the harbor and city or cruise its entirety by boat or kayak. Several attractions are dispersed along its length and embrace the USS Constitution, the Boston Tea Party Museum,New England Aquarium, and the Institute of Contemporary Art, among others. This is a perfect spot for a morning stroll or a day spent popping into attractions along the route.

30. Harvard Museum of Natural History

    Located in Cambridge, the Harvard Museum of Natural History incorporates three museums: the Botanical Museum, renowned for its exquisite collection of glass flowers, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, with its massive blue whale skeleton and large catalogue of real and replica bird, insect, and animal models, and the Harvard Mineralogical Museum, housing meteorites, minerals, and gemstones. Together the museums are relatively small; it shouldn`t require more than an hour or two to traverse the entirety. Connected to the Peabody Museum, payment to one grants entry to both).

31. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

    The Peabody Museum is home to one of the largest anthropological museum assemblages, with over a million items and 500,000 photographs. The artifacts shown originate from all parts of the globe and are exhibited according to region and type, with the most substantial collection covering the Americas. The museum looks into many facets of human progression, such as arts, culture, daily life, and biological aspects. The museum is connected to the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and admission paid to one grants access to both museums).

32. Harvard Yard

    Harvard Yard is the oldest section of the Harvard University campus, with a central grassy area for recreation and events in the middle. You’ll find here the statue of John Harvard, Memorial Church, as well as the school’s most important libraries. This is a busy central hub for students, and you’ll most always find a game going on, whether Frisbee or chess. The Yard opens onto Harvard Square, an area in Cambridge’s downtown core, filled with shops, restaurants, and bars. This area has a somewhat split personality; it’s always busy during the school year, but in summer, when students head home, it is incredibly quiet).

33. New England Holocaust Memorial

    Positioned on Union Street, the Holocaust Memorial stands separate in modern glass and steel against the red brick background of the oldest neighborhood in the city. The six towers are dedicated to commemorating those who died in the camps, with numbers etched into the outside glass and steam rising from underneath a black granite walkway. The six towers relate to the six million killed, the six concentration camps represented here, and the six years of genocide. Lit with coals beneath a metal grating, the memorial glimmers throughout each day and night.
    photo credit

34. Institute of Contemporary Art

    Housed in an eye-catching new structure, the Institute of Contemporary Art occupies waterfront land in Boston’s Seaport District. The building design itself has elicited polarized reactions, with some applauding its innovative open format and exterior staircase, while others disparage its angular form and plain façade. Though large in size, the collection within is small, but the ICA utilizes extra interior space well to supplement artworks with dance and similar performances.

35. Mapparium

    In the Mary Baker Eddy Library, the headquarters of the Christian Science Monitor, you’ll find the Mapparium, a huge glass globe that is viewed from within. This location is unique as it allows one to see the entire world without perspective distortion; by standing at the center, your eyes are equally distant from all points. Constructed in 1935, this illuminated three-story map accurately portrays all geographical aspects but, as a relic of the past, incorporates various country names no longer in use such as Siam and USSR. Its perfectly rounded shape and solid interior also create a whispering gallery where a voice carries to the opposite point regardless of direction faced. Experience your own voice in surround sound by standing at the center. Guided tours of the Mapparium are offered every 20 minutes between 10:20 AM and 4:00 PM from Tuesday through Sunday.

36. New England Aquarium

    This fantastic aquarium located directly on the harbor has a multilevel reef habitat as its centerpiece containing sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and colorful fishes. A spiraling walkway leads upwards through numerous floors to an open-air tank at the highest point. A large penguin exhibit sits at the bottom hosting feeding demonstrations and talks twice daily. The New England Aquarium also possesses the second biggest touchpool on the East Coast allowing interactions with rays and sharks along with a smaller touchpool featuring local tidepool species. Schedule your visit for a weekday before 2:00 pm to avoid crowds as things get busy in the afternoons once schools release and completely outrageous on weekends.

37. The Paul Revere House

    

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39. Boston Public Market

    An added feature to the local culinary scene since 2015, the Boston Public Market is an indoor market operating throughout the year, showcasing over 40 local vendors featuring specialty produce, meat, wines, prepared foods and additional items. As it is contained indoors, the atmosphere of a farmers` market continues even during the coldest weather conditions. Administration is still working to balance the market for farmers and ready-made foods sections, with the lunch crowd taking up more space than available at times, so weekend visits allow finding more of a sense of community. Do not miss the popular apple cider donuts, a favorite in New England!

40. Salem

    Renowned for its tragic witch trials, the town of Salem was once a prominent port larger than Boston and an international hub for trade following the Revolution. Consequently, the Peabody Essex Museum was established, dating back to 1799 as one of the earliest museums in the U.S., housing one of the most extensive collections of Asian and Oceanic art as well as maritime art and beyond. This was also the historical home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, where visitors can view the House of the Seven Gables firsthand. Naturally, there are plenty of kitschy, witch-themed attractions, some enjoyable but many better avoided. Feel free to skip the Witch Museum. Do take a harbor cruise, tour the Old Burying Point Cemetery, and peek into the novel downtown shops carrying vintage clothing, spell books, candles, and quirky gifts.

41. Museum of Science

    The Museum of Science crosses the Charles River and is partly located in both Boston and Cambridge. One of the earliest comprehensive science museums in America, exhibits here cover a wide range and comprise a butterfly house, IMAX, and an indoor lightning display in the world’s largest Van de Graaff generator (daily at 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00). Though its general appeal is broad, this attraction is more aimed toward families and children under 12).

42. Memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment

    This bronze memorial relief stands at the northeast corner of Boston Common, honoring the first African American volunteer regiment of the Civil War along with their leader Colonel Shaw. Shaw was killed, together with 77 other soldiers and officers, in the battle at Fort Wagner, South Carolina in 1863. One of the surviving soldiers in the regiment, Sergeant William H. Carney, managed to save the flag despite his severe injuries; he went on to become the first black man to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. This is the first stop on the Black heritage trail).

43. Skinny House

    The origins of this narrow home are unclear, but reportedly after two siblings inherited land upon their father`s passing, one constructed a mammoth residence while the other was away battling in the Civil War. Thinking the remaining space would be too meager for building, upon the soldier`s return he erected the “Skinny House”, also known as the Spite House, to impede sunlight and prohibit views of the harbor from his brother`s more substantial abode behind. Four floors tall and measuring barely over ten feet at its widest point and nine feet at its slimmest, should viewing from outside not satisfy, three-night minimum rentals around $300 per night are available.

44. Union Oyster House

    The oldest continuously operating establishment in America since 1826, though the building that houses it is much older, circa 1704. Union Oyster House is filled with rich history! Daniel Webster regularly dined here, eating six plates of oysters at a time, and drinking a full tumbler of brandy and water with each plate. The French King Louis Philippe lived in exile here on the second floor prior to assuming the throne. America’s first ever waitress, Rose Carey, worked here beginning in the early 1920s. The fare here is pretty basic pub options, highlighting seafood, with lots of fried choices. Nothing fancy here, but this is a fun place to stop for an afternoon bite.

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