Ahhh, Boston. Home to the oldest public university in the country, one of the nation’s most famous think tanks, and a booming tech sector. It’s no wonder this historic city is a mecca for tourists from around the world.
But have you ever been beyond the city limits? If you love nature as much as we do, then you’ll feel right at home in suburban New England. Our favorite things to do in Boston are equally accessible from the city center or suburbs. The following articles will help you explore this amazing city like a local:
1. Walking on the Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile path through downtown Boston that marks the paths of several important events in American history, including the Revolutionary War and the abolitionist movement. The trail consists of a red brick pathway embedded with brass markers that tell the story of Boston’s role in U.S. history. More than two million people visit the Freedom Trail every year, and it’s the best place to start your history-soaked exploration of Boston. The best way to experience the Trail is by starting at Boston Common (a large public park in the center of the city), and walking north along the red path. Along the way, you’ll pass by many famous landmarks, such as the Old State House, the Park Street Church, Boston Harbor, and the Paul Revere House. It’s possible to cover the entire trail in a few hours, but you’ll get more out of the experience if you allow plenty of time to explore each site in-depth.
How long does it take to walk the Freedom Trail in Boston?
Depending on how many of the 16 historical sites and attractions you decide to stop at, the 2.5-mile-long Freedom Trail typically takes 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Do you need tickets to walk the Freedom Trail in Boston?
No. But some historic sites and Foundation-led tours have fees, and you can buy maps, guidebooks, audio guides, apps, and other things to help you find your way.
| Website | www.thefreedomtrail.org |
| Address | 122 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States |
| Map | Open in Google Maps |
| More info | Wikipedia |
2. Watching a Game or Taking a Tour of Fenway Park
If you want to watch a baseball game or take a tour of Fenway Park, you’ll need to be in Boston for at least a few days. You won’t be able to just fly in and go to a game, as the Red Sox are in the middle of a long season. The baseball season is broken up into 162 games, so you’ll need to plan for a few weeks in Boston. You’ll probably want to book your Airbnb close to the ballpark, and you can then walk or take a short cab ride to the game. For a tour of Fenway Park, you’ll want to be in Boston at least a few days before the game. You’ll be able to go to a game early in the season, and then fly home when the Red Sox are in town.
Address: 4 Jersey St, Boston, MA 02215, United States
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3. Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall, built in 1742 and often called “Boston’s First Bank,” is another must-see for any out-of-towner. The hall is at the center of the city’s bustling waterfront and is a great place to eat, drink, and shop. Faneuil Hall is one of the city’s oldest buildings and is a great place to learn about Boston’s history. For example, the first American currency—a dollar bill—was printed inside the hall.
Website: faneuilhallmarketplace.com
Address: 4 S Market St, Boston, MA 02109, United States
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4. Visiting the Boston Common and Public Garden, with Riding the Swan Boats
If you’re planning to spend a few days in Boston, you’ll want to make the most of your time in the city by visiting the Boston Common and Public Garden, with riding the Swan Boats. The Boston Common is the city’s central plaza, offering some of the best views in the city. The Common is also home to the State House, a neoclassical building that served as the nation’s capital from Boston until 1800. Next, visit the Boston’s Public Garden, where you can stroll along the serene paths, relax in the central lagoon, or visit the Hilliard Botanical Garden. The Public Garden and the Boston Common are connected, so you can walk from one to the other.
Address: 139 Tremont St 1B Charles St 38 Beacon St 167 Tremont St, 115 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
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5. Visiting the Museum of Fine Arts Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has both an impressive exterior and superb collections of Impressionist paintings, ancient Egyptian treasures, works by Asian and Persian authors, and works from ancient Greece and the Middle East. But the most attractive thing about the museum is the new American wing, integrated in chronological order, which includes American paintings, furniture, decorative and folk art, silver and glass objects dating from pre-Columbian arts to those of modernism.
Website: www.mfa.org
Address: 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
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6. Visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Located in the Fenway-adjacent Museum of Fine Arts, the Gardner Museum is one of the best museums in the city. The museum, named for heiress Isabella Stewart Gardner, has a stunning collection of Asian art, including Japanese prints, Chinese bronzes, and Korean art. The museum also has European paintings and artifacts from the Middle Ages up through the early Renaissance. The Gardner Museum is the perfect choice for visitors who want to explore Asian art and European paintings at the same time. If you want to spend a few days in Boston, you’ll want to make it a point to visit the Gardner Museum.
Website: www.gardnermuseum.org
Address: 25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115, United States
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7. Seeing USS Constitution and Bunker Hill in Boston National Historic Park
USS Constitution and USS Bunker Hill are located in Boston National Historic Park, one of the best things to do in Boston. These ships are located just outside the city limits, which means you can visit them easily on your own. USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship in the United States. She was launched in 1797 and is still in active service today. USS Bunker Hill is the most famous ship in the park. She was part of America’s defense of the seacoast during the War of 1812. If you want to see these ships and more in Boston National Historic Park, you’ll need to be in Boston multiple days. You can easily visit the park on public transportation, and the ships are located just outside of Boston on a small island.
Website: ussconstitutionmuseum.org
8. Museum of Science
Located just outside of Boston in the suburbs, the Museum of Science is one of the best things to do in Boston. The museum was built to house the private collection of industrialist John Welch and his family. The museum contains numerous exhibits that explore science, technology, and medicine, as well as an IMAX theater that shows films about science and planetarium shows about the stars and planets. The museum is on Boston’s green belt, and visitors can easily walk or take a short cab ride from the city center. The Museum of Science is a great place for visitors of all ages. The museum has multiple galleries and interactive exhibits, so you can spend a few hours exploring all the different topics. If you want to spend a few days in Boston, you’ll want to make it a point to visit the Museum of Science.
Website: www.mos.org
Address: 1 Museum Of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114, United States
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9. Visiting Harvard Square and Harvard Art Museums
Harvard University is among the most famous in the world. Founded in 1636, it is also the oldest higher education institution in the United States. The university is a must-see in Boston, where you’ll take a free student-led tour of campus and explore Harvard Square, full of shops, bookstores, and ice cream parlors. And of course – The Harvard Art Museums, where each of the collections is enviable: early Renaissance Italian art, expressionist art from Central and Northern Europe, with objects, Chinese jade and bronze, Japanese prints, Indian art, and Greco-Roman antiques.
Website: www.harvardsquare.com
Address: Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
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10. Visiting the Old North Church and Boston’s North End
Boston’s North End is a famous Italian quarter in the city and one of the oldest ones. Everything is interesting here and that is why it can be called one of the Boston attractions. You can see the house of the patriot Paul Revere from 1770, as well as climb to the tower of the Old North Church, where lanterns were hung in 1775 to warn Paul Revere that British troops were coming.
The church has preserved its white, beautiful interior. The northern end has not changed much over the years. In it, you will feel the characteristic warm Italian character, including in restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and shops with Italian products. And last but not least, you can buy unique souvenirs from the North Bennet Street School store, which teaches bookbinding, violin making, cabinets and furniture, and working with silver and gold.
Website: www.oldnorth.com
Address: 193 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113, United States
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11. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
This is a must-visit when visiting Boston. You can’t come to the city’s Tea Party and not visit the ships. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is located in the Old Ironsides Ship & Museum, which was the original Concord, one of the ships used in the Boston Tea Party. The museum also has interactive exhibits that teach you about the history of the event and the ships. The museum has various ship models, including a full-scale replica of the “Jesus” tea ship. The museum also has a replica of the “Cowell,” a smaller ship used to transport the tea leaves from Boston Harbor to London. The ship replicas make up one of the museum’s most popular exhibits, because visitors often believe they are standing in Boston Harbor.
Website: www.bostonteapartyship.com
Address: 306 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210, United States
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12. Visiting the Harvard Museums and seeing the Glass Flowers
The Harvard Museums are one of the best places to visit in Boston. There are over two-dozen museums, including the Harvard Art Museum, the Peabody Museum of Natural History, and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. If you have time, see the Harvard Museum of Natural History, which has the world’s largest collection of marine invertebrates, and the Harvard Art Museum, which has the world’s largest collection of Islamic art. The Harvard Museum of Natural History also has the world’s largest collection of the glass flowers, pieces of glass art created by artists who used them to experiment with light. When you are at the museums, you can see the glass flowers and visit the Peabody Museum of Natural History to see the glass flowers. The Museum of Natural History has the world’s largest collection of marine invertebrates, fossils of ancient animals, and fish. If you have time, see the Glass Flowers, which are pieces of glass art created by artists who used them to experiment with light.
Website: www.bostonteapartyship.com
Address: 26 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
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13. Seeing the New England Aquarium
This is an amazing aquarium you must see when in Boston. Boston hosts an amazing aquarium and children’s aquarium that are worth visiting. Boston is home to the New England Aquarium, which is one of the only aquariums in the country that is open to the public and home to over 8,000 aquatic animals, including sharks, rays, and whales. The aquarium has many different exhibits, including a touch tank, a sea creatures exhibit, a coral reef tank, and a polar pool. If you have time, take a tour of the aquarium, which allows you to see different parts of the aquarium from various viewpoints. For families, the Boston Children’s Aquarium is great. It has many different exhibits, including a shark tunnel, a sea creatures exhibit, a coral reef tank, a mine ship exhibit, and a large indoor rainforest. The Aquarium is large enough to allow you to easily see all of its exhibits.
How long does it take to go through the New England Aquarium?
A typical time spent at the New England Aquarium is two hours.
Website: www.neaq.org
Address: 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, United States
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14. Visiting the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
This is one you should add to your bucket list. When visiting Boston, you must visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. It is the only presidential library in the country that is open to the public. The museum is located on the campus of Northeastern University and includes many interactive exhibits about JFK and American history. The library and museum also have a film and TV theater where you can see some of the more popular movies about JFK. Visit the library, which has books, artifacts, and audiovides about JFK and American history. Visit the museum, which has audiovids and exhibits about JFK, his life, and American history.
Website: www.jfklibrary.org
Address: Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125, United States
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15. Visiting the Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a massive stone edifice that sits majestically across the street from the Massachusetts State House. It’s one of the oldest public libraries in North America. It’s also one of the most beautiful. The library’s main reading room is famous for its incredible architectural design. Everything from the stained-glass skylight to the hand-painted wall murals is extremely ornate, and very rarely photographed. In addition to the main reading room, the building is home to several other exhibits and galleries, including an art collection, a rare books collection, and a small but fascinating exhibit on the history of librarianship.
Website: www.bpl.org
Address: 700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
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16. Going to Boston Harbor and to Whale Watching Cruises
If you are visiting Boston during the summer, you can go to the harbor to see the Boston Harbor boats, go on a cruise to see whales, or go on a Boston Harbor boat tour. The Boston Harbor boats are great fun. They are smaller boats that usually travel in a line or a circle around the harbor. The boats are usually open to the public and are great for people who want to get away from the crowds. The Boston Harbor boats also offer whale watching cruises. These cruises can be as short as an hour or as long as a full day. You’ll get a chance to see whales, seabirds, and other wildlife as you cruise Boston Harbor. If you want to spend more time out on the water, you can also book a longer whale watching cruise.
17. Visiting the Beacon Hill and the Black Heritage Trail
If you love exploring historic areas, the Beacon Hill and Black Heritage Trail are must-visit areas when in Boston. The Beacon Hill area is located near downtown Boston, and the area is home to many historic buildings and sites. The Black Heritage Trail is a walking tour that follows the history of the city’s African-American community. If you visit these historic areas, you will see many historic buildings and learn about Black History in Boston.
18. Visiting the Boston HarborWalk and Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
HarborWalk is an attractive promenade along the coast, filled with parks, public art, cafes, benches, explanation signs, and access to explore the harbor by cruise ship, ferry, or even water taxi.
You should not miss the part that passes from the North End through a pergola along the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, also along the India Wharf, the Commercial Wharf, and Long Wharf, and from Rowes Wharf. Continue along with the port, to the Institute of Contemporary Art – a wonderful art museum.
Website: www.bostonharbornow.org/what-we-do/explore/harborwalk/
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19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
This is a must-visit when visiting Boston. This is a great campus with beautiful architecture and a thriving tech sector. The campus is located in the heart of the city, and it is easy to get to from other parts of the city. If you love nature, hiking and biking trails are great ways to explore the campus.
Website: www.mit.edu
Address: 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
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20. Exploring the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Pops? The Boston Symphony Orchestra? What’s not to love about these two world-famous orchestras? These are two of the most renowned ensembles in the country, and their performances in Boston are a big deal. With orchestras performing regularly in the city and a national tour waiting for them when they’re done, it’s easy to see why these two are always top-notch. For those who are interested in the Boston Symphony’s season, music fans can find out when tickets go on sale by signing up for Symphony’s email newsletter. If you’re looking to see the Boston Pops, you’ll want to check the calendar to see when they’re performing, as their seasons aren’t as regular as the symphony’s.
Website: www.mit.edu
Address: 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
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Boston will flood you with a palette of beauty, history, and modernity. You will leave here with new knowledge of the past and present of the United States, as well as wonderful impressions of everything seen and heard. This city will give you even more of what you are looking for when coming to this part of the United States of America.
21.Baked Stuff: Donuts, Cookies, and More from the Streets of Boston
There are few things more iconic to Boston than baked goods. The city is home to some of the world’s best pastry chefs, who create wildly delicious treats that are sold from carts and trucks scattered throughout the city. The best way to sample the city’s baked delights is by purchasing a “hoagie” or “baguette” from one of the city’s many Chinese or Vietnamese bakeries. These small stores are an essential part of life in Boston, and they’re a great way to try a wide variety of baked goods for very little money. The best places to find baked goods in Boston are on the streets around Chinatown, in the South End, and along Harrison Avenue in the Longwood Medical Area.
a word about weather and seasons
Visiting Boston in the spring, summer, or fall is the best time to avoid the extreme weather conditions of winter. Weather in Boston is fickle, and temperatures can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months, to 80 degrees during the summer. If you want to avoid the crowds, the best times to visit are in late September, early October, and late April. These are the “off-season” months when the weather is ideal, and fewer tourists are in town.
Conclusion
Boston is an amazing city, full of history and natural beauty. You can experience all of this and more by visiting the city during the summer. You can explore the city center, see the natural beauty of the suburbs, and visit the aquarium to see dolphins. There are many things to do during the summer in Boston, and we hope our guide helps you plan your trip.
