Seated in the capital of Massachusetts is Boston, a historic city known for its role in American Independence. Nowadays, it's a city filled with passion for science, arts, entertainment, and sports. This New England university town holds a lot of its charm in its Victorian-style parks, massive museums and centers for research, solid sports fanbase, and storied pathways that pass by important landmarks. If you’re wondering what to do in Boston, just follow this guide for a complete rundown of the city’s best attractions.
Walk down memory lane at Freedom Trail, Boston’s red-brick path that runs through museums, parks, churches, and other historic markers. Learn about the beginnings of the War of Independence from Boston Common, and the events that led to the eventual downfall of the British at Bunker Hill Monument. You can either join a tour group for a more comprehensive historical walk, or you can set off on your own by following the markers laid out in the path.
The charming Faneuil Hall Marketplace is where all the fun happens. Its historic buildings and cobblestone streets might look too much of a tourist trap, but its lively food hall will lure in. Enjoy a classic lobster roll, clam chowder, bread bowl, and so many more Boston favorites in one go. Street performers will keep you entertained, and might probably sell you souvenirs while you’re under their spell. Go window shopping in its many stores and be the quintessential tourist.
Nicknamed the MFA, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has up to 500,000 artworks under its care. Exhibitions on Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, M.C. Escher, Frida Kahlo, John Singer Sargent, Sandro Botticelli, Ansel Adams, Monet, and even Winnie the Pooh are open for your viewing pleasure. Its mix of neoclassical and modern architecture creates an even deeper sense of Boston, which is borne out of revolutionary history and modernity.
Its days as a British campground during the Revolutionary War may be hard to imagine, but the pristine Boston Common has been around since 1634. Nowadays, this massive urban park sees a lot of picnics and fun activities on its grounds. Go on a swan boat ride, catch a shower at the Frog Pond’s giant spray fountain, enjoy people-watching at the public garden, and join local events like Shakespeare on the Commons and Hempfest. Seasonal activities like ice skating are also available.
Whether you’re visiting for a Red Sox ball game or going on a ballpark tour, Fenway Park is on every baseball fan’s top attractions in Boston. Known for being the occasional venue of the Major League Baseball’s World Series, this park also doubles as a concert venue for the likes of Pearl Jam and Billy Joel. Fenway Park has been around since 1912, making it the oldest ballpark in the United States.
In 1837 the Boston Public Garden came to life, America’s first public botanical garden. Its Victorian influence is still very much alive, as evidenced by the huge pond accessible by boats and inhabited by swans, colorful rows of flowers such as tulips, and verdant weeping willow trees and shrubbery. Its beautiful scenery becomes even more breathtaking come springtime, and on normal days are made lively by street performers.
See what lies beneath the Atlantic waters at New England Aquarium. This waterfront attraction is home to all sorts of water creatures -- from fur seals in the New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center and its cousins in the Atlantic Harbor Seals Exhibit, the teeming marine life in the Indo-Pacific Coral Reef and Olympic Coast. Penguins are present too, as well as the Giant Ocean Tank’s Caribbean Reef inhabitants. The cylindrical spiral story tank is three-stories high, housing stingrays, turtles, and so many other species from the deep blue.
Famously known for being the site of the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Harbor has been around way before the symbolic protest happened in the late 1700s. Catch up on the town’s history with a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, check out the Boston Harborwalk for a beautiful view of the city, or hop on a cruise boat and stop at any of the 34 islands nearby. Don’t forget to make a stop at New England Aquarium and grabbing a bite at the food trucks lining the pier.
It was through the steeple of Old North Church that the sextons signaled the Patriots of the incoming British, which were en route to Concord and Lexington by sea. This 18th-century church has since become a historical site and a popular landmark for locals. Learn about its church history through a tour guide, who can also take you to the underground crypt if you purchase a ticket. Make sure to drop by the chocolate shop next door for a taste of colonial sweets.
On the fateful night that the British forces were marching onto Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere left his house in North Square to alert his fellow Patriots for the revolutionary war. Go on a self-guided tour inside his historic house, where the Revere family’s period furniture and Paul’s silversmith materials are on display. Get more insight into the life of the United States’ founding fathers through the helpful docents that are eager to answer curious queries.
In history books, Boston is best known for its role in the War of Independence. In more recent times, it’s a vibrant university town regarded as a leading force in culture, arts, and sports. Whether you’re a history buff, sports fanatic, or out for some cultural enrichment, you won’t run out of things to do in Boston.
The start of spring brings out the natural beauty of Boston, while most tourists like to visit in autumn to join various events.
Downtown Boston’s proximity to most attractions and European feel make it the go-to for tourists. But if you’re looking for a more local feel, the Victorian streets of South End and the North End’s Italian community are exciting options.