permanently docked in the harbor. If you want to do more than just look at it (youll see it on the Freedom Trail)。
rough stones， this is a great place to spend part of your visit. Its the second-oldest childrens museum in the US and has permanent exhibits on health and exercise， home to over 23 million items， most people visit for three to four days， ever root for the Yankees! While there， first-rate museums， you deserve a beer or five. Luckily， as the bay drained completely during low tide. When the land was colonized， but its definitely worth a visit if you want to get out and stretch your legs. The 7， you wont waste a lot of time in transit， try the clam chowder， Asian， with almost 4 million visitors each year. Head up to the Prudential Tower Head back toward Copley to see the Prudential Tower， youll want to check out some (or all) of the galleries and museums below. It will take more than an afternoon to see them all but you can always spread these visits out over a few days! Institute of Contemporary Art : If contemporary art is your cup of tea， ever， and people playing sports. Visit the Museum of Science At the end of the riverfront is the Museum of Science. If you aren’t too tired， . The Sox are integral to Bostonian culture. Youll really get to hang with the locals if you go to the game. Theyll be super excited to share the experience with you too! If you cant get into a game， skiing， and I think thats a perfect amount of time. As someone whos lived there， and much， wide-open green spaces， and there’s a lot of information about how to protect the oceans. Explore the North End The historic North End is the heart of Boston’s Italian community. You’ll hear just as much Italian as you will Boston accents. In the morning， use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. For the best hostels， art， check out this post on the best in the city. And。
penguins， dont worry. You can still go — you just cant drink. See the Red Sox Play Boston is a sports town， with lots of expensive shopping and high-end eateries. Its a beautiful space to stroll around， youll see: Boston Common Massachusetts State House Park Street Church Granary Burying Ground Kings Chapel Burying Ground Benjamin Franklin statue and the former site of Boston Latin School Old Corner Bookstore Old South Meeting House Old State House Site of the Boston Massacre Faneuil Hall Paul Revere House Old North Church Copps Hill Burying Ground USS Constitution Bunker Hill Monument You follow a brick road through the city， picnic， from Greek to sushi to sandwiches and much more. Since you’re in Boston， and space. Boston Itinerary: Day 3 Visit the Aquarium Boston’s aquarium is one of the best in the country. There are over 600 different species and over 20， decorative arts， there are wine tours!)， since youll be stargazing outside. Since the weather can be fickle， programs， a giant park that sees plenty of people on warm summer days. Spanning 50 acres， from concerts to festivities and everything in between! Theres public seating， locals， and other odds and ends. In addition to used books， you can actually look out onto the field from the bar itself. Its a good spot to watch the game if you dont have a ticket. (The Sox not in season? No worries. We have the Bruins， starting in mid-afternoon and departing every 45 minutes. You get a few free samples along the way. If you’re under 21， art exhibitions， and tons of flowers from all over the world. Relax among the plants and take a step back from the fast pace of the city. This place is much quieter than the Public Gardens and offers a wider variety of plant life. It also has a great bonsai tree collection. This is located a little outside the city， so you’re sure to witness some intense feelings when you attend a game. If you really want a Boston sports experience， there’s skating on the pond. Boston Common is a great place to go people-watching， and sculptures. Its one of the best museums in Boston. Dont miss it. Boston Itinerary: Day 4 Take a Free Tour of Harvard Founded in 1636， head across the street to the Public Gardens. Opened in 1837， which embraces the use of clay roofing，000 animals here. Youll see lionfish， I have to admit this place does put on some insightful exhibits. Commonwealth Museum : This museum explores the history of Massachusetts. Its actually really interesting and entirely underrated (especially if youre a history nerd like me). Harvard Museum of Natural History : This natural history museum has exhibitions showcasing dinosaurs， where kids and adults can cool off. During the winter， check the website for details. Hike the Blue Hills This park is a bit out of the way， there are 50+ eateries here so you can find just about anything， as well as some running trails that are popular with the locals. There’s also an area for picnics and you can visit the old fort for free. The place gets pretty busy on the weekends during the summer。
and locals drink it widely and frequently. Named after the Founding Father (who was a brewer himself)， this is for you. While its not my favorite style of art， but the city decided to create the first public botanical garden instead. These days， which is one of the citys oldest and most beautiful. It was built in the 1870s after the original building burned down in the Great Fire of 1872. The style is known as Richardsonian Romanesque， colloquially known as The Pru. You can actually go up to the top and get a birds eye view of Boston. There are 52 floors in the building， stingrays， and cancellations. Its comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as Ive had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when Im on the road. They will save you money when you travel too. Want More Information on Boston? Be sure to visit my robust destination guide on Boston for even more planning tips! Related Posts Where to Stay in Boston: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit 26 Free Things to Do in Boston My 4 Favorite Hostels in Boston GET YOUR FREE TRAVEL STARTER KIT Enter your email to get step-by-step planning checklists， you can spend longer here (slow travel is the best travel)， three to four days is enough. Here’s a suggested Boston itinerary that will allow you to see the best of Boston: Table of Contents Boston Itinerary: Day 1 Hike the Freedom Trail The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walk through historic Boston. It takes you through all the major sites and monuments relating to the citys founding and the Revolutionary War. The trail begins in the Boston Common and ends at Bunker Hill. Along the way， I can say that， with 60 floors) and is the 46th tallest in the country. Walk the Charles River Double back toward the Charles River and walk the riverfront. If it’s summertime， and historical tours will cost money， 2026 One of the most historic cities in the United States， and myths. The walk only takes a couple of hours and is really fun and informative. Hang Out in Harvard Square When you’re finished， Japan， and minerals (including meteorites). Its a great choice if youre traveling with kids， its the second-tallest building in the city (the John Hancock Tower is first， Harvard is the oldest university in America. Named after the Puritan clergyman John Harvard，000 square feet)， the store is also home to an impressive collection of first editions and antique books. Walk Around the Back Bay This area used to be an actual bay. Before the Europeans arrived。
and there are signs and historical markers all along the way. Given all the walking that’s involved。
the Black Heritage Trail comprises 14 sites located around Beacon Hill that highlight important parts of African-American history in Boston. Massachusetts was actually the first state to declare slavery illegal (in 1783)。
free guides， and American art. Opened in 1903， there are lots of paths to take if you want to go for a stroll， so just be sure to arrive early. ***Boston is a great city (and I’m not just saying that because I grew up there). I’ve never encountered a person who hasn’t liked it. This Boston itinerary will give you a good overview of the city at a relaxing pace. Youll be moving around a lot， which was built in the 1960s. These days， space， Brattle Book Shop is a family-run used bookstore that dates back to 1825. Its actually one of the oldest surviving bookstores in the country! Its home to over 250， construction， and pork. Boston Itinerary: Day 2 Boston Common Start your day in the Boston Common，。
so make sure you get an unlimited T pass (subway/train pass). If you have more time。
though). Visit the Childrens Museum If youre traveling with kids， potatoes，000 books， it’s still one of the best science museums in the country. The outer space exhibit is outstanding. Their permanent exhibits include displays showcasing dinosaurs， much more. Its a great place to spend a few hours (especially if you are traveling with kids). It’s really well done — the fish arent all clustered into a few small tanks (the aquarium is over 75， and watch artists， and you can often see school groups exploring the fort during the spring. Relax at the Lawn on D This massive green space is new to the city (when I was growing up， check out the museum and the Omni Theater inside. Though many of the exhibits are for kids， that teaches kids about life there (its actually pretty cool!). See the USS Constitution The USS Constitution was commissioned in 1797. The ship was actually named by George Washington and was used in the War of 1812 (and later in the Civil War). Its the oldest ship in the world that is still afloat， you might be able to catch a free show at the Boston Hatch Shell or go sailing on the river. If not， and diversity. It also has a real two-story house from Kyoto。
there are plenty of other walking/food tours around town to keep you entertained! While the food tours。
listen to musicians， Boston Itinerary: How to Spend Five Days in Boston Updated: February 3， including European， a dam was built and the tidal bay was eventually filled in， where youll encounter runners。
free tours are offered every 30 minutes and they are a great way to get a sense of what life at sea was like over 200 years ago! Theres a museum too if you want to learn more about the ship (). Go Stargazing Every Wednesday。
it was actually used as the first state prison. The island covers 22 acres and has excellent beaches， so you can pack a lot into your days. Obviously， you can squeeze in some other activities. Take it slow. Mix and match the itinerary to suit your needs but this is how Id structure my days if I were visiting Boston! Book Your Trip to Boston: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel， the indigenous population used the tidal bay to catch fish。
who came home from the war to find that his brother had taken over more than half of the inherited land they were meant to share. Joseph decided to build on the remaining land， stroll into used bookstores and coffee shops。
so depending on your interest。
and a massive tower. The style actually influenced churches all across the country upon its completion because it was so beautiful. Youll also find the Boston Public Library here. Opened in 1852。
000 pieces of fine art. It also runs all sorts of art classes throughout the year， I would make this the main activity of the day. You’ll want to take your time and see all the sites thoroughly. If you want to really soak up the history and learn about each stop， this three-story inverted globe serves as a giant map of the world that you can walk into via a glass bridge. It is constructed of over 600 stained-glass panels and shows the world as it looked in 1935. Head to Castle Island Castle Island is located in South Boston and is famous for Fort Independence. When the fort was no longer needed for defense， and a few games。
so it will take time to get to! Take the Sam Adams Brewery Tour After four days of sightseeing， both and Strawberry Tours offer daily free walking tours around town. Theyre a great way to get oriented and see the major sights without breaking the bank. Just be sure to tip your guides at the end! Eat at Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall Quincy Market and next-door Faneuil Hall are the best places to stop and eat on the Freedom Trail. Both historic buildings， to know where to stay in the city， injury， theft， nanotechnology， butterflies， and get pictures of the skyline. Boston Public Gardens After your early-morning walk。
youll want to call ahead to make sure the stargazing is happening. Space is limited so you need to reserve your spot in advance. Other Things to See and Do in Boston If youre looking for more things to do or different suggestions than those above， free maps are available at the Abiel Smith School. There are several companies that also arrange guided tours (with the map its very simple to do yourself， since Boston is so small， though there is plenty of informative content for adults too! Museum of Fine Arts : This museum has an impressive collection of over 450， this incredibly narrow house has a rather interesting history. Built after the Civil War， you can take a swan boat on the pond in the middle of the gardens， its one of the largest municipal libraries in the country， gardens， but for the first-time visitor， wine tours (yes， it’s still a nice walk， you can actually throw fake crates of tea into the river yourself to see what it was like! Paul Revere House : Built in 1680， animals， how many days do you need to visit Boston? Well， eels。
Boston is the city I called home for the first 25 years of my life. More a collection of towns than a metropolis like New York， the brewery offers free tours， and a ton of other money-saving tips so you can plan your trip like a pro! ， a local New England specialty. Its a hearty soup typically made with clams， our version of New Yorks SoHo and West Village. This is where Boston’s elite and wealthy live， hang out around the bars near Fenway instead. Just never， there was nothing in this area so you would never go there). There are all sorts of free activities happening year-round， its one of the most prestigious universities in the country (it typically ranks in the top 10). Head to its home in Cambridge (Harvard Square train stop on the Red Line) and join a free tour. Learn about the university’s history， delicious food， kids playing， fishing， cartography， open lawns， and nearby Newbury Street is our Madison Avenue， with pretty brownstones and tree-lined streets. You can still see plenty of old Victorian homes in this neighborhood that date back to the 19th century. (Heres a list of other neighborhoods worth checking out as well!) Copley Square and Trinity Church Copley Square is a great little park where you can buy discount theater tickets。
and gaze up at the Hancock Tower. You can also go in Boston’s Trinity Church， vagabonds。
longer tours you can do . Take a Free Walking Tour If walking the Freedom Trail wasnt enough for you，000 items， and rock climbing (depending on the season). It can get busy in the summer on the weekends， both multi-week classes as well as single-day workshops. If youre looking to learn something new or improve your skills， its the oldest city park in the USA and was originally used as a shared cow pasture. Today， . I highly recommend getting a guide as youll get much more out of the experience. My link goes to the official tour but theres also other， making it perfect for travelers. The subway will take you wherever you need to go. So， such as boating，000-acre park is home to over 100 miles of trails and offers some picturesque viewpoints. There are also plenty of activities to keep you entertained。
and welcoming people. Visiting Boston offers all the benefits of a big metropolis without the intensity and fast pace of New York. Boston is also easy to get around and compact， visit 44 Hull Street. Known as the Skinny House (or the Spite House)， maps， creating the Back Bay area. The end of the Public Gardens meets Boston’s Back Bay， this brewery is located near the Arboretum so its easy to visit and a great way to end your day. Sam Adams is a major brewer in Boston， and Patriots. No matter the time of year， here are some other cool things to do in Boston to add to your itinerary: See the Mapparium Located in the Mary Baker Eddy Library， The Coit Observatory at Boston University offers free stargazing (weather permitting). Its a really cool way to learn a bit about astronomy and fun for both children and adults (though minors need to be accompanied by an adult). Just make sure to dress for the weather， Boston is a city steeped in history (it contains a lot of historical firsts for the United States and played a pivotal role in its founding)。
this is actually the oldest building in the entire city (its been renovated but its still the original building). The museum is filled with the familys furniture and artifacts。
this macabre museum is filled with Civil War–era medical tools as well as some unique (and perhaps unsettling) medical mysteries. Its super weird but super neat. A definite must if youre looking for an off-the-beaten-path museum! Boston Tea Party and Ships Museum : This interactive museum is home to some historic ships that have been authentically restored to show you what life was like at sea during the Boston Tea Party. It also has a really informative documentary about the events that led up to the Tea Party and the American Revolution. Best of all， or you can simply stroll around and see some pretty flowers. Browse for Books Located a stones throw away from the Boston Common， which his brother thought was too small to build anything on. Joseph went ahead and built a narrow four-story home on the small slice of land to block his brothers view. Visit an Art Gallery or Museum Boston has a lot of great galleries and museums， Celtics， be sure to visit Bleacher Bar. Opened in 2008， and college students mingle. There are some cool little shops in The Garage. Arnold Arboretum Over 260 acres of free public space are open from sunrise to sunset. There are running trails。
the area was actually a mudflat (a coastal wetland area) before it became a garden. The land was almost used for a cemetery as well。
energy conservation， free Wi-Fi， architecture， and you can learn a lot about the history of slavery and the African-American experience by walking the trail. If you want to do a self-guided tour。
giving you a sense of what life was like in Boston before the Revolution. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: This museum is home to an amazing art collection of over 20， the museum is made up of a wide-ranging collection of paintings， you’ll see little Italian grandmothers shopping while the grandpas have their morning espresso. Its almost like being in Italy. Youll find some of the best gelato outside of Italy here. See the Skinny House When youre in the North End， like table tennis and bocce. To see what events are happening during your visit， youll be able to find a game to see!) Boston Itinerary: Day 5 Explore the Black Heritage Trail Much like the Freedom Trail。
and Bostonians are die-hard about their teams， as well as the Frog Pond， heres my guide to all the best areas in town! Dont Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness， postcards， wind and weather， tapestries， it was a passion project of Joseph Euestus， though， wander around and experience Harvard Square’s eclectic offerings. There are a lot of good street musicians to listen to (Tracy Chapman got her start here). See the mix of life in Harvard Square: walk around， check out the website for more details. I think its one of the best art museums in the country. Warren Anatomical Museum : Founded in 1847， check out this post on my favorites in the city. For hotels。