Attractions
Come early or stay late to enjoy all Boston has to offer or plan ahead and visit some of the nearby locations in Massachusetts like Cape Cod, Plymouth, Salem, Concord and more.
Fall Foliage
Charles River Esplanade
- The Charles River Esplanade is a state-owned park known for its scenic views, especially during peak foliage season.
Boston Public Garden
Arnold Arboretum
Academic Institutions
Boston Public Library
- Established in 1848 the first large free municipal library in the United States, the Boston Public Library hosts a vast collection of over 33 million items.
The Boston Athenæum
- The Boston Athenæum is a historic library and cultural center featuring art exhibitions, rare books, and rotating displays.
The Cambridge Squares
- Charming neighborhoods in Cambridge with fine dining, shopping, theatres, museums, and historical sites.
- Harvard Square centers around Harvard University and features bookstores, cafés, and street performers.
- Central Square is known for its diverse dining, nightlife, and music venues.
- Kendall Square, near MIT, is a hub for tech, innovation, and modern restaurants.
Walking Trails and Tours
The Freedom Trail
- Boston’s Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile red-brick path that guides visitors through key sites of the American Revolution. Stretching from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument, it includes landmarks like the Paul Revere House, Old South Meeting House, and historic cemeteries.
Black Heritage Trail
- This walking trail highlights Boston’s 19th-century free Black community on Beacon Hill. It features homes, schools, and churches tied to the abolitionist movement, including the African Meeting House and the Museum of African American History.
Irish Heritage Trail
- Spanning downtown Boston and nearby neighborhoods, this trail honors the contributions of Irish immigrants and Irish-Americans. Sites include statues, memorials, and churches, such as the Boston Irish Famine Memorial and St. Augustine Cemetery.
Native American Trail
- This self-guided trail explores the presence and history of Indigenous peoples in the Boston area. It includes markers and exhibits related to Massachusetts tribal lands, pre-colonial settlements, and contemporary Native voices.
Path of Presidents
- This trail follows the footsteps of U.S. presidents who lived in or visited Boston, from John Adams to John F. Kennedy. Stops include the Massachusetts State House, Faneuil Hall, and JFK’s boyhood home in Brookline.
Women’s Heritage Trail
- This trail highlights influential women who shaped Boston’s history in education, politics, and social reform. It includes places like the homes of Lucy Stone and Abigail Adams, and landmarks tied to suffrage and abolitionist activism.
Museums
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
- Dedicated to the memory of our nation's thirty-fifth president, the library comprises some 20,000 three-dimensional objects and works of art
Museum of Fine Arts
- Founded in 1870, this encyclopedic museum holds more than 450,000 objects in its collection that covers art from ancient times to today and features major exhibitions, including work by top contemporary artists.
Museum of Science
- An interactive museum with over 500 exhibits on topics from physics to biology, along with a planetarium and IMAX theatre.
Isabella Steward Gardner Museum
- Modeled after a Venetian palazzo, this museum showcases an eclectic collection of European, Asian, and American art, all arranged as per the founder's vision. The museum is also known for the infamous 1990 art heist.
Institute of Contemporary Art
- Located in the Seaport District, the ICA features contemporary art exhibitions in a striking modern building overlooking Boston Harbor.
New England Aquarium
- Home to thousands of marine animals, including sea turtles, penguins, and a giant ocean tank, it's a must-visit for ocean enthusiasts.
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
- An interactive experience where visitors can relive the historic protest by boarding replica ships and tossing tea into the harbor.
USS Constitution Museum
- Located in the Charlestown Navy Yard, it delves into the history of "Old Ironsides," the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat.
Museum of African American History
- Situated in Beacon Hill, it preserves and interprets the contributions of African Americans in New England from the colonial period through the 19th century.
Other
Fenway Park
Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market
- Known as the "Cradle of Liberty," this historic marketplace offers a mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment.