11 Best Things to Do in Boston

The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship that’s still afloat today. Visit this famed Boston-docked vessel to see the cannons used during her 1812 battle against the British frigate HMS Guerriere and learn how she earned her nickname “Old Ironsides.” 

The USS Constitution may set sail at certain times, but across the pier, the museum in the naval yard itself offers a riveting and educational experience, with interactive exhibits and over 2,000 artifacts, and 10,000 archival records, on show.

Home to Boston’s famous Red Sox team, Fenway Park is where sports enthusiasts go to learn all about American baseball. Take a guided tour of the stadium, peruse Major League heroes in the Hall of Fame, or watch Boston slug it out against the Yankees, Royals, Rangers, or Orioles, during an exhilarating game day playoff. 

Even if you aren't a die-hard baseball fan, a visit to Fenway Park will leave you feeling utterly inspired and dreaming of hitting a home run yourself. Make sure you take in the amazing vista atop the fabled Green Monster, a 37-foot left field wall that’s become something of a sporting icon.

Dating back to 1634, leafy Boston Common is the oldest urban park in the United States. This 50-acre oasis played a significant role during the American Revolution when the Redcoats were encamped there. 

Nowadays, it’s beloved for its majestic willow and elm trees, ice skating on Frog Pond in winter, whimsical carousel, and impressive collection of historic monuments. Several softball fields are found in the southwest corner of the park, while visitors can take in Shakespeare plays during the heat of July and August.

Discover scientific and technological breakthroughs at the iconic MIT Museum located west of the Charles River over Boston’s scenic Longfellow Bridge. Inside, you’ll find a wealth of objects, photographs, and videos that demonstrate the glorious achievements of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which was founded in 1861 by William Barton Rogers, an American geologist and physicist.

Be dazzled by the world’s most comprehensive holograph collection, one of the oldest marine technology archives in the United States, as well as stroboscopes, cameras, thermometers, and telephones. Make sure you check the official website for the museum’s latest programs and events, which include film festivals, astronomy workshops, and live dance performances.

Situated next to Boston Common, but offering a lusher and more landscaped environment, you’ll find Boston Public Garden: the first public botanical garden in the United States. Dating back to 1837, this gorgeous urban green space is beloved by horticulturists thanks to its unusual collection of plants, all which are cultivated in the Parks Department greenhouses. 

Leafy pathways lead to tinkling water fountains and a large lagoon, where you and your family can ride fairy tale swan boats. Visit in springtime for a vast array of colorful botanicals including tulips, pansies, angelonia, and chartreuse-colored weeping willows.

Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is housed in a magnificent neoclassical building and showcases over 450,000 works including paintings, sculptures, and ancient antiquities. While away an afternoon here marveling at historic Egyptian sarcophagi, paintings by French impressionist Paul Gauguin, rare Chinese bronzes, and rustic Nubian pottery.

For those who favor all-things American, then the drip-paintings of Jackson Pollock, the pop art of Andy Warhol, and the Rockefeller Native American Collection are not to be missed. Some of the museum’s galleries are lavish, and reminiscent of European palaces, thanks to their vast collections of oil paintings by masters like Duccio, Renoir, and Rembrandt.

Located in vibrant downtown, Boston Public Market is a year-round indoor venue that’s stocked with an exciting array of locally sourced edibles. Here, New England’s artisans offer cold-cut meats, fruits, veggies, and succulent seafood, as well as ready-to-eat products like bagels and crepes.

Swing by Hearth and Hug Bakery for buttermilk scones, Crescent Ridge for award-winning ice cream, and Beantown Pastrami Company for the best deli-sandwiches in all of Boston. The market is jam-packed with events that one can attend like Netflix and Knitting and fun cupcake workshops. 

Boston Duck Tours is a fantastic way to see the capital of Massachusetts with a knowledgeable guide. This fully-narrated sightseeing adventure takes place in an amazing amphibious vehicle that can travel across both water and land.

Plunge into Charles River to take in the beautiful Boston skyline before cruising past famous landmarks like the gold-domed State House, leafy Boston Common, Quincy Market, and Prudential Tower. With a colorful cast of ConDUCKtors like Private Pepper and Ripple N. Stillwater showing you the sights, this is one of Boston’s most fun days out.

One of Boston’s beloved walks, the Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile outdoor history lesson that stops at 16 of the city’s most significant landmarks including museums, churches, graveyards, meeting houses, and a naval frigate ship. Every step tells the riveting story of the American Revolution through a collection of strategically-placed markers that are sunk into the sidewalks. 

Stop at iconic attractions including Boston Common, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, the Benjamin Franklin Statue, and the Old Corner Bookstore, to name a few. After visiting the USS Constitution, end the day at Bunker Hill Monument, which commemorates one of the first major battles between the Red Coats and the Patriots.

Visit the Samuel Adams Brewery for a glimpse into its storied past and a taste of its legendary drafts. The flagship brand of the Boston Beer Company, Sam Adams beer is named after the US Founding Father Samuel Adams, who inherited his family’s brewery.

Take the Beyond the Brewhouse guided tour to see how beer is made, or book yourself onto the Keller Crafted Experience to taste rare small-batch beers, paired with a delicious range of local cheeses. Alternatively, hit the tap room to sample the company’s many different offshoots including Golden Pilsner, Irish Red, Stony Brook Session, and Wicked Hazy.

Head to Royale, in the historic theater district, for one of Boston’s hippest nightlife experiences. This multi-level megaclub is set in an early 20th century opera house and plays host to blistering live performers and a roster of white-hot DJs that spin EDM, house, and top 40 hits.

With its state-of-the-art audio system, giant LED wall, collection of plush furniture, and decadent drinks menu, it’s little wonder why Bostonians flock here to party the night away. Recent artists to grace the stage include Bombay Bicycle Club, Arlo Parks, Steve Angello, and VNV Nation.