17+ Best Things To Do In Boston

Last updated August 24, 2025

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Boston offers a wide range of activities from helicopter tours to rock climbing, and is also among the historically important and oldest sites in the USA.

If you have an interest in American biography, this city is the location where the initial chapters were penned.

So, are you arranging a getaway to Boston and looking for things to do during your trip?

Here are 17+ best and most exciting things to explore in Boston!

1. Kendall Square

Kendall Square stands as a collection of advanced technology structures housing everything from research centers to entrepreneurial ventures.

It’s situated close to MIT, so you will find many young professionals always moving about here.

Kendall Square also hosts various bars, restaurants, and shops where locals can unwind from the daily grind, and the venues are often created to captivate.

The iconic Kendall Center operates strictly for business and it features a complimentary rooftop garden. Here, guests can inhale the fragrance of blooming flowers while taking in stunning city vistas.

Go ahead and visit Kendall Square when you want to discover Boston's unique activities that aren't available elsewhere.

There's just one MIT inside the US, so enjoy its surroundings while you have the chance!

2. Brattle Bookshop

Brattle Bookshop is a warm, packed sort of location where countless books are tumbling in heaps on every free space and stacked on shelves.

Books here even overflow into the solid brick alley next to the shop.

For book enthusiasts, you'll soon discover the hidden gem that’s Brattle Bookshop.

There are actually lots of titles in this bookshop, including paperbacks, first editions, hardcovers, and rare editions.

Their collection also includes maps, rare manuscripts, classic comic books, and diaries.

The only items you won’t discover here are modern bestsellers; it’s a rare bookshop, thus it focuses on antique, unique pieces.

You can easily lose yourself for a whole weekend among Battle Book Shop’s shelves, so ensure you allocate enough time for your visit.

Day can swiftly transform into night while exploring this selection of books inside Boston.

3. Bodega

Boston's attractions vary widely and this high-end fashion boutique concealed behind a vending machine remains among those places you must witness to believe.

It is a concealed store in Boston.

You can only discover it when you visit a Back Bay dilapidated convenience store and you must move aside a particular vending machine in order to enter.

Everything here doesn’t have signs or indicators, so you may need to navigate the maze of Boston alleys until you find the correct route.

Then, when you finally step into Bodega, you'll be struck by its bright, tidy shopping environment.

Being a top luxury brand, its clothing and footwear come at a premium price.

It has also been visited by celebrity shoppers like Kevin Durant and Jamie Foxx.

In fact, Bodega ranks among the most enjoyable activities in Boston.

It's a place enveloped in enigma and sprinkled with a touch of shopping delight, and discovering it will create a wonderful tale to share with your friends whenever you return home.

4. Castle Island

If you are aware of revolutionary history, you would have likely heard of this Castle Island.

It is a narrow strip and its primary draw is a powerful military stronghold known as Fort Independence.

Constructed in 1634, it has been maintained as a historic site for hundreds of years and complimentary tours are offered daily for those interested in its history.

Also, other activities on the lovely Castle Island encompass biking, fishing, swimming, and having a picnic.

Its tranquil environment is perfect for a peaceful afternoon that allows you to rejuvenate.

This is why Castle Island ranks among my favorite Boston attractions as it offers an ideal spot to relax amid the chaos of a hectic vacation.

5. Emerald Necklace

Emerald Necklace consists of a collection of gardens and parks that extends along the Boston peninsula’s “neck”.

It utilizes Massachusetts’s distinctive landscape by connecting numerous scenic locations which include Boston Common, The Riverway, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, and Olmsted Park.

Even, it won't be possible to see everything in this Emerald Necklace during one visit.

Every gem of it is a destination worth visiting, so whether you aim to rest among the beautiful wildflowers or stroll across a footbridge via the ferns, it’s essential to prepare well in advance.

Choose which of the attractions will give you the greatest joy as a lover of nature and add them to your itinerary of the top spots to visit in Boston.

6. Faneuil Hall Marketplace

If you have extra cash weighing on you, visit this place to lighten your load.

Although it has a singular name, it actually consists of four distinct marketplaces around a communal square and you'll find it difficult to decide where to go to eat, shop, drink, and explore.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace’s primary attraction is its cuisine.

With numerous vendors, you will discover anything from zesty meat dishes to large pretzels, and their aromas blend the air while you wander around.

You can also see street performers or jugglers entertaining for money.

Then, another enjoyable aspect of this place is the remarkable variety of its goods.

Whether you seek handmade crafts or fresh local flowers, you'll discover a variety of treasures here.

Also, Faneuil Hall is always active round the clock.

Even as the sun sets, you'll still be able to continue enjoying all your preferred activities despite the darkness outside.

Faneuil Hall is indeed a charming, vibrant spot, and it guarantees you some wonderful keepsakes from your Massachusetts trip when it's departure time.

7. Polcari’s Coffee

In order to enjoy Boston as a local, it’s essential to be familiar with all the area’s popular places.

Polcari’s Coffee remains among the most renowned.

Handed down through the ages, Polcari’s Coffee stands as a traditional coffee shop that offers nuts, herbs, oils, spices, and various Italian culinary products.

When you step into this charming storefront, you will be instantly overwhelmed by fragrant aromas and stunning arrangements of jars filled with beans.

A classic scale here will weigh and balance the coffee beans whenever you're ready to place an order.

Even, their friendly, welcoming staff will recall your name anytime you return.

Polcari’s Coffee definitely is a place you have to visit in Boston.

It provides not only top-notch products but is additionally one of Boston’s most unique and interesting activities.

You’ll surely sense a return to simpler days as you step on your legs here.

8. Museum of Fine Arts

With over 450000 artifacts, this museum stands as Massachusetts’s largest museum and ranks as the US’s fifth-biggest museum.

It's a location where you may wander for days through its exhibits, showcases, and presentation rooms.

So, what are some most fascinating exhibits to explore in this museum? It's all depending on your preference.

If you appreciate Old Egyptian art, you’re free to discover a variety of items in this museum, including sparkling jewels and historical sarcophagi tombs.

Then, if you appreciate oriental art, this museum is renowned for its calligraphy scrolls from China and woodblock prints from Japan.

Numerous classics also exist in the realm of post-impressionist French art created by Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, and Degas.

The Museum even ranks as one of Boston’s top tourist destinations, and is a must-see on your bucket list in Boston.

So, make sure to experience the city's best collection of art before you leave.

9. Boston Common

Perhaps you wish to take a jog while the sun ascends above the trees, or you desire to enjoy a carousel ride or frolic in a giant frog pond.

With Boston Common, all these can occur.

Boston Common, one of America’s most ancient public parks, is Massachusetts's counterpart to GoldenGate Park or Central Park.

It is a spacious, well-maintained recreational space that provides various activities and events for those who discover it.

Come in the summertime to break a sweat right on their baseball fields and tennis courts.

Come in the autumn to see the leaves transform and hear them crackle beneath your feet.

Then, go ice skating or sledding during the winter.

There is always an activity to enjoy in Boston Common, making it one of the top 10 spots in Boston.

10. Santarpio's Pizza

Run by the lovely Santarpio family, this is among the less-known attractions in the Boston area.

It’s popular among local residents and the few they share it with, and you won't see it in upscale travel publications.

So, what distinguishes Santarpio's Pizza from others?

First of all, it continues to preserve its classic ambiance up till now even though it has been functioning since 1903.

Also, boxing posters cover the walls and its menu can easily be altered at any time with just a written sign.

For numerous years, Santarpio’s Pizza operated solely on cash, but they ultimately eased that restriction and began taking credit cards.

Then, regarding their food, you will never be let down and you'll enjoy a genuine dining experience.

In fact, there are so many reasons Santarpio’s Pizza is regarded as one of Boston’s best destinations.

11. Boston Rowing Centre

Rowboats are frequently seen in Boston.

A Harvard crew team is here, and Cambridge rowers consistently train for their upcoming regatta.

However, are you aware that not all colorful dots on this water represent professional athletes?

A lot are visitors, and they’re taking pleasure in the amenities of establishments such as the BostonRowing Center.

This center allows guests to hire a rowboat for a delightful experience.

The center stands as an expansion of a dedicated non-profit focused on maritime education, Hull Life Saving Museum, and it invites individuals of every age eager to strengthen their arms.

As a novice, you can participate in a guided rowing excursion or enroll in a class.

Also, if you have the skills, you can hire a boat and enjoy a relaxing afternoon with your kids atop the river.

Rowing remains a popular pastime in Massachusetts, therefore you’ll blend in well with the residents, and you can even get some friends to join you at the pub whenever you’re dry.

12. Boston Helicopter Tour

A helicopter ride over Boston will leave you speechless.

You will see the sunlight shining on the tall condos and skyscrapers, and the river's waters extending as far away as one can see.

You will also enjoy stunning bird’s-eye views of bridges, parks, gardens, baseball fields, and government structures.

Boston Helicopter Tour is not the only service that will take you to the sky, however, it’s among the most famous.

They provide three distinct tour packages based on the attractions you wish to view, and you may arrange them for either daytime or nighttime.

You can even admire the illuminated buildings during the evening if you'd like.

Indeed, Boston Helicopter Tour offers a spectacular opportunity for sightseeing inside Boston.

So, there’s no more need to rely on binoculars at the pier as you can buckle up in any helicopter and view the whole expanse of Massachusetts below you.

13. Isabella Stewart Gardner Art Museum

You rarely encounter a museum of art where the structure is as breathtaking as the art within, but the stunning Isabella Stewart Museum will surely leave you in awe the instant you sight it.

Established by Isabella Gardner, an arts benefactor from the 19th century, it was intended to resemble a palace situated within a garden.

The corridors are adorned with intricate carpets and wall coverings, and its courtyard features a variety of patios, trees, arches, and fabrics.

Its collection of artifacts ranges from unique books to ancient paintings.

The museum is certainly among the top attractions in Boston.

And if its architecture doesn’t astonish you, the content within will leave you in awe.

It's essential for anyone interested in art.

Also Read:

How Long to Visit Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum?

14. New England Aquarium

There's an abundance of sights and activities at this aquarium, and it requires multiple eyes to take it all in.

From the vibrant sea turtles to the adorable penguins, this aquarium is a buffet of enjoyment.

Its primary draw is the “Ocean Tank”, an advanced network of transparent tunnels that enables you to stroll beneath 200,000 gallons.

You’ll stretch your neck non-stop for the various eels, sharks, sea dragons, and stingrays that glide freely above you.

You can also enjoy their tide pool, an enormous pool where you'll interact with creatures such as snails, sea urchins, and hermit crabs.

You may even find their exhibits featuring penguins and seals more appealing.

The penguin exhibit is known for its rockhopper penguin collection, while the seals exhibit is renowned as a free fun exhibit which you can appreciate outside the aquarium with no ticket purchase.

So, if you are seeking fun destinations in Boston, include this aquarium in your list.

You don't need to be one of the zoologists to enjoy yourself here.

15. Fenway Park

Fenway Park, among the most historic US baseball stadiums, has been meticulously maintained as a sports icon, exuding a timeless, polished atmosphere that recalls the cherished era of America’s beloved pastime.

Even, were you aware that FenwayPark has never undergone any expansion?

It continues to accommodate the same amount of spectators as it accommodated in 1912, providing an intimate, personal experience with your preferred batters and pitchers.

You can even call traditional hotdog sellers here or go on tours of the stadium's press rooms and clubhouses.

They’re packed with collectibles, allowing you to appreciate the same gloves, bats, trading cards, and balls that your grandparents and parents admired.

In fact, there’s nothing that captures “Boston” better than this Boston Red Sox’s residence.

So, go ahead and book a visit to Fenway Park to immerse yourself in the essence of sports.

16. Craigie on Main

This is among Boston's top gems. It’s a famous high-end venue where items like oyster dishes and chocolate almond sweets can be ordered.

However, the top dish here isn’t actually listed on its menu.

It is a delicious burger that you must ask for discreetly, and you need to be among the initial customers of the night to get this burger.

The chef prepares just 18 of the burgers every night.

Their prime beef is available in restricted amounts, and their burger is crafted with such meticulous care that it would not be efficient in terms of cost or time to produce them repeatedly.

So, to experience a life-changing burger, make a reservation in this Boston spot.

17. Freedom Trail

In case you're examining a Boston map and contemplating where to begin, you can get started instantly on the fun Freedom Trail.

You will be able to visit numerous significant sites in Boston such as the BunkerHill Monument, the iconic USS Constitution, Paul Revere’s House, and the 1770 Boston Massacre location.

This Freedom Trail spans just over two miles and meanders through Boston City with a network of brick paths to guide you

And alongside the major attractions, you will also encounter various stores, museums, churches, cemeteries, and historic meeting places.

You can stray from the path whenever you want to enjoy a nice coffee at any nearby cafe or take a memorable picture with the statues, and the solid bricks will consistently guide you home.

So, if you're planning fun activities in Boston, this trail is an excellent place to begin your trip.

It’s captivating and enjoyable, and it will act as a portal for additional exploration as you navigate through some of Boston’s most frequented parts.

Go ahead and explore various tours and activities along the lovely Freedom Trail!

18. Boston Harbor

Numerous attractions can be found at this Boston Harbor.

It not only holds great importance as the historic location of the BostonTea Party, but it also hosts museums, lighthouses, statues, shipyards, and notable landmarks.

It also contains other culturally significant aspects that can inform you about Boston’s history and its position globally.

You can embark on a ferry excursion to explore the Massachusetts islands.

Then, ride a bicycle and cruise along the promenade lined with stores and eateries.

Also, catch a meal at a nearby café, or explore a fun floating museum situated on a vessel where the exhibits move with the water.

In fact, Boston Harbor has so many interesting things that you’ll be unsure of what to explore first.

Your mind will surely struggle to grasp the overwhelming number of options available here.

Conclusion

Boston ranks among the top vacation destinations in the USA with many things to do, see, taste, buy, explore, and climb in the broader Boston region.

Countless ways definitely exist to make the most of your time inside Boston, so go ahead and have fun!