Are you searching for the best things to do in Boston as a first-time visitor? I was once in your shoes, so I’ve compiled this handy guide to the top things to do in Boston, Massachusetts.
Disclosure: This travel guide to the best things to do in Boston as a first-time visitor contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission when you click on one of these partner links and make a purchase, booking, or hotel reservation.
Quintessential Things to Do in Boston
Located in New England, a region in the northeastern United States, Boston has an almost European-like charm and significant historical sites from the American Revolution.
And, with picturesque neighborhoods, beautiful public parks, a variety of museums, and delicious local foods, there are plenty of things to do in Boston. Whether you like art, history, food, craft beer, sports, or films, you could easily build a Boston trip itinerary around your interests.
It is one of those cities I could repeatedly visit and experience differently on each trip. But, what should you do on your first visit?
That is exactly what I tried to figure out during my first trip to Boston. The Massachusetts capital had been on my travel wishlist for years, and I finally visited in March 2015 for the Women in Travel Summit (WITS).
Although I was there for WITS, I planned to make the most of my limited time in Beantown. Was I successful? I think so. Yet I barely scratched the surface of all the attractions I’d like to visit in Boston. And the foods I want to eat.
If you are like me, you probably want to experience everything. While that is logically not possible during a long weekend trip, you can certainly make a dent in your list of things to do in Boston and get a real feel for the city within a few days.
So, if you are visiting Boston for the first time, I’ve got five ideas for how to quickly acquaint yourself with the city.
First of All, Take a Tour of Boston!
When I’m visiting a new destination, my favorite way to get to know the area is by taking a tour.
Walking Tours in Boston
Walking tours sometimes require using public transportation, which allows travelers to learn how to navigate the local subway or bus system. In fact, I rode the T on my first Boston tour!
Walking tours are also ideal for photo opportunities. If you enjoy photography or just coming home from your travels with photos of beautiful scenery, you should take a photography tour.
In Boston, you can take guided photography tours of the Freedom Trail and the Beacon Hill and Back Bay neighborhoods. I’d love to do this on my next visit. I’m just not sure how I’d choose which tour to take!
Boston Sightseeing Tours
Though I love walking tours, I also suggest considering bus tours — such as the Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley. Bus tours tend to cover a broader area, giving you an idea of how the city is laid out.
Both walking and bus tours are often full of insightful notions and fun facts that only the locals seem to know. Of course, sightseeing tours are best if you are interested in seeing all of Boston’s top sights in a short time frame.
Boston Duck Tours, which traverses the city by land and the Charles River, came highly recommended to me by several local Bostonians. Since the vehicle drives right into the river, I’d say a Duck Tour would be one of the most fun things to do in Boston with kids.
Unique and Unusual Tours in Boston
Are you a history buff? A foodie? A literary geek? A film aficionado? Into ghost stories or pub crawls? Then skip the generic sightseeing tour! Opt instead for a tour tailored to your interests.
I took two tours specific to my interests during my first few days in Boston. After the tours, I was confident I could get myself around the city by foot or the T. I also pinpointed the landmarks, neighborhoods, and attractions I wanted to explore further on my own.
Here are a few tours that sound pretty awesome and are currently available to book:
- Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Tour — As you hear tales of “lost souls” believed to be haunting the streets of this historic city, you’ll walk through two of the oldest burial grounds in Boston, including Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, where Cotton Mather, known for his involvement in the Salem witch trials, is buried. Book your tour now!
- Boston Movie Mile Tour — See famous movie and TV locations around Boston on a 1.5-hour walking tour! You’ll have a drink at the original Cheers bar, stroll through the Boston Public Garden to see the famous benches from Good Will Hunting and Ted, and discover more movie and TV connections in Boston. Don’t miss out — reserve your tour today!
- Boston’s North End Pizza and History Walking Tour — Learn a bit of North End and Freedom Trail history as you taste three slices of pizza and a Modern Pastry cannolo! Reserve your slice(s) by booking your tour now!
Food & Beer Tours in Boston
Of course, if you are a culinary traveler, you’ll want to check out the local food scene in Boston. Here are some of the best food tours and brewery tours in Boston:
- Sip of Boston Brewery Tour –– Taste up to 12 different beers on this tour of Boston’s thriving beer scene with visits to some of the city’s most iconic breweries. This tour will likely sell out, so book now to reserve your space!
- North End Secret Food Tour –– Explore the flavors of Boston’s Little Italy with brick-oven pizza, fresh pasta, classic Sicilian cannoli, and more at six stops as you walk a trail dating back to the American Revolution! This food walking tour will also likely sell out, so make your reservation now!
- Boston Underground Donut Tour — It may be known for Dunkin Donuts, but Boston has a broader doughnut scene worth exploring (and tasting). On this tour, you’ll sample Boston’s finest doughnuts as you walk through Boston’s Financial District, Boston Public Market, and Little Italy. Like all the foodie tours I’ve recommended in Boston, this one also quickly sells out. Grab your ticket(s) now for this tasty tour!
Boston Movie & TV Location Tours
The second tour I took in Boston was a Boston TV & Move Sites Tour with On Location Tours. Our bus tour took us past settings used in Good Will Hunting, The Departed, Ted, Field of Dreams, Mystic River, and The Town among many other movies. I hadn’t even realized how many films took place in Boston!
On Locations Tours also offers the 1.5-hour Boston Movie Mile Tour and a three-hour private tour with your own driver/guide. The private tour covers many of the filming locations on the full Boston TV & Movie Sites Tour.
Taste Classic Boston Foods & Drinks
Once you have toured the city, you’ll have worked up an appetite. Luckily, Boston is full of restaurants serving delicious dishes and locally brewed beer.
Dine at Boston’s Oldest Restaurants & Food Hall
Union Oyster House
Of course, no Boston restaurant has served visitors longer than America’s oldest restaurant!
At Union Oyster House, established in 1826, you’ll find freshly shucked oysters and the New England Clam Chowder for which this iconic Boston restaurant is known.
As a favorite of the Kennedy family, JFK was known to privately dine upstairs. If you dine here, don’t miss the booth dedicated to the 35th president!
Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Marketplace
While exploring the Freedom Trail, you might stop at the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace. It houses Quincy Market, the largest and oldest food hall in the United States.
Here you’ll find Boston and New England specialties, including oysters, lobster rolls, clam chowder, and brick-oven pizza from an outpost of Regina Pizzeria, a long-time North End spot.
Jacob Wirth Restaurant
The second-longest continuously operating restaurant in Boston is Jacob Wirth, a German beer hall that was established in 1868 by its namesake.
Though this longstanding Boston restaurant remained vacant after a fire in 2018, Jacob Wirth is set to re-open in 2024.
Try Famous Boston Foods
Being situated along the Atlantic Ocean, Boston is known for its seafood — oysters, clam chowder, and, yes, lobster rolls.
So, you probably want to know where to find the best lobster roll, right? Luckily, the good folks at Thrillist compiled this handy list of the best lobster rolls in Boston.
However, lobstah rolls and clam chowdah aren’t the only famous Bostonian foods. Among other signature Boston dishes are Boston Cream Pie, which originated at the Parker House Hotel, and the baked beans for which Boston earned its nickname “Beantown.”
During my trip, I made it my mission to try a true New England Clam Chowder and a Boston Cream Pie. I knocked them both off my list when dining at Legal Sea Foods, a Boston-based seafood restaurant chain.
Next time, I’m hunting down lobster rolls, pizza in the North End, and cannoli! How about you?
Tour a Boston Brewery
In addition to its famous foods and Dunkin Donuts, Boston is known for its breweries. Beer lovers in Boston will be pleased to find a thriving craft beer scene with brewery tours, guided tastings, and fun beer halls to visit.
Of course, the most famous of Boston’s breweries is Samuel Adams, known for its Boston Lager and Cherry Wheat beers. The brewery offers a variety of tours, experiences, and events.
If you enjoy juicy, hazy New England IPAs, I recommend visiting Harpoon Brewery in the Seaport District. It offers $10 brewery tours, $5 guided tastings, and delicious handmade pretzels at its beer hall.
Visit a Museum in Boston
Visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston was a highlight of my Boston trip. Seriously, I could have spent an entire day moseying between galleries. I just couldn’t get enough of the Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas artwork. And with more than 40 museums in the Greater Boston area, you are likely to find one that also suits your interests, too.
Best Boston Museums for Kids
Kids will have a hands-on experience at the Boston Children’s Museum and the Museum of Science.
They can see penguins and Atlantic harbor seals at the New England Aquarium, and then go whale watching with experts from the Whale Center of New England.
At the Harvard Museum of Natural History, they can learn about animals from around the world, or visit live animals at the Franklin Park Zoo.
Travel Tip: If you plan to visit the New England Aquarium and the Museum of Science, Boston CityPASS® could save 45% off your admission!
Boston’s Best Historic Sites and Museums for History Buffs
Visit the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum to dump tea into the harbor like the colonists did. Then stop along the Freedom Trail at Paul Revere’s home, where the silversmith left for his infamous “Midnight Ride.”
To see more Paul Revere silver and Revolutionary War relics, visit the Americas collection at the Museum of Fine Arts. Afterward, skip ahead to the 20th Century to view Oval Office decor and Kennedy family photos at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Art Museums in Boston
No matter which era or medium you enjoy, I highly recommend visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The museum has one of the largest collections in the United States with more than 450,000 works of art.
If you enjoy contemporary art, the Institute of Contemporary Art has a unique permanent collection and rotating exhibits in a stunning waterfront building with floor-to-ceiling harbor views in Boston’s Seaport District.
Art lovers will find even more at the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge.
Dine in Boston’s North End
You absolutely must dine in the North End while in Boston. Eat some pasta, drink some wine, finish with cannoli, and thank me later.
Walking along Hanover and Salem streets, you’ll find Italian eatery after Italian eatery. The restaurants all seem to post their menus outside, so you can just stop once one sounds appealing.
Some of the top-rated Italian restaurants and pizzerias in Boston’s North End include Regina Pizzeria, Mamma Maria, Carmelina’s, and TABLE.
If you are looking for an after-dinner treat, stop by Mike’s Pastry or Modern Pastry for cannoli. In fact, why not do a cannoli taste test by visiting both like the family travel bloggers at Diapers On A Plane did!
Take a North End Tour
- Intrepid Urban Adventures: Boston North End to Freedom Trail – Food & History Walking Tour
- Boston Pizza Tours: Boston’s North End Pizza & History Walking Tour
- Intrepid Urban Adventures: Boston’s North End Small-Group Food Tour
Take a Scenic Stroll in Boston
Now that you’ve taken a tour, visited a museum, and dined around Boston, you can wander. Boston is wonderful for wandering.
It’s a fairly small “big city” at 48 square miles, so a 30-minute walk could take you past Back Bay rowhouses, ritzy Newbury Street shops, and Beacon Hill’s charming brick and cobblestone streets.
You could also stroll along the Charles River Esplanade or through Boston Public Garden and Boston Common.
If you are walking through the Boston Public Garden with children, find the “Make Way for Ducklings” statue near Charles and Beacon streets and ride on a Swan Boat.
Browse GetYourGuide for more things to do in Boston!
Are Boston Attraction Passes Worth Purchasing?
There are three Boston attraction passes available — the Boston CityPASS®, Go City Explorer Pass, and Go City All-Inclusive Pass.
Each of these third-party passes provides discounted admission to popular Boston attractions. So, let’s take a closer look at each to determine which pass is best for your trip!
Boston CityPASS®: Up to 45% off Four Boston Attractions
The Boston CityPASS® offers discounted admission to four Boston attractions and is valid for nine consecutive days. Included in the pass are the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science, and two attractions of your choice from the following:
- Boston Harbor City Cruises (Saturday and Sunday only through winter)
- Franklin Park Zoo
- Harvard Museum of Natural History
- View Boston Observation Deck
Go City Explorer Pass: Up to 50% off 2-5 Boston Attractions
Valid for 60 days from your first visit, the Boston Go City Explorer Pass is more flexible than Boston CityPASS®. Additionally, you can purchase Explorer Passes to gain discounted admission at two, three, four, or five attractions of your choice from 30+ Boston attractions and activities.
Go City All-Inclusive Pass: Up to 50% off 45+ Boston Attractions and Activities
Lastly, the Boston Go City All-Inclusive Pass grants you discounted admission to as many of the 45+ covered attractions as you can visit in a day. This pass is available to purchase for one, two, three, five, or seven days.
If you are visiting Boston for a weekend getaway and like to jam-pack your itinerary with sightseeing and museum hopping, the two-day Go City All-Inclusive pass offers the best bang for your buck.
Please keep in mind that with any of the aforementioned passes, reservations are still required at some attractions. Some of the attractions requiring reservations are the New England Aquarium and Boston Harbor City Cruises.
Best Places to Stay in Boston
The Verb Hotel
For a truly unique hotel in Boston, consider booking your stay at The Verb. This rock-n-roll-themed boutique hotel has guest rooms outfitted with record players and albums and custom “Backstage” trailer accommodations designed to make you feel like a rock star!
The hotel’s location puts you near Fenway Park — perfect for catching a Red Sox game or touring Fenway Park.
As a hotel guest, you can also dip into the year-round outdoor pool, see the hotel’s red 1947 Greyhound Clipper bus, and experience a taste of Japanese nightlife at the Hojoko Japanese Tavern.
The Revolution Hotel
Located in the heart of Boston’s South End, The Revolution Hotel is close to restaurants and bars, such as the Spanish tapas-and-wine spot Barcelona Wine Bar and vegan eatery Life Alive Organic Cafe.
Also, it’s located less than 15 minutes walking distance from top attractions, such as Boston Common and Boston Public Garden.
This hotel also offers a variety of room types, including lofts and suites. For groups of friends traveling together, the triple and quad rooms with bathrooms down the hall are great options.
Don’t worry about the bathroom down the hall! It’s much more private than shared hostel or dormitory bathrooms, and each floor has 10 single-occupancy bathrooms outfitted with a toilet, sink, and shower stall.
Revere Hotel Boston Common
While visiting Boston, I stayed at the stylish Revere Hotel Boston Common. As you can see, this boutique hotel in Boston’s Bay Village neighborhood has had a makeover since my stay.
I found this hotel to be in a convenient location as a first-time visitor in Boston near the Theater District, Boston Common, and Boston Public Garden. Also, it’s a very short walk to the Boylston and Arlington T stops on the Green Line and the Tufts Medical Center T station on the Orange Line.
Apartment Rentals in Boston
Finally, for my last night in Boston, I wanted to experience the city like a local, so I booked a Back Bay apartment through Airbnb.
From the rowhouse apartment that I rented, I walked to Trident Booksellers & Cafe for an afternoon latte and book browsing. Then, I met up for drinks with a friend at Back Bay Social Club.
You can find similar apartments and Boston vacation rentals on VRBO.
Not what you are looking for? Use the map below to find and book accommodations for your upcoming Boston trip!
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Save the image below to your Boston travel board on Pinterest!
Kassie- The Fly Away Life
I’m from Boston and I love love love seeing my city from an outsiders perspective. You uncovered things I haven’t been to like Jacob Wirth. I will have to check that out next time that I am home 🙂
Kim
I am from Pennsylvania. Both of our daughters have lived in Boston so I have learned to know the city. By far – one of my favorites stops is the Boston Public Library at the Copley green line stop. It’s so beautiful! My three favorite tours are – The PhotoWalks tour with Saba (the best) – The Harvard tour – and the Civil War tour. My husband always recommends the Harpoon beer tour. There are many good choices to get ice cream but Toscanini’s is worth the visit. (the redline & get off at Central Square)
erinklema
There is so much to do in Boston, Kim, and I love all of your suggestions here. I must visit again! Also, I agree with your husband about the Harpoon brewery tour. It’s a fun tour, and you have to get a pretzel in the beer hall!
Reyst LJ
I definitely need to put Boston on my list of cities to visit. With my love of history I find from your post that there is a lot thar would interest me…so much so that I think I will need to visit more than once to take it all in. Looking into various tours offered is an especially good suggestion as a place to start taking in the sites. Your pics are amazing!
dadofdivas
This is a great list. There is so much to do in Boston, you need to make sure to have enough time when you are there as depending on your own interests you will have days and days of things to do and this is just the start!
erinklema
Yes, that is so very true. This list is just to dip your toes into the Charles River. If you are going for a week or a return visit, you can really delve into all that Boston offers, which is a whole lot!
Crystal Wachoski
I would totally want to visit Cheers. Did you eat there?
erinklema
I didn’t go inside the Cheers bar, but some of my friends went in for a beer. It’s right across from Boston Common, so it’s very easy to find.
Liz
I need to visit. I was actually born there and have been a few times, since we still have close relatives there, but I have only been back to the city rarely. I did go back in 2013 to visit a friend when I was there for my cousins wedding but we only had dinner and didn’t get to explore as much as I would want to.
erinklema
Next time you visit the Boston area, I’d be happy to give you my full recommendations. The short list is visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, strolling through Boston Public Garden, and eating dinner and a cannoli in the North End.
Detroit Duchess
This looks like so much fun! The hubs and I haven’t visited Boston yet, but everything looks awesome (minus their baseball team…#Yankees4Life). I love doing all the historic sightseeing tours so this is right up my alley! I will have to pin this for future reference.
erinklema
If you like history tours, Boston definitely is worth visiting. The city is full of historic sights!