We walked on the Greenway almost every day we were in Boston, since it connects Seaport Boulevard with the harbor, Faneuil Hall, and the North End. The Boston Go Card is an all-inclusive pass that gets you into most attractions in the city and in nearby towns, like Plymouth, Lexington, and Concord. If you are planning a trip to Boston, here is our long list of things to do in the city.
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When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider’s view of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. The long shoreline, only a few minutes’ walk from any part of the peninsula, provided ample space for wharves and shipyards. From the first years of settlement, the shoreline constantly encroached on the harbour as wharves were built and marshy coves were filled. West of the original settlement lay Boston Common, a tract that has remained public open space since its purchase by the town in 1634.
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard UniversityArrow
- Along the way, you could make quick detours to the Holocaust Memorial or restaurants in the North End.
- With more time in Boston, consider taking a day trip out to Plymouth (to see the famous Plymouth Rock and to tour the Plimoth Plantation) or to Lexington and Concord for more Revolutionary War history.
- If you’re mostly traveling by subway and bus, we recommend a 1-day LinkPass for 24 hours of unlimited travel on the subway and local bus.
The MBTA is the 4th-busiest public transit system in the United States and one of only 2 transit agencies in the country that operates all 5 major modes of land and water transportation. In Back Bay, spend some time walking through the neighborhoods on Newbury Street, Marlborough Street, and Commonwealth Avenue. Townhouses line the streets and a tree-lined path runs through the center of Commonwealth Avenue. It’s a beautiful area for a quick stroll or a leisurely afternoon of sightseeing.
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The finish line is permanently painted on Boylston Street, just outside of the Boston Public Library. With ancient artwork and artifacts from Egypt (including panels of hieroglyphics from Giza), art from around the world, paintings, sculptures, and contemporary art, there is something here for everyone. Flowers and candles now stood in front of the missing glass panel and the Memorial was being guarded by police officers.
Fenway ParkArrow
- It lies on Massachusetts Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.
- With its central location in Boston, this makes a great spot to grab a bite to eat while you are touring the city.
- Both stations are near the stadium, but Kenmore is closer.
- You can even take a day trip or multi-day trip to Cape Cod, a great way to spend the day during the summer months.
- The centre of the colonial town was at the Old State House (built 1711–47).
- This museum is a great place to learn about the life of President John F. Kennedy.
However, the cheapest tickets I could find were over $70 per person. We are not baseball fans so instead we chose to take a tour (at a much more budget friendly price, and it is included on the Go Card!). This tour was one of the highlights during our visit to Boston.
Pearson PLC publishing units employ several hundred people in Boston. All MBTA buses are accessible to people with disabilities, and most, but not all, subway and Commuter Rail stations are accessible. Ferries and docks are as well, but there may be some barriers to access depending on high or low tides. Numerous drumlins (mounds of glacial debris) form low hills in the city and islands that dot the harbour.
At the beginning of English settlement in the 17th century, the Shawmut Peninsula was called Trimountain (or Tramount) because of its dominating three-topped hill on the northwest boston sober homes for women corner near the mouth of the Charles River. Beacon Hill is its only surviving, though greatly reduced, remnant. The other portions were leveled to become landfill that added to the city’s area in the 19th century. The Aquarium is a fun place to visit, especially if you are traveling with kids. Our favorite exhibits were the penguins and we were here right during feeding time. Various IMAX movies are offered throughout the day and you can participate in one of the animal encounter activities.
From here, enjoy views across the Charles River to Cambridge. I will admit, art museums are not what we seek out when we travel. Just the building itself is a joy to wander through.
If you have questions while you’re here, don’t hesitate to ask Customer Service agents or T Ambassadors in stations. Whether you’re visiting Boston for the first time or you’re a seasoned pro, you may be wondering how the T can get you everywhere you want to go. From reenactments to citywide celebrations, Massachusetts will be alive with events commemorating this historic milestone throughout 2026. Explore the city for history buffs, sports fanatics, music lovers, foodies, cultural travelers, and, truthfully, anyone. Sign up for email updates from the City of Boston, including information on big events and upcoming traffic and parking restrictions.
Filled with food vendors and small shops, this is a bit touristy, but it is also a great place to get good, cheap food. With its central location in Boston, this makes a great spot to grab a bite to eat while you are touring the city. In 1990, more than $500 million worth of artwork was stolen from the museum, making it the biggest art heist in history. On our visit, we were a bit disappointed to walk in and feel like we were in a restaurant like TGI Fridays.
The hilly Shawmut Peninsula, upon which Boston was settled, originally was almost completely surrounded by water. It was connected with mainland Roxbury to the south by a narrow neck of land along the line of present-day Washington Street. To the west of the neck were great reaches of mudflats and salt marshes that were covered by water at high tide and known collectively as the Back Bay.
For an aerial view over the city, visit the Skywalk Observatory. There are lots of included exhibits about the history of Boston. The North End is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Boston. It’s a great place to grab a classic Italian dinner and a fresh cannoli. While you’re there, you can stop by Paul Revere’s House or the historic Old North Church.
From there, you can hop on the train for a traffic-free commute into Boston. Some locations allow overnight parking, so you can leave your car there for your whole trip. If you’re mostly traveling by subway and bus, we recommend a 7-day LinkPass on a CharlieCard for 1 week of unlimited travel on the subway and Local Bus. Boston, city, capital of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and seat of Suffolk county, in the northeastern United States. It lies on Massachusetts Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Charles River flowed through the Back Bay to Boston Harbor and separated the peninsula from the mainland to the north and west. To the east, Town Cove indented Boston’s harbour front and divided the city into the North End and the South End. The centre of the colonial town was at the Old State House (built 1711–47). If you’re mostly traveling by subway and bus, we recommend a 1-day LinkPass for 24 hours of unlimited travel on the subway and local bus. You can also use contactless payment in any station or vehicle to pay as you go. The area, the people, and the institutions within its political boundaries can only begin to define the essence of Boston.