12 All-Time Best Things to Do in Boston, Massachusetts

Your Boston Itinerary

Boston mixes old and new like no other city in America. Red brick paths lead to shiny food halls, while swan boats float past office towers.

From fresh lobster rolls to games at Fenway Park, history runs deep in every corner of this New England hub.

Here are the best ways to enjoy your time in this amazing city.

1. Shop and Eat Your Way Through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market

Step into this busy marketplace where folks have gathered since 1742. Faneuil Hall hosted many famous talks during the American Revolution, while next door Quincy Market now holds over 100 spots to eat and shop.

The market stays open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM and Sundays from noon to 6 PM. You can watch street acts on the stone plaza, try New England clam chowder or fresh lobster rolls, and check out the many shops.

The Food Hall at Quincy Market is the oldest and largest in the country with dozens of stalls offering everything from pizza to fresh seafood.

2. Spend a Day Among Masterpieces at the Museum of Fine Arts

Lose yourself in one of America’s biggest art museums, home to more than 500,000 works from across the ages.

You’ll find amazing Egyptian items, Asian art, and tons of paintings by famous names like Monet and Van Gogh.

The American art section shows off works by John Singer Sargent and a huge set of music tools. The museum stays open late on Wednesdays for night visits, and you can join free daily tours that focus on different parts of the big space.

When you need a break from all the art, grab a bite at the museum’s café or restaurant to recharge.

3. Catch the Magic of Fenway Park, America’s Oldest Ballpark

Walk into the home of the Red Sox since 1912 and feel the magic that’s drawn fans for over a century.

Even when no games are on, you can take a one-hour tour to see the Green Monster (that 37-foot left field wall), sit in the old wooden seats, and learn fun facts about why the park has such a weird shape.

It’s got the smallest seats in major league ball at just 33 inches per seat. Tours run daily from 9 AM to 5 PM and cost about $25 for adults.

Don’t leave without trying a Fenway Frank – the classic hot dog that’s been sold here for over 100 years.

4. Take a Break in the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common

Rest your feet in these green spots right in the city center.

The Boston Common (America’s oldest public park from 1634) and the Public Garden next door are perfect for slow walks or rides on the Swan Boats that glide across the pond.

You can snap pics of the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues, enjoy tulips in spring, and cross the small bridge over the water.

Winter brings ice skating on Frog Pond in the Common. As you walk, check out the bronze statues and stones that tell tales of Boston’s past.

5. Wander Through Boston’s Little Italy in the North End

Get lost in the narrow streets of Boston’s oldest neighborhood, where Italian roots run deep.

People have lived here since the 1630s, and now you can find spots like the Paul Revere House next to amazing Italian food joints.

Grab a slice at Regina Pizzeria, open since 1926 and known for brick oven pies. Stroll down Hanover Street, lined with pasta shops, bakeries, and coffee spots. If you’re lucky enough to visit in August, St. Anthony’s Feast has run since 1919 as the largest Italian street party in New England.

Make time to peek inside Old North Church, where lanterns hung in 1775 to warn of British troops.

6. Step Into a Venetian Palace at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Push open the doors to a slice of Venice in Boston, where art sits just as Gardner placed it over a century ago.

This museum shows off her mix of European, American and Asian art, with paintings, carvings, old chairs, and fabrics all set around a plant-filled courtyard that will take your breath away.

7. Bite Into a Fresh Lobster Roll at Boston’s Best Seafood Spots

Treat yourself to this New England classic all around Boston. You’ve got two ways to enjoy them: warm with melted butter or cold with mayo, both served on a toasted split-top bun.

Try one at Neptune Oyster in the North End, where they serve both hot and cold types packed with big chunks of meat.

Legal Sea Foods, with spots all over Boston since 1950, makes a classic version. James Hook & Co., run by the same family since 1925, serves their rolls from a small shop right on the water.

8. Walk Inside a Giant Globe at the Mapparium

Cross a glass bridge through a three-story stained glass globe that shows the world frozen in time from 1935. Inside this huge sphere, you can walk across and hear a short show about world events.

No photos allowed inside, but there’s a “selfie wall” set up when you exit. The globe spans 30 feet across and glows with hundreds of lights behind the glass.

The round room makes weird sound effects – stand in the middle and whisper, and someone on the far side can hear you clearly.

9. Meet Sea Creatures at the New England Aquarium

Get nose-to-nose with ocean life at this top spot on Boston’s harbor front.

The main draw is the Giant Ocean Tank, a four-story coral reef home to more than 1,000 sea animals, including huge turtles that seem to fly through the water.

You can watch penguins waddle in their colony, touch rays and small sharks in the open pools, and see seals play outside. The place has drawn crowds since 1969 and now brings in about 1.3 million folks each year.

Add a show at the IMAX theater with its 65-foot screen for an extra treat. Try to come on weekday afternoons to miss the crowds, and plan for 2-3 hours to see it all.

10. Taste the Best Cannoli in Boston’s North End Bakeries

Join the lines of people waiting to bite into crispy pastry tubes filled with sweet cream. In the North End, folks queue outside spots like Modern Pastry and Mike’s Pastry for these crunchy, creamy treats.

Mike’s has made them since 1946 and is known for white boxes tied with string that you’ll see all over town. Modern Pastry, run by the same family for three gens, fills each shell when you order so it stays crisp.

Mike’s bakes about 5,000 shells weekly and offers 19 types, from plain to pistachio. Yes, the lines look long, but locals say they move fast and the wait is worth it. Both shops take cash only, so bring bills, and expect to pay about $5-7 for each one.

11. Marvel at the Boston Public Library’s Art and Books

Walk into America’s first big free city library, which looks more like a palace than a book place. The McKim Building from 1895 has a grand staircase, reading rooms with oak tables, and walls filled with art.

Check out Bates Hall, the main reading room with its 50-foot high ceiling and green desk lamps. Free one-hour tours start daily at 11 AM to show off all the art and design. The newer Johnson wing holds most of the books and has a huge map room you can browse.

Rest in the middle courtyard with its pretty fountain and café where you can eat lunch. The library runs over 2,500 free events each year, from writer talks to art shows.

12. Warm Up with Creamy Clam Chowder at Boston’s Top Spots

Fill your bowl with this thick soup that’s been a Boston must-eat for over 200 years. The white chowder comes loaded with clams, potatoes, and onions.

Union Oyster House, open since 1826, serves their prize-winning recipe in a dining room that feels like old Boston. Legal Sea Foods makes a slightly thinner type that’s won the Boston Chowderfest many times.