Boston Attractions - Wondering What to Do?

So many things to do in Boston!

"Which Boston attractions should we visit while we're here?"

That's usually the first question that friends and business colleagues ask when they start planning a visit to Boston.

And the answer is . . .

"Well, that depends!"

With so many interesting activities to choose from, you can do whatever interests you, because you'll never have time for everything.

So if you're planning to visit Boston soon and are wondering which Boston attractions you should visit, here's a sampling of some of the best.  Get ready to scroll through a very long list - and think about adding a few extra days to your visit!

Observation Decks
Get the "big picture" of Boston from high above the ground at Prudential Skywalk, the city's best known observatory.  Two floors above, enjoy spectacular views while you dine at Top of the Hub.  As a free alternative, check out a lesser-known waterfront observatory located near where the Sons of Liberty held their famous Boston Tea Party.

Entertainment and Culture
Enjoy world-class shows, drama, opera, and dance in Boston theaters, including the historic Theatre District.  Enjoy ice shows and other spectacular performances at TD Garden.  Attend concerts by renowned as well as emerging performers.  Catch a movie at first run and specialized Boston movie theaters.  And get ready to laugh all night in Boston's comedy clubs.

Sightseeing Tours - by land and by water
You'll see colorful tour trolleys and Boston Duck Tours all over Boston and in the Charles River.  Whether or not you're new to the city, a ride on one is hugely entertaining and a super way to see some of the most famous Boston attractions.  For a different kind of tour, go for a Swan Boat ride in the Public Garden.

Boston Bike Tours
Get some exercise during your Boston sightseeing when you join a group tour led by avid cyclists who'll share details about the city's history and culture as you ride.  Or rent a bike and tour the city on your own as you explore various bike paths and sightseeing routes.  More about biking in Boston

Boston Harbor Islands
Leave Boston and go to the Islands . . . the Harbor Islands, that is.  Hop on a ferry at Long Wharf, and head out to this gorgeous offshore park, one of the best Boston attractions.  You'll find gorgeous sandy beaches, a Civil War fort, miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, and even camping grounds.   More about Boston Harbor Islands

Waterfront
A top Boston attraction is our waterfront!  Enjoy the waterfront by walking or jogging down the Boston Esplanade or sailing in Boston Harbor and the Charles River.  Or stroll along Harborwalk, a scenic path winding through Boston's waterfront neighborhoods.  Or spend a few hours at nearby Boston beaches.

Whales
OK, so these aren't right in the city!  But they are some of the biggest - literally - Boston attractions.  Finback whales and humpback whales gather at nearby coastal feeding grounds.  You can join an exciting whale watching tour just by strolling over to one of the city's wharfs.  Don't forget your camera!  More about Boston whale watching cruises

Museums
Over 30 Boston museums showcase everything from antique cars to electric cars, ancient fossils to cutting-edge biotech, the Boston Tea Party to the Boston Red Sox, and Egyptian relics to avant-garde artists.  Check out our suggestion to find the ones you want to visit.   More about Boston's museums

Parks and Gardens
City parks rank high among Boston attractions.  Boston Common, the Public Garden and its Make Way for Ducklings statue, Arnold Arboretum, Post Office Square, the Boston Esplanade, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and Harborwalk are just a few of the green spots that make this city so wonderful.  And when green turns to gold and crimson, check out the best places to see Boston fall foliage plus our Fall Foliage Report and Fall Foliage photo archives.

Spectator Sports
Sports fans, get ready to enjoy some of the biggest Boston attractions - Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Boston Blazers.   And don't forget the Boston Marathon in April, when spectators line up along the 26 mile Boston Marathon route to cheer the runners.

Sports Activities
If you'd rather do sports than watch them, you'll find lots of opportunities in Boston.  Enjoy sailing in Boston Harbor, jog or bicycle along the Boston Esplanade, ice skate on Frog Pond, bowl in Back Bay, swim at one of the nearby Boston beaches, and embrace the winter at Massachusetts ski areas.  You can even run in the Boston Marathon - if you meet the Boston Marathon qualifying times!

Libraries
Boston has fascinating libraries for you to visit: the treasure-filled Boston Public Library, the Mary Baker Eddy Library and Mapparium, the visitor's gallery of the private Boston Athenaeum, New England Historic Genealogical Society's library, and the French Library at Alliance Francaise.

Historic City Neighborhoods
Beacon Hill, the North End, Bay Village, Back Bay, Fenway, the South End . . . what other city has so many historic neighborhoods with such beautifully preserved buildings?  If you like gas lamps, cobblestone streets, incredible architectural details, and history everywhere, you're going to love visiting Boston!   More about Boston's historic neighborhoods

Historic Houses
You can tour houses from many historic periods: the Jacobean/Colonial style Paul Revere House, the Georgian Longfellow house in Cambridge, the Federal First Harrison Gray Otis house, the Federal/Greek Revival Nichols house, and the Victorian Gibson house are just a few of these popular Boston attractions.   Or stroll through most Boston city neighborhoods, and you'll see streets filled with period examples.

Freedom Trail
Perhaps the most popular of all Boston attractions, the Freedom Trail is a self-guided 2.5 mile journey through history.  Follow the Trail's red stripe through Boston's most historic neighborhoods and visit 17 sites where events central to America's fight for liberty began.  More about Boston's Freedom Trail

Other Trails
Other top Boston attractions include several self-guided walking tours - the Black Heritage Trail, the Literary Trail, the Irish Heritage Trail, the Women's Heritage Trail. Prefer a guide? Several local groups lead culinary tours, photography tours, and every other kind of tour you can imagine.

Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market
This top Boston attraction includes a Freedom Trail site plus some of Boston's best shopping in the Marketplace's historic buildings.  You'll enjoy mouth-watering food in Quincy Market . . . or at one of the nearby centuries-old historic taverns.  You can also stroll through Haymarket, Boston's almost 200-year-old outdoor produce market, right around the corner.

Fenway Park Tour
Can't attend a Red Sox game while you're here?  Do the next best thing - tour historic Fenway Park.  Visitors who have taken this tour have called it the "highlight" of their trip to Boston.  See the Green Monster up close, tour the dugouts, the bullpens, the Hall of Fame Room, and more.

Festivals
Festivals happen all year - the Dragon Boat Festival in June, Fourth of July celebrations, the August Moon Festival in Chinatown, and North End festivals almost every summer weekend. But that's just the beginning.  You'll also enjoy the Boston Film Festival, Oktoberfest, Boston Wine Festival, and many more.

Markets
We love Boston's outdoor markets! Stroll through SoWa Open Market to see the latest offerings by local artisans and crafts people. Or enjoy the farmers' markets that pop up all over the city.  The oldest of all is Haymarket, an open-air produce market where Bostonians find rock-bottom prices on fruits and veggies.

Holiday Celebrations and Parades
Boston has many holidays (some of them unique to this area), celebrations, and parades . . . First Night, Evacuation Day, the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade, Patriot's Day, Bunker Hill Day, fireworks on the Fourth, the South End's "Divas Unleashed" Halloween Pet Parade, and much more.  The Boston Event Calendar lists them all.

Reenactments
Members of local minutemen organizations reenact Revolutionary War events.  Although tourists (and locals) enjoy them, the participants' goal is to preserve Boston history and pay tribute to the fight for liberty. The horseback rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes are highlights.

Shopping
You'll love Boston shopping . . . Newbury Street's glitzy designer shops and art galleries. . . elegant Copley Place, Shops at Prudential Center, and other fabulous Boston shopping malls . . . fun-filled historic Quincy Market . . . unique Beacon Hill boutiques and antique shops. . . plus, check out our tips for great holiday shopping in Boston.

Eating
Fabulous restaurants, bistros, and cafes are a huge Boston attraction.  You'll find many delicious local specialties - lobster and other seafood, great steakhouses, and every ethnic cuisine like Italian and French.  Plus, many are quite affordable - check out our favorite Boston Cheap Eats.  And our pizza is the best that you'll find anywhere!  More about Boston's restaurants

Drinking
Boston clergyman Cotton Mather wrote in 1675 "every other building in Boston is an ale house."  Over 300 years later, you'll still find a few 18th century taverns, as well as 21st century Boston bars near Fenway Park and more Boston bars near Banknorth Garden.  They're among the most popular attractions for tourists and locals alike.  Stop by for a pint.

Brewery Tours
The Puritans considered beer safer to drink that water, and Boston's breweries continue the tradition of locally-made beer.  You can join free brewery tours/samplings at two of them, and savor local beers with a meal at others. Some visitors claim that breweries are the best Boston attractions! Some Puritans might have agreed.

Universities and Colleges in Boston
With 35+ universities and colleges in Boston and another 35+ in Cambridge and nearby, you can see why we have the highest number of students per capita in the U.S. Our student population adds a lot of energy and intellectual excitement to the city - plus lots of the cultural and sports events are open to the public.  More about universities and colleges in Boston