14 Top Boston Attractions

Best Things to Do in Boston

What are the top Boston tourism attractions, the "must-see" sites? 

Whether you're a first time tourist or frequent visitor, you'll want to explore at least some of these iconic Boston sights, events, and things to do.

Fenway Park, the Freedom Trail, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Marathon - these are just a few of the best Boston attractions!

You'll find all of these top Boston tourism attractions right in the middle of the city, near excellent hotels, restaurants, and public transportation.

Click on each attraction to go right to it . . . or take a leisurely scroll through them all:

1.  Freedom Trail

The 2.5 mile long red line marking Boston's Freedom Trail links 16 historic sites associated with the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and abolition of slavery.

Plus, walking along the Freedom Trail gives you the opportunity to see many of Boston's other most interesting areas.

You’ll visit graveyards filled with tombstones and memorials to early Puritan settlers, walk through Ben Franklin’s neighborhood, and explore Paul Revere’s home and museums displaying items from the Boston Tea Party and other events in the fight for freedom.  

Have lunch and shop at one of the most famous Freedom Trail sites, Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Cross a short bridge to Charlestown for a free tour of the USS Constitution and up-close views of the iconic 221 foot high Bunker Hill monument.  And then hop on the $2 ferry back to the Downtown Waterfront.

Neighborhoods:  Historic Downtown Boston, North End, Charlestown

Hotels near the Freedom Trail:

• Downtown: 
  • Omni Parker House -  Where Boston Cream Pie began in 1856 - Rates/reviews
  • Millennium Bostonian - Convenient to Faneuil Marketplace - Rates/reviews
  • More Historic Downtown Boston hotels
• North End:  
  • Fairmont Battery Wharf - Gorgeous new luxury waterfront hotel - Rates/reviews
  • Marriott Long Wharf - Also convenient to Downtown Waterfront - Rates/reviews
  • More North End hotels
• Charlestown: 
  • Marriott Residence Inn - Families love the suites with kitchenettes - Rates/reviews
  • Constitution Inn - One of Boston's bargain hotels - Rates/reviews

How to get to the Freedom Trail:  Take the T (Boston’s subway): Green Line to Park Street station; when you emerge, you'll be on Boston Common, the first Freedom Trail site.  Walk over to the nearby Tourist Information Center and pick up a free map showing the Freedom Trail and other top Boston attractions.

More: 

• Complete Freedom Trail guide - What you'll discover at each site
• Quincy Hall/Faneuil Marketplace - Eat and shop!
• Historic Boston Taverns - Where the Sons of Liberty plotted their Revolution, next to the Freedom Trail
• Boston Holocaust Memorial - Across from Faneuil Hall Marketplace
• Rose Kennedy Greenway - You'll cross this recreational area as you walk along the Freedom Trail

More Fun Boston Tours

Boston Movie Tours	Whale Watching Tours	Ghosts Tours	More Boston Tours

2.  Prudential Skywalk Observatory

All of Boston, plus Cambridge and beyond stretch out below you from the Prudential Skywalk Observatory on the 50th floor of the Prudential Center building - perfect way to begin or end your visit to Boston.

Boston Insider tip #1:  Take the elevator up 2 more floors to the elegant Top of the Hub restaurant). 

Or stop by the adjacent Lounge for even more panoramic views while you enjoy a meal or drink.   Jazz bands perform almost every night.

Boston Insider tip #2:  Get free admission to the Prudential Skywalk Observatory with a Boston discount card.

Neighborhood:  Back Bay

Hotels near Prudential Center:  

• Sheraton Boston Hotel - Direct access to Prudential Center from the hotel - Rates/reviews
• Mandarin Oriental - Luxury hotel nearby - Rates/reviews
• Charlesmark Hotel - Affordable boutique nearby - Rates/reviews
• More Back Bay Boston hotels

Closest T station:  Green Line/Hynes Auditorium

More:

• Prudential Skywalk Observatory
• Top of the Hub Restaurant and Lounge

3.  Boston's Theatre District

Marquee of the newly restored Paramount Theatre in Boston's Theatre District

Boston’s historic theaters have been restored to new jewel-like opulence during the past decade, and are more splendid than ever.  

Look for everything from Broadway shows to avant-garde experimental theater productions from nearby Emerson College, and everything in between.  A number of Boston's best comedy clubs also call the Theatre District "home." 

Neighborhood:  Theatre District, in Downtown Boston

Hotels near Boston's Theatre District:

• Ritz Carlton Hotel -  Luxury choice in the heart of the Theatre District near the Boston Opera House - Rates/reviews
• Radisson Hotel - Popular with families due to larger rooms - Rates/reviews
• More Theatre District hotels

Closest T station:  Green Line/Boylston

More: 

• Boston Theaters
• Theatre District restaurants
• Boston Comedy Clubs

Return to Top:  Top Boston attractions

4.  Fenway Park

America’s smallest and oldest ballpark, Fenway Park is home field for the Boston Red Sox from April through fall.

Neighborhood constraints dictate Fenway's odd shape, and the Green Monster bedevils visiting teams, providing on-going entertainment to Red Sox fans.

Best of all, Fenway Park's in-town location means you can either walk or take the subway (the "T") to get to a game.

Home games always sell out – but if you can’t get tickets, try a Fenway Park tour (free with GoBoston discount card) or watch the action on the big screens at nearby sports bars.  Don't miss this top Boston attraction!

Boston Insider tip:  For the ultimate almost-on-the-diamond experience, stop by Bleacher Bar, located right under the Green Monster.  Sit at one of the tables in front of the garage-sized door opening, and gaze out at home base.

Neighborhood:  Fenway

Hotels near Fenway Park:

• Buckminster Hotel -  Affordable hotel 1 1/2 blocks from Fenway - Rates/reviews
• Hotel Commonwealth - Luxury hotel 2 blocks from Fenway Park - Rates/reviews
• More hotels near Fenway Park

Closest T station:  Green Line/Kenmore

More: 

• Boston Red Sox schedule and tickets - For the quintessential Boston experience, come to a game
• Fenway Park - Where to find great shopping, hotels, restaurants, clubs, and colleges
• Fenway Park tours - Can't get to a game?  You can at least tour the ballfield

Boston discount cards - How to get BIG savings

GoBoston Card 59+ attractions, tours, cruises Save up to 55%	CityPASS 5 top attractions in 9 days 48% savings	Go Select YOU choose your tours, attractions, cruises - Save BIG!

Boston discount passes will save you significant money - as much as 50% savings - on Fenway Park tours, Prudential Skywalk Observatory, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Aquarium, Museum of Science, Boston Harbor cruises, and many more top attractions, cruises, museums, and tours.  

5.  Museum of Fine Arts

Already one of the finest art museums in the U.S., the MFA added to its international prestige with the 2010 opening of the new Art of the America's Wing.

The new wing features 53 galleries showcasing 5,000 pieces of art from all over the Western Hemisphere.

You'll see ancient Mayan burial urns, historic ship models evoking the arrival of the Europeans and Africans, John Singleton Copley's famous painting of midnight rider Paul Revere, and Revere's silver Sons of Liberty bowl.

And that's in addition to MFA's other must-see collections. Visiting with kids?  Head straight for the mummy collection in the Egyptian area.

Free admission with a Boston Sightseeing Pass.

In addition to MFA, Boston has over 30 other museums covering every subject you can imagine - sports, science, history, art, and more - all top Boston attractions!  

MFA neighborhood:  Fenway

Hotels near MFA:

• Midtown Hotel -  One of Boston's most affordable hotels - Rates/reviews
• Colonnade Boston - Sleek luxury high-rise hotel with the city's only rooftop swimming pool - Rates/reviews
• Inn @ St Botolph's - Visiting with your family? Try a suite at this luxury boutique - Rates/reviews

Closest T station:  Green Line/MFA

More:  Other popular Boston museums include the Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, John F. Kennedy Library, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Harvard Museum of Natural History (Cambridge).  More about Boston museums

Return to Top:  Top Boston attractions

6.  New England Aquarium

One of the most popular of all top Boston attractions, the New England Aquarium features a Giant Ocean Tank soaring 4 floors high, almost 700 fish and animals, and the friendliest penguins you'll ever encounter.

Watch divers feed the animals, train the Harbor seals, and if you really get get hooked on marine life, join one of the Aquarium's whale watch cruises.

Free admission with a Boston Discount Pass.

A visit to the New England Aquarium can easily fill an entire day, especially if you watch one of the marine-oriented shows at the Simons IMAX Theatre next door.

Aquarium neighborhood:  Downtown Waterfront

Hotels near the New England Aquarium:

• Boston Marriott Long Wharf - Right next to the museum, and hugely popular with families
• Fairmont Battery Wharf Boston - Enjoy the gorgeous waterfront views from the new luxury Boston hotel
• Harborside Inn - One of Boston's best kept secrets - an affordable hotel near the Downtown Waterfront

Closest T station:  Blue Line/Aquarium

More: 

• More about New England Aquarium
• Boston Whale Watching Cruise
  

Return to Top:  Top Boston attractions

7.  Fall Foliage

Starting toward the end of September, you can see famous New England fall foliage right in Boston. 

You don't even have to make any effort to see it - just walk through the Public Garden and Boston Common, stroll along the Boston Esplanade and Rose Kennedy Greenway, and explore Boston's leafy central neighborhoods - Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Bay Village.

Check our Boston Fall Foliage guide to find the top 7 places for seeing gorgeous leaves right in Boston, photo galleries for each year, and in case you want to see even more, information about special fall foliage cruises along the New England coastline.

Fall foliage tours from Boston to the picturesque New England countryside and beautiful Cape Cod provide the perfect way to see spectacular views without the hassle of driving.

These popular September and October tours fill up fast - so don't wait to reserve your spot!

8.  Museum of Science

Boston's Museum of Science appeals to all ages, thanks to a huge number of exhibits designed for different age groups.

Small children experience the dynamic of physics by creating motion and force as they try out equipment close in spirit to what you might find on the playground. 

Older kids (and adults) can explore nanotechnology.  Everyone loves the dramatic lightning show.

Free admission with a Boston Discount Card.

Plenty of temporary and revolving exhibits mean you'll always find something new.  And with a planetarium and IMAX theater, this is another place where you can easily spend an entire day.

Museum of Science neighborhood:  West End

Hotels near Museum of Science:

• Royal Sonesta in Cambridge -  Closest hotel to the museum, and a favorite of families because of the spectacular indoor-outdoor swimming pool
• Liberty Hotel - This hip and trendy West End hotel occupies a former jail
• Holiday Inn Boston - This convenient mid-range West End hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and is also convenient to TD Garden, Beacon Hill, and Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market

Closest T station:  Green Line/Science Park

More:  Science museum fans will also want to visit the MIT museum in Cambridge

Return to Top:  Top Boston attractions

9.  Make Way for Ducklings Sculpture

Duck-size bronze statues of Mrs. Mallard leading Zack, Nack, Quack, and the rest of her brood attract children of all ages to the northwest corner of Boston's Victorian era Public Garden, also home to the famous Swan Boats.

If you're visiting with children, Make Way for Ducklings is a must-see site - one of the top Boston attractions.

The Public Garden and adjacent Boston Common are also top attractions in their own right, offering much to see and do.

Once you've seen the Ducklings statues, stroll over to the Public Garden's Lagoon and go for a tranquil 15-minute Swan Boat ride. You'll even get to see famous Mallard Island, populated by present day descendents of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard's brood.

Visiting during winter? Cross Charles Street to Boston Common and go ice skating on Frog Pond. On a summer evening during late July/early August, catch a free Shakespeare in the Park performance.

Neighborhood:  Boston Common/Public Garden

Hotels overlooking the Public Garden and Boston Common:

Please note - Not all rooms will overlook the Public Garden and/or Common - so be sure to request the view you want.

• Park Plaza -  Enormous hotel with wide rate range - responsible for bring the swans back to the Public Garden - Rates/reviews for the Park Plaza
• Four Seasons Boston - Luxury Theatre District hotel - Rates/reviews for Four Seasons
• Ritz Carlton - Luxury Theatre District / Chinatown hotel - Rates/reviews for the Ritz
• Taj Boston -  Back Bay hotel across the street from the Public Garden - Rates/reviews for Taj Boston
• W Hotel - Sleek new Theatre District hotel 1 block away - Rates/reviews for the W

Closest T station:  Green Line/Park or Arlington

More: 

• Make Way for Ducklings
• Public Garden
• Swan Boats
• Boston Common
• Shakespeare on the Common

10. Cruises from Boston

As one the East Coast's major deep-water cruise ports, Boston's Black Falcon Cruise Terminal is a popular Port of Call for cruise ships arriving and departing, partly because top Boston attractions are so readily accessible to ship passengers.  

Unlike other Ports of Call, where tourism attractions and visitor amenities are far from where the ship docks, Boston's CruisePort is in the lively South Boston Waterfront neighborhood, which in turn is just a short walk from the historic downtown area where many of the most famous sites are located.

Similarly, it's easy to take cruises from Boston, with weekly cruises to Bermuda from late spring through summer, and fall foliage cruises through October.  Other cruises from Boston to check out:

• Cruises from Boston to Caribbean destinations
• Cruises from Boston to Europe
• More about cruises from Boston

Return to Top:  Top Boston attractions

11.  Newbury Street Shopping

Although you'll find unique shopping opportunities in most Boston neighborhoods, the 8 blocks along Newbury Street in Back Bay pack designer boutiques, home accessory shops, and art galleries into stylish Victorian brownstones.

Only one street over, on Boylston, look for high end electronics, athletic gear megastores, and even a few bargain-packed discounters.

With Prudential Center and Copley Place shopping nearby, the whole area is a fashionista's dream come true, and a top Boston attraction for visitors as well as local shoppers.

Neighborhood:  Back Bay

Hotels near Newbury Street shopping:

• Lenox Hotel -  One of the city's top luxury hotels - Rates/reviews
• Copley Square Hotel - Fun mid-range hotel, newly renovated- Rates/reviews
• John Hancock Hotel and Conference Center - Great Copley Square location, and usually offers some of the lowest rates in Back Bay - Rates/reviews
• More Back Bay Boston hotels

Closest T station:  Orange Line/Copley

More: 

• Newbury Street Shopping
• Newbury Street Art Galleries
• Copley Place shopping
• Prudential Center shopping

Return to Top:  Top Boston attractions

12.  Boston Marathon

Elite athletes from all over the world compete in the Boston Marathon, a top Boston attraction held on the third Monday in April (which, coincidentally, is also Patriots Day, a local holiday commemorating the beginning of the American Revolution).

The 26 mile, 385 yard race begins west of Boston in Hopkinton and finishes on Boylston Street near Copley Square, not far from BU.

Neighborhoods:  Fenway and Back Bay (where the finish line is located)

Hotels near Boston Marathon finish line:

• Charlesmark Hotel -  At Copley Square, almost across the street from the finish line at the Boston Public Library - Rates/reviews
• Eliot Hotel - Luxury suites hotel, with many rooms overlooking the Marathon route on Commonwealth Ave - or walk over to the finish line on Boylston - Rates/reviews
• More Boston Marathon hotels

Closest T stations:  Green Line/Kenmore, Orange Line/Copley

More about the Marathon: 

• Boston Marathon
• Boston Marathon route
• Boston Marathon hotels

More special Boston Events:

• St Patrick's Day
• Patriots Day (same weekend as the Boston Marathon)
• Memorial Day
• Boston Harborfest
• July 4th Fireworks and Pops Concert
• Fall Foliage
• First Night Celebrations

13.  Beacon Hill

Beautifully restored Federal-period mansions and townhouses give you a glimpse of Boston 200 years ago when the city's wealthiest citizens and much of its African-American community shared this Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Going back even farther in Boston history, Beacon Hill is where Reverend William Blaxton, the first English settler on the peninsula now occupied by Boston, built himself a cabin and planted an orchard in 1625.

Explore Beacon Hill's narrow streets lined with stately mansions, including Little Women author Louisa May Alcott's residence facing Louisburg Square, go on a free Massachusetts State House tour, walk along the historic Black Heritage Trail, and visit the Museum of African-American History.  Or check out the dozens of antique shops along Charles Street.

Neighborhood:  Beacon Hill

Hotels in and near Beacon Hill:

• Beacon Hill Hotel -  Small boutique hotel/inn in the heart of Beacon Hill - Rates/reviews
• XV Beacon - Luxury boutique hotel near the Massachusetts State House- Rates/reviews
• Holiday Inn - Comfortable mid-range hotel just across Charles Street from Beacon Hill, convenient to sports and entertainment events at TD Garden - Rates/reviews
• More Beacon Hill hotels

Closest T station:  Red Line/Charles-MGH

More: Massachusetts State House

Return to Top:  Top Boston attractions

14.  Boston Harbor Islands

As close as a 15-minute ferry ride from Downtown Boston, the 32 islands and 2 peninsulas comprising the Boston Harbor Island National Park Area feel like another world - and are top Boston attractions.

Go hiking, kayaking, swimming, photographing - or just find a secluded beach for a picnic and nap.

Park Rangers give free guided tours and lectures on topics such as tidal pools on weekends.

Ferries run from early May through Columbus Day weekend in October, and depart from Long Wharf.

Need a faster way to see the Boston Harbor Islands? Go on a Boston Harbor cruise.

Location:  Boston Harbor, with departure from Long Wharf on the downtown waterfront

Free fare on some cruise boats with the GoBoston Discount Pass.

Hotels near Long Wharf:

• Boston Marriott Long Wharf -  Waterfront hotel next to Long Wharf; popular with families - Rates/reviews
• Harborside Inn - Near the waterfront, with mid-range rates - Rates/reviews
• More Boston waterfront hotels

Closest T station:  Blue Line/Aquarium

More: 

• Boston Harbor Islands
• Boston Harbor cruises

Top Boston attractions photo gallery

Return to Top:  Top Boston attractions

More to Explore - Boston's Biggest Events

First Night	July 4th Fireworks Spectacular	Boston Marathon	Fall Foliage

Return from Top Boston Attractions to Boston Attractions

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