Location: Boston
Top Things to do in Boston
The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Boston, Massachusetts (MA)
Walk the Freedom Trail the first time you visit Boston and you'll quickly get a sense of this coastal city's revolutionary spirit and history. But make sure you also explore some of Boston's fine museums (try the Isabella Stewart Gardner, featuring masterpieces displayed in their collector's mansion) and old neighborhoods (like the North End, Boston's Little Italy). You can't claim to have experienced real Boston culture, though, until you've watched a Red Sox game from the bleachers.
Restaurants in Boston
1. North End
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,134 reviews
This Italian neighborhood, Boston's oldest, is known for its wonderful restaurants and historic sights. Walk the cobblestone streets to take in the architecture and aromas of delicious food, and visit Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church while you're in the neighborhood.
Reviewed By loneriter - Boston, United States
This is a must-do while visiting Boston. Cobblestone streets, authentic Italian restaurants, gelaterias, quaint cafes serving divine espressos, and pastry shops selling that most mouth-watering of Italian desserts -- cannolis. Word of caution: if planning to dine in the North End, make sure you call ahead for a reservation.
2. Castle Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 525 reviews
The site of a fort erected in 1634, Castle Island is a great place to walk, jog or just unwind and enjoy the view.
Reviewed By Northern_Traveler00 - Boston, United States
12 months a year you can find us at Castle Island, enjoying the breezes (and winter winds) taking the approx 2 mile walk around Pleasure Bay and the old fort. Lunch (or breakfast) at Sullivan's is a great and inexpensive stop to enjoy a meal watching the planes and boats and people
3. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,261 reviews
At the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, you can be a part of the famous event that forever changed the course of American History! It’s more than a stroll through historic artifacts – it’s an adventure! Located on the Congress Street Bridge in Boston, Massachusetts, this floating museum is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Live actors, high-tech, interactive exhibits, authentically restored tea ships and the stirring, multi-sensory documentary “Let it Begin Here,” are just a taste of what you’ll see, hear and feel. Meet the colonists, explore the ships and dump tea overboard just as the Sons of Liberty did on that fateful night of December 16, 1773. Stop in at Abigail’s Tea Room for teatime and visit the Gift Shop for special souvenirs. It’s educational, entertaining and enlightening — an experience not to be missed by adults and children of all ages. Your tour of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum will last approximately one hour and will take you through a variety of displays that are interconnected. The tour is designed to give you the opportunity to participate, explore and learn about the people, events and consequences that led up to the American Revolution in the order in which they actually occurred more than 230 years ago.
Reviewed By GingerH0 - Boston, United States
The Boston Tea Party excursion is a wonderful, interactive journey through one of the most important times in our nation’s history. Talented actors/actresses recreate the important scenes leading up to the Boston Tea Party including the famous Town Hall Meeting where Samuel Adams leads the citizens to rally against England. Participants feel a part of the rebellion by voicing shouts of “here, here!” For raucous agreement and “hissssss” for disagreement! You can even have a speaking role if you wish! After the town hall meeting, participants are then led to the boats where they can participate in “throwing the tea overboard.” While the first half of the tour includes many fun and interesting tidbits about his rebellion, it ends with an short film about the Battle of Lexington and the importance of the Tea Party as a catalyst for our nation’s freedom! Fun for kids and adults!
4. Freedom Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17,358 reviews
The red line on the sidewalk leads you on this 2.5-mile, self-guided tour of American Revolution sites. It starts at the Boston Common, America's oldest public park, and ends at the famed Bunker Hill Monument.
Reviewed By 434eileenb - Wheaton, United States
American history starts here- Bunker Hill Monument, USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), Paul Revere's House, Old North Church, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Boston Tea Party Site, the Granary Burial ground, King's Chapel, Old Corner Book Store are all must see sites. The "Red" trail takes you to all these places and more. Very easy walking short segments of the trail. Everyone friendly and wearing masks. We started at Boston Common. Visitor center didnot have any free maps -the one they had was $3.00 and it was the same as we got at our hotel..so pick one up at your hotel if possible. They also had bathrooms. Parking is free on Sundays on the streets so get there early in the day We stopped at Faneuil Hall for lunch and shopping. Visitor center was closed (not sure if is opened at all) We drove over to USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). We found parking on the street. We didnot see any parking lots. Visitor center/museum was $10 per adult and worth visiting. The ship is free but they only allow 25 people at a time so go early in the day. Be prepared to stand in sun as they have limited shade and they do security and virus checks.
5. Copley Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 823 reviews
Anchored by the modern John Hancock building and the stately Trinity Church, this area is known for its upscale restaurants and stores.
Reviewed By piotrh1982 - Lodz, Poland
Nice square just in the heart of the city. You can have a seat and rest a little. There are some nice buildings surrounding it
6. New England Holocaust Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,507 reviews
The six glass towers of this striking memorial serve to represent the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, six main Nazi death camps and the candles on a menorah.
Reviewed By Gonen2014 - Haifa, Israel
This is a monument in memory of the Jews murdered in the Holocaust. The monument includes six square glass towers that symbolize the six nillion Jews who perished in the Holocaust, and the six largest concentration camps. Under each glass tower there is a niche that symbolizes an extermination camp from which smoke is rising. On the boards around you can read about the history of the Holocaust along with things that Holocaust survivors said. A very emotional monument that brings teatrs to your eyes as you walk along it. This is a must visit for everyone!
7. Boston Public Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,972 reviews
On the National Register of Historic Places, the library opened in 1852 as the first free, publicly-supported municipal library in America.
Reviewed By SundaramR - Chennai District, India
It was a fantastic experience to visit a modern library in great style 2 days back.it is in the heart of the city ,with Copley square at stone's throw.it is strongly suggested to take advantage of free guided tours lasting approx 1 hour,to admire the artitectural glory of this building. The books available here cover A to Z.you can go through the various language books of the world.WiFi is available.one can browse and read books old and new of one's choice. After spending a considerable time one can enjoy a fabulous coffee in Newsfeed coffee For information of book lovers - it is learnt that a regular member can lend for short time a good number of books for reading.
8. Old State House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,366 reviews
Relive the drama and excitement of the American Revolution with fun and engaging programs and tours, interactive exhibits, beautifully restored period rooms and unsurpassed 18th century treasures. Celebrating 300 years as America's oldest and most historic colonial building, the Old State House is now Boston's Revolutionary Museum. Visit us at the heart of the Freedom Trail and only steps away from Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market and the New England Aquarium.
Reviewed By TheAviator0765 - Ripon, United Kingdom
This really is a 'must-see' on the Trail. Not only is the building beautifully kept and steeped in history in its own right, the museum will guide you around the story of Boston and allow you to fully understand the part it and its people played in the War Of Independence. Access is via the Visitors' Centre desk in the gift shop. The fee is well worth it, for inside the exhibits and interpretation boards describe clearly and in chronological order what happened in the famous city. Now as a Brit, I was curious on what slant the events would be described, but rest assured the story is sold factually without a hint of partisanship. That said, I fully recognise George III was best described as an absent landlord who saw the Colonies as a cash-cow, while the British Army's idea of defence diplomacy of the era was to pour more fuel onto the nearest available spark! But the collection of exhibits in its own right amounts to a truly fascinating collection. There are also a number of tours throughout the day. Do try and catch one; the briefers are knowledgable and full of enthusiasm, and add immensely to the overall experience. There is a gift shop on the ground floor, well stocked with good quality and interesting products; all things to do with the Revolution. Plan to spend at least an hour here. It's not a 'poke head inside and tick off' kind of place. We spent nearly two hours here, but felt much the richer for it.
9. Old North Church & Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,050 reviews
Old North has modified the visitor experience in order to adhere to COVID-19 health & safety guidelines. At this time your admission to Old North includes a specialized group experience that invites you into our iconic church to learn more about both the role we played launching the American Revolution and our deeper legacy as one of our nation’s most revered historic sites. During your visit you will be seated in our unique and original box pews, maintaining a safe distance from other visitors, and hear from our dedicated education staff about the founding of the church in 1723, the remarkable events of April 18, 1775, the Longfellow poem that cemented our place in history, and more about the people and stories that have made Old North the icon it is today. Your admission also includes digital access to interpretive signage and an exclusive online photo gallery to commemorate your visit.
Reviewed By LHShore - Cleveland, United States
The Bell Tower Tour is a great addition to a visit to the Old North Church, the church from which the "two if by sea" lanterns made famous by Henry Longfellow Wadsworth's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere." In addition to admission to the church which includes an informative presentation by a docent, you also get to climb the stairs to the bell tower. Be warned - the steps are steep and there's curve, but it's manageable unless you really are not able to climb stairs normally. Unfortunately, the stairs are not original to the church, and the minister who hung the lanterns from the bell tower that fateful night climbed a series of internal ladders that no longer exist, but the area you visit on the tour is the area from which the bells are still rung. Additionally, the tour takes you underground, into the original crypt and the docent provides intriguing details about its inhabitants.
10. Granary Burying Ground
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,602 reviews
The burial ground for famous American patriots like Paul Revere, John Hancock and Sam Adams, is also the final resting place for Mother Goose.
Reviewed By MRayTraveler - Orange County, United States
Granary Burying Ground is one stop on the Freedom Trail, and features the final resting places of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Sam Adams, the victims of the Boston Massacre, Ben Franklin's parents and many more. So much history in such a small space. Stop by for 20 or 30 minutes and enjoy the opportunity to experience a small bit of our nation's history.
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