Your complete guide to Boston
Verified itineraries, honest advice, and no-fluff tips on the Freedom Trail, Back Bay, Cambridge, and day trips across New England, from Salem to Cape Cod.
Top-rated activities in Boston
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Top destinations in and around Boston
From the Freedom Trail downtown to Cambridge, the North Shore, and Cape Cod further afield.
The Freedom Trail
A 4 km red-brick line linking 16 Revolutionary War sites from Boston Common to Charlestown. What it costs, how long it takes, where to start.
The North End: Boston's Italian neighborhood
Boston's oldest residential neighborhood: narrow streets, Italian bakeries, the Old North Church and Paul Revere House, a few minutes from downtown.
Boston Harbor & the Seaport
The Seaport, Long Wharf and the Harbor Islands: what's new, what's free, what needs a ferry, and when the boats actually run.
Back Bay & the South End
Brownstone streets, Copley Square, Newbury Street and the Skywalk Observatory, plus the South End next door. What to see and how to get there.
Cambridge: Harvard, MIT and Harvard Square
Cambridge is a separate city across the Charles River, home to Harvard and MIT. A 10-minute Red Line ride from downtown Boston.
Salem
Salem day trip from Boston: witch trials history, Peabody Essex Museum, working harbor, 30-minute Commuter Rail, and why to skip driving in October.
Things to do in Boston
Freedom Trail history, a Boston Harbor cruise, Fenway Park, Harvard Yard, and whale watching on Stellwagen Bank — the best things to do in Boston and beyond.
Museums and attractions
The Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the New England Aquarium, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, and the USS Constitution at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
Boston Harbor cruises
Boat tours on Boston Harbor and out to the Harbor Islands, plus whale-watching trips to Stellwagen Bank running roughly April through October.
Freedom Trail and history tours
Guided walks along the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail's red line, from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument, covering its 16 official sites including the Paul Revere House and Old North Church.
Food and drink tours
Walking tastings in the North End - cannoli from Mike's Pastry or Modern Pastry - plus clam chowder, lobster rolls, oysters and Boston cream pie, and breweries such as Samuel Adams, Harpoon and Trillium.
Essential travel guides
Our most popular guides to help you prepare.
Boston's museums: a neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide
Boston's major museums by neighborhood, T stop, and season — Museum of Fine Arts, Gardner Museum, Museum of Science, Aquarium, Tea Party ships.
Whale watching from Boston: what the trip actually involves
How Boston whale watching cruises to Stellwagen Bank work: season, duration, odds of seeing whales, and what to wear.
Freedom Trail: guided walk or self-guided?
How a guided Freedom Trail walk compares with following the red line yourself, for different paces and interests.
North End Italian food tour guide
How Boston's North End food tours work: stops, pace, timing, and how to get there on foot or by T.
Salem day trip from Boston: what it actually takes
How to get to Salem from Boston, what the historic center actually offers, and when to go (or skip October) for the witch trials city.
Best time to visit Boston
A factual look at Boston's four seasons, so you can weigh crowds against foliage, or quiet against a shorter list of open cruises.
Suggested itineraries
Tested routes to make the most of your time.
Walking the Freedom Trail in one day
A full day walking all 16 Freedom Trail sites, from Boston Common to Bunker Hill, on foot and by the T. No car needed.
Two days in Boston: a car-free highlights itinerary
A two-day, car-free plan for a first look at downtown Boston: the Freedom Trail, the North End, and Back Bay, on foot and by T.
Three days in Boston: a first-time itinerary
A three-day Boston plan covering Beacon Hill, the Freedom Trail, Charlestown, Cambridge and the harbor, walkable and mostly car-free.
Why trust Boston Trip?
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