Boston, Massachusetts
Visit Boston and enjoy a mix of historical landmarks, big city sports, shopping, and dining. Use the GoCity Pass to easily see all of the sites at a discount. Pricing updated summer 2024.
Site Seeing
Freedom Trail: Boston's iconic 2.5 mile-Freedom Trail (a physical red line embedded into city sidewalks) connects 16 nationally significant historic sites that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond.
You can purchase an app for $9.99 that has 120 minutes of narration for the whole trail or you can take a 90 minute public walking tour led by a costumed guide. Adult tickets are $17 and can be purchased in advance or at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center (139 Tremont Street), or are included in the GoCity Pass. ***We really enjoyed the walking tour.
Freedom Trail Stops:
Boston Commons is America’s oldest public park. Take a Swan Boat ride and see the Make Way for Ducklings statues from Robert McCloskey’s famous book.
Massachusetts State House
Park Street Church - 217 foot steeple.
Granary Burying Ground - John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin’s parents all buried here
King’s Chapel & Burying Grounds - Boston’s first Anglican Church built in 1754. Joseph Tapping’s stone in the front of the burying ground shows a skeleton and Father Time battle over the eventuality of death. This may be Boston’s most beautiful headstone. ($5 or tour included in GoCity pass)
Boston Latin School and Ben Franklin Statue
Old Corner Bookstore
Old South Meeting House - where the Boston Tea Party began ($15, tour included in the GoCity Pass).
Old State House - oldest surviving public building in Boston, it’s a museum of sorts inside ($15, tour included in the GoCity pass).
Boston Massacre Site
Faneuil Hall - home of free speech. Famous grasshopper weathervane on top. (Quincy Market is nearby with great shopping, dining, and street performers from 11-9.
Paul Revere House ($6, tour included in the GoCity Pass).
Old North Church - known for Paul Revere’s Ride - one if by land, two if by sea ($7 for a self guided audio tour, $5 for admission only).
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
USS Constitution “Old Ironsides” - old warship from the War of 1812. Free to visit on a first come first served basis. Need a driver’s license to go aboard. Open 10-6.
USS Constitution Museum is near the boat. ($15, included with GoCity Pass). See the Charlestown Navy Yard when in the area.
There is a Boston Water Taxi that takes you here from the Aquarium area. You have to call to schedule. $20/person. Cheaper than the Boston Harbor boat ride if you want a cheaper way to get out on the water.
Bunker Hill Monument (Bunker Hill Museum), open 10-5, free to visit and climb up.
Boston Aquarium
Boston Tea Party Museum: $32/person (floating museum, interactive costumed experience with a multisensory film), open 10-5. You can eat lunch or have tea at Abigail’s Tea Room and Terrace with waterfront and skyline views.
Bates Hall in the Boston Public Library. While you're here, walk over to the finish line of the Boston Marathon. ***The Public Library was beautiful. It’s definitely worth the time to walk through.
A beautiful public garden, this was built over the infamous Big Dig where they tunneled under the city and moved the highway underground. It was a major factor in the fight against the Boston mafia by giving access to the North End and hindering their ability to control the area. Great skyline view. Food trucks and a carousel.
Check out the Greenway Artisan Market - a vibrant open air flea market from 11-5 on Saturdays.
GoCity Pass includes the following:
***We found the GoCity Pass to be a cost effective and simple way to see the sites in Boston. Listed in parentheses are the prices for the activities if purchased without the pass.
1 Day $69, 2 Day $104, 3 Day $127
There is an Explorer’s Pass where you can choose 1-5 attractions for a discount. (2 for $59, 3 attractions for $84, 4 for $99)
Hop on Hop Off Trolley (2 day ticket) ($78). (This was a great way for us to get around the city). Getting in: please present your pass at the CityView Trolley booth located at the front of the Marriott Long Wharf building (corner of Atlantic Ave and State St). The CityView Trolley representative will scan your pass and give you your 2-day Boston Trolley ticket in exchange. Trolley stops are:
The Aquarium/Faneuil Hall/Quincy Marketplace
Paul Revere House/Little Italy
Old North Church/North End
USS Constitution
North Station
Boston Commons
State House
South Station
Boston Aquarium ($34)
Historic Sightseeing Cruise ($46) (various times, 60 minutes on the water). Leaves from right by the Aquarium.
Sunset Cruise ($55)
Paul Revere's House ($6)
USS Constitution Museum ($15 suggested donation) is open 10-5 (Stop at the Charlestown Navy Yard Vistor’s Center. There are other things to see - Commandants Home etc.)
Freedom Trail Walking Tour is a 90 minute 1 mile tour with a costumed guide. Tours depart from the Boston Common Visitors Center. No reservations needed. ($16.80)
Bike Rentals from Urban AdvenTours (get there early on a weekend) - close to the Aquarium, open 10-5. $45/per daily rental. (***We found using the Blue Line bikes that are stationed around town to work well for the 1 time we needed to bike).
Swan Boat Paddle Boat rental in the Boston Public Garden, open 10-5. ($4.50 for a 15 minute ride)
Old State House and Old South Meeting House Combo Ticket. Save 20% off of one item in the Old State House Gift Shop. Visit the Old South Meeting House first to get your ticket. 310 Washington St.
Salem Witch Museum and The House of Seven Gables Tour (far north of the city).
Museum of Science ($29, not far from the USS Constitution).
Museum of Fine Arts ($27), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (highly recommended by multiple people) ($20), Fenway Park Tour with souvenir gift ($35) - all relatively close together.
Old State House tour ($15).
FREE salted pretzel at the Harpoon Beer Hall.
2 hour Haunted Boston Walking Tour at 4 pm ($34).
King’s Chapel ($5, on Freedom Trail).
Other activities included in the GoCityPass: Franklin Park Zoo, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Harvard Tour, Boston Children’s Museum, Boch Center Wang Theatre Tour, Plimoth Patuxet Mayflower Living History Museum (far south of the city), Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Peabody Essex Museum, Brewery Tour, Concord Museum, Lexington Battle Green tour, Old Sturbridge Tour, Cape Cod Maritime Museum, MIT tour, Louisa May Alcott’s House tour (far west of the city), The Sports Museum Tour, Boston Movie Walking Tour, TD Garden Tour (Celtics), Buckman Tavern Tour, Liberty Ride (90 minute trolley tour - far north west of town), Cape Cod Canal Cruise, North End Little Italy Food tour (bring money for samples), Historic Pub Crawl daily (bring money for drinks).
$49.83/1 day, $79.68 for 2 days with unlimited hop on/hop off.
This company has routes later in the evening with a bigger tour route, so depending on your hotel location could be more convenient.
The “duck” tour ends up heading into the water! Iconic in Boston, $49.99/person
Restaurants
Italian Options in the North End
***Any restaurant located on Salem or Hanover looked great. Don't eat Italian anywhere else!
Trattoria II Panino - check out their Homemade Pasta Menu
Reviewer says to ask to sit in the original part of the restaurant. Food is served in frying pans.
In the North End, with a charming outdoor seating area.
Traditional southern Brazilian Rodizio with the opportunity to experience a variety of prime all you can eat meats. The lunch buffet is $49.95/person and dinner is $60.95/person. ***They gave us champagne and a passion fruit mousse for our anniversary.
Seafood Options
Located at the gateway to the Seaport District it’s one of the city’s best-loved meeting and eating spots. Cool yellow/red tent top right on the water.
Voted best clam chowder in Boston multiple times.
Chart House - a “Waterfront Legend on Long Wharf”.
Friends ate here and loved the lobster. It’s located in a big brick building, one of the oldest in Boston and looks very charming from the outside.
Other restaurant recommendations from friends:
Emmets Irish pub & restaurant - historic place with great food close to Boston Commons.
North End Pastry shops: Caffe Vittoria or Mike's Pastry shop. Many of these are cash only.
Other area recommendations from friends:
Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum - art museum site of the world’s largest unsolved art heist (subject of the Netflix docuseries “This is a Robbery”).
The Beacon Hill Neighborhood
Just north/west of Boston Commons has great bookshops, lots of authors' homes, and is a beautiful place to walk around.
Beacon Hill Books & Cafe - a friend said this is their all time favorite bookstore.
88 Mount Vernon Street - Robert Frost
9 Willow Street - Sylvia Plath & Ted Hughes
3 Smith Court - William Cooper Nell
4 Pinckney Street - Henry David Thoreau
66 Phillips Street - William & Ellen Craft
20 Pinckney Street - Louisa May Alcott
54 Pinckney Street - Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Seaport District
Watch this video on the formation of the Seaport District for some fascinating history. How Boston Built a Neighborhood from Scratch: Seaport District
This used to be warehouses less than 10 years ago and now is an expensive neighborhood with a bunch of breweries, cafes, markets, parks and small businesses. It’s very walkable. Cardullo’s Flour, Harpoon Brewery, and Trillium are all restaurant recommendations from friends in this area.
Helpful websites
Cool bookstores to visit
Parks and green space: Cambridge Crossing to North Point Park
The parks have good views of the Zakim Bridge. Enjoy a cafe, a brewery with outdoor area, and a pond with boulders down to the water’s edge for sitting.
Day Trips accessible from Boston
Concord for fun history.
See the Little Women’s Orchard House. The Concord Bridge with the Minuteman Statue and park are beautiful.
Walden Pond for hiking
Battle Road Trail - a 5 mile trail includes a memorial at the site of Paul Revere’s Capture.
Gloucester/Rockport for a coastal town. Bearskins Neck has a rocky area you can walk out in. Great seafood at Roy Moore Lobster Shack.
Sports
Visit Fenway Park and see the Red Sox play for an iconic Boston experience.
Watch the Celtics, Bruins, or the New England Patriots play.
Public Transportation
How to get from Boston Airport to the city center?
Take the free Massport shuttle bus from any terminal to the Blue Line at Airport Station. Buses run every 5-6 minutes. Look for the shuttle buses at curbside on the lower level of each terminal. Take the Blue Line to State Street Station (by Faneuil Hall).
The Silver Line bus is free from the airport to South Station. Just head out from baggage claim to catch a Silver Line 1 bus. No ticket needed. You can get off at any stop between the airport and South Station. The advantage of the Silver Line over the Blue Line is that the Silver Line buses stop at the terminals, but the Blue Line only goes to the Airport subway station so you have to catch an airport shuttle bus to transfer.
When you are going TO the airport catch the SL1 bus at the South Station or any stops between there and the airport for a free ride.
Public Transportation
Orange - north/south
Blue -airport/downtown
Green - hospital/museum areas west
Red - Harvard area
To get to Fenway
Take the subway (the “T”) to Kenmore Square off the Green Line. Go to Park Street Station and you can take any train on the Green Line except for the E train.
There are pedicabs you can catch.
It’s a doable walk from downtown on a nice day!
Lodging:
There are many great options downtown, though these do come with a higher price tag.
When we visited Boston we stayed at Element Boston Seaport District (391-395 D St, Boston, MA 02210). Breakfast was included for 2, it’s set up for extended stay with a fridge, stove, microwave etc. There’s also a pool and 2 loaner bikes available. The only downside is it’s a bit of a walk to get downtown if you don’t get bikes.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1:
Fly in on an early flight and get to your hotel.
Go to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Find something to eat, watch the live entertainment, and explore the area.
Boston Tea Party Museum ($32)
Eat an early seafood dinner/late lunch at The Boston Sail Loft (delicious clam chowder) or The Barking Crab.
Take in an evening Red Sox game.
Day 2: (Go City Pass, Day 1)
Use the City View Hop-On Hop-Off trolley to see the sites.
Present your pass at the CityView Trolley booth located at the front of the Marriott Long Wharf building (corner of Atlantic Ave and State St). The CityView Trolley representative will scan your pass and give you your 2-day Boston Trolley ticket in exchange.
***Consider reserving your time slot for the Boston Harbor Cruise you’ll take tomorrow while you’re in the area.
Get off at Stop 4 to see the USS Constitution, the museum, (included in GoCity Pass) Bunker Hill, and the Charlestown Navy Yard area.
Walking tour leaves from Boston Common. Try to make it to the 2 or 3:00 tour (included in GoCity Pass).
Present your pass at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111 to receive a voucher to give to the guide.
See the Public Gardens and Boston Commons. Go on a Swan Boat Ride (included in GoCity Pass).
Get Italian food for dinner in the North End, and cannolis for dessert. Make sure to try a Florentine cannoli. ***Bovas is the only one we found that took a credit card. Make sure you have cash!
Saturday: (Go City Pass, Day 2)
Continue to use the City View Hop-On Hop-Off trolley to see the sites.
Get off at Stop 1 to go to the Aquarium (included in GoCity Pass) and then the 11:30 Boston Harbor Cruise (included in GoCity Pass).
First come first served, go 30 minutes prior to boarding to get a boarding pass. Please present your pass to a ticket taker at the BHC Ticket Center. 1 Long Wharf. 11:30, 1, 2:30, 4:00 tours. ***We were able to reserve our tickets the day before.
For the Aquarium present the pass at the Box Office to get a digital ticket. (We spent about an hour and a half here)
If it’s really hot do some of the walking earlier and the Aquarium later in the day.
Take the trolley to Stop 2 to see the Paul Revere House (included in GoCity Pass). Show your pass at the ticket desk.
Walk around Little Italy and see The Old North Church if you didn’t have time to do that before dinner the previous day.
Stop at TD Garden Sports Museum for a fascinating tour (included in GoCity Pass) with lots of cool memorabilia to see.
Walk the red line to the Old State House (or take Trolley around to Stop 6).
Old State House and Old South Meeting House Combo Ticket included in GoCity Pass. Visit the Old South Meeting House first to get your ticket. 310 Washington St.
See the Rose Kennedy Greenway, go to the open air market, and check out Chinatown.
Dinner at Alma Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse near the hotel.
Sunday: Fly home
