If you’re aching for a trip that gives you a delightful taste of history, Boston should be on your radar. Known for its history, sports, culture, and food, it’s one of the most popular tourist spots. Boston’s top attractions include everything that would appeal to history lovers, sports enthusiasts, art aficionados, sports fanatics, and those who simply want to get outdoors. Check out the 15 top attractions in Boston below and prepare for unforgettable adventures.
Boston Top Attractions
1. The Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile red-brick trail that takes you through everything that is culturally significant. From America’s oldest park, Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church to the historic granary burying ground, you see it all. If you want to gain a beautiful glimpse of America’s revolutionary landmarks, The Freedom Trail should be on your itinerary.
The Freedom Trail Foundation holds many tours that take tourists through all the 16 landmarks. Some tours for families and corporate professionals are also led by 18th-century costumed guides, making the journey more memorable.
Time needed – 1 to 3 hours
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2. Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is another of Boston’s top attractions that pulsates with festive energy. It is located at the centre of downtown Boston and is a revered historic site. The place has been a bustling marketplace since its inception in 1742 by Peter Faneuil. It is also notable as the first place where colonists went into a protest against the Sugar Act in 1764, setting up the ‘no taxation without representation’ doctrine.
Today, it is an urban marketplace and is housed in three 19th-century buildings. It has 112 shops and 13 restaurants, all of which offer an array of things to shop and eat. The most well-known places here are Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market. No matter how much time you spend here, you’ll never run out of things to do and explore.
Time needed – 1 to 2 hours
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3. Fenway Park
You wouldn’t want to miss visiting ‘America’s Most Beloved Ballpark,’ Fenway Park. Since it opened in 1912, it has been the playground for the Boston Red Sox. If you want to catch them playing, visit it at the end of March or the beginning of April until the end of October.
One of the most coveted areas at Fenway Park is Green Monster. This iconic 37-foot-high left field wall has been integral to Boston Red Sox’s home stadium since it was built. It offers the most electrifying view of the game, which is why tickets for this place are as high as $200.
Besides, you can take a guided tour of the Fenway Park Living History Museum to learn more about the stadium or stroll down Lansdowne Street and grab amazing meals.
Time needed – 1 to 2 hours
4. Bunker Hill Museum
If you are a history buff searching for Boston’s top attractions, Bunker Hill Museum will please you. It tells the story of the first major battle of the American Revolution, the Battle of Bunker Hill. You will find out the story behind the erection of the Bunker Hill monument and its significance.
Some of the things worth looking at here are a 360-degree cyclorama mural of the Bunker Hill battle, refurbished dioramas, artifacts, and a bookstore. Once at the museum, you can also request access to the monument, climb to the top of it, and gain amazing views of the city.
Time needed – 1 hour
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5. Boston Public Garden
If you think that visiting a garden is boring, Boston Public Garden will change your view. At first, the gorgeous foliage and flowers will mesmerize you. Although strolling through the beautiful garden makes time disappear, you can do a lot more.
From riding a swan boat and watching the bronze Make Way for Ducklings statues to visiting noteworthy statues like the Ether Fountain, commissioned by Thomas Lee in 1868, you’ll never feel bored. If you visit this place in May, you can witness the Duckling Day parade, wherein hundreds of costumed kids and adults walk through the gardens while listening to the Harvard University Marching Band.
Time needed – 1 hour
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read more: Weekend Getaways From Boston
6. Boston Public Library
A single look at the Boston Public Library is enough to beckon you within. This magnificent library is the first free municipal library that houses close to 23 million items. These include books, maps, letters, manuscripts, drawings, and original works whose roots lie in the 10th century! Notable mentions are the first edition folios by William Shakespeare, original Mozart’s music scores, and the personal library of President John Adams.
Additionally, it was the first library to lend books, have a branch library, and a children’s room. It has a captivating Renaissance facade, which draws people in. Today, it is modernized with many amenities like job-seeking resources, computer classes, and daily art tours.
Time needed – 1 hour
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7. Beacon Hill
Not many neighbourhoods in Boston have a charm similar to Beacon Hill. The scenic half-square-mile neighbourhood with its Federalist Era architecture, the shining gold dome of the State House, and elegant townhouses make it a must-visit attraction.
This historic neighbourhood is one of the oldest places in Boston, where the first European settler built a log cabin in 1625. If you feel nostalgic reading about it and picturing mansions and cobblestone streets, you’ll find it to be true.
Once here, you can also visit the Museum of African American History and the part of the Freedom Trail that has the Underground Railroad, where enslaved people who fled for freedom in Canada were hidden by the Abolitionists. Further, visit Vilna Shul, the only remaining immigrant-era synagogue in Boston.
When you feel tired of exploring the many historic sites, dine at one of the sophisticated restaurants on Charles Street. They are known for serving the most amazing eastern Mediterranean, French, and American dishes.
Time needed – 2 hours
8. Boston Duck Tours
Wouldn’t you love it if you could be a part of a historic tour in a W.W.II-style amphibious landing craft? You would feel even more excited by knowing that this landing craft travels in both land and water!
Boston Duck Tour is one of the most popular tours in Boston. It takes you through all the places with historic significance in Boston. It began in 1994 and has since become an entertaining way to inform tourists. The tours take place daily, starting from the beginning of Spring and lasting until the Sunday after Thanksgiving, from 9 a.m. until an hour before sunset. It departs from the Museum of Science & Prudential Center.
Time needed – 1 hour 20 minutes
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9. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a haven for lovers of art history. This beautiful museum houses the masterworks collected by the owner, Isabella Stewart Gardner, born in 1840. Isabella wanted to create a place that offers an intimate cultural experience to people.
The museum has priceless marvels, like Renaissance portraits, which you can draw or sketch, an ornate guitar made in the 1720s, a Venetian chest of drawers, and more. A source of charm is the ever-blooming courtyard with seasonal displays where you can find many botanical images.
This attraction is also the site of the March 18, 1990 heist in which precious artwork worth 500 million dollars was stolen was stolen. You can take non-flash photographs of artworks and galleries for personal and not commercial use.
The museum gives you a free entry on your birthday. If your name is Isabella, you will gain free entry into life. Those who wear Red Sox gear get $2, while the Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders get a free entry on the first weekend of every month.
Time needed – 1.5 hours
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10. Caffè Vittoria
You wouldn’t think of an old-fashioned cafe as one of Boston’s top attractions, but when you see its historic decor and eclectic assortment of vintage coffee machines, you’ll change your mind. The cafe dates back to 1929 and is sprawled over three floors.
It has a traditional Italian look and feel, with marble-topped tables and stainless-steel chairs, waitress service, and art deco coffee posters on the walls. Of course, the cafe is also famous for its super rich and decadent coffee and treats like cakes and desserts.
Its hot chocolate has been named the best in the U.S. by Travel and Leisure magazine. Caffè Vittoria is simply a great place to hang out with family or friends in Boston.
Time needed – 1 hour
11. Narrated Historic Sunset Cruise
How would you feel listening to Boston’s history while looking at the beautiful skyline of the city? Amazing, we know. The Narrated Historic Sunset Tour will give you this kind of experience. A single cruise takes you through historically significant destinations, like the U.S.S. Constitution, Bunker Hill Museum, and Boston Harbor Islands.
Throughout the journey, stories of the Revolutionary War and local legends of the harbor are narrated. Additionally, there are outdoor viewing decks and spaces with large windows on the cruise boat, giving tourists a nice view of the city.
Time needed – 1 hour 30 minutes
12. Newbury Street
Newbury Street is one of the most famous roads in Boston. It’s also one of the most upscale and expensive streets in the world. This place, located in the Back Bay area of Boston, has a universal charm because of the myriad of things to explore. It spreads over eight blocks, spanning from Public Garden to Massachusetts Avenue, and is lined with sophisticated salons, boutiques, and dining options.
In the early 1800s, Newbury Street was a part of the Boston Harbor. Developers who thought it could become an upscale area filled the place with land. Today, it has become one of the most prestigious areas to live in.
Time needed – 30 minutes.
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13. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Many of Boston’s top attractions are patriotic, and among them, the most visited one is the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. This high-tech floating museum on Congress Street Bridge offers a multi-sensory experience of the event that greatly affected the course of American history.
The Boston Tea Party was a major political and mercantile protest against the British that occurred on December 16, 1773. Three hundred forty chests of tea were destroyed in Boston Harbour. This museum entertains tourists about the protest through various virtual exhibits, an authentically restored tea ship, and a 3D reenactment of the event.
The interpreters come in costumes and, after narrating the event and its historical significance, allow groups of people to explore the various artifacts and ask questions. In the end, you can have a spot of tea and treats at Abigail’s Tea Room & Terrace, where entry is free.
Time needed – 1.5 hours
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read also: Romantic Hotels in Boston
14. Massachusetts State House
Massachusetts State House, with its magnificent gold dome, was designed by the eminent architect Charles Bulfinch. It crowns Boston’s Beacon Hill and is the first seat of Massachusetts’ government. The 135-year-old building is filled with amazing historical artifacts, flags, banners, and statues.
Once inside, you can take a tour conducted by interns and learn more about the state house building. Massachusetts State House is a grand building with an ornate interior. There are beautiful murals, windows, and works of art that honour influential women.
Don’t forget to visit the 5-foot wooden cod in the House of Representatives Chamber, which symbolises the significance of the salt cod industry in the place. If you are a history buff or an architectural lover, you’ll certainly enjoy this attraction.
Time needed – 1 to 2 hours
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15. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is a sprawling green space that spans from TD Garden and the North End to Chinatown. Every year, millions of tourists visit it to enjoy the series of parks it links. These parks are a delight to explore as they feature public art displays, bubbling fountains, local restaurants, popular food trucks, and free weekly events.
You can take a spin on the 36-seat Greenway Carousel, splash under the cooling fountain waters, or chill out at the open-air Trillium Beer Garden. Music lovers can attend free concerts every Friday, while art enthusiasts can explore the revolving art installations at the Fort Point Channel Parks. There’s something for everyone at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway.
Time needed – 2 hours
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Conclusion
Now, you have many top attractions in Boston to visit and have a great time. The city gives an amazing glimpse into the history and culture of America with its museums, tours, and parks. The array of options to learn, eat, and participate in activities ensures that you never feel bored. That’s why visitors from all over the world visit it for a thrilling escape.
