The 21 Best Things to Do in Boston
I was a student in Boston for nearly four years. Over that time, I have seen many of Boston’s top sites and found a few of my own Easter eggs, as well. Boston is one of the oldest cities in America and one of the biggest college towns. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out! It is saturated with historical sites and places to see. The best part is that you can walk pretty much anywhere. The T, Boston’s train system, is helpful, too.
The following is my opinionated list of some of the best things to do in Boston and the surrounding areas. There is no rank-order here. Everything is worth visiting for different reasons. Many of these places are less touristy for those who aren’t into crowds. A lot of these locations make for good romantic date ideas. There are many more than just this, so another list of places will be posted sometime in the future along with great places to eat.
1. Walk Around Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill is an iconic neighborhood in Boston and an absolute must-see. It’s cute, quaint, old, and for a brief moment, you forget you’re even in a city. First settled in 1625, Beacon Hill’s history goes back quite a ways. The architecture is classic New England; most of the sidewalks and buildings are bright red brick with narrow streets. It’s located adjacent to the Boston Common and the Charles River Esplanade. It’s also no secret that the apartments here are costly. A 600 square foot one-bedroom apartment can easily exceed $3,000 a month. Luxury condos can climb well into the millions. In addition to being home to many of Boston’s wealthier inhabitants, Beacon Hill supports numerous indie shops and restaurants. It also boasts the most photographed street in America: Acorn Street, which is pictured above. Beacon Hill is on a hill, so be prepared for a lot of uphill walking. Don’t leave Boston without seeing it!
2. Sunset from East Boston
There isn’t that much to see in East Boston. I typically only venture to these parts when I’m going to the airport. However, there is a really nice park called Piers Park a few minutes from the Maverick blue line station. It grants spectacular views of the harbor and skyline. The wind in Boston is strong, especially at the coastline, so spending a lot of time here when it’s cold probably isn’t the best idea. However, the sunsets are very romantic and make for a memorable experience. Bring some food and your date and watch the sunset!
3. Tour Harvard
No list of the best things to do in Boston would be complete without seeing the most well-known university in the world. Harvard, founded in 1636, needs no introduction. Situated in Cambridge, MA, it’s about a 25-minute train ride from Park Street at the Common. It’s a very open campus with many businesses and restaurants dispersed throughout. It certainly has that colonial-era charm much like Beacon Hill. In my opinion, it’s most beautiful during the summer and fall when the Yard actually has grass. In winter it’s basically a big mud pit unless there’s snow. Snow makes everything beautiful. I actually lived a few minutes from here during my last semester of college, so I walked through Harvard every day to get to Northeastern. It is definitely worth the visit and guided tour.
4. Tour MIT
MIT also needs no introduction. It was founded in 1861 with the Cambridge campus completed in 1916. MIT, like Harvard, is home to some of the most intelligent and driven students in the world. 93 Nobel laureates have been affiliated with the university among many other top-tier award winners.1 You can almost feel your IQ rising just by being there. Definitely, don’t miss a chance to see it! While you’re there, you can also walk down Main Street to see many of the research buildings that belong to MIT or to biotech companies. Cambridge has the highest density of biopharmaceutical companies in the world, many of which emerge from Harvard and MIT.
5. Charles River Esplanade and Longfellow Bridge
The Esplanade is a romantic place to stroll with a date any time of day. It’s also an excellent place to go for a run or walk your dog. There’s even a beer garden! It provides great views of Cambridge, MIT, and downtown Boston depending on where you are along the Esplanade. It’s also a short walk to Beacon Hill or the Common. You can definitely relax here for a while and enjoy the scenery and breeze.
Afterward, you can walk across the Longfellow Bridge which connects downtown Boston and Cambridge. It leads right to Main Street, which is the street in Cambridge that divides MIT and many of the biotechs. Longfellow was completed in 1906 and is 1,767.5 feet long.2 The views from the bridge are spectacular. You can easily see Beacon Hill, the Hancock Tower, the Prudential, One Dalton, and the Citgo sign. It is yet another place for a romantic walk with a date! Hopefully, you don’t mind the wind.
6. Boston Common and Public Garden
The Public Garden was established in 1837 as America’s first public botanical garden.3 It is one of my favorite places in the city. The flowers bloom in late March which paints amazing color to accent all of the grey and brown in Boston. All of the plants and flower beds are exquisitely manicured making for picturesque backdrops. Wedding photography sessions are frequent here. You can also ride in the lagoon in a swan boat. The Garden is adjacent to the westernmost end of the Common. Newbury Street and Commonwealth Avenue are accessible from the Garden, too.
The Boston Common was first established in 1634 as America’s first public park. It caters to many events during the year including Shakespeare on the Common and the Boston Freedom Rally. It is also home to the Frog Pond, which is a famous outdoor ice skating rink in the winter months. The crisp air, lights on the trees, and warm hot chocolate make for a memorable experience. Numerous restaurants, the theater district, and Beacon Hill are adjacent to the Common. Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are a short walk away.
7. Newbury Street
At just under a mile long, Newbury Street is the shopping strip in Boston. In addition to tons of shops, both boutique and well-known, this street is peppered with restaurants and coffee shops. The end of the street closest to the Public Garden carries the luxury brands like Tiffany, Armani, Cartier, etc. All the trees on Newbury are wrapped in clear lights during the winter, making for a beautiful walk. It is parallel to the next item on the list.
8. Commonwealth Avenue
Comm Ave is another very pricey area of Boston. As expected, many of the buildings are beautiful. Apartment prices here are comparable to those of Beacon Hill. There are a few businesses on this street, but it is mainly residential. The Public Garden and Newbury Street are easily accessible. In the winter, clear lights are wrapped around all of the trees. There is even a park with a walkway between the east and westbound sides of the road. It’s gorgeous in late fall and around Christmas time. One of my favorite restaurants, Buttermilk and Bourbon, is located on this street.
9. Quincy Market
Quincy Market is probably the most touristy place on this list. It was founded in 1826 but now contains dozens of food vendors. There’s something for everyone to eat here. The perimeter of the building provides space to many kiosks, and the general vicinity consists of other shops and restaurants. It’s a short walk to the Boston Public Market which houses different types of vendors for both cooked food and grocery items. There is a farmer’s market open Fridays and Saturdays just outside the Public Market. It’s been there since about 1830, too. The whole area is historic, and yes, these markets are all different things! Columbus Park and the North end are very short walks away from here.
10. Columbus Park
Columbus Park is a few minutes’ walk from Quincy Market. There is a very nice grassy area and decorative walkway perfect for eating the food you just bought at Quincy. You can also walk right up to the edge of Boston and look out over the harbor. It’s a great spot to sit and watch the planes come in on a nice day. The New England Aquarium is also close by.
11. Observation Deck at Independence Wharf
The Observation Deck is free to visit. Simply show your ID to the person at the front desk and they will direct you to the 14th floor. It provides a great view of South Boston and the Financial District on the other side. It’s a cool Easter egg that many people probably don’t know about. You can walk there from Columbus Park in about 10 minutes.
12. Sculptures in South Boston
Seven colorful geometric sculptures by artist Okuda San Miguel span Seaport Boulevard in South Boston. The sculptures stand between 8 and 12 feet high. South Boston has gentrified over the last several years. It’s a great place to walk around and take pictures. There are several nice apartment buildings, shops, restaurants, and major companies like PWC and Vertex in this area. Continue down this road and you’ll reach the Harpoon Brewery.
13. Fan Pier Park and Institute of Contemporary Art
This place is just a few minutes’ walk east of Seaport Blvd mentioned in the previous item. Fan Pier Park is well manicured and provides spectacular views of downtown Boston and the harbor. Nearby is the Institute of Contemporary Art. Even if you aren’t very interested in art, the store is really cool, and there is a covered seating area on the side nearest the harbor. This area is the nicest part of South Boston in my opinion. It’s an ideal spot for picnics, walks with your date, and simply taking in the views.
14. Harpoon Brewery Tour
For those who don’t know, Harpoon Brewery was founded in Boston, MA in 1986. In addition to the factory, there is a large bar with picnic-style tables serving fresh beer. The tour is $5, and you get a ton of free samples along the way. It lasts about 45 minutes. If you’re a beer fan or want to see how it’s made and try a few along the way, try it! The tour and beer house is a great group activity. On the weekends, there will probably be a line just to get in.
15. Taza Chocolate Factory
In all honesty, Taza chocolate is the best I have ever tried. It’s stone-ground, which means that the cocoa is grainy in the finished product. A good description of the texture is smooth and strong before dissolving into sweet cocoa grains. You can even see the sugar crystals in the bar. The tour costs $8 and lasts about an hour. They show you the whole process, but the machines don’t operate on the weekend. You’ll learn about the company, how the chocolate is made, and of course, you receive tons of free samples. The chocolate itself is pretty expensive, but it’s absolutely worth the price. This is a great activity for chocolate lovers.
16. Harbor Islands
There are 34 islands that comprise the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. The most accessible islands are Georges and Spectacle Island. Ferries depart from Columbus Park every two hours on weekdays and every hour on weekends to these two islands. During the summer there are inter-island ferries that run to other islands like Peddocks. A few scenes from the 2010 Leonardo Di Caprio movie Shutter Island were filmed there. The abandoned Fort Andrews resides on the building with plenty of creepiness to explore. The other islands are accessible by private boat. If you’re in Boston and want to get out of the city, the islands are a great place to walk around. The ride on the ferry is just as fun as walking around the islands. You can learn more about them and view the ferry schedules here.
17. Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library was founded in 1846 but has been at the present location since 1895.4 It’s located in Copley Square, just a few minutes’ walk to the Prudential building, Newbury Street, and about 10 minutes to the Public Garden. The architecture and detailing are impeccable. They have a space dedicated to serving high tea and an outdoor terrace. On the first Saturday of every even-numbered month, there is a book sale from 10 AM to 4 PM.
18. Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) resides near the Longwood medical area and the Fenway. Constructed in this location in 1909, it houses nearly 450,000 works of art from a plethora of time periods all over the world.5 It is free on Wednesdays after 4 PM for students with a valid school ID if the school participates in their university membership program. Otherwise, it costs $23 for students and $25 for adults. It’s a really interesting place and makes a good intellectual date. Afterward, stroll through the Fens and walk over to Blaze Pizza on Boylston! It’s right next to Fenway Park.
19. The Mapparium
This is a three-story hollow stained glass sphere of the world as it was in 1935. The architect Chester Lindsay Churchill is credited with its design. Its located in the Mary Baker Eddy Library, and can be viewed during a tour. This tour costs $6 for adults and lasts about 20 minutes. The acoustics of the room are quite interesting. Sounds emanating from the center reflect back to their point of origin in a spherical environment. Combined with the glass, the sound transfer is highly efficient and thus appears louder. Individuals can also hear one another whisper at opposite ends of the bridge.8 It’s a very neat experience. I recommend you see it at least once!
20. Commuter Rail to Rockport
The town of Rockport, founded in 1840, is a small coastal town approximately 40 miles northeast of Boston. Europeans have lived in the area since the mid-1600s with native Americans inhabiting the land before that. Rockport is known for its granite quarries, fishing, and artistry.6 It is easily accessible via commuter rail from North Station. Expect an hour train ride, which is quite enjoyable. The town is not large, but it is quite picturesque. There are several boutique art galleries and restaurants to probe. There’s also a rock jetty that you can walk out on. If you’re driving, you can visit the serene beaches just south of Rockport proper. Visiting Rockport is another fun afternoon trip to do if you want to get out of downtown Boston.
21. Middlesex Fells Reservation
Covering over 2,200 acres, this place has over 100 miles of hiking, biking, skiing, and horseback riding trails. It also has two inactive reservoirs and three active reservoirs, which serve the town of Winchester.7 The reservation also has a dog park. This natural gem is another place where you forget that Boston is only a few miles away. It’s most easily accessible via an Uber from Harvard Square (since you’ll already be visiting Harvard). Of course, you can drive if you have a car. Take some food and your dog if you can and go for a stroll! There’s a bunch of places along the bank of the South Reservoir where you can sit in private and look out over the water.
References
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2019, June 02). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology
- Longfellow Bridge. (2019, April 14). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longfellow_Bridge
- Public Garden. (2018, June 19). Retrieved from https://www.boston.gov/parks/public-garden
- BPL History. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bpl.org/bpl-history/
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mfa.org/
- Rockport, Massachusetts. (2019, May 17). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockport,_Massachusetts
- Middlesex Fells Reservation. (2019, April 11). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesex_Fells_Reservation
- Mapparium. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/project/mapparium/