Wonderingwhat to do and see during yourBoston visit?

Boston offers somany attractions and things to doand experience that you'll have a hard time fitting them into just one trip. 

So where should you start? 

We've organized the possibilities by topic to make your planning easier:

• Boston's Top Attractions
• Boston's Most Famous Celebrations, Parades, & Festivals
• More Boston Attractions to See & Experience
• Top Boston Attractions for Families 
• Boston Shopping Attractions
• Boston's Dining & Pub Scene
• One Day in Boston - 6 Suggestions & Itineraries

So take a look at ourguide to Boston's attractions. 

Whether you're interested in history, sports, museums and culture, parades and festivals, shopping, holiday celebrations, family activities, or outdoor fun, there's something for everyone!

Top photo:  Paul Revere's house, built in 1680 - an attraction on the Freedom Trail in Boston's North End, (c) Boston Discovery Guide

Boston Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication.  When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost for you. Learn more

Boston's Top Attractions - Don't Miss These!

Especially if you're planning yourfirst visit, you'll probably want to see at least a few of themain attractions that give Boston its unique character.

Here's where to start:

Freedom Trail

Boston's Freedom Trail, marked by a red line, leads you past 16 or 17 (depending on how you count) of the country's most famous and important historic monuments, buildings, graveyards, and even a ship. 

Find out more about how to explore on your own or with a tour guide.

Whale Watching Cruises

Going on a whale-watching cruise to a nearby marine sanctuary could be one of the most memorable parts of your Boston visit.  

Find out more abouthow to go on a whale-watching cruise, and all the exciting marine life you may encounter.

Fenway Park

If you want to experience the spirit of Boston, head to a Red Sox game at the historic and slightly quirky Fenway Park.  Whether the Sox are winning or losing, the fans go wild. 

Find out how to visit and get tickets for a Red Sox game

More Favorite Boston Attractions

Theatre District Shows

Fall Foliage

Faneuil Marketplace

New England Aquarium

Duck Boats

Make Way for Ducklings

Find out about Boston's Top 10 Attractions

Fun Ways to See Boston's Top Attractions

Experience Boston's top attractions with an expert local guide:

Famous Boston Celebrations, Parades, Festivals

These gala festivities, parades, and celebrations bring together Bostonians as well as visitors from all around the world:

July 4th Fireworks

Boston Marathon

New Year's Eve

Indigenous Peoples Day

Memorial Day Flags

Holiday Lights Ceremonies

Find out more about Boston's 50+ annual parades, festivals, & celebrations

Only-In-Boston Events

Boston'sPatriot Day reenactments in April, theDuckling Day Parade in May, andNorth End Feasts and Festivals from late June through early September are "only-in-Boston" attractions and experiences - so if you're visiting the city during these periods, don't miss them!

Patriots Day

Duckling Day Parade

North End Festivals

More Boston Attractions to See & Experience

Culture & Entertainment

These gala festivities, parades, and celebrations bring together Bostonians as well as visitors from all around the world:

Museums

Historic Theaters

Art Galleries

Entertainment & Nightlife

Concerts & Music

Boston Public Library

Historic Boston

These gala festivities, parades, and celebrations bring together Bostonians as well as visitors from all around the world:

Historic Downtown

Historic Taverns

Haymarket

Beacon Hill

Bay Village

Historic Center Hotels

Boston's Waterfront

These gala festivities, parades, and celebrations bring together Bostonians as well as visitors from all around the world:

Boston Harbor Cruises

Boston Beaches

Boston Harbor Islands

Fall Foliage Cruises

Provincetown

Charles River Cruises

Outdoor Boston Attractions for All Seasons

If you're planning a trip to Boston, you may be wondering:  when is the best time of the year to visit if you want tospend time outdoors?

Spring, summer, and fall offer lots of options:  in addition to all the attractions already mentioned above, you can walk around and enjoy spectacularflowers in bloom all spring, watch thedragon boat races andtour private gardens during June,ride a bike or run along theCharles River Loop or another popular running path almost year-round, go for long walks during peakfoliage season during the fall.

Winter can be a little tougher, especially if you're not used to cold weather, but here's what you need to do: Embrace the cold! 

Here are some of Boston's best outdoor winter attractions and activities for cold weather:

Ice Skating

Skiing & Snowboarding

Boston in the Winter

A Walk in the Snow

A Walk in the Rain

Frostbite Racing

Parks

Boston's parks are more than just green spaces with leafy trees and lovely flowers. 

They are where you'll find free summer movies, concerts, statues, monuments and memorials, public art, summer theater, playgrounds, snack vendors,Swan Boats, popup markets, beer gardens, carousels, tennis courts, splash pools, bike and running paths, waterfront access - and lots more fun attractions. 

Here are three of the most popular parks:

The Greenway

Public Garden

Esplanade

Discover more of Boston's most popular parks

Explore Boston's less-known "hidden" parks

Find out about the Harbor Islands - Boston's huge marine park

Top Boston Attractions for Families

Did you know that Boston is one of the top U.S. cities for family vacations?  Whether you're traveling with children or teens, you'll find so many family-friendly attractions for everyone to enjoy!

Fun Family Activities

Kids Attractions

Teen Adventures

Harvard, MIT, & Other Colleges & Universities

With 50+ colleges and universitiesincluding world-famous Harvard and MIT, Boston attracts around 350,000 students during the academic year.

If you have teenagers, book an informative student-ledcampus tour of Harvard University to see its famous buildings and landmarks, and get an informative and entertaining view of Harvard culture and student life. 

You can also join a similar student-led tour of nearbyMIT.

See our complete guide to Boston colleges and universities

Find Out More about Campus Tours!

More Boston Attractions:  Shopping Destinations

For a lot of Boston visitors (and locals), our uniqueshopping venues are a top attraction.  From our city shopping malls with upscale stores and fantastic restaurants to super-discountedWrentham Village Outlets, you'll find lots of wonderful and irresistible items.

But for aunique, only-in-Boston shopping experience, start with these destinations:

Newbury Street

Christmas Markets

Beacon Hill Antiques

More about Boston shopping destinations

Boston's Dining & Pub Scene

Historic restaurants and taverns, top sports bars, wine bars, hundreds of unique chef-owned bistros, fresh local lobster and other seafood, the North End's authentic Italian restaurants, Irish pubs, Asian cuisine in Chinatown - these are just a few of the memorable places that make Boston'slively dining scene a top attraction.

Here'swhere to start exploring all of Boston's fantastic places toeat and drink:

Irish Pubs

Historic Restaurants

Lobster & Seafood 

Italian Restaurants

Fun Chinatown Bistros

Top Wine Bars

One Day in Boston: 6 Suggestions & Itineraries

1.  Want tomaximize your time andsee as much as possiblewhile enjoying some local cuisine? 

Explore Boston's historic North End on this Italian Food tour, savor lobster, chowder, baked beans, and Boston Cream Pie on thisClassical Bits of Boston with Option Beer Tasting tour, and follow in the footsteps of Paul Revere and Samuel Adams on theHistoric Taverns Tour (which, by the way, will qualify you to brag to your friends about how much Revolutionary War history you soaked up during your trip).

2.  Or get ahop on, hop off sightseeing trolley ticket to tour Boston's attractions, and jump off whenever you please to explore sites at your own pace.

3.  Take a walk along theFreedom Trail to experience top historic sites while also soaking up the ambiance of several legendary neighborhoods. 

Along the way, stop by theNew England Aquarium on the Boston Harbor waterfront, admire work by local artisans atSoWa Open Market on theGreenway, and treat yourself tocanolli and cappuccino at a North End bakery - or even better, join aBoston food tour.

4.  SeeFenway Park up close at aRed Sox game or on a behind-the-scenes tour, enjoy aBroadway show in the Theatre District, and take a selfie at theMake Way for Ducklings statues in Victorian-era Public Garden. 

5.  Explore the city's world-classmuseums, designer boutiques alongNewbury Street, and art galleries in the South End or Fort Point. 

6.  See marine life close-up on awhale-watching cruise, get a panoramic view Boston's top attractions while on aDuck Tour, and immerse yourself in the beauty ofbrilliant fall foliage. 

Photo credits: Royale,Ben Stas, CC BY 2.0; House of Blues,Michael Schwarz, CC BY 2.0; coastal fall foliage, istock.com/Hummingbird Art; Mt Snow, Jessica Shi, istock.com/grafvision

Fun Ways to See Boston