Top Boston Day Trips

Leave Boston behind and set out on a full-day journey to Martha's Vineyard, one of New England's most beloved islands. This experience blends a scenic ferry crossing, historic seaside villages, and the laid-back charm of island life. Board the Island Queen ferry in Falmouth and cruise across Nantucket Sound to Oak Bluffs, where colorful gingerbread cottages surround the historic Tabernacle at the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. Enjoy time to explore the island's most iconic spots, with an optional sightseeing bus tour covering the Flying Horses Carousel, the refined harbor town of Edgartown, Gay Head Light atop the dramatic Aquinnah cliffs, and Nobska Point Lighthouse. Return via the Steamship Authority ferry from Woods Hole, rounding out a full day of coastal views, ocean breezes, and authentic New England island character.

Travel from Boston to Salem on a day trip focused on the town’s history. Learn about the Salem Witch Trials while exploring historic streets and notable landmarks. With transport and a guided itinerary included, this experience offers a convenient way to visit Salem and understand its notorious historical significance—ideal for those looking to step outside the city.

New England is renowned for having some of the most beautiful fall foliage in the country—and this seamless, full-day tour from Boston makes it easy to discover the region’s vibrant scenery. Following morning pickup from your Boston hotel, travel to New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and stop for photography breaks along the Kancamagus Highway. Following lunch in charming North Conway (own expense), continue the seasonal sightseeing as you journey to the storied Mount Washington Hotel. At the end of the day, return to your Boston hotel.

Visit Martha’s Vineyard on a day trip from Boston to experience the island beauty without the hassle of booking ground and ferry transport. From hotel pickup and drop-off to included ferry tickets, snacks, water, and sightseeing maps, this Martha’s Vineyard excursion is designed for maximum time exploring, with the option to upgrade and include a guided tour of the entire island aboard a high-top, small-group van and explore all six towns on the island, indulge in lunch, and spend more time learning about scenic New England.

Explore Newport in a single day without planning or driving from Boston. This small-group tour includes pre-booked mansion admissions, guided transport with hotel pickup, and free time in the historic waterfront district to help you use your time efficiently. Visit iconic mansions, enjoy a scenic coastal walk, and discover additional historic landmarks along the way. With logistics handled in advance, you can focus on architecture, scenery, and independent exploring.

Take a deep dive into the history of the American Revolution on this walking tour of Boston. Your historian guide will focus on the years between 1760 and 1775, a tumultuous time with plenty to talk about. Stroll the Freedom Trail and ask your guide questions along the way to learn things most tourists miss.

Explore the best of Boston at your own pace on a hop-on hop-off trolley tour of the city. Choose from a 1- or 2-day pass and see Boston’s top attractions, including the USS Constitution, the original bar from TV show “Cheers,” and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, to name a few. The pass includes discounted admission to the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, to enjoy during or after the tour.

Make exploring beyond Boston city limits seamless—and discover the history and highlights of Newport, Rhode Island, long a summer retreat for the city's upper crust—on this full-day tour from Boston. Visit the Breakers Mansion (owned by the Vanderbilts) and the Marble House (a "Great Gatsby" filming location), and go for a bus tour of Newport's other highlights before enjoying free time for some independent sightseeing.

Discover the New Hampshire and Maine coasts, plus the highlights of Kennebunkport, all in one day: this private, full-day tour from Boston makes exploring easy. Meet your guide in the morning at your departure point, and hop aboard your private van. You'll stop in the historic town of Portsmouth, will discover the Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse, can tour the President Bush Compound at Kennebunkport, and upgrade to add on a lobster tour.

Experience the best of New England’s marine wildlife on this guided whale-watching cruise around the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Hop on a high-speed boat in Boston that gets to and from the whales in the least amount of time possible. Look out for humpback and fin whales, plus Atlantic white-sided dolphins, with the help of a naturalist guide. The on-board galley offers food and beverages for purchase during the trip.

Discover the best of historic Plymouth in just one day—and enjoy a hassle-free way to explore—on this full-day trip from Boston. Check off several key Plymouth sights, including Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II, and Plimoth Patuxet Museums, all while benefitting from skip-the-line admission tickets. Plus, have bonus free time to explore the 400-year-old town's harbor, enjoy lunch (own expense), and sightsee at your own pace.

Relive one of the most important events leading up to the American Revolution and learn about a side of the story most tourists miss on this guided tour of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Explore authentically restored tea ships with the help of a guide as you get their insights into this pivotal event, and throw some of your own tea into Boston Harbor. It's an ideal experience for American history buffs, tourists, and locals alike.

Escape Boston for a full day along the southern Maine coast, blending scenic seaside walks, historic harbor towns, and iconic lighthouse views. Begin at Marginal Way in Ogunquit, a cliffside coastal path that winds along the Atlantic with uninterrupted ocean views and classic New England scenery. Continue to Kennebunkport, a postcard-perfect harbor town known for its historic homes, local boutiques, and working waterfront. Arrive in Portland in time for lunch in the Old Port district, where cobblestone streets, 19th-century brick buildings, and fishing piers set the scene for some of Maine's best seafood — this is the spot to try fresh, locally caught lobster on your own. Finish at Portland Head Light, Maine's oldest and most iconic lighthouse, perched dramatically above the rocky shoreline within Fort Williams Park, with sweeping Atlantic views to close out the day.

Hop into a duck boat—s renovated World War II amphibious vehicle—for a comprehensive city sightseeing tour of Boston. Pass Boston Common, Quincy Market, the Celtics' home turf at TD Garden, and much more. Then splashdown into the Charles River for a view of the city by boat. Learn all about Boston's history and landmarks as you go.

Walk the Freedom Trail with a guide in historic costume on a tour from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall, a 1.2-mile route that covers important sites in the heart of Boston. This tour's shorter distance lets you follow in the footsteps of the founding fathers and American revolutionaries without making the more strenuous trek all the way across the Charles River, finishing in a spot that’s convenient to top Boston attractions.

Experience the Black Heritage Trail and get to know more about Civil War-era Boston on this small-group walking tour. In the company of a guide, head out into Beacon Hill and hear stories about the Underground Railroad, Boston Brahmins, and other historical facts. Enjoy a focus particularly on the Civil War years.

Take a semi-private day trip you'll never forget! Start the day with a pickup at your door, then ride up the North Shore to Hammond Castle, located on the ocean cliffs of Gloucester. Take a guided tour of the castle, learning about the history of the eccentric millionaire inventor who built it. Enjoy free time to explore the castle and gardens with plenty of opportunities for stunning photos. Drive to Salem, where you will have free time for lunch. Choose from a wide variety of dining options in the historic downtown. After lunch, your guide will take you on a tour of Salem. Learn about the infamous witch trials of 1692, see the real places where the victims were hanged. Learn the story of the "Corwin Curse" as you take a picture in front of the historic Witch House. See the locations where Hocus Pocus was filmed. Take a drive through one of the most beautiful streets in North America, lined with mansions built on the city's maritime fortune.

Discover a whole new side of baseball history with the help of a guide on this tour of Fenway Park, one of baseball’s most beloved stadiums. Revisit the careers of Red Sox greats like Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, and Carl Yastrzemski, celebrate the club’s numerous World Series titles, and tour famous stadium locales like the ‘Green Monster,’ ‘Pesky’s Pole,’ and the Fenway Park Living Museum. It’s ideal for baseball fans, be they locals or tourists.

For anyone thinking of attending Harvard, or for those who simply want a glimpse of college life at the famous university, this tour is a must. Get an exclusive account from current Harvard students, who provide key insights into the life and times at Cambridge with a theatrical, humorous flair. Check out the old buildings at Harvard Yard and Harvard Square and learn about the school’s storied past. Illustrated map of Harvard Square included. Choose from several departure times throughout the day.

New York City is a huge city, so it can be hard to know where to start exploring alone. Instead, get the help of a guide who knows the Big Apple’s secrets on this group guided day tour from Boston or New York City. Spend the whole day getting a well-rounded picture of New York, with the option to include a cruise to the Statue of Liberty or entry to the One World Trade Center Observatory.

Plymouth Colony comes to life in our recreation of early Plymouth, complete with timber-framed houses furnished with reproductions of the types of objects that the Pilgrims owned, aromatic kitchen gardens, and heritage breeds livestock. At The Patuxet Homesite, learn about the Indigenous heritage of the 17th-century lifeways of a culture that continues to thrive today. At the Craft Center, located in close proximity to the 17th-Century English Village, you will learn from a variety of skilled artisans and museum historians. Mayflower is an iconic symbol of freedom. Of the hundreds of ships that made the transatlantic crossing in the 1600s, she is the ship we remember. At our reproduction of the Plymouth Colonists’ original 1636 grain mill on Town Brook, take a fascinating look at the mill’s history and workings, from the 200-year-old millstones grinding corn to the ecology of the brook that has powered mills throughout the centuries.

Spend a full day exploring Manhattan from Boston with ease on this group tour. Depart early from Boston in a comfortable vehicle with a driver-guide and make your way down to New York City. Take time to visit One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, and Times Square before returning to Boston.

No Football Match Today? Here's the perfect way to spend your off-days around Boston. Discover Boston’s most iconic sights in one perfectly planned day. Walk through the world-famous campuses of Harvard and MIT, where history, innovation, and genius collide. Enjoy free time at the lively Quincy Market for lunch and local flavors before boarding a scenic Boston Harbor cruise included with your tour during the summer or a classic New England Lobster Lunch at Quincy Market during the winter. This experience blends academic legends, historic charm, and waterfront views into a complete, effortless Boston adventure built to impress.