Boston attractions

The Boston Public Garden is a 24-acre (10-hectare) botanical oasis of Victorian flowerbeds, verdant grass, and weeping willow trees shading a tranquil lagoon. It is a respite from the bustling city all year round, and depending on the season, you'll find it awash in either seasonal blooms, gold-toned leaves, or untrammeled snow. Adjacent to Boston Common, the garden is part of the city’s Emerald Necklace system of parks that connect via parkways and waterways.

Housed in a 19th-century building designed by architect Charles Follen McKim, the Boston Public Library was founded in the 19th century and serves millions of Bostonians annually. This sizable public library is the second largest in the US after the Library of Congress. The central library in Copley Square is spread across two buildings.

A circle of granite pavers in front of the Old State House commemorates the Boston Massacre of 1770. The site marks the spot where British soldiers and colonists clashed: what started as a skirmish escalated into a riot, resulting in the deaths of five civilians. It’s considered one of the most pivotal events leading to the American Revolution.

Boston’s most cherished landmark isn’t Bunker Hill or the Tea Party Ships—it’s old Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. A must-see for sports enthusiasts as well as history and architecture buffs, Fenway Park is famous for its uniquely shaped playing field and towering left field wall known as the Green Monster. Watching a game with a hot dog and beer will make you feel like a Bostonian in no time.

In the heart of downtown Boston, Copley Square is a public park flanked by some of the city’s most notable buildings. Composed of lawns, a fountain, and the imposing 19th-century Trinity Church, it serves as the finishing point for the Boston Marathon and a relaxation, shopping, and dining hub for locals and visitors.

Located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay, 200 Clarendon—once known as John Hancock Tower—is the tallest building in the city and a well-known creation of architect I.M. Pei. Though notorious for now-fixed falling panels, and once a destination for its since-shuttered observation deck, the tower today is mostly eye candy for design fans.

The Boston Athenaeum, founded in 1807, is one of the country's oldest independent libraries. This historic cultural institution dedicated to literary and scientific pursuits is a must-see for bibliophiles interested in visiting Boston's historic spaces. You can find hundreds of thousands of books, exhibitions, and peaceful reading rooms.

Erected to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, Charlestown's Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the first fight of the American Revolutionary War. This granite edifice memorializes a key battle and is maintained by the National Park Service. Stop by on a tour of the Freedom Trail to climb its 294 steps and visit the on-site museum.

Home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Hall is considered one of the top classical music venues in the United States. A US National Historic Landmark, the hall is also known for its beautiful interior and is considered to have one of the best acoustics of any music hall in the world.

One of Boston's most popular and family-friendly tourist attractions, the New England Aquarium has spearheaded aquatic conservation efforts for more than 50 years. Today, it is home to thousands of sea creatures of all sizes, shapes, and colors. It boasts a 4-story Giant Ocean Tank, seal and penguin habitats, and a Shark and Ray Touch Tank, as well as cosponsors seasonal whale-watching cruises.

Back Bay borders the south bank of Charles River, southwest of Downtown Boston. Balancing commercial streets with residential avenues, the area is characterized by handsome Victorian brownstones, modern high-rises, grand 19th-century public buildings, and high-end restaurants, shops, and bars.

Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) houses one of the world’s most comprehensive art collections, with nearly 500,000 works ranging from ancient Egyptian sculptures to contemporary masterpieces. A true Boston highlight and must-see attraction for art lovers and first-time city travelers, the galleries house works from around the globe, including 35 paintings by Monet—one of the largest collections outside of France—as well as the tallest classical sculpture in North America and a four-floor wing showcasing American art.

One of Boston’s leading art institutions, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum occupies an early 20th-century mansion that’s modeled on a medieval Venetian palazzo. The 7,500-strong collection—which belonged to the city’s leading fin de siècle arts patron Isabella Stewart Gardner—includes highlights such as Titian’s Europa and works by John Singer Sargent, Botticelli, and Rembrandt. Empty frames in the galleries serve as reminders of an infamous art theft, which has remained unsolved since 1990.

Spread across the city’s harbor, Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is just a quick trip by ferry from Downtown, offering a picturesque nature escape from the urban bustle. Featuring both natural and historic attractions, the park invites visitors to explore a Civil War–era fort, check out the oldest continually used lighthouse in the United States, head out for a hike, spend the night camping, and more.

With a range of interactive exhibits, the Boston Museum of Science is an educational playground. Its exhibits explore computers, technology, complex systems, algae, maps, models, dinosaurs, birds, and much more. Don't miss the world's largest lightning bolt generator, a space capsule, world population meter, and virtual fish tank.

Sandwiched between Boston Common and Chinatown, the Boston Theater District is known for its many historical theaters, as well as restaurants and nightspots catering to theatergoers. People have flocked to this area since the 19th century to enjoy everything from opera and dramas to dance, concerts, and comedy performances.

Located in South Boston, Castle Island is one of the city’s most appealing waterfront parks. Spanning 22 acres (9 hectares), the park is home to Fort Independence, as well as green space, paths, playgrounds, and beaches, making it an ideal location for visitors looking for a day of history, leisure, or outdoor recreation.

The farmers market is an age-old tradition that's thriving at Boston's bustling Haymarket. Vendors have been peddling farm-fresh products here since the 1830s, and, nearly 200 years later, it's still a shopping hub for Bostonians. Though not the typical tourist spot, this is a great place to chill with locals and embrace the culture.

Founded in 1635, Concord is one of the oldest towns in New England, and the site of several key events surrounding the Revolutionary War. During the mid-1800s, the city was home to some of the brightest literary minds in the country, including Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott.

Known as the “birthplace of American liberty,” Lexington, Massachusetts, is where the first shot of the American Revolutionary War was fired on April 19, 1775. Nowadays, you can retrace history at sites around town, and enjoy a rich artistic, cultural, and culinary scene.

Located in Boston’s Fort Point district, Boston Children’s Museum is one of the premier destinations in the city for the education of children. It’s the second oldest museum of its kind in the country, and features a wide variety of interactive activities, exhibits, and programs that encourage children’s growth and development.

There's perhaps no better symbol of Boston maritime history than the Boston Light, a quaint lighthouse set on Little Brewster Island. This Boston Harbor landmark was built in 1716, and holds the record for the country's oldest continuously operated lighthouse. Lucky visitors that book a tour can climb the tower for striking Boston views.

The Mayflower II is a reproduction of the famous pilgrim ship, the Mayflower, that made a transatlantic crossing in the 1600s. Built and first sailed from Plymouth, England to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1957, the Mayflower II has become a historic ship in its own right. It’s both a working vessel and a floating classroom that you can visit.

The slice of Downtown Boston that makes up the bustling Chinatown neighborhood serves as the cultural epicenter of the city's Chinese community, though gentrification is taking a toll. You can walk through the heart of the neighborhood along Beach Street, dine on traditional Chinese delicacies, and detour to admire the colorful murals.

Located in Franklin Park in south Boston, Franklin Park Zoo is one of the city’s top family-friendly attractions. Extending across 29 hectares (72 acres), the zoo houses a diverse array of animals that ranges from gorillas and bison to exotic birds and African lions.

Plimoth & Patuxet, formerly Plimoth Plantation, is a living history museum that attempts to portray the first colony of English settlers to arrive in the New World in the 1600s. You’ll meet historical reenactors who speak and dress the way the Pilgrims did as you explore the faithful recreation of a chapter in American history at a Smithsonian-affiliated museum.

Considered one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Boston, Louisburg Square in Beacon Hill consists of multi-million-dollar, 19th-century townhouses and a private park. The area was first settled back in the 1600s when Rev. William Blaxton moved to this part of Beacon Hill from Charlestown, where the Puritans had settled, to enjoy more peace.

Once a popular gathering place for locals and travelers, Buckman Tavern was where the Lexington Minutemen waited for the British troops in the early hours of April 19, 1775, just before the first battle of the Revolutionary War took place outside Lexington Commons. Today, the restored tavern is a National Historic Landmark and museum.

The South End sits just south of Boston’s Back Bay area and is one of the city’s most culturally rich areas. Renowned for its redbrick houses, community parks, and tree-lined streets, it also offers a buzzing creative and culinary vibe, with open-air markets, independent shops, and cosmopolitan restaurants.

Locals and visitors alike flock to the Waterfront, which stretches from one of the city’s best parks to the Boston Tea Party ships. In the vibrant neighborhood, you’ll find enough tourist attractions, restaurants, and shops to keep you busy for days. Or, just take in the view of Boston Harbor as you leisurely stroll the walkways.