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.
Located in Cambridge, just northwest of Boston, Harvard University is synonymous with educational prestige and accomplishment. Known for a curriculum that challenges and inspires its students, this Ivy League university boasts numerous Nobel Prize winners and eight US presidents, including Barack Obama, among its faculty and alums.
The 2.5-mile-long (4-kilometer) Freedom Trail winds through downtown Boston, from southerly Boston Common, the nation's oldest public park, to the Bunker Hill Monument on the north side of the Charles River. The red-brick path and its designated stops, including colonial-era churches, museums, and meeting houses, make for an excellent introduction to Boston and its role in the American Revolution and United States history.
Located in Lappin Park in Salem, the Bewitched Statue is a tribute to actress Elizabeth Montgomery, the star of the popular 1960s show, Bewitched. Unveiled in 2005, the 9-foot (2.7-meter tall bronze statue features Montgomery’s character, the fictional witch Samantha Stephens, sitting on a broomstick in front of a crescent moon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is dedicated to the 20 men and women tried and executed for practicing witchcraft in this colonial Massachusetts town in the late 17th century. A reminder of Salem’s darkest chapter, the open-air site is stark yet moving. The memorial’s entrance is engraved with statements of innocence from the accused, and its benches—protruding from three rough granite walls—are marked with the names and execution dates of each victim.
At the very tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is one of New England’s most colorful and welcoming destinations. This bustling town is a haven for LGBTQ+ visitors, though all are welcome. Walk Commercial Street and delight at the galleries, cafés, and local shops, or climb the Pilgrim Monument for panoramic views. Provincetown is also a top spot for whale watching and sunset sails, making it a prime destination for coastal adventures.
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.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the world’s most influential research universities, with a 168-acre (68-hectare) campus on the Charles River in Cambridge, just across from Boston. Founded in 1861, MIT is known as much for its architecture and public art as its Nobel laureates and innovations. The campus is home to works by Picasso and Calder, alongside neoclassical architecture and contemporary buildings designed by architects including Frank Gehry.
Tombstones from the 17th century draw visitors to Salem into the Old Burying Point, also known as the Charter Street Cemetery. This is the final resting place of victims of the infamous Salem witch trials, in addition to other historical figures, including judges from the Salem witch trials, former governors, and even a pilgrim from the Mayflower. This cemetery is a popular stop on spooky nighttime tours of Salem.
At the Salem Witch Museum, learn more about the tragic Salem witch trials of 1692 through a series of life-size stage sets and two distinct presentations. See and hear how neighbors turned against neighbors, and learn more about everyone involved. You’ll also get an overview of the evolving perception of witches throughout history, and learn how the term “witch-hunt” originated.
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.
Designed to connect Cape Cod Bay with Buzzards Bay, the Cape Cod Canal is a 7-mile-long (11-kilometer) artificial waterway built in 1914. Visitors and locals use it for both commercial and recreational boating and fishing, as well as walking and cycling along scenic paths on both sides.
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.
Science and awe-inspiring nature bring families to the Museum of Science, where exhibits ranging from playful illusions to towering displays of fossilized dinosaur bones deliver plenty of opportunities for interactive fun. More than 50 species of animals can be spotted in the Live Animal Care Center, while outdoor spaces include a touchable rock garden with petrified wood and stones from around the world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s easy to spend an afternoon in Harvard Square, a popular gathering place and a hub for street performers thanks to a lively street scene and close proximity to Harvard University. Travelers will find plenty of local life in this Cambridge neighborhood, as well as restaurants, shopping, an old-school newsstand, and public-art installations.
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.
