Things to do in  New England

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.

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.

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.

The main hub of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market has attracted locals and visitors alike for nearly 200 years. The historic food hall located within a Greek Revival-style building is packed with more than 50 shops, 14 restaurants, and 40 food court stops—plus stalls and pushcarts selling everything from exotic coffee to fresh seafood and artisanal bread.

Home to the Massachusetts State House, Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood is reminiscent of 19th-century London—replete with cobbled streets, brownstone buildings, and flower-filled window boxes. At night, gas lanterns flicker to life and create a romantic atmosphere for fine dining and bar-hopping.

Marking the starting point of Boston’s Freedom Trail—a brick-lined walking trail around the city’s American Revolution landmarks—Boston Common unfolds across 50 acres (20 hectares) of public green spaces and walkways in the heart of downtown. As well as serving as Boston’s green lungs, its venerable past and attractions draw visitors keen to escape the downtown bustle, view historical monuments, and enjoy the Frog Pond, which offers wading in summer and ice skating in winter.

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 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.

Boston’s Cheers Beacon Hill (formerly the Bull & Finch Pub) is a mandatory pilgrimage for fans of the popular television showCheers, which was inspired by this authentic neighborhood watering hole. Although the bar’s interior differs from its famous TV alter ego, you’ll find the same friendly atmosphere, good pub grub, and frothy pints of beer.

Constructed prior to the American Revolutionary War, Faneuil Hall Marketplace has served as a bustling market for centuries. Today, the attraction, located on the city’s Freedom Trail, actually comprises four individual buildings: Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market. It is a popular place for sightseeing and dining, and it features an ever-changing lineup of street performers outside.

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 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.

Formally known as the Raymond L. Flynn Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, Flynn Cruiseport Boston is one of Boston’s busiest waterfront hubs. Located in South Boston, the port serves major cruise ships and is most active from late March through late October. Upwards of 300,000 visitors pass through the port annually.

Located in the North End and built around 1680, the Paul Revere House is the oldest building in downtown Boston. It is famous for being the house Revere left from on the night of his famous “midnight ride” to warn his compatriots that the British were coming to arrest them in 1775. He lived there with his family from 1770 to 1800.

Inhabited since the 1630s, Boston's North End is understandably home to a variety of historic attractions, including the Paul Revere House (the starting place of his famous midnight ride in 1775) and the Old North Church, both of which are on the city’s Freedom Trail. But the neighborhood is equally known for its cultural offerings; dubbed Boston's Little Italy, the North End is a popular destination to grab Italian-American fare.