Top Boston Arts & Design in 2026

Step into the captivating realm of illusions, where reality is never exactly as it appears. Museum of Illusions is a one-of-a-kind, visual, sensory, and educational experience designed to engage your sense of wonder and challenge perceptions through the science behind optical illusions. We offer over 50 immersive, hands-on exhibits to explore. The illusion rooms, installations and holograms let you defy gravity, grow and shrink your body, walk into a life-size kaleidoscope, and play tricks on your senses at every turn. It’s a mind-bending journey that deceives the senses and reveals how the brain interprets reality.

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.

See some of the top attractions in Boston from the waterfront on this narrated sightseeing cruise. Explore the world-famous Boston Harbor and see the city’s historic sites while listening to live commentary on board, from tales of the Revolutionary War to local legends. While you cruise, enjoy views of the city skyline as well as the Boston Harbor Islands, USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), and the Bunker Hill Monument.

The Museum of Ice Cream is a self-guided interactive ice cream museum in Boston’s Seaport District and a must-see attraction for families, couples, and friends. The experience invites visitors to play, explore, and dive into the world-famous Sprinkle Pool. If you’re searching for an immersive experience that’s equal parts playful and unforgettable, you’ve found the perfect place – a vibrant oasis of creativity and sweetness.

Not many tours combine an exploration of art and architecture with chocolate tastings. On this small-group tour, head to Back Bay to explore the district’s diverse 19th and 20th-century architecture. Stop at several different chocolate vendors and bakeries, interspersed with visits to two different art galleries across the neighborhood, including one featuring 56 artists with ceramics, paintings, and mobiles.

- Explore 300 years of history through an award-winning exhibit and immersive audio guide. - Enjoy kid-friendly options like a fun family scavenger hunt. - Discover the secrets of the crypt, where 1,100 people were buried. - Find out the true story behind Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride and “two if by sea.” - See a newly revealed mural that had been hidden under layers of white paint since 1912. - Learn about the church’s Black and Indigenous history.

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.

See more of Boston for one low price by purchasing the Boston Explorer Pass by Go City. Enjoy great savings off regular prices as you get admission to your choice of two, three, four, or five Boston attractions, picking among top city highlights like a Boston sightseeing cruise, a hop-on hop-off trolley tour, and much more. An included digital guide helps design the perfect itinerary.

As the United States marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence in 1776, five Boston landmarks have joined to create the BOSTON 250 PASS, providing access to five iconic museums and historic churches on a single ticket! This special offer grants discounted adult admission (ages 18+) to five must-see historic sites: Paul Revere House (1680), home of the famed silversmith; Old State House (1713), colonial capital of Massachusetts Bay; Old North Church (1723), Boston's oldest surviving church building; Old South Meeting House (1729), origin site of the Boston Tea Party; and King's Chapel (1754), home of Boston's first Anglican congregation. Museums are independently operated; visitor hours vary, so please confirm in advance! Pass valid for one week (7 days) following date selected. DO NOT PURCHASE if listed (discounts available): Children (0-17); U.S. Military; Groups of 10+ (reservation req'd); MA Teachers; MBTA Employees; WGBH, NEMA, AAM, ICOM Members; WIC & EBT Cardholders

Boston’s architectural history is spread across several neighborhoods—this small-group walking tour links Back Bay, the Public Garden, and Beacon Hill with commentary from a Boston guide with 20+ years of experience. See landmarks including Copley Square, the Swan Boats, and Acorn Street, while practical smartphone photo tips help you capture the city without taking a technical photography class.

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.

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 this holiday season one to remember with this cocoa and carols holiday cruise on Boston Harbor. With dates offered throughout December, you can add a magical touch to your holiday, and easily find a date that works for you. Plus, you’ll cruise the harbor aboard a classic yacht with live music as you take in beautiful views of Boston.

Discover Boston beyond the revolution. WEM showcases the history of a neighborhood with a rich and storied past that was destroyed by urban renewal efforts between 1958 and 1962. Experience how our the West End evolved from one of the country's earliest settlements of free Black people, to a diverse immigrant community, became a debris field, and transformed into the neighborhood you see today. Deepen your understanding of Boston's urban history and cultural heritage at the only urban planning museum in the United States. **LAST ADMISSION 30 MINS BEFORE CLOSE**

Travel back in time, to the early years of the United States of America, during this guided walking tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail and beyond. Relive the events of the American Revolution as you pass Faneuil Hall, see the Old and New State Houses, and visit the setting of the infamous Boston Massacre. Then head downtown past Boston Common and the modern John Hancock Tower, finishing in Copley Square.

Enjoy a more personalized way to explore Boston’s Beacon Hill—and benefit from plenty of in-depth commentary along the way—on this small-group walking tour of the popular neighborhood. Be sure to bring your smartphone or camera along: Your guide leads you straight to many of the neighborhood's most photogenic sights, including Acorn Street: the most photographed street in Boston.

Discover some of Boston’s deepest, darkest secrets that lots of tourists miss out on by joining this “frightseeing” tour aboard the Trolley of the Doomed, which roams around the haunted streets and burial grounds of Boston. Your costumed host provides illuminating insights into the history of the city's spookiest sights, such as Copp’s Hill Burying Ground.

The Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston opened in 1925, and you can tour the historic venue with ease on this group tour. Go explore backstage and learn about the history of the theater over the last century. Spend time looking at the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame inside the theater.

Experience Ruckus!, a bold new immersive show at the Old South Meeting House that surrounds you with dynamic sound, lighting, and projected animations of fiery revolutionaries, determined citizens, and some unlikely troublemakers whose courage shook these walls and sparked the American Revolution. This 25-minute show is designed for visitors of all ages as the ultimate starting point for exploring Boston's history. Guests should arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the selected showtime. Your ticket also includes admission to both the Old South Meeting House and the Old State House, where you can stand in the rooms where history unfolded, explore fascinating exhibits and artifacts, and continue your journey through the story of America’s founding. One ticket unlocks three unforgettable experiences in the heart of historic Boston. Revolutionary Spaces is a nonprofit organization. Every ticket purchase supports the preservation of these iconic national historic landmarks!

Combine two attractions Boston has to offer—delicious food and rich history—on this walking tour that starts in the popular North End and continues along the Freedom Trail. Taste fresh bread, pizza, and a classic Italian deli sandwich at local stops in this historic Italian neighborhood. Then, walk the Freedom Trail to learn about the American Revolution, all while enjoying scenic views of Boston Harbor and the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Explore the charming architecture of Beacon Hill and experience the city's blend of old and new.

The Freedom Trail is Boston's historic backbone, guiding you through key sites that shaped American history. This 2-hour walking tour offers an engaging exploration of the city’s revolutionary past, led by a knowledgeable guide. Visit iconic landmarks such as the Massachusetts State House, Boston Common, and Faneuil Hall, and discover the stories that echo through time. Perfect for history enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike, this small group tour ensures a personal experience as you walk the same paths as the Founding Fathers. - Journey through Boston's rich historical sites on a 2-hour tour - Small group experience with a maximum of 10 travelers - Visit iconic landmarks like Beacon Hill and Granary Burying Ground - Knowledgeable local guide shares fascinating stories and insights

Thanks to its storied revolutionary past, Boston is home to some of the most significant historic buildings in the US. Learn facts about the nation’s history that most guidebooks miss, like details about the 1770 Boston Massacre, with this access pass for the Old State House, Old South Meeting House, and the new immersive Ruckus! show starting July 2.

This is a one of a kind opportunity to visit Boston's Living Music Museum and Hall of Fame. Explore the featured exhibit that changes quarterly (Fall 2026 - Chimes of Freedom). See personal artifacts from private collections.