Boston Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Boston tours and things to do in America’s revolutionary city: follow the historic Freedom Trail, splash into the harbor on a duck tour, cruise for whales in the Atlantic, feast through the Italian North End, and take day trips to witchy Salem and Martha’s Vineyard. Compare top-rated experiences and plan your perfect New England trip.
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Explore Boston by interest
Whatever brings you to Boston — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Freedom Trail
Revolutionary history.
ExploreHarbor & whales
Cruises & whales.
ExploreDuck & sightseeing
Amphibious fun.
ExploreFood & North End
Italian & seafood.
ExploreSalem & day trips
New England.
ExploreCambridge & Harvard
Historic campuses.
ExploreAttractions & fun
Fenway & more.
ExploreSunset cruises
Evening on the water.
ExploreTop attractions in Boston
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Freedom Trail
Historic route.
Boston Harbor
Cruises & sails.
Whale Watching
Stellwagen Bank.
Duck Tour
Land & river.
Fenway Park
Historic ballpark.
Harvard
Cambridge campus.
Salem
Witch history.
North End
Italian quarter.
Boston in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Freedom Trail
- 2Day 2: harbor & whales
- 3Day 3: Salem
- 4North End food
Boston Freedom Trail
- 1Boston Common
- 2Old State House
- 3Paul Revere’s house
- 4Bunker Hill
Best day trips from Boston
- 1Salem witch trials & historic port
- 2Cape Cod & Provincetown by ferry
- 3Plymouth, Mayflower II & the Pilgrims
- 4Martha's Vineyard island escape
Boston food, seafood & harbor
- 1North End Italian food tour
- 2New England seafood & the Fish Pier
- 3Boston Harbor sightseeing cruise
- 4Historic pub crawl to finish
~30 min awaySalem
Witch history.
Full day awayMartha’s Vineyard
Island escape.
~15 min awayCambridge
Harvard & MIT.
Local awayWhale Watching
Stellwagen Bank.
Full day awayNewport
Gilded mansions.
Local awayFenway Park
Historic ballpark.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Boston visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm and lively, perfect for harbor cruises, whale watching and outdoor sights.
Fall (Sep–Oct)
Crisp days and stunning foliage make autumn a classic and beautiful time to visit.
Spring (Apr–May)
Fresh and blooming, a pleasant time for the Freedom Trail and city walks.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cold and snowy but festive, great for museums, food and indoor attractions.
Whale season
April to October is best for whale-watching cruises off the coast.
Fall foliage
Late September and October bring spectacular New England foliage tours.
One day
The Freedom Trail and a harbor cruise.
Three days
Add whale watching and Salem.
Five days
Add Cambridge, the islands and Newport.
History buffs
Deeper time on the Freedom Trail sites.
Foodies
North End and seafood food tours.
With kids
Duck tours, the aquarium and harbor.
On foot
Boston is very walkable; the Freedom Trail and downtown are best explored on foot.
The T
The MBTA subway (the "T") is an easy way to reach Cambridge, Fenway and the neighbourhoods.
Tours & trolleys
Hop-on hop-off trolleys and guided tours are handy for the main sights.
Ferries & cruises
Ferries and harbor cruises reach Salem, the islands and offshore whale grounds.
Rental car
A car helps for New England day trips, though city driving and parking are tricky.
Getting there
Logan International Airport is close to downtown, linked by subway, bus and water taxi.
US dollars
Boston uses the US dollar; cards are accepted almost everywhere, with tipping customary.
Book ahead
Duck Tours, whale watching and Fenway tours sell out in summer — reserve in advance.
Dress for the season
Winters are cold and summers warm; pack layers and comfortable walking shoes.
City passes
A Boston attraction pass can save money if you plan several visits.
Fall foliage
For autumn colour, plan New England foliage tours in late September and October.
Comfy shoes
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walk — wear comfortable shoes.
Duck Tours
The famous Duck Tours sell out in summer — book ahead.
Whale watching
Peak-season whale cruises fill up — reserve early.
Freedom Trail tours
Guided walks are popular — book ahead.
Fenway Park
Ballpark tours have limited places — reserve early.
Salem trips
Salem tours fill up near Halloween — book well ahead.
Food tours
North End food tours sell out — reserve early.
Freedom Trail tour
Around $30–50 for a guided Freedom Trail walking tour.
Duck Tour
About $45–55 for a Boston Duck Tour.
Whale watching
Roughly $60–75 for a whale-watching cruise.
North End food tour
Around $65–90 for a North End food tour.
Salem day trip
About $60–120 for a Salem or day-trip tour.
How to save
Use a city pass, join group tours and travel midweek.
Boston through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Harbor & whales.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book ahead.
- Best for
- Foliage & history.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Beautiful, busy.
- Best for
- Blossom & walks.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pleasant.
- Best for
- Museums & food.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold, festive.