What are the best day trips from Boston?

The favourites are Salem for its witch-trial history, Cape Cod and Provincetown for beaches and whale-watching, Martha's Vineyard for island charm, and Plymouth for the Pilgrim story. Newport's Gilded Age mansions and the Lexington and Concord battlefields are popular too, and most trips include round-trip transport or a fast ferry from Boston.

How do you get from Boston to Salem?

Salem is about 30 minutes from Boston. In summer the City Cruises fast ferry is the scenic option, running from Long Wharf to Salem's waterfront; year-round you can join a guided coach tour or take the MBTA commuter rail. Guided day trips handle the logistics and add a walking tour on arrival.

Do I need to book island day trips in advance?

Yes. Ferries to Martha's Vineyard and Provincetown have limited summer sailings and sell out on weekends, so reserve ahead. Booking a guided day trip from Boston secures your ferry seat and often bundles an island tour once you land.

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Best Day Trips from Boston

Boston sits within easy reach of some of New England's most rewarding day trips — the witch trials of Salem, the beaches of Cape Cod, the islands of Martha's Vineyard, and the Pilgrim landing at Plymouth. Here is how to plan the best day trips from Boston, with the top-rated tours, ferries and guided excursions to book for each.

At a glance

1Salem witch trials & historic port
2Cape Cod & Provincetown by ferry
3Plymouth, Mayflower II & the Pilgrims
4Martha's Vineyard island escape

Salem and the witch trials

Just 30 minutes north of Boston, Salem trades on its dark 1692 legacy of witch trials, hangings and hysteria. Day trips from Boston pair the fast ferry or a coach with guided walks past the Witch Trials Memorial, the Old Burying Point and costumed storytellers who bring the panic to life. Many tours add nearby Marblehead or Hammond Castle, making Salem the most popular single-day escape from the city.

Cape Cod, Provincetown and the islands

For sand and sea, head south to Cape Cod. The high-speed ferry to Provincetown skims across the bay to a lively harbor town of dune tours, galleries and whale-watching, while coach trips loop the Cape's lighthouses and beaches. Ferries also run to Martha's Vineyard, where gingerbread cottages, cliffs and cycling trails fill an easy day. Book island day trips early in summer, when weekend sailings sell out fast.

Plymouth and the Pilgrim story

A short drive south of Boston brings you to Plymouth, where the Pilgrims stepped ashore in 1620. Day trips visit Plymouth Rock, the reconstructed Mayflower II and the living-history village of Plimoth Patuxet, where interpreters recreate colonial and Wampanoag life. Some tours combine Plymouth with Quincy's presidential sites or Cape Cod, so you can trace the founding of New England before returning to Boston for the evening.