Boston
The city where colonists tipped the tea into the sea in 1773 is best explored on foot, along a line of red bricks that links sixteen sites of the American Revolution over 4 km. Around it lie brick streets with gas lamps, an Italian quarter, two first-rate art museums, the country's oldest baseball park and Harvard across the river.
By PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ views on Google MapsBy PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ Maps views
🇺🇸 🦞
Boston · Photo Tan Nguyen / Pexels
Things to do in Boston in 5 days
Day 1
Learn moreMore
A 4 km line of red bricks running from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument, linking sixteen sites of the Revolution, from the Old State House to the frigate USS Constitution.
💡 Walk it from south to north and finish in Charlestown, from where the ferry or a walk brings you back to the centre. Climb the 294 steps of the Bunker Hill Monument, free, for the view over the harbour. Price: trail free; Paul Revere House $6, about €5; Old North Church $10, about €9.
Learn moreMore
A hill of Federal-style brick houses, cobbled pavements and gas lamps still burning day and night, with Acorn Street, Louisburg Square, the antique shops of Charles Street and Bulfinch's State House.
💡 Come early in the morning for Acorn Street, as the lane is tiny and overrun in the middle of the day. Respect the residents, these are private homes. Finish in the neighbouring Public Garden, with its willows and its swan boats in season. Price: free.
Day 2
Learn moreMore
Major League Baseball's oldest ballpark, opened in 1912 and home of the Red Sox, famous for its 11-metre Green Monster wall, its manual scoreboard and its wooden seats from 1934.
💡 Go to a game if you can, from April to September: seats in the upper sections can be found at reasonable prices on weekdays, and the atmosphere counts as much as the play. On game days, the last tour leaves three hours before the first pitch. Price: tour $30, about €26, adults; $21, about €18, ages 3 to 12.
Learn moreMore
The city's oldest residential neighbourhood, Italian since the late 19th century, home to the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church, with espresso, cannoli and saints' festivals in August.
💡 Compare the cannoli of Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry, the two rival institutions of Hanover Street, and bring cash, as Mike's Pastry's historic shop does not take cards. In the evening, come early or book when possible, as the restaurants are tiny. Price: free to stroll.
Day 3
Learn moreMore
One of the largest museums in the United States, with nearly 500,000 works and outstanding Japanese, Egyptian and Impressionist collections, plus Copley, Sargent and Paul Revere in the Art of the Americas wing.
💡 The museum is closed on Tuesdays and stays open until 10 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, the quietest evenings. Buy online, and allow at least half a day. Price: $30, about €26, adults; $14, about €12, ages 7 to 17; free up to age 6.
Learn moreMore
A Venetian-style palace around a flowering courtyard, where works by Titian, Botticelli and Rembrandt hang exactly where the collector placed them, beside the empty frames of the unsolved 1990 theft.
💡 Visitors named Isabella get in free for life, by booking by phone. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and open until 9 pm on Thursdays. Combine it with the Museum of Fine Arts, five minutes' walk away. Price: $25, about €22, adults; free up to age 17.
Day 4
Learn moreMore
America's oldest university, founded in 1636, with Harvard Yard open to all, its museums and the bookshops of Harvard Square, plus the contemporary architecture of MIT two stops away.
💡 Sign up for the free student-led tour of Harvard Yard, bookable online from the previous Friday, departing from the Smith Campus Center. Avoid the graduation weeks at the end of May. Price: free.
Day 5
Learn moreMore
Some thirty islands at the mouth of the harbour, reached by seasonal ferries from Long Wharf, including Georges Island and its granite Fort Warren and Spectacle Island with its beach.
💡 Ferries leave from Long Wharf North, next to the aquarium, from mid-May to autumn: check the timetable, as the service to each island varies with the season. Bring a picnic, as food options are limited. Price: $24.95, about €21, adult return; $17.95, about €15, ages 3 to 11.
"Book" (hotels) and "via GetYourGuide" (activities) are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide). Prices, times and distances are approximate.
Take this plan everywhere
Download your itinerary (Boston) as a PDF: day by day, activities, times and where to stay. Matches the length you chose.
Don't feel like organising everything? A local partner travel agent can set it all up for you (flights, hotels, activities). We pass on your preferences and they call you back. Free and with no obligation.
Good to know before you go
🍽️ Must-try food
Burgers and barbecue
brisket and ribs cooked low and slow, done differently in every state.
Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl
the classic lunch on the San Francisco waterfront.
Mexican food
tacos from a truck in Los Angeles, a Mission burrito in San Francisco.
Pancakes and weekend brunch
a national habit, generous to the point of excess.
Craft beer, and California wine from Napa and Sonoma.
Dishes to look for in the good places: Boston.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Tipping is not optional: add 15 to 20% in restaurants and bars.
- Prices on menus and in shops exclude sales tax, which is added at the till.
- Do not plan more than four or five hours of driving a day: the distances are larger than they look on the map.
- Never travel without health insurance. A night in hospital can cost thousands of dollars.
- In summer, do not hike down into the Grand Canyon in the heat of the day: the climb back out is where people get into trouble.
Have you thought of…?
The little details that make all the difference once you're there.
Similar itineraries
📄 See the full guide: Boston, detailed month-by-month weather, budget, what to avoid and FAQ.