21 Things to See in Boston

1 Walk the Freedom Trail

If you do just one thing in Boston, make it the Freedom Trail. A red brick line in the sidewalk leads you 2.5 miles past 16 places from the American Revolution, including Paul Revere’s House, the Old North Church and Faneuil Hall. Start at Boston Common and finish at Bunker Hill. Take a break halfway at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, then end the day with a meal at the Warren Tavern, one of the oldest taverns in the city.

Time: About 3 to 4 hours with breaks · Cost: Free to walk

2 Board the USS Constitution Museum

Meet “Old Ironsides”, launched in 1797 and the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world. US Navy sailors give tours on board, and you can walk the decks where sailors lived and fought. Next door, the USS Constitution Museum tells the ship’s story with hands-on exhibits that are great for kids and adults. It is at the end of the Freedom Trail, so it pairs well with Bunker Hill.

Where: Charlestown Navy Yard · Good to know: Adults need a photo ID to board the ship

3 See Fenway Park

Fenway Park is home to the Boston Red Sox and the oldest Major League ballpark still in use. It opened in 1912, just days after the Titanic sank. Catch a game in season (April to September) or take a ballpark tour, where you can stand on top of the famous Green Monster wall. It is worth it even if you are not a baseball fan.

4 The View Boston Observation Deck

For the best view of the city, go to the top of the Prudential Tower. View Boston has indoor and outdoor decks with views in every direction, plus a bar and restaurant.

Where: 800 Boylston Street, Back Bay

5 Relax on Boston Common and the Public Garden

Boston Common is the oldest public park in the country, dating from 1634. Over the years it has been a cow pasture, a training ground for soldiers and a place for famous speeches. The Freedom Trail starts here. Right next door is the Public Garden. Walk around the lake, find the Make Way for Ducklings statues, and ride the famous Swan Boats from spring to early fall.

6 Explore MIT and Harvard

Two of the world’s best-known universities sit just across the Charles River in Cambridge. Harvard, founded in 1636, is the oldest college in the US. Walk through Harvard Yard and Harvard Square, and stop by the Harvard Museum of Natural History or the Peabody Museum. MIT is a short ride away. Walk the campus to see its unusual buildings, then visit the MIT Museum in Kendall Square, full of robots, holograms and new ideas.

Getting there: Red Line to Harvard or Kendall/MIT

7 Stroll down Acorn Street

This narrow cobblestone lane in Beacon Hill is one of the most photographed streets in the country. It only takes a few minutes, so pair it with the Public Garden nearby.

8 Take a Duck Tour

Ride an amphibious vehicle past the city’s top sights, then splash right into the Charles River. At about 80 minutes, it is a fun way to see a lot if you are short on time.

9 Visit the Boston Public Library

One of the most beautiful libraries in the country, right on Copley Square. Do not miss the quiet courtyard and the murals by John Singer Sargent. Free tours are offered.

Where: 700 Boylston Street · Cost: Free

10 Pause at the New England Holocaust Memorial

Six tall glass towers honor the six million Jewish people killed in the Holocaust. The glass is etched with numbers in memory of the victims. It is a short, moving stop near Faneuil Hall.

Where: Union Street, near Faneuil Hall · Cost: Free

11 Explore the museums

Isabella Stewart Gardner traveled the world collecting art, then built this Venetian-style palace around a flower-filled courtyard to show it. Even if art museums are not your thing, the building alone is worth it. In 1990, thieves stole 13 artworks worth about $500 million. It is still the biggest unsolved art theft in history, and the empty frames still hang on the walls. One of the largest art museums in the country, with ancient Egyptian treasures, paintings, sculpture and modern art. You could easily spend a whole day here.

Where: Gardner Museum, 25 Evans Way, and Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, a short walk apart

12 Grab lunch at Quincy Market, one of Boston’s oldest markets

Built in 1826 as part of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market is a long hall full of food stalls. It is a bit touristy, but a great spot for a quick, cheap lunch, like clam chowder in a bread bowl.

13 Walk along the Charles River Esplanade (my summer favorite)

This riverside path in Back Bay is perfect for a walk or a jog. Watch the sailboats and enjoy the views across the water to Cambridge.

14 Visit a local brewery

Boston has great local beer. Tour the Samuel Adams Brewery in Jamaica Plain, near Stony Brook station on the Orange Line, or visit the Harpoon Brewery beer hall in the Seaport. Both offer tastings. You must be 21 or older to drink.

15 See the Boston Marathon finish line

The Boston Marathon is the oldest yearly marathon in the world. Its finish line is painted on Boylston Street, outside the Boston Public Library, and it is also a place to remember the 2013 bombing.

16 Walk Commonwealth Avenue in Back Bay

Wander the tree-lined path down the middle of Commonwealth Avenue and the quiet streets nearby, lined with beautiful brick townhouses. It is one of the prettiest walks in the city, especially in spring and fall.

17 Join the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Learn about the Boston Tea Party of 1773, one of the events that led to the American Revolution. Actors guide you through the story, you board a replica ship, and you even throw tea into the harbor yourself. Great for kids and adults.

Time: About 1 hour · Where: Congress Street Bridge

18 Visit the JFK Presidential Library and Museum

Learn about President John F. Kennedy through films, photos and objects from his life and the 1960s. The building sits right on the water with wide harbor views.

Getting there: Red Line to JFK/UMass, then a free shuttle

19 Spend an evening in the North End

Boston’s oldest neighborhood comes alive at night, with people filling its restaurants and cafés. Grab a cannoli at Mike’s Pastry or dinner at Giacomo’s. Paul Revere’s House and the Old North Church are here too. Two lanterns were hung in the church’s steeple on the night of Paul Revere’s famous ride.

20 Shop and stroll Newbury Street

Newbury Street runs eight blocks through Back Bay, from the Public Garden to Massachusetts Avenue. Its old brownstone buildings are filled with shops, art galleries, cafés and restaurants, many with patios out front in warm weather. Start at the Public Garden end and walk toward Mass Ave. The shops get more casual as you go.

Time: About 1 to 2 hours · Where: Back Bay

21 Visit Castle Island and Fort Independence

Castle Island in South Boston has had a fort since 1634, making it one of the oldest fortified sites in the country. During the Revolution, the British held the fort, then called Castle William. In March 1776, after George Washington placed cannons on nearby Dorchester Heights, the British left Boston and destroyed the fort on their way out. Boston still celebrates that day, March 17, as Evacuation Day. Americans rebuilt the fort, and in 1797 President John Adams renamed it Fort Independence. The granite fort you see today was built in the mid-1800s. Walk the loop around Pleasure Bay, watch planes land at Logan, and grab a hot dog at Sullivan’s, a local favorite since 1951.

Where: South Boston · Cost: Free