Thrumming with history, art, and culture, Boston is one of the best cities to visit in the United States of America. As one of the oldest cities in the United States and the birthplace of the American Revolution, there are many historically significant places to explore in Boston. Whether a thrill seeker, history buff, backpacker, or food lover, you will be spoilt for choice with the options on the things to do in Boston. It is also counted among the best spring break destinations in US.
Stroll by the lively waterfront or cruise along the historic harbor. The Harvard, Longfellow, or Boston University Bridges provide the best views of the skylines of Boston City and neighboring Cambridge. Explore this beautiful city where cobbled-stoned streets meet glass-enclosed shopping galleries, where The Freedom Trail landmarks stand beside modern, trendy restaurants, and renowned theatres with happening nightclubs. With world-class sporting venues, prestigious college campuses, and revered art institutes, it is no wonder that Boston welcomes millions of tourists every year. This city is best known for its Baked Beans, The Boston Marathon, Fenway Park, and the Boston Tea Party. Let us take a look at the top 10 Boston Tourist Attractions that will make you want to visit this beautiful city again and again.
Top 10 Boston Tourist Attractions
Freedom Trail
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The Freedom Trail is two and a half miles long, and it takes approximately two hours to explore the historical sites and attractions. The start of the Freedom Trail is Boston Common, and it ends at the USS Constitution Museum. There are sixteen historic sites like meeting halls, churches, cemeteries, and battlegrounds. Along the trail, you can visit the Old Granary Burying Ground (the burial place of Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams); Old South Meeting House (the speeches of patriots spawned the Boston Tea Party); King’s Chapel Burying Ground (Cemetery with graves of Governor John Winthrop and two Mayflower passengers); and the Old State House (site of the Boston massacre). The trail continues through the North End, past the Paul Revere House and Old North Church. Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston is as enlightening as seeing the museums in NYC, where each turn reveals a tale from the past.
Fenway Park
Fenway Park, America’s most beloved Ballpark, opened on April 20th, 1912. It is one of the most fabled sports complexes and the home field of the Boston Red Sox from April through Fall. Whether you are a sports enthusiast or someone who is not very fond of sports, a tour of this sports complex is fun and interesting. To experience Boston’s passion for the game, attend a Red Fox game and join the crowd as they sing the Sweet Caroline at the end of the game. It is the oldest Major League Baseball Stadium. The most distinctive feature in this park is the “Green Monster”, the 37-foot green wall in the left field. The park still maintains the old charm, such as the hand-operated scoreboard. Fenway Park is the smallest park, and it has the lowest seating capacity in the Major Leagues, with 33,871 spectators.
Public Garden
Boston’s oldest and largest garden with an area of twenty-four acres, Boston Public Garden, was established in 1837. There are manicured paths, a four-acre pond with swans, and the famous “Make Way for Ducklings” statues (Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their eight offspring in the children’s book written by Robert Mc Closkey). Located in the heart of Boston City, the garden has an exotic range of flora and vegetation on display. The luscious green grass and the flowers and plants create a romantic setting for weddings and other joyful occasions. Visit the garden and bring a picnic lunch and a book to enjoy a few peaceful moments in this perfect city oasis. There are greenhouse plants grown in the park creating a better environment for visitors. Enjoy a leisurely fifteen-minute ride aboard the Swan Boats and pedal-powered gondolas around the lagoon.
The Museum of Fine Arts
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One of Boston’s top tourist attractions, the Museum of Fine Arts boasts an incredible collection of artifacts and artworks from India, Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Founded in 1870, it is a neo-classical building in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood, overlooking the scenery of the Back Bay Fens Park. The gigantic galleries also house Asian and Persian fine arts, ancient Egyptian mummies, masterpieces by European artists, and much more. Enjoy seeing the artworks of Rembrandt, Gogh, and Monet. The five must-see pieces at the Museum of Fine Arts are Paul Revere by John Singleton Copley, Houses at Auvers by Vincent Van Gogh, Caritas by Abbott Thayer, King Mycerinus and Queen, and Dance at Bougival. It is one of the most famous monuments in USA and surely worth a visit.
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall is a marketplace in Boston’s downtown district built by Peter Faneuil. Also known as the ‘Cradle of Liberty’, Faneuil Hall has three historic buildings – North Market, Quincy Market, and South Market. The marketplace has many shops selling jewelry, gifts, clothing, and souvenirs. Experience a unique dining experience at one of the restaurants serving delicacies like lobster rolls, Boston baked beans, clam chowder, and oysters on the half shell. The marketplace is bustling with people. Street performers put up their shows in the square around the market. On the fourth floor of Faneuil Hall is the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Museum, which houses weapons, uniforms, and paintings of significant battles.
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
Boston Tea Party and Ships Museum gives you an immersive experience that brings life to the time and events leading to the American Revolution. The guided one-hour tour of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum takes you back to the night of December 1773, with fully-restored replicas of the original ships from which the Sons of Liberty dumped tea in the Boston Harbor. The American colonists threw three hundred and forty-two chests in the harbor, an act of protest against the monopoly of the East India Company and a tax on tea. Re-live the battle and events with costumed interpreters that lead visitors with interactive exhibits and films. Every visitor gets to dump tea into the harbor. You also get to see the tea chest from the ill-fated cargo in the museum.
New England Aquarium
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Located on the Central Wharf, within walking distance of the Rose Kennedy Greenway, is the New England Aquarium. The aquarium has a 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank situated in the main building’s atrium with a coral reef environment that showcases the sea life, including exotic jellyfish, stingrays, playful seals, and penguins. A spiral walkway around the tank gives a close-up view of sharks, sea turtles, barracuda, and small fishes. The aquarium is also home to an IMAX theater that shows movies with aquatic themes. Whale-watching tours are also available for visitors to enjoy.
Cambridge
Cambridge is home to two prestigious institutes of higher education: MIT and Harvard University. Just fifteen minutes northwest of the center, this suburb has lovely neighborhoods to be explored with museums, attractive architecture, and cultural attractions. Also known as the City of Squares (due to its unique layout), Cambridge lies across the Charles River and is an academic and intellectual center. This quaint New England town is an eclectic mix of student hang-out places, cool and trendy shops, hip restaurants, and cafes. It has sites like Harvard Art Museums, Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, Mount Auburn Cemetery, and Longfellow House. Enjoy nature at the Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge. This reservation is home to a nine-hole golf course.
Franklin Park Zoo
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Explore the seventy-two-acre zoo, Franklin Park Zoo, nestled in Boston’s historic Franklin Park. Enjoy a day full of fun while watching hundreds of remarkable species of animals. Be sure to visit the African lions in the Kalahari Kingdom, tigers in the Tiger Tales, the Masai giraffe, and Grevy’s zebra in the Giraffe Savannah, nature’s neighborhoods, and the Outback Trail. During the summer months, enjoy the Butterfly Landing and Aussie Aviary. Stand face to face with gorillas, ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, prairie dogs, pygmy hippos, kangaroos, and emus. There is a children’s zoo and a library in the park too.
Newbury Street
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Newbury Street is a shopping street in the swanky Back Bay neighborhood. All the shops are along with the eight blocks between the Public Garden and Massachusetts Avenue. In addition to shopping, there are high-end hotels, restaurants, salons, and spas. Newbury Street is a hotspot for foodies. There are a lot of food trucks in USA that cater to people looking for unusual flavours. There are clothing boutiques and jewelry by internationally acclaimed designers like Chanel, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Tiffany, Burberry, Cartier, Brooks Brothers, Alan Bilzerian, and Ralph Lauren. Tucked between international brands are the mid-market fashion brand stores like Zara, H&M, and Victoria’s Secret. Fashionistas on a budget swear by the small, locally-owned boutiques like Soodee, Revolve, No Rest for Bridget, Second Time Around, and The Closet on the western end of Newbury Street.
Most of Boston’s major tourist attractions are close to the Downtown area and Boston Common. Surrounded by water on three sides, Boston offers a variety of waterfront parks, rivers, harbor cruises, and hotels and restaurants with spectacular views. Like any other American city, visiting Boston is not very cheap, especially if you plan to stay in an accommodation in a great neighborhood. It is also one of the US Cities to fly directly from Dubai Airport. The best time to visit Boston is during the fall and spring months, i.e. from June to October. The green leaves change into vibrant colors. The city looks beautiful with an array of red and orange leaves. The scent of magnolias carries on the breeze down the streets through the entire city. So, apply for your US tourist visa or US Visit visa, and head to Boston for a one-of-a-kind vacation.
