By Shannon Gomes
With 24 colleges & universities and 50 in the surrounding area, Boston is a vibrant city bursting with youthful energy and grounded deep in U.S. history. I recommend spending 3-5 days to fully experience this great New England city. ✨
✈️ Fly in/out of Boston Logan Airport. It’s so easy to get right into the city center from the airport, it takes only about 15 minutes! Or, if you are already on the East Coast, consider taking the Amtrak train to South Station.
🚊 Unless you are planning to do trips outside of the Boston area, there is no reason to rent a car. Instead, planning on taking Boston’s subway “The T” everywhere. If you are in town for more than 2 days, buy a pass for the week for unlimited rides. Boston is a fantastic walking city so definitely pack you tennis shoes and explore the city by foot. And there is always Uber if you need a ride somewhere.
🏨 Boston has plenty of great hotel options. If you’d like to be in a central location, I recommend staying in the Copley Plaza / Boston Common area. You can also live like a local and stay in an Airbnb which is always a great option when traveling as a family (our family stayed in a great Airbnb right on Newbury St.!). And if you prefer to be downtown and close to the TD Garden, home of the Bruins and Celtics, I recommend staying at the Courtyard Boston Downtown North Station.
🧭 Kick start your bearings & refresh your knowledge of U.S. History by taking a tour. A popular opinion for all ages is the Boston Duck Tours where you drive through the city in an amphibious military vehicle that also floats down the Charles River. Also highly recommend going on a walking tour with “Boston by Ellen.” Ellen is a fantastic, knowledgeable Boston native guide and offers a variety of intimate tours including The Freedom Trail, “Remember the Ladies,” and specific neighborhood tours. Visit her website to learn more and book your tour online in advance.
👀 There are so many key sights and places to visit in Boston, but here’s a few places not to miss:
🔹Boston Public Library
🔹Boston Common
🔹North End (old Italian neighborhood)
🔹Beacon Hill neighborhood (don’t miss Acorn Street!)
🔹Museum Of Fine Art, Boston
🔹Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum (tip: purchase tickets online in advance)
🔹Museum of Science
🔹Tour the Red Sox stadium
⚾️ If you are in town when the Boston Red Sox are playing, be sure to get tickets to see a game. Hopefully you’ll see a home run hit over the “Green Monstah.”
🏀 And if the Boston Celtics or Boston Bruins 🏒are playing, I highly recommend getting tickets to see a game at the TD Garden.
🛍️ Lots of great shopping in Boston, but the one street that offers everything from unique boutiques to popular stores to high-end designers is Newbury Street.
🏫 Taking “The T” across the Charles River to Cambridge is a lovely way to spend the day or just a few hours. Of course, you must walk around the Harvard University campus and then enjoy a delicious farm-to-table meal at Henrietta’s Table.
🦞Oh, the food! You can’t visit Boston without enjoying good seafood from clam chowder to lobster rolls. Options range to big restaurants like Legal Sea Foods to super tiny (and beyond delicious & worth standing in a long for) spots like Neptune Oyster. And if you love Italian food, there is no shortage of authentic pasta and pizza spots in the North End. Don’t miss getting a slice and arancini at Galeria Umberto (note: only open during the week until 3pm). Popular foodie restaurants like Fox & the Knife are a must (book online in advance). Another must visit foodie spot is the new Time Out Market featuring a wide range of different cuisines and fantastic wine, beer and cocktails.
For more great Boston eats recommendations, I can always rely on Eater Boston.
Finally, you cannot visit Boston without enjoying a cannoli from Mike’s Pastry! *Pro Tip: Stop there before heading home & buy a half dozen cannoli shells & filling (they can sell separate) for you to enjoy your “authentic taste of Boston” when you arrive home. And trust me, your friends & family will love this delicious gift too!
Boston is a city you can keep going back to and learn/do something new every time. Don’t forget to take a stroll or bike (or even rollerblade like I used to do in the early 2000s!) along the Charles River. Enjoy this historic city that definitely has a piece of my heart!