Top Places to Visit in Boston

You’re finally making your Boston — or Beantown — vacation dream a reality. But there’s more than just baked beans in Beantown.

Research shows that more than 26 million visitors from the United States visited Massachusetts, including Boston, in 2020. Visitors from around the world also love flocking to Boston.

There, you can visit Boston Red Sox home Finley Park or ride swan boats. You can also admire the Bunker Hill Monument, Boston’s art galleries, the Boston Public Garden, and Boston’s Museum of Science.

The New England Aquarium, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and Paul Revere House are also awe-inspiring.

Instant. Simple. Smart We Make Insurance Easy

Instant. Simple. Smart
We Make Insurance Easy

Find Out How Much You Can Save Today

Take the first step towards peace of mind with LoPriore’s team. Experience tailored insurance solutions that fit your lifestyle and budget. Get your free, no-obligation quote today and see the difference expertise makes!

Get your Free Quote

Here are the top 23 places to visit in Boston.

Let’s jump in!

1. Boston Museum of Fine Arts

One of the top places to visit in Boston is the city’s fine arts museum. This is among North America’s biggest fine arts museums, as it features 450,000-plus art pieces.

This museum stands out for its many French Impressionist pieces of art. You’ll also find a spectacular Classical collection filled with numerous sculptures and frescos from Pompeii.

In this museum, you should have no problem finding exhibits that everyone in the family, from old to young, will enjoy. Just be sure to bring your walking shoes, as the museum may take you a few hours to get through.

2. Children’s Museum in Boston

For the younger ones, consider adding a visit to Boston’s children’s museum to your day’s agenda.

The children’s museum was born in the early 1900s when science teachers came up with the idea of creating a general arena for learning. Today, the museum attracts both visitors and locals.

You’ll love the fact that the museum will never treat your child in a patronizing way. They’ll take their comments and questions seriously.

Parents also like how appealing the exhibits are to children of various ages. For instance, little ones can enjoy climbing a huge sculpture located on the museum’s first floor for as many as three or four hours.

All in all, the museum is a safe, clean, and well-operated space filled with amusing activities for young, hands-on learners.

3. Boston Public Garden

Love flowers? Be sure to add this public garden to your itinerary the next time you visit Boston.

This charming garden was created in the 1600s and underwent modifications during the Victorian era. The garden introduced more than 80 plant species from various Boston locations.

In this garden, you’ll come across bright floral patterns created by using techniques such as propagating and hybridizing. This eventually paved the way for garden leaders to important exotic plants and trees.

You’ll enjoy seeing and photographing all of this when you visit. And if you get tired during your stroll, you’ll find plenty of benches to relax on.

4. Boston’s New England Aquarium

If you’re passionate about marine life, feel free to make a pit stop at Boston’s aquarium.

Since making its debut in 1969, this aquarium has been a worldwide leader in ocean exploration and marine conservation. The aquarium draws more than a million visitors each year.

In the aquarium, you’ll find multiple stories of sea life exhibits. In addition, you’ll be able to learn about each creature thanks to the building’s viewing panels.

The animals you’ll experience may range from little sharks to horseshoe crabs, starfish, and stingrays. You may also enjoy viewing penguins.

5. Fenway Park, Home of the Boston Red Sox

If you’re a baseball fan, visiting Fenway Park is a must when you visit Boston. After all, it’s the oldest professional baseball park.

This park is relatively small, as it seats only 40,000 spectators. However, it has been a World Series host several times, proving that size doesn’t matter in baseball.

During a tour of Fenway Park, you’ll get to take in the stadium as well as the visitors’ clubhouse. In addition, you’ll experience the press room. You might even get to check out the park’s “Green Monster” — the high wall in left field that’s just a few hundred feet from the baseball diamond’s home plate.

6. John F. Kennedy Library and Museum

If you’re a history buff, you’ll also need to visit the library and museum commemorating the life of this famous president.

This facility depicts Kennedy’s legacy and leadership while also showing you what it was like to be a president in the 1960s through videos, photos, and objects. It’s filled with exhibits showcasing important moments in his presidency, such as press conferences and his inauguration. You’ll even see fascinating artifacts like several dresses worn by his wife, Jackie.

From the building, you’ll additionally get to see the city’s gorgeous skyline. In addition, you’ll get to see a beautiful outdoor walkway stretching near Dorchester Bay.

7. Nahant Beach

No road trip to the Boston area would be complete without a stop at Nahant Beach, which is just 12 miles away from Boston. This Bostonian North Shore hidden gem is the perfect place for making memories with family and friends.

At this beach, you’ll experience romantic Atlantic Ocean sunrises as well as Boston skyline sunsets. And during the day, you and your family members will enjoy walking on the clean sandy shores, surfing, or simply lounging in the sunshine.

The best part? The beach is open all year.

8. Boston Old North

Founded in the 1700s, this is the longest-lasting church in the Boston area. It is also among Boston’s most frequently visited historical sites.

This church is where Paul Revere orchestrated a secret signal during his famous ride to Concord from Boston at midnight in April 1775. This ride preceded the battles of Concord and Lexington during the Revolutionary War.

In the church, you’ll also find a George Washington statue — yet another treat for history buffs, both old and young.

9. Revere Beach

Perhaps you’re a snowbird who loves going down to Florida during the winter and back up to the Northeast during the summer. This summer, make sure that Revere Beach is on your list of places to visit.

This beach, which is located north of Beantown, was America’s first beach for members of the public. You can walk down Revere Boulevard along the beach. You can also fish along this seaside resort’s miles of beautiful coastline or take a dip in the ocean to cool off on a hot day.

10. Boston’s Brewery Tours

Wondering how beer is made? You’ll find out about this and more during a Boston brewery tour.

You can go on an exciting tour during the evening or daytime. Either way, you’ll get to immerse yourself in Boston’s popular pub/brew scene and learn about beer’s mechanics.

You’ll also get to visit several Boston breweries and taste their delectable drafts for yourself. Be prepared to sample 15 or more award-winning beers, like stouts and pilsners.

You will do some walking during a brewery tour, so be sure to wear comfy shoes. These types of tours are wheelchair friendly as well.

11. Boston’s Paul Revere House

If you’re fascinated by the story of Paul Revere, visiting this attraction should be a priority for you, too.

This house was Revere’s three-story colonial home. However, it also happens to be Boston’s oldest house, being built around 1680.

Today, it’s a jaw-dropping museum whose interior is well preserved. When you step inside the house, you’ll feel as though you are living in the 1600s.

You’re not permitted to take photos in the home. However, you’ll be able to listen to staff’s commentary about the house and even purchase educational materials and prints to commemorate your special day at this historical home.

12. Boston Food Tour

Got the munchies? A food tour in Boston will hit the spot.

During a food tour, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the city’s Italian district, called North End. There, you can shop at different venues and sample delicious balsamic vinegar, cheeses, pancetta, and olive oil.

Then, be prepared to indulge in pasta dishes and wood-fired pizzas. During your food tour, you’ll also enjoy diving into chocolates and caramels.

If your stomach still has room left, don’t forget to try a yummy cannolo. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one anywhere else.

13. Boston’s RoomEscapers

Perhaps you plan to visit Boston during the holidays with family and friends. Add some adventure to your stay with an outing at RoomEscapers.

At this facility, you’ll enjoy interactive fun for an hour. During this time, you’ll work on solving puzzles and clues based on New England events. So, in addition to having a good time, you’ll get to learn New England’s history.

And if you get stuck during the game, don’t worry. You’ll get hints from the staff to help you to solve the puzzles and take home a win.

14. Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo

If you’re an animal lover, don’t forget to stop by this popular Boston zoo.

Spanning more than 70 acres, this zoo will inspire you to protect and sustain your world. It does this by providing engaging experiences associated with conservation and wildlife.

What’s great about the zoo is that it is both clean and simple to navigate. In addition to seeing animals, your children will get to engage in nature play. Rather than playing on traditional plastic and metal playground structures, they’ll get to play amid vegetation and landscaping that brings nature to them.

15. Boston Art Galleries

If you’re a fan of art, you’ll enjoy spending hours at Boston’s art galleries.

For instance, consider giving the Gallerie D’Orsay a try. Founded in 2000, this Newbury Street gallery features the prestigious works of famous painters like Picasso, Renoir, and Rembrandt. In the exhibits, you’ll also find contemporary paintings, sculptures, and prints.

Although this gallery offers a wealth of artwork, it does so in an intimate and small setting. You’ll feel like you’ve just walked into a beautifully put-together living room when you enter the gallery. And the artwork changes about every two months, so if you make more than one trip there, you can expect to see something different each time.

16. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Art lovers should also make a pit stop at this attractive museum.

This art lover’s gem is located in the type of palazzo you’d find in Venice, Italy. In its collection, you’ll come across master paintings that hail from the Dutch Golden Age and Italian Renaissance. Medieval and Roman sculpture and artistic elements also fill this museum.

Love feminism? Most of the works in this boutique museum are the products of the woman after whom the museum was named. You’ll also find sculptures that represent powerful classical mythology women, like Persephone and Artemis.

Love architecture? The museum boasts a captivating interior courtyard as well. There, you’ll eagerly gaze at the building’s skylit roof made of glass.

Love antiques? You’ll find plenty of them in this museum, too. Every room in the building is sumptuously decorated with antique furnishings.

All in all, the museum itself is a masterpiece.

17. Swan Boats

If you enjoy being out on the water, you’ll also enjoy a ride on one of Boston’s swan boats.

When you go out on a pedal-powered swan boat, you can expect to enjoy a leisurely tour of the lagoon in the city’s public garden. During the tour, you’ll see acres of manicured lawns, flower beds, and specimen trees. The tour should last for around 15 minutes.

Swan Boat History

These types of boats have carried people in Bostin since the 1870s. It’s said that the founder of the boats, Robert Paget, created them based on the opera Lohengrin by Richard Wagner. In the opera, a knight crossed a river by riding a boat that a swan was drawing.

These boats became well known as a result of a classic kids’ book titled Make Way for Ducklings. The book was published back in 1941, and since then, more than two million book copies have been sold. It has constantly been in print since that year.

You may also notice these boats in a recent Netflix film called Fatherhood, which made its debut in 2021. The film stars popular actor Kevin Hart.

Swan Boats Today

The iconic swan boat attraction closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This was its first time closing in 143 years. However, it later reopened, and it’s still going strong among visitors to Boston.

Paget’s family is still operating the swan boat business to this day.

Note that if you’re planning to go on a swan boat, you don’t need to make a reservation. In addition, the attraction is just a few minutes from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Green Line stop at Arlington. So, you can simply take the light rail to avoid dealing with parking problems in the area.

18. Bunker Hill Monument

This monument is another fascinating attraction to visit if you’re a big history fan.

American soldiers in New England faced off against British soldiers in June 1775 during the American Revolution. This bloody battle occurred across a landscape filled with pastures and hills near Boston’s Charles River.

The British soldiers ended up claiming this field. However, the American soldiers inflicted a staggering number of casualties. The Americans faced 2,400 British opponents and ended up killing or wounding 1,000 of them.

The American soldiers who inflicted this damage hailed from New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

A half-century after this famous battle, a man named Marquis De Lafayette paved the way for the monument to be erected in recognition of the battle. The monument stands more than 220 feet tall, and it’s 100% granite.

This impressive monument took more than 17 years to build. At the top of Breed’s Hill today, the monument marks the location where American forces created a fort before the battle. The site continues to be a vital part of the battle’s history.

19. Boston’s Museum of Science

Not interested in history? Don’t worry: Boston has plenty for science lovers as well. See for yourself at the city’s science museum.

This famous museum features more than 700 interactive science exhibits. It also offers live presentations throughout the building. In addition, this Boston landmark is the home of a theater and planetarium.

If you like animals, you can see plenty of them at the science museum as well. That’s because the museum has more than 100 rehabilitated and rescued animals.

Both children and adults can enjoy learning about science and animals in the museum setting. And when hunger starts to bite, you don’t even have to leave the premises. A beautiful café is there to serve you delicious food for lunchtime and snack time.

Note that you’re also permitted to bring refreshments into the building.

20. Stone Zoo

Animal lovers will also enjoy spending time at Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts, which is just nine miles from Boston.

Here at the zoo, you’ll get to see a wide range of wildlife, ranging from the bald eagle to the arctic fox. Other animals that may tickle your fancy at the zoo include the bush dog, the Caribbean flamingo, and the cougar.

Your children may also get a kick out of seeing the colobus monkey, Gila monster, black bear, and American alligator in their natural habitats.

Also, if you’re leading a school group, you can get into the zoo for free during the school year. This applies to school groups from kindergarten to 12th grade. This promotion is available from Monday to Friday.

21. Stoneham’s Spot Pond

If you enjoy the great outdoors, you’ll enjoy another attraction in Stoneham: Spot Pond.

Covering more than 2,500 acres, this reservoir is ideal for enjoying both the water and the woods. You can explore the natural environment here from a kayak, canoe, or rowboat. And if you prefer to go hiking with your dog, this is the perfect place for both you and Rufus.

Either way, be prepared to see various animals, including birds, and enjoy the peace that being in nature can bring.

22. Tea Party Museum/Ships

Travel back in time by visiting this one-of-a-kind museum in Boston as well.

In this museum, you can view historically important artifacts from the time of the Boston Tea Party. However, your experience at the museum will also be multi-sensory, as the museum features high-technology interactive exhibits.

During your museum visit, you’ll get to see tea ships that have been restored. In addition, you can immerse yourself in documentaries about the event.

Actors will also bring the Boston Tea Party to life for you with a touch of drama and flair. Your moments at the museum are sure to be exciting and enlightening.

23. Greater Boston Stage Company

Finally, if you love theatrics, take time to visit this attraction, formerly known as Stoneham Theater. The theater serves a multitude of towns in Boston’s Metro North region and has been a fixture there for nearly two decades.

At this facility, you can expect to see educational, entertaining, interesting, and vibrant shows that you and your loved ones will talk about for years to come.

Examples of shows include Boulevard of Bold Dreams and even Beehive: The 60’s Musical.

How We Can Help Visitors from Around the World and the United States

Boston’s top attractions range from Boston Red Sox home Finley Park to the Bunker Hill Monument. Visitors from around the world and the United States also enjoy Boston’s Museum of Science and its art galleries.

You may also enjoy Boston’s swan boats as well as the New England Aquarium and Boston Public Garden. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and Paul Revere House are also popular.

Perhaps you’re interested in living in Boston. At LoPriore Insurance Agency, we offer quality personal property, personal vehicle, and boat insurance.

Contact us to learn more and receive a quote!