Things to Do · from ExploreBoston.com: The City Guide

164 sights and attractionsEvery sight in the City Guide: 26 museums and libraries, 59 landmarks and historic sites, 33 parks and waterfronts, 24 streets, squares and markets and 22 stages and attractions, across 27 Boston neighborhoods and districts and Cambridge. 22 are must-sees; 83 are free.

Short on time? Top 20 Things to Do in Boston →

Today Monday, Nov. 9, 2026
Facts from the City Guide (Oct. 2026); re-checked 2026-11-07
Free 83 of 164 · open now 60 of 90 with hours · on the map 164
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Back Bay20 places Guide →

  1. The Arlington Street Church steeple rising beyond the Public Garden's lagoon and willows.
    Arlington Street Church
    Religious Sites · Back Bay · 351 Boylston St (sanctuary doors at 20 Arlington St), Back Bay
    Tours $5Tiffany tours Jun–Oct…
  2. Trees in orange and gold autumn color reflected in the Public Garden lagoon, where waterfowl paddle below city buildings
    Boston Public Garden
    Parks & Gardens · Back Bay · 4 Charles St (Charles, Beacon, Arlington & Boylston Sts)
    Must-see
    Free6:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
  3. The library's long granite facade of arched windows facing Copley Square, with pedestrians at the crosswalk on a gray day
    Boston Public Library (Central Library, Copley)
    Libraries & Archives · Back Bay · 700 Boylston St, Copley Square
    Must-see
    FreeMon–Thu 9 a.m.–8 p.m.…
  4. A couple walking the tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue Mall in fall, a statue ahead.
    Commonwealth Avenue Mall
    Parks & Gardens · Back Bay · Commonwealth Ave, Arlington St to Charlesgate, Back Bay
    Free6:30 a.m.–11 p.m. (park hours)…
  5. Trinity Church's red stone towers on Copley Square, the glass Hancock tower behind and people on the lawn
    Copley Square
    Streets & Squares · Back Bay · Copley Square, Boylston St between Dartmouth and Clarendon Sts, Back Bay
    Free
  6. The Gothic Revival stone church with a tall tracery window and slate roof on Newbury Street, behind bare early-spring treesPhoto: Daderot / CC0
    Emmanuel Church
    Religious Sites · Back Bay · 15 Newbury St, Back Bay
    FreeSun service 10 a.m.
  7. People walk across a stone-paved footbridge over a lagoon on the Esplanade, framed by autumn trees in low late-day light
    Esplanade (Charles River Esplanade)
    Parks & Gardens · Back Bay · Charles River bank, Museum of Science to BU Bridge
    FreeDawn to dusk
  8. The church's square, ivy-covered stone bell tower beside a street lamp, with the John Hancock Tower's blue glass behindPhoto: Swampyank / CC BY-SA 3.0
    First Baptist Church
    Religious Sites · Back Bay · 110 Commonwealth Ave (at Clarendon St), Back Bay
    Sun worship 11 a.m. in Wayland Hall (enter at 110 Commonwealth Ave)…
  9. The Mother Church's domed extension with a curved columned portico beside a lawn, with a glass tower behind on a gray day
    First Church of Christ, Scientist (The Mother Church)
    Religious Sites · Back Bay · 250 Massachusetts Ave (tours start at 210 Mass Ave)
    FreeTours Tue–Sat 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. (Fri–Sat also 1)…
  10. The Gibson House's brownstone ground floor and bay window on Beacon Street, with a carved wooden door at the top of stone steps and the museum's sign in the front garden.
    Gibson House
    Historic Houses · Back Bay · 137 Beacon St, Back Bay
    $15 adultsGuided tours Fri–Sun 1…
  11. The mirrored glass tower soaring into a blue sky, reflecting clouds beside Trinity Church's checkered stone gablesPhoto: Thomas Oboe Lee / CC BY-SA 4.0
    John Hancock Tower (200 Clarendon)
    Attractions · Back Bay · 200 Clarendon St
    Exterior only (private offices…
  12. The glass-fronted entrance of the Mary Baker Eddy Library glowing at dusk on the Christian Science Plaza
    Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity
    Museums · Back Bay · 210 Massachusetts Ave
    Mapparium $6 adultsMon–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  13. The Society's curving tan-brick building with iron balconies and banners on a street corner under an overcast skyPhoto: Ajay Suresh / CC BY 4.0
    Massachusetts Historical Society
    Libraries & Archives · Back Bay · 1154 Boylston St
    FreeMon–Fri 10 a.m.–4:45 p.m. (Tue to 7:45 p.m.)…
  14. New England Historic Genealogical Society
    Libraries & Archives · Back Bay · 97 Newbury St
    Library by donationTue–Sat 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
  15. Brownstone shopfronts and spring blossoms along Newbury Street in Back Bay
    Newbury Street
    Shopping & Dining · Back Bay · Newbury St, Arlington St to Massachusetts Ave, Back Bay
  16. The church's tall Italian Gothic bell tower and green copper lantern dome rising above leafy trees in Copley SquarePhoto: Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Old South Church
    Religious Sites · Back Bay · 645 Boylston St (at Dartmouth St), Copley Square
    FreeMon–Thu 8 a.m.–8 p.m.…
  17. The Prudential Tower and the domed 111 Huntington lit at dusk, beside a long lit colonnade on a plazaPhoto: Luca Galuzzi / CC BY-SA 2.5
    Prudential Center
    Shopping & Dining · Back Bay · 800 Boylston St, Back Bay
    Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m.…
  18. Docked boats, each with a large white swan at the stern, float on the lagoon among weeping willows in spring
    Swan Boats (Boston Public Garden)
    Kids & Family · Back Bay · Public Garden lagoon (enter at Arlington and Boylston Sts)
    $4.75 adultsMid-Apr–early Sept daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (to 5 p.m. summer)
  19. The church's Romanesque towers and red-tiled roof glowing in late sun, beside the mirrored glass of a neighboring skyscraper
    Trinity Church
    Religious Sites · Back Bay · 206 Clarendon St, Copley Square
    Must-see
    $10 adultsTue–Sat 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Wed–Sat Jan–Mar)…
  20. Downtown Boston and the harbor seen from high in the Prudential Tower, Back Bay rooftops below
    View Boston
    Attractions · Back Bay · 800 Boylston St (Prudential Center), Back Bay
    From $32 plus a $3 booking fee a ticketDaily 10 a.m.–10 p.m.…

Cambridge20 places Guide →

  1. The Loeb Drama Center's flat-roofed facade with a patterned screen and an A.R.T. banner, behind a brick plaza and flower bedPhoto: John Phelan / CC BY-SA 3.0
    American Repertory Theater
    Arts & Theater · Cambridge · Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street
    Box office by phone Tue–Sat noon–5 p.m.
  2. Brattle Hall, the red-brick building with a fan window that houses the Brattle Theatre, under shade trees.
    Brattle Theatre
    Arts & Theater · Cambridge · 40 Brattle Street
    Box office opens 30 minutes before the day’s first screening and closes 30 minutes after the last…
  3. Le Corbusier's concrete Carpenter Center with its curved studios and ramp, bare trees in front
    Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts and the Harvard Film Archive
    Arts & Theater · Cambridge · 24 Quincy Street
    Galleries freeGalleries Tue–Sun noon–5 p.m.…
  4. Central Square’s music rooms
    Arts & Theater · Cambridge · The Middle East, 472–480 Massachusetts Avenue
    Varies by showMiddle East box office (10 Brookline Street) Tue–Sun 3–8 p.m.…
  5. A riverside path and green railing along the Charles in autumn, with moored sailboats and the Boston skyline across the water
    The Charles River and Memorial Drive
    Parks & Gardens · Cambridge · Memorial Drive
    FreePaths always open…
  6. The church's white interior, with box pews, tall columns, shuttered arched windows and a crystal chandelier over the aisle
    Christ Church Cambridge and Cambridge Common
    Historic Sites · Cambridge · 0 Garden Street (yes, zero)
    Sun services 8 and 10:15 a.m. (one 9 a.m. service in summer)…
  7. Club Passim
    Arts & Theater · Cambridge · 47 Palmer Street
    Shows most nights…
  8. Looking down into the arcaded stone courtyard, where visitors sit at cafe tables beneath a hanging metal mobile
    Harvard Art Museums
    Museums · Cambridge · 32 Quincy Street
    FreeTue–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  9. The bookstore's lit storefront windows full of books at dusk, with a crosswalk, street lamps and bicycles out frontPhoto: Chris Rycroft / CC BY 2.0
    Harvard Book Store and the bookshops
    Shopping & Dining · Cambridge · 1256 Massachusetts Avenue
    FreeHarvard Book Store Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–10 p.m.…
  10. Glass cases of mounted animals and skeletons, including a kangaroo, wombat and thylacine, lining a wooden-floored gallery
    Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Glass Flowers
    Museums · Cambridge · 26 Oxford Street
    Adults $20Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  11. The museum's red-brick building with an arched central window and stone steps, set behind leafy trees on a bright dayPhoto: Daderot / Public domain
    Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East
    Museums · Cambridge · 6 Divinity Avenue
    FreeSun–Fri 11 a.m.–4 p.m.…
  12. Students and visitors on colorful lawn chairs under tall trees before University Hall's white granite facade on a summer evening
    Harvard Yard
    Historic Sites · Cambridge · Harvard Yard
    Must-see
    FreeVisitor center (Smith Campus Center) Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  13. A yellow Georgian mansion with black shutters, white pilasters and an American flag over the front door, behind green hedges
    Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site
    Historic Houses · Cambridge · 105 Brattle Street
    FreeHouse tours late May to early November…
  14. Harvard's Memorial Hall, red brick with a striped slate roof and a tall tower, from the corner of Quincy Street
    Memorial Hall and Sanders Theatre
    Historic Sites · Cambridge · 45 Quincy Street
    Ticketed events onlySanders Theatre for performances only…
  15. Killian Court's long lawn leading to MIT's Great Dome and its columned portico.
    MIT campus: the Great Dome, Killian Court and public art
    Historic Sites · Cambridge · 77 Massachusetts Avenue
    FreeMany buildings open to the public Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–7 p.m.…
  16. The Wiesner Building's white tiled facade and a massive concrete gateway over wide steps on an overcast dayPhoto: Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY 4.0
    MIT List Visual Arts Center
    Museums · Cambridge · 20 Ames Street, Building E15
    FreeTue–Sun noon–6 p.m. (Wed and Thu until 7 p.m.)…
  17. The glass entrance of the MIT Museum at Kendall Square, its name on the facade.
    MIT Museum
    Museums · Cambridge · 314 Main Street, Building E28
    Adults $20Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.)
  18. The Mary Baker Eddy Memorial, a round white marble colonnade, above a still green pond among summer trees
    Mount Auburn Cemetery
    Parks & Gardens · Cambridge · 580 Mount Auburn Street
    FreeDaily from 8 a.m.…
  19. The red-brick Victorian facade of Harvard's Peabody Museum, with an arched doorway at the top of granite stepsPhoto: Daderot / Public domain
    Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
    Museums · Cambridge · 11 Divinity Avenue
    One ticket covers both museums: adults $20Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  20. A gray clapboard Georgian mansion with dark shutters, a rooftop balustrade and a flower garden, in late-afternoon sunPhoto: Daderot at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Tory Row (Brattle Street)
    Historic Houses · Cambridge · Brattle Street, from Harvard Square to Elmwood Avenue; Hooper-Lee-Nichols House, 159 Brattle Street
    FreeThe street…

Downtown17 places Guide →

  1. A narrow cobblestone lane of old brick buildings leading to a red Oyster House sign, with glass towers rising behind
    Blackstone Block
    Neighborhoods · Downtown · Union, Hanover, Blackstone & North Sts, near Faneuil Hall
  2. A paved path across Boston Common in autumn, under tall trees with yellowing leaves, walkers ahead and a tower beyond
    Boston Common
    Parks & Gardens · Downtown · 139 Tremont St (Tremont, Park, Beacon, Charles & Boylston Sts)
    Must-see
    Free6:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
  3. The granite cathedral's columned portico beneath a bright blue pediment carved with a white nautilus shell designPhoto: Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Cathedral Church of St. Paul
    Religious Sites · Downtown · 138 Tremont St, facing Boston Common
    FreeSanctuary open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  4. Weathered slate headstones scattered across a sunlit lawn under the shade of tall trees, with an iron fence at leftPhoto: M2545 / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Central Burying Ground
    Historic Sites · Downtown · Boylston St side of Boston Common, near Tremont St
    FreeDaily about 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
  5. The massive Brutalist concrete hall with stepped upper stories and flags flying out front against a clear blue skyPhoto: Daderot / CC0
    City Hall (Boston City Hall)
    Government Buildings · Downtown · 1 City Hall Sq, Government Center
    FreeMon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
  6. Inside Faneuil Hall's Great Hall: white columns and galleries above the rows of seats.
    Faneuil Hall
    Historic Sites · Downtown · 1 Faneuil Hall Sq, Downtown
    Must-see
    FreeGreat Hall Wed–Sun 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.…
  7. A stone path leads among rows of weathered slate headstones under leafy trees, with fallen leaves on the grass in autumn
    Granary Burying Ground
    Historic Sites · Downtown · Tremont St, beside Park Street Church
    FreeDaily about 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
  8. Crates of produce piled under a Haymarket tent, with a vendor and shoppers.
    Haymarket
    Markets & Food Halls · Downtown · Blackstone St, between Hanover and North Sts
    Fri 3 a.m.–close…
  9. Holocaust Memorial (New England Holocaust Memorial)
    Historic Sites · Downtown · Union Street Park, 98 Union St (at Congress St)
    FreeOpen 24 hours
  10. The squat granite chapel with its columned portico and square tower at a busy downtown corner, ringed by modern office towers
    King’s Chapel and King’s Chapel Burying Ground
    Religious Sites · Downtown · 58 Tremont St (at School St)
    Chapel $5Chapel Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m. in Oct…
  11. The Old Corner Bookstore at night, a lit brick building with a steep roof at the corner of School and Washington streets.Photo: Céline Harrand / Public domain
    Old Corner Bookstore
    Historic Sites · Downtown · 283 Washington St (at School St), Downtown
    FreeExterior only
  12. Inside Old South Meeting House: white box pews and a two-tiered gallery under tall arched windows.
    Old South Meeting House
    Historic Sites · Downtown · 310 Washington St (at Milk St)
    $18 adultsDaily from 10 a.m.…
  13. The Old State House, a small red-brick colonial building with a white tower, among downtown office towers.
    Old State House
    Historic Sites · Downtown · 206 Washington St (at State St)
    Must-see
    $18 adultsDaily from 10 a.m.…
  14. The red-brick church and its tall white steeple against a deep blue sky, with downtown office towers and birds overheadPhoto: Adavyd / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Park Street Church
    Religious Sites · Downtown · 1 Park St (at Tremont St)
    FreeSun worship 8:30 and 11 a.m.…
  15. Post Office Square (Norman B. Leventhal Park)
    Parks & Gardens · Downtown · Post Office Square, between Congress, Milk, Pearl and Franklin Sts, Financial District
    FreeDaily 6 a.m.–9 p.m.
  16. Visitors gather in front of the granite market hall, its gilded name above a columned portico, on a bright early-spring day
    Quincy Market
    Markets & Food Halls · Downtown · Faneuil Hall Marketplace (GPS: 4 S Market St)
    Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–9 p.m.…
  17. Theater District
    Neighborhoods · Downtown · Tremont, Boylston and Washington Sts, near Stuart St

Beacon Hill10 places Guide →

  1. A narrow cobblestone lane between brick row houses with gas lamps and an American flag, lit by low sunlight through trees
    Acorn Street
    Streets & Squares · Beacon Hill · Acorn St between Willow and W. Cedar Sts, Beacon Hill
    Must-see
    Exterior only (private homes)
  2. The studded red doors of the Boston Athenaeum at 10 1/2 Beacon Street
    Boston Athenaeum
    Libraries & Archives · Beacon Hill · 10½ Beacon St, Beacon Hill
    First floor $11Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–8 p.m.…
  3. A tree-lined street of brick buildings with iron balconies, small shops and parked cars, with a white church steeple behindPhoto: Daderot / CC0
    Charles Street
    Shopping & Dining · Beacon Hill · Charles St, Beacon St to Charles Circle, Beacon Hill
  4. A row of red-brick bowfront townhouses with black shutters and a white columned doorway, dappled with summer shade
    Louisburg Square
    Streets & Squares · Beacon Hill · Louisburg Sq, between Mt Vernon & Pinckney Sts, Beacon Hill
    Exterior only (private)
  5. The red-brick State House with its gilded dome, white columned portico and American flag on a clear summer day
    Massachusetts State House
    Government Buildings · Beacon Hill · 24 Beacon St
    Must-see
    FreeMon–Fri 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  6. The brick Bulfinch front of the second Harrison Gray Otis House on Mt. Vernon Street, a gas lamp on the sidewalk.
    Mt. Vernon Street
    Streets & Squares · Beacon Hill · Mt Vernon St, Joy St west to Charles St, Beacon Hill
    Exterior only (private homes)
  7. The brick Abiel Smith School on Joy Street, home of the Museum of African American History, in autumn
    Museum of African American History
    Museums · Beacon Hill · 46 Joy St
    $15 adultsThu–Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
  8. A four-story red-brick Federal house with black shutters and an iron-fenced garden on a Beacon Hill sidewalk under bare trees
    Nichols House
    Historic Houses · Beacon Hill · 55 Mt Vernon St, Beacon Hill
    $16 adultsTue–Sun…
  9. A small red-brick synagogue with a round stained-glass Star of David window above its arched doorway and iron gatePhoto: John Phelan / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Vilna Shul
    Religious Sites · Beacon Hill · 18 Phillips St, Beacon Hill
    Public walk $30No drop-in visits…
  10. A pair of bowfront brick townhouses with green shutters, iron balconies and holiday wreaths, on a sunny winter dayPhoto: Daderot / CC0
    William Hickling Prescott House
    Historic Houses · Beacon Hill · 55 Beacon St, Beacon Hill
    $12 adultsTours on scheduled dates only

North End8 places Guide →

  1. A brick path runs through rows of old slate headstones under bare trees, with brick North End buildings behind in late autumn
    Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
    Historic Sites · North End · 45 Hull St, North End
    FreeDaily about 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
  2. A plain three-story red-brick colonial house with a holiday wreath over its door, behind granite posts and chains in light snowPhoto: MLHalsey / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Ebenezer Clough House
    Historic Houses · North End · 21 Unity St (behind Old North Church), North End
    FreeTue–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  3. Hanover Street in the North End with cafes and the St. Stephen's Church tower
    Hanover Street
    Shopping & Dining · North End · Hanover St, Cross St to Commercial St, North End
  4. The tall white steeple of Old North Church rising at the end of a narrow street of red-brick buildings in late-day sun
    Old North Church
    Religious Sites · North End · 193 Salem St, North End
    Must-see
    $10 adultsTue–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  5. The dark gray clapboard colonial house with diamond-pane windows and a steep shingled roof on a cobblestone street
    Paul Revere House
    Historic Houses · North End · 19 North Square, North End
    Must-see
    $6 adultsApr 15–Oct 31 daily 10 a.m.–5:15 p.m.…
  6. A bronze equestrian statue of Paul Revere on a granite base in the brick-paved mall, with the Old North Church steeple beyond
    Paul Revere Mall (The Prado)
    Streets & Squares · North End · Hanover St to Old North Church, North End
    Free6 a.m.–11:30 p.m. (city park rules)
  7. A narrow, rain-wet North End street lined with brick buildings, with people lined up outside an oyster bar on the rightPhoto: Yelderberry / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Salem Street
    Streets & Squares · North End · Salem St, from Cross St to Charter St, North End
  8. The red-brick church front with a white-trimmed arched window and a domed bell tower topped by a gold cross, under blue skyPhoto: Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0
    St. Stephen’s Church
    Religious Sites · North End · 401 Hanover St, North End
    Mass Sat 4 p.m.…

Roxbury8 places Guide →

  1. Dillaway-Thomas House
    Historic Houses · Roxbury · 183 Roxbury St (John Eliot Square)
    FreeHouse Tue–Fri 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (closed Nov 1–15…
  2. A paved path curves through Franklin Park past a broad old tree and woods glowing gold with autumn leaves
    Franklin Park
    Parks & Gardens · Roxbury · 1 Franklin Park Rd, Roxbury/Dorchester/Jamaica Plain
    Free6 a.m.–11:30 p.m. (city park hours)
  3. Close-up of a giraffe at Franklin Park Zoo, looking straight at the camera.
    Franklin Park Zoo
    Kids & Family · Roxbury · 1 Franklin Park Rd, Franklin Park
    Priced by date and time: online in late...Daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (Apr–Sept to 5…
  4. An antique engraving of the Roxbury highlands: a slender tower rising over trees and houses, with a woman leading a cow on a pathPhoto: Richardson, James H., active 1848-1880; Woodward, J. D. (John Douglas), 1846-1924 / Public domain
    Highland Park / Fort Hill Tower
    Historic Sites · Roxbury · Beech Glen St at Fort Ave, Roxbury
    FreePark daily 6 a.m.–11:30 p.m.…
  5. Malcolm X–Ella Little-Collins House
    Historic Houses · Roxbury · 72 Dale St, Roxbury
    FreeExterior only…
  6. Abbotsford, a turreted Victorian Gothic stone mansion with shuttered windows, seen from its parking lot under bare treesPhoto: Jameslwoodward / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists
    Museums · Roxbury · 300 Walnut Ave, Roxbury
    FreeNo regular hours…
  7. The Dudley (now Nubian) bus station, an open-sided pavilion with a green copper roof and cupolas, and an MBTA bus at the curb
    Nubian Square
    Neighborhoods · Roxbury · Washington St at Dudley St and Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury
  8. The Shirley-Eustis House, a white Georgian mansion with a rooftop cupola, beside a red autumn tree.
    Shirley-Eustis House
    Historic Houses · Roxbury · 33 Shirley St
    $10 adultsGuided tours Tue–Fri at noon and 2 p.m.…

Seaport District7 places Guide →

  1. The museum's entrance beneath a big gray steel canopy and a colorful exhibit banner, set against an old red-brick warehouse
    Boston Children’s Museum
    Kids & Family · Seaport District · 308 Congress St, Fort Point
    FreeWed–Mon 9 a.m.–4 p.m.…
  2. A red clapboard museum building on pilings over the harbor, with a replica tall ship moored alongside under a blue sky
    Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
    Museums · Seaport District · 306 Congress St, Fort Point
    From $36 adultsDaily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (tours)…
  3. Fort Point District
    Neighborhoods · Seaport District · Along Fort Point Channel, off Congress and Summer Sts
  4. Steel brewing tanks and an orange Harpoon silo outside the brewery on Northern Avenue
    Harpoon Brewery
    Attractions · Seaport District · 306 Northern Ave, Seaport (Marine Industrial Park)
    FreeBeer Hall Mon–Thu noon–9 p.m.…
  5. The glass museum's dramatic cantilevered upper floor jutting out over the waterfront boardwalk, with a long outdoor staircase
    Institute of Contemporary Art (The ICA)
    Museums · Seaport District · 25 Harbor Shore Dr
    Must-see
    $20 adultsTue–Wed & Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  6. The Lawn on D
    Parks & Gardens · Seaport District · 420 D St, Seaport District
    FreeDaily May–Oct (closes by Oct 31)…
  7. Martin’s Park
    Kids & Family · Seaport District · 64 Sleeper St (Children’s Wharf, beside the Children’s Museum), Fort Point
    Free

West End7 places Guide →

  1. The bridge's two white cable-stayed towers against the downtown skyline, seen past an elevated highway and a chain-link fencePhoto: 4300streetcar / CC BY 4.0
    Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge
    Attractions · West End · I-93 over the Charles River
    Exterior only (highway bridge)
  2. The Ether Dome's steep half-circle of wooden seats under a skylit dome at Massachusetts General Hospital.
    Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Ether Dome
    Historic Sites · West End · Bulfinch Building, 4th floor, 55 Fruit St
    FreeWhen not in use for meetings…
  3. The brick Museum of Science and its white planetarium dome, seen across the Charles River on a sunny day
    Museum of Science
    Museums · West End · 1 Science Park
    Must-see
    $33 adultsExhibit halls daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  4. The red-brick Federal-style church with a clock and white belfry rising above green doors, seen from below on a sunny dayPhoto: Tom.austin.boston / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Old West Church
    Religious Sites · West End · 131 Cambridge St, West End
    Sun worship 11 a.m.
  5. Sports Museum of New England (The Sports Museum)
    Museums · West End · TD Garden, 100 Legends Way (Levels 5 and 6)
    $30 adultsDaily 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.…
  6. The Causeway Street entrance to North Station and TD Garden, with the North Station sign above the glass doors.
    TD Garden
    Sports Venues · West End · 100 Legends Way (above North Station)
    Box office opens 2 hours before events
  7. The West End Museum's red doors in a granite and brick building on Staniford Street
    West End Museum
    Museums · West End · 150 Staniford St, Suite 7, West End
    $12Wed–Thu 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.…

Fenway-Kenmore6 places Guide →

  1. Fenway Park's red-brick facade with green garage doors, a Gate A sign and pennant banners on a bright summer day
    Fenway Park
    Sports Venues · Fenway-Kenmore · 4 Jersey St, Fenway
    Must-see
    Ballpark tours $30 adultsTours daily on the hour…
  2. The museum's plant-filled Venetian-style courtyard, with tree ferns, flowering pots and arched balconies on rosy pink walls
    Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
    Museums · Fenway-Kenmore · 25 Evans Way
    Must-see
    $25 adultsMon…
  3. Kenmore Square at dusk, with traffic, construction barrels and the lit sign of the curved brick Hotel BuckminsterPhoto: Ethan Long / CC BY-SA 2.0
    Kenmore Square
    Streets & Squares · Fenway-Kenmore · Commonwealth Ave at Beacon St & Brookline Ave
  4. Lansdowne Street running behind Fenway Park: the green back of the Green Monster scoreboard, reading Boston Red Sox, rises over the sidewalk, with the vertical House of Blues sign across the street.
    Lansdowne Street
    Streets & Squares · Fenway-Kenmore · Lansdowne St
  5. An MFA gallery hung with Van Gogh portraits, including a bearded postman in blue uniform, beside a dark sculpture
    Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
    Museums · Fenway-Kenmore · 465 Huntington Ave
    Must-see
    $30 adultsWed–Mon 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Thu–Fri to 10 p.m.)…
  6. Symphony Hall's brick facade and columned stone portico on a street corner under a cloudless blue sky
    Symphony Hall
    Arts & Theater · Fenway-Kenmore · 301 Massachusetts Ave (at Huntington Ave)
    FreeFree public tours (about 1 hour) on select days in the concert season…

Jamaica Plain6 places Guide →

  1. Flowering trees on the slope of Peters Hill in the Arnold Arboretum under a spring sky.
    Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
    Parks & Gardens · Jamaica Plain · 125 Arborway (Arborway Gate), Jamaica Plain
    Must-see
    FreeGrounds sunrise–sunset…
  2. Jamaica Plain's Soldiers' Monument, a white Gothic stone shrine topped by a soldier figure, beside a tree in spring bloom
    Centre Street (Jamaica Plain)
    Shopping & Dining · Jamaica Plain · Centre St, Hyde Square to the Monument, Jamaica Plain
  3. Forest Hills Cemetery's Gothic stone entrance gate with twin spires, bare trees around it
    Forest Hills Cemetery
    Parks & Gardens · Jamaica Plain · 95 Forest Hills Ave, Jamaica Plain
    FreeMain gate daily from 8 a.m.…
  4. Three people row a small wooden boat across deep-blue Jamaica Pond, with the Tudor-style boathouse on the wooded shore
    Jamaica Pond and Boat House
    Parks & Gardens · Jamaica Plain · 507 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain
    FreeBoathouse Tue 3 p.m.–sunset…
  5. The Loring-Greenough House, a white Georgian clapboard mansion with black shutters and a rooftop balustrade, in sunPhoto: Bmzuckerman / CC BY 4.0
    Loring-Greenough House
    Historic Houses · Jamaica Plain · 12 South St, Jamaica Plain
    $5 suggested donationHouse tours Sun 1…
  6. Copper brew kettles under a Samuel Adams Brewhouse sign, with visitors on a tour in front.
    Samuel Adams Boston Brewery
    Attractions · Jamaica Plain · 30 Germania St, Jamaica Plain
    Tours from $15Daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m. (kitchen Mon–Fri 1–8 p.m.…

Charlestown5 places Guide →

  1. The Bunker Hill Monument obelisk above its lawn and steps in Monument Square
    Bunker Hill Monument
    Historic Sites · Charlestown · Monument Sq; museum at 43 Monument Sq, Charlestown
    Must-see
    FreeWed–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (1–4 p.m. Oct 13–May 28)
  2. Looking down into the empty granite dry dock, with stepped stone walls and wooden keel blocks, and a warship beyond
    Charlestown Navy Yard
    Historic Sites · Charlestown · Visitor center: Building 5, Constitution Rd, Charlestown
    FreeGrounds 24 hours…
  3. The gray Navy destroyer, hull number 793, strung with colorful signal flags at its pier as visitors walk along the dock
    USS Cassin Young
    Historic Sites · Charlestown · Pier 1, Charlestown Navy Yard
    FreeLate May–Nov 11: Tue–Sun in summer…
  4. The black-hulled, three-masted frigate under way in Boston Harbor, flying flags and pennants, escorted by small boats
    USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”)
    Historic Sites · Charlestown · 1 Constitution Rd, Charlestown Navy Yard
    Must-see
    FreeWed–Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
  5. The granite front of the USS Constitution Museum in the Charlestown Navy Yard, with its gold-lettered sign and red doors
    USS Constitution Museum
    Museums · Charlestown · Charlestown Navy Yard (GPS: 88 Constitution Rd)
    By donationDaily 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Dorchester5 places Guide →

  1. The windowless granite-block museum building on a grassy slope, framed by bare winter trees under a partly cloudy skyPhoto: Whoisjohngalt / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Commonwealth Museum (Columbia Point)
    Museums · Dorchester · 220 Morrissey Blvd, Columbia Point, Dorchester
    FreeMon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  2. A full-scale replica of the U.S. Senate chamber, with rows of wooden desks and orange leather chairs beneath a visitors' gallery
    Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate
    Museums · Dorchester · 210 Morrissey Blvd, Columbia Point, Dorchester
    $20 adultsTue–Sun 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.)
  3. James Blake House
    Historic Houses · Dorchester · 735 Columbia Rd (Richardson Park), Dorchester
    Open house the third Sunday of each month…
  4. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library: I. M. Pei's white concrete tower and dark glass pavilion under a blue sky.
    John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
    Museums · Dorchester · Columbia Point
    Must-see
    $24 adultsDaily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
  5. Malibu Beach and Savin Hill Beach
    Waterfront · Dorchester · 68 Denny St, Dorchester
    FreeSunrise to sunset

East Boston5 places Guide →

  1. A winding tidal channel through green salt marsh grasses, with a gravel walking path curving past a stand of pinesPhoto: Rizka / CC0
    Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
    Parks & Gardens · East Boston · 1399 Bennington St, East Boston
    FreeDaily 6 a.m.–5 p.m.
  2. Waders and walkers on a wide sandy beach at dusk, looking across calm water to Logan Airport's control tower and terminalsPhoto: 4300streetcar / CC BY 4.0
    Constitution Beach
    Waterfront · East Boston · 799 Bennington St (footbridge entrance), East Boston
    FreeDawn to dusk
  3. The Piers Park sailing center and pavilion on the East Boston Harborwalk, seen from the water with the Logan control tower behind.
    Harborwalk – East Boston Section
    Waterfront · East Boston · Piers Park, 95 Marginal St, East Boston
    FreePiers Park stretch open year-round…
  4. A green bronze Madonna with outstretched arms atop a globe on a stone tower crowned with gold spikes, snow on the groundPhoto: Ethan Long / CC BY-SA 2.0
    Madonna Queen of the Universe Shrine
    Religious Sites · East Boston · 142 Orient Ave, East Boston
    FreeTue–Sun 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
  5. The pavilion at the end of the Piers Park pier and the Donald McKay memorial, seen from the harbor.
    Piers Park
    Waterfront · East Boston · 95 Marginal St, East Boston
    FreeOpen year-round…

Brighton4 places Guide →

  1. Gasson Hall's gray stone Gothic tower rising over the Boston College campus under a clear blue spring skyPhoto: Amandajunyue / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Boston College
    Historic Sites · Brighton · 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill
    FreeMcMullen Museum Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  2. Brighton Center & Oak Square
    Neighborhoods · Brighton · Washington St at Market St and at Faneuil St, Brighton
  3. The Charles River frozen over in winter, with dry reeds and bare trees along its banks and apartment towers beyondPhoto: 4300streetcar / CC BY 4.0
    Charles River Reservation (Brighton Stretch)
    Parks & Gardens · Brighton · Along Soldiers Field Rd, Allston–Brighton
    FreeDawn to dusk
  4. Joggers on the shoreline path as a brick smokestack and turreted pumping station reflect in the still reservoir at golden hour
    Chestnut Hill Reservoir
    Parks & Gardens · Brighton · 355 Chestnut Hill Ave, Brighton
    FreeDawn to dusk

Hyde Park4 places Guide →

  1. Camp Meigs Park (Readville)
    Historic Sites · Hyde Park · 11 Stanbro St, Hyde Park, MA 02136
    Free
  2. The golf course's Tudor-style brick clubhouse with a round turret, tiled roof and flagpole under a cloudless spring sky
    George Wright Golf Course
    Sports Venues · Hyde Park · 420 West St, Hyde Park
    18 holes $46–$55 residents
  3. Martini Memorial Shell Park
    Parks & Gardens · Hyde Park · 1015 Truman Pkwy, Hyde Park
    FreeSunrise to sunset
  4. Turtle Pond in Stony Brook Reservation in fall, yellow trees at the water edge.
    Stony Brook Reservation & Turtle Pond
    Parks & Gardens · Hyde Park · 95 Turtle Pond Pkwy, Hyde Park
    FreeDawn to dusk

South End4 places Guide →

  1. The Calderwood Pavilion's angular gray metal facade and theater marquee on Tremont Street, beneath a brick apartment blockPhoto: Grk1011 / CC BY-SA 3.0
    Boston Center for the Arts
    Arts & Theater · South End · 539 Tremont St, South End
    Ticketed eventsMills Gallery Wed–Sat 1–6 p.m. (closed between exhibitions)…
  2. The cathedral's soaring nave with tall white columns, a dark wooden ribbed ceiling, long pews and stained-glass windowsPhoto: Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Cathedral of the Holy Cross
    Religious Sites · South End · 1400 Washington St, South End
    FreeMon–Fri 9 a.m.–6 p.m.…
  3. Crowded tables under red umbrellas outside the brick SoWa Power Station on a market Sunday
    SoWa
    Arts & Theater · South End · 450–550 Harrison Ave, South End
    FreeOpen Market Sundays 11 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  4. A round bed of yellow daylilies around a cast-iron fountain, facing a row of red-brick South End townhouses in summerPhoto: Boston Starbucks Rebel at English Wikipedia / Public domain
    Union Park
    Parks & Gardens · South End · Union Park, between Tremont St and Shawmut Ave, South End
    Exterior only (private homes)

Allston3 places Guide →

  1. A white two-story commercial building with Korean signage on a Harvard Avenue corner as a pedestrian crosses on a sunny day
    Allston Village (Harvard Ave Corridor)
    Neighborhoods · Allston · Harvard Ave between Commonwealth Ave and Cambridge St, Allston
  2. Brighton Music Hall
    Arts & Theater · Allston · 158 Brighton Ave, Allston
    Ticketed eventsShow nights…
  3. The Paradise Rock Club's red-brick front on Commonwealth Avenue, with a marquee over the doors and the box office beside them.
    Paradise Rock Club
    Arts & Theater · Allston · 967 Commonwealth Ave, Allston
    Box office Mon–Fri noon–6 p.m.

Boston Harbor Islands3 places Guide →

  1. The red-brick visitor center and pier on Georges Island, with Fort Warren's granite walls and grassy ramparts behind
    Georges Island and Fort Warren
    Historic Sites · Boston Harbor Islands · Georges Island; ferry from Long Wharf North, 66 Long Wharf
    Island free. Round-trip ferry $24.95 adu...Ferries from Boston Thursday–Sunday from mid-May…
  2. Aerial view of a wooded, teardrop-shaped island headland joined by a narrow sandy causeway, surrounded by blue harbor waterPhoto: Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0
    Peddocks Island
    Parks & Gardens · Boston Harbor Islands · Peddocks Island; ferry from Hingham Shipyard (Hewitts Cove), 28 Shipyard Dr, Hingham, MA 02043
    Island free. Round-trip ferry at the par...Ferries daily except Tuesday from mid-June to Labor Day…
  3. Spectacle Island seen from the air: a green island with a small marina in Boston Harbor.
    Spectacle Island
    Parks & Gardens · Boston Harbor Islands · Spectacle Island; ferry from Long Wharf North, 66 Long Wharf
    Island free. Round-trip ferry $24.95 adu...Ferries from mid-May: daily in summer…

Chinatown3 places Guide →

  1. The ornate gate with green-tiled roofs, red lanterns and stone guardian lions, framing a busy Chinatown street of shops
    Chinatown Gate (Paifang)
    Historic Sites · Chinatown · Beach St at Surface Rd, Chinatown
    FreeOpen 24 hours
  2. Washington Street in Chinatown with the Empire Garden marquee in the old Globe Theatre and pedestrians on the sidewalk
    Chinatown Immigrant History Trail
    Historic Sites · Chinatown · Wall markers at 9 Tyler St, 16 Oxford St, 29 Oak St and other sites
    Free
  3. Quincy School (Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association)
    Historic Sites · Chinatown · 90 Tyler St

Longwood3 places Guide →

  1. Harvard Medical School Quadrangle
    Historic Sites · Longwood · Longwood Ave at Avenue Louis Pasteur (Gordon Hall, 25 Shattuck St), Longwood
    FreeGrounds and exteriors only…
  2. The Muddy River curving under a stone arched bridge among trees and reeds on the Riverway
    The Riverway
    Parks & Gardens · Longwood · Riverway, along the Muddy River from the Back Bay Fens to Route 9 (Olmsted Park)
    Free6 a.m.–11:30 p.m. (city park hours)
  3. Warren Anatomical Museum
    Museums · Longwood · Countway Library, 10 Shattuck St (visitor entrance 695 Huntington Ave), Longwood
    FreeSat 10 a.m.–4 p.m.…

Mattapan3 places Guide →

  1. Boston Nature Center
    Parks & Gardens · Mattapan · 500 Walk Hill St, Mattapan, MA 02126
    FreeTrails daily dawn–dusk…
  2. Mattapan Square
    Neighborhoods · Mattapan · Blue Hill Ave, River St & Cummins Hwy, Mattapan
  3. The Mattapan Skyway, an elevated footbridge with white railings, curving through green trees on the Neponset River Greenway.
    Neponset River Greenway (Mattapan Section)
    Parks & Gardens · Mattapan · Central Ave, Milton, to Blue Hill Ave, Mattapan (about 1.3 mi)
    FreeDawn to dusk

South Boston3 places Guide →

  1. The massive granite walls of Fort Independence above green lawns, seen from the harbor with a pier and stone obelisk in front
    Castle Island & Fort Independence
    Historic Sites · South Boston · 2010 William J. Day Blvd, South Boston
    Must-see
    FreeSunrise to sunset…
  2. The white marble Dorchester Heights Monument at the end of a straight path through Thomas Park.
    Dorchester Heights Monument
    Historic Sites · South Boston · Thomas Park, South Boston, MA 02127
    FreeGrounds open daily…
  3. A long curve of sand and calm blue water along the South Boston shore under a clear skyPhoto: SamAu / CC BY-SA 4.0
    M Street and Carson Beaches
    Waterfront · South Boston · William J. Day Blvd, South Boston
    FreeSunrise to sunset

West Roxbury3 places Guide →

  1. Bellevue Hill
    Parks & Gardens · West Roxbury · Bellevue Hill, between Lagrange St, Centre St and the West Roxbury Parkway, West Roxbury
    Free
  2. Brook Farm Historic Site
    Historic Sites · West Roxbury · 670 Baker St, West Roxbury
    FreeSunrise to sunset
  3. A green Millennium Park canoe launch sign beside a stone ramp into the Charles River, with spring trees and a railroad bridge
    Millennium Park
    Parks & Gardens · West Roxbury · 300 Gardner St, West Roxbury
    FreeDaily 6 a.m.–11:30 p.m.

Wharf District3 places Guide →

  1. The granite Custom House Block on Long Wharf seen from the harbor.
    Long Wharf
    Waterfront · Wharf District · Foot of State St at Atlantic Ave
  2. Visitors lean on a glass rail around the top of the Giant Ocean Tank, looking down into a brightly lit coral reef
    New England Aquarium
    Museums · Wharf District · 1 Central Wharf
    Must-see
    $39.95 adultsMon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.…
  3. People relax in red lawn chairs on the Rose Kennedy Greenway at Dewey Square, with office towers behind.
    Rose Kennedy Greenway
    Parks & Gardens · Wharf District · Atlantic Ave and Surface Rd, Chinatown to North End
    FreeDaily 7 a.m.–11 p.m.

Bay Village1 place Guide →

  1. Cocoanut Grove Memorial
    Historic Sites · Bay Village · Sidewalk plaque on Piedmont St near No. 17, Bay Village; new memorial in Statler Park, a block north
    FreeAlways open

Leather District1 place Guide →

  1. South Station and the glass subway headhouse lit at night across Dewey Square
    Dewey Square Park and the Greenway Mural
    Parks & Gardens · Leather District · Atlantic Ave between Congress and Summer Sts, opposite South Station
    Free

Mission Hill1 place Guide →

  1. Mission Church's twin stone spires and white-cupola dome rise above a chain-link fence under a late-fall skyPhoto: Biruitorul / Public domain
    Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (“Mission Church”)
    Religious Sites · Mission Hill · 1545 Tremont St, Mission Hill
    FreeOpen for Mass: Mon–Fri 7 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.…

Roslindale1 place Guide →

  1. A quiet intersection in the village center, with a leafy small park at left and brick shop buildings at right, under gray skiesPhoto: E.Mongeau / CC0
    Roslindale Village
    Neighborhoods · Roslindale · Washington St around Adams Park, Roslindale Square
164 of 164 shownEvery row has a full entry in its neighborhood chapter of the City Guide. Hours and admission are the book’s, as of its October 28, 2026 fact pass; confirm on the sight’s website before you go.

The must-sees

The City Guide marks 22 sights Must-see. Here are 8; the rest carry the tag in the list, and the Top 20 Things to Do in Boston has the city’s classics.
The City Guide →

On the map

164 of 164 places carry coordinates; pins follow the filters.
Jump to the list ↓
Map unavailable. The list below has every place, with a map pin link where coordinates exist.
MuseumsLandmarks and historyParks and outdoorsStreets and squaresStages and attractionsPins: 164 of 164 places (100%).
Sources: ExploreBoston.com: The City Guide, FINAL DRAFT 1026 v2, neighborhood chapters and Sights by Type (text, ratings, addresses, hours, admission, access, T directions, coordinates; fact pass October 28, 2026) · Photos: the book’s licensed photos hosted on this site · Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.