Best things to do in Boston
The top 3 according to 690 votes from people: Freedom Trail · Boston Common and Public Garden · Fenway Park. (Updated Aug 4, 2025.)
Revolutionary history, ballparks and world-class museums: the Boston essentials from U.S. News, local guides and TripAdvisor.
Top 10
-
1
Freedom Trail
2.5-mile red-brick line linking 16 Revolutionary-era sites, free to follow on your own.
-
2
Boston Common and Public Garden
America's oldest public park (1634) and the garden with its swan boats.
-
3
Fenway Park
Home of the Red Sox since 1912, the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, with the Green Monster.
-
4
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
One of the most comprehensive art collections in the world, from Egypt to Impressionism.
-
5
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Venetian-style palace museum, famous for the unsolved 1990 art heist.
-
6
Boston Duck Tours
80-minute tour in amphibious WWII-style vehicles that splash into the Charles River.
-
7
Harvard University (Cambridge)
America's oldest university (1636), with Harvard Yard and its museums.
-
8
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
Historic meeting hall and food market near the waterfront.
-
9
Beacon Hill
Brick sidewalks, gas lamps and Acorn Street, one of the most photographed streets in the US.
-
10
North End
Boston's Little Italy, famous for cannoli at Mike's and Modern Pastry.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
-
11
New England Aquarium
Waterfront aquarium with the four-storey Giant Ocean Tank.
-
12
USS Constitution
'Old Ironsides', launched in 1797, the oldest commissioned warship afloat.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (4)
The Gardner Museum's empty frames from the 1990 heist are so eerie.
Faneuil Hall is touristy but the clam chowder is good.
Freedom Trail is a great way to see the city in one day.
A game at Fenway, even if you don't like baseball.