If I could ever move to a city in the United States…. wow! It might just have to be Boston.
We finally got to spend a few days in the literary, revolutionary, city of Boston, Massachusetts. What an absolute dream city.
I’ve only been to Boston once before and it was when we were passing through, but this time got to spend over 48 hours in Beantown! On this trip we decided we wanted to focus on three things: books, food and FUN and this guide of 25 things to do in Boston certainly reflects that!
Plus I’ve added in a few more “must-do” classics as well as a few things just outside of the city.
Hopefully this is a great city guide for any of those embarking on visiting the city during the World Cup this summer too!
This is certainly a city I can’t wait to plan a visit back to – there’s so much more to see and do so consider this your starter list to the coolest things to see and do in Boston, MA.
25 best things to do in Boston
Iconic things to do (+ plenty for literary fans!)
Boston Public Library
It’s free entry – yay! This is an amazing place to spend the morning or afternoon walking around. Don’t miss the iconic Bates Hall.
Did you know that it was the first large free municipal library in the United States? That’s right, it’s still free to enter! Anyone can walk in and spend the day working from here. If I lived in Boston, you’d find me here all the time!
And the library is HUGE. This famous room is Bates Hall which is the original reading room at the Central Library.
Named for Joshua Bates, the BPL’s first major benefactor! Bates grew up without a public library, was self-taught, and therefore knew the importance of education access being available to everyone. His conditions for the donation? He requested that the library be warm, well lit and provide space for at least 150 people to read – and most importantly remain free to all. “Free to all” remains the library’s motto today!
Boston Athenaeum
The Boston Athenaeum is one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States. It is also one of the most beautiful. I would class this as a must-visit to see it in person.
But there’s a slight catch. Entrance to the library floors will cost you $40 per person to get a day pass. The day pass allows you to work from the library all day – yay good internet and cute cosy corners!
Or if you live in Boston, you can apply for yearly membership which costs $338/year for 40 and under or $506/year for anyone older.
As a one off cost of $80 for us to go in, we took the hit as I’m truly on a mission to see all of the best libraries around the world. But otherwise, a trip to the Boston Public Library is more than enough.
Acorn Street
Located in Beacon Hill, this is said to be one of the prettiest streets in America. And we caught it on a SNOW DAY!
It’s certainly worth a visit and Beacon Hill is one of my favourite parts of Boston.
Beacon Hill Bookstore
Wow! This bookstore is a DREAM. I can’t explain how much book lovers need to visit here! Set over several cosy floors, this place is absolutely AMAZING. There’s a café on the ground level and then wander through the several floors full of books.
Honestly, I could have spent all day here.
Sadly, my suitcase was so full that I only bought one book. But very worth it!!
Brattle Book Shop
One of America’s oldest and largest used book shops is in the downtown Boston area spanning over three stories. There are some pretty cool and unique editions to be found here!
I wish I’d had more time to explore. I will say, I’m sure there are some great deals to be found around the shop but the romance section is a pretty small one. And there, I found a lot of the books were pretty true to original sale price, so not the typical bargain of a used bookstore.
Alas, it’s a treasure trove for book lovers not to be missed!
Visit Harvard’s Campus
What, like it’s hard? Visit one of the most famous universities in the world. If it hadn’t been a freezing cold trip to the city, I think we would have walked around here a bit more. I’d love to explore campus in the springtime or even over the summer.
Walking or Trolley Tours
I’d really recommend adding either a walking tour or a trolley or bus tour to your visit to the city. I always think it’s great to cover ground with a city guide. You’ll get a little bit more information around each and every corner and it’s such a fun way to explore a city!
I think next time I’d like to try out one of their ghost tours – I LOVE doing those in different cities!
Beacon Hill
I mentioned this area of the city already and it’s getting a double mention as we loved it so much. I think this is the perfect spot to base your time in the city. The cobbled streets, old lampposts and unique storefronts make this the perfect base for your adventures. Plus there’s genuinely something amazing on each and every corner.
Cute Coffee Spots
L.A. Burdick
THIS is the place to go for a hot chocolate. They have a few locations in the city, but we visited the one only a four minute walk from the Boston Public Library.
I’d recommend the Milk Chocolate (with oat milk for us!) and of course, another treat or two.
Tatte Bakery
Right along Charles Street in Beacon Hill, we visited Tatte to grab our morning coffees. Also, try their food too! Joe got one of the breakfast sandwiches and it was delish.
The Restaurants you NEED to book
Prima Boston
It’s an Italian hotspot where the food is certainly just as delicious as the interiors. I’d recommend a romantic dinner here, but I think it would also be an excellent lunch spot.
We ordered a Cesar salad to share, chicken parm and spicy pici! Also, everyone was so nice here. Our waiter Tom was the loveliest!
1928 in Beacon Hill
I feel like this is a classic Boston staple restaurant that you have to go to. And the food is excellent so it’s a classic that lives up to the hype.
It feels a little like a maze walking around inside, but that’s part of the charm too. I felt giddy when they led us to a library room filled with book pages scattered on the ceilings! How neat!!
Yvonne’s
So we didn’t manage to get a reservation here, but it’s another for book lovers. They too, have a library restaurant room. I’ve added it to my list for next time and thought I’d mention it for you too!
Waverly Kitchen & Bar
Apparently it’s the best brunch spot in Boston! And according to Joe, they were the “best pancakes of my entire life”. So it lives up the hype!
A little out of the way in the Charlestown area, but only about a 10 minute ride from the centre of the city.
Make sure to order the griddled Banana bread and if you like a little spice, the Huevos Rancheros were a dream!
Saltie Girl
The coolest seafood spot in town. I’m not going to lie, the interiors did reel me in. Seafoam greens and blues plus pastel pinks, it’s a super cute restaurant. And the food lives up to the hype!
We went for lunch and both had the Lobster Roll and chips.
I’m not usually a martini kind of gal, but after seeing it on their Instagram… I had to try the Saltie cocktail. It’s essentially their version of a martini, but comes complete with a little caviar bump. I had mine dirty. Would 10/10 recommend.
Mariel
We didn’t eat here but we did have cocktails downstairs at My Girl. Worth mentioning as it was absolutely hopping!!
Cocktail spots not to miss
My Girl
It’s a recently opened speakeasy-esque kind of bar. With cuban influence pulling inspiration from old Havana, it’s the perfect pre-dinner spot for just grabbing a cocktail or two – or perhaps cocktails and light appetisers. We tried a few dishes and everything was fantastic. I’d really recommend their Infidel Cesar salad – it was incredible.
Also, the beef empanaditas and the potato croquetas were excellent.
89 Charles
You could certainly walk right by this without ever knowing it’s there! Located on the lower ground floor, there is no signposting here. But if you know, then you know! Pop downstairs and head into this brilliant cosy spot for cool cocktails.
Cheers!
Where everybody knows your name! Ok, we didn’t actually go in… which I regret! But if you’ve ever seen the show, this is the location of where it was based off of in real life. The bar looks about the same – unsure if the price point is still based in the 1980s… but that sure would be a treat!
Where to stay in Boston:
There are so many great hotels to choose from in Boston. I’d recommend staying around Beacon Hill (good vibes!) but you really can’t go wrong. Everything is either a short walk or drive away so it’s super easy to navigate and get around.
And wow, if you do ALL of this or even just a fraction on your next Boston adventures, I salute you!
This is such a fun city to visit, there’s tons to do and some of the best food and drink spots around. You can’t go wrong visiting!
Thanks for joining along!
Kelly xoxo