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 that we’ve just recently d0ne during the World Cup summer!
This is certainly a city I can’t wait to plan a visit back to time and time again.
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.
Hopefully this is a great city guide for any of those embarking on a visit – and do let me know if you have any further travel questions!
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.
And a little bonus?
We recently visited in the summertime and what a difference a few months can make, huh?
Look at all of this greenery!!
Which do you think is your favourite season here? (Clearly, I need to visit in the autumn next!)
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 spend all day here. And genuinely, while I love how cosy the bookshop looks in the snowy winter…
The summer?
Well it’s bright and stunning with the sun peeking through the windows!
VERY worth a trip here!
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.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Wow! I can’t believe we missed out on this upon our last visit to Boston.
The Museum of Fine Arts is truly such a fantastic place to visit (also an especially great place to wander when there is a heatwave passing through the city)!
Of course, it’s necessary to check out the Art of the Americas Wing! Don’t miss John Singleton Copley’s Paul Revere portrait and Thomas Sully’s Passage of the Delaware.
But also, did you know that the Museum of Fine Arts has one of the largest Monet collections outside of France? Be sure to visit Gallery 252 to check out his beautiful work there!
I’ve always loved his work and hope to someday visit his home in France!
Boston Common
During the summer months, this is the place to be!
The Boston Common is great for leisurely strolls, picnics in the park or grabbing vendor snacks.
Not quite Central Park kind of vibes, but it’s a really lovely green space to enjoy in the city.
James P. Kelleher Rose Garden
One for the summertime for sure, is a visit to this beautiful rose garden if you’re in the area.
It’s not super big but it is lovely to explore all of the beautiful blooms!
Union Oyster House
Did you know that it’s actually one of the oldest continuously running restaurants in the United States?!
It also holds some presidential ties! John F. Kennedy was a regular, often in Booth 18! But it wasn’t only JFK who hung out at the Union Oyster House, presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama have all attended too.
Not that you necessarily need to pop into the Union Oyster House itself, but this area is full of super fun bars and restaurants!
The area is more on the touristy side of things but it’s an amazing spot to people watch and take it all in.
We also loved The Green Dragon around the corner from here, which was such a vibe during the World Cup!
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.
Contessa
We LOVED our dinner at Contessa. It’s located on the cusp of the Boston Common, at the top of the Newbury hotel.
This rooftop restaurant is not only stunning, but the food truly delivers. Trust me and order the Spicy Lobster Capellini.
Mariel
We didn’t eat here but we did have cocktails downstairs at My Girl. Worth mentioning as it was absolutely hopping!!
TABLE Mercato
This sandwich shot is ANOTHER LEVEL.
Focaccia that is as big as your head! And it’s fan-freaking-tastic.
Very much recommend any of the sandwiches, meat eaters should gravitate to anything with the chicken cutlets!
Cocktail spots + pubs 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.
21st Amendment
Not quite a cocktail bar, but certainly one you must go to!
We loved this super chill spot with it’s dark wood panels, low lights and candles. It’s probably more what I’d call an upscale dive bar.
We would definitely go back!
The Tall Ship
In the summertime there’s no better place to be at than The Tall Ship in Boston!
Located on Pier One along the water, this is the perfect spot for afternoon cocktails in the sunshine.
And right now on the pier they have World Cup games on all summer long and food stands. Pretty fun!
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!) at either The Whitney or The Wyndham. The Wyndham isn’t the most glamorous option, but we found it to be more affordable than a lot of others. Rooms are basic but we didn’t spend much time in!
But truly you really can’t go wrong whether you’re after something bougie or non-bank breaking.
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
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Bonus points! As a huge literary fan, we finally made a visit out to the Louisa May Alcott home in Concord, MA!!
It’s really fun and super easy to go to. This is the house where famous author Louisa May Alcott once lived.
I’d recommend booking tickets in advance too!