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Today we will explore if Boston is worth visiting. It’s a big city in the Northeast with all of the challenges that come with both of those attributes. It’s also a city on the ocean and a city with an incredible history. So, is Boston worth visiting? I absolutely think that it is. Here is why I think you’ll love visiting Boston as well.

Reasons why Boston is worth visiting

Boston is full of history, food, unique neighborhoods, and museums. Along with being on the waterfront and having all of the benefits of ocean activities. It has all of the concerts, events, sports, and activities you’d expect from a big city. Let’s break down all of the reasons why Boston is worth visiting.

Explore American History

Boston is a city first founded in 1630, and with that age comes lots of history. Let’s look at some of the best historical sites in the city of Boston that make Boston worth visiting. As one of the original colonies, it has a lot of really cool history. You can explore history ranging from the Boston Tea Party of 1773 to the Boston Molasses Flood of 1919.

Freedom Trail

The Boston Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walking path with 16 of the most historic sites in Boston along it. Stops include Old North Church, USS Constitution, and the old corner bookstore. The entire route is marked by a red brick line along the sidewalk. It is easy to follow the trail without missing anything. You can also find maps, including printable ones, on their website.

Although there are paid tours, you can easily walk the trail yourself. If you want you can pay just for the museums or sites that you’re most interested in. However, many of the sites are completely free anyway. Also, note that you don’t have to do it all at once or in order. You can visit the sites in any order you want and hop on and off the trail whenever you want. You can also get a guided tour with a costumed guide for a fun experience.

One pro tip; If you’re going to tour the USS Constitution, be aware that you’ll need to go through security, as it is an active military base. Make sure you don’t have anything that wouldn’t be allowed on an airplane and bring a government-issued ID.

Paul Revere’s House

Paul Revere is a famous name in Boston, as the patriot who warned that the British were coming. He lived most of his life in Boston, and his house, built around 1680 is officially the oldest structure still standing in Boston. There is a fee to tour the house, $6 for adults, $5.50 for seniors and college students, and $1 for children under 18. It’s open year-round, 7 days a week in the summer and 6 days a week in the winter, and closed on major holidays.

Old North Church

If you’ve heard of the phrase, “One if by land, two if by sea,” then you’ve got to see the church in which those lanterns hung. The Old North Church is the oldest church in Boston, built in 1723, and has been a figure of history ever since. It still operates as an active Episcopal church every Sunday to this day. They have a variety of tours offered that include the gallery, bell tower, and crypt, each for $10, which includes admission to the rest of the church. If you want to skip the tours, general admission is only $5 per person.

Old State House

Built in 1713, the Old State House is the oldest public building left in Boston, having survived both fire and war. The statehouse was a political symbol for the city for centuries. Every 4th of July, they give a speech from the balcony of the State House, which continues to support its claim as an operating government building. Inside, you’ll find an interesting mix of old and new and it’s both a modern Subway Station and a museum. Buying tickets is $15, but you get both the Old State House and the Old South Meeting House for the same ticket.

Enjoy all the Fresh New England Food

Whenever we travel, we always make food a priority. As a Boston local for a few years, we ate a lot of the local Boston food. Some food below was invented in Boston and some of it Boston just made popular. But, we would recommend all of the suggestions below. My only advice would be to not try to eat them all in one day. We did a Boston Donut Tour which included numerous stops and way too many donuts for one day, but it was so worth it.

Boston Cream Donut

Speaking of Donuts, the Boston Creme Donut was invented in Boston in 1856. They are still made to this day. This world famous donut is inspired by the Boston Cream Pie. The donut consists of vanilla-flavored custard between two layers of sponge cake and topped with chocolate glaze. There are dozens of donut shops all over Boston, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one. Just avoid the chains and go for a local place.

Want to eat like a Boston Local? Find a guide for all the best places to eat in Boston here.

Boston Cream Pie

Related to the Boston Cream Donut, is the Boston Cream Pie. The same basic concept, but bigger. The birthplace of the Boston Cream Pie, the Parker House Hotel, continues to serve the historic pie using the same recipe. The Boston Cream Pie is so popular in Massachusetts, that the state named it the official state dessert. (Did you know that states HAD official state desserts?)

Lobster Rolls

Boston is located on the ocean, and thus, they have some great seafood. Although Lobster (and Lobster Rolls) are common in most of New England, Boston has their own take on them as they have cultural influences from around the world. Our choices for the best Lobster Rolls in Boston would be the James Hook & Co and the Barking Crab, which are both right on the water across the river from each other.

Clam Chowder

Another seafood classic is Clam Chowder. New England Clam Chowder is made with milk or cream. This difference makes it a little thicker and creamier than many other versions. Because of the prevalence of seafood restaurants in Boston, there is some good competition to make some of the best clam chowders. But, when it’s all you do, it’s even more important that you get it right. Within Faneuil Hall, you’ll need to stop by The Boston Chowda Co and get some real authentic New England Clam Chowder.

Baked Beans

Boston does Baked Beans differently, but if you’ve noticed anything from this post so far, Boston does a lot of things differently. Instead of the traditional brown sugar to add sweetness, Boston uses molasses, which makes sense when you remember that Boston has a huge molasses producer downtown. I must say (and not just because I’m biased), I prefer the Boston Baked Beans. Unfortunately, my best suggestion for Boston Baked Beans, Durgin-Park, closed after over 250 years in 2019.

Fenway Franks

The famous hotdog of Fenway Park. The oldest MLB Baseball parks in the country offers tours if you can’t get in for a game. Unlike most hot dogs that are steamed or grilled, Fenway Franks are boiled and grilled, keeping them juicy. They are very common throughout New England, with even big grocery store chains carrying them. But, if you really want the best version, go with the original at Fenway Park.

Unique Neighborhoods

Little Italy/North End

If you’re going to be in North End, you may want to explore our list of the best places to eat in Boston.

Chinatown

Explore Many Wonderful Museums

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

An art museum right in the middle of the city, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, includes hundreds of pieces of artwork. Lots of parking lots nearby, easy to access, and at only $20 a ticket, it’s a good price for what it includes. They also have free tickets for the military, specific university students, and anybody named Isabella. Fun Fact; The Isabella Stewart Garner Museum holds the title of having the largest art theft in history and currently has a $10 Million reward for the return of the stolen paintings.

Science Museum

A personal favorite of mine, the Boston Museum of Science is three floors of incredible displays and exhibits, many of which are interactive. With an interactive IMAX Theatre, Planetarium, and Theatre of Electricity (With the world’s largest air-insulated Van de Graaff lighting generator.) Prices range between $24 and $29 per person, but they have discounts for the military, along with a number of other discount programs to make it affordable for all.

Marvel at the Architecture

Boston is a city that has a very long history, being one of the oldest cities in the country. But, it also has been destroyed a number of times, by war, fire, and on purpose for expanding the city. This destruction and rebuilding has led to a wide variety of different types of architecture. From Boston’s City Hall, built in Brutalist architecture, to the Cubest Design of Simmons Hall. An Art Deco Dunkin Donuts to the very modern New England Aquarium. There are also entire neighborhoods of old buildings with some incredible designs.

Discover What the First Public Park Has to Offer

Boston Common is the first official park in the United States, first designated in 1634, and still functions as a beautiful park today. This park is used for everything from public speeches, hangings, sporting events, and theatrical performances. Today, it has a softball field, a frog pond (used for ice skating in the winter), and numerous statues and monuments. It also has, running underneath it, one of the oldest subway lines (1897) in the country, with two of the country’s oldest subway stations within the park itself.

Besides Boson Common is Boston Public Garden which includes the pond and swan boats. In addition, there are over two dozen different kinds of plants and trees in the Public Garden. The City of Boston maintains a series of greenhouses at Franklin Park solely for the purpose of replanting the Public Garden every year. The garden also has a number of statues and lots of green spaces to relax and enjoy nature.

Spot Whales in the Boston Harbor

Being right on the ocean, Boston is a perfect place for Whale-Watching. Even if you don’t see whales, the time out on the ocean is well worth it. My only warning would be to dress warm because it can get cold and windy out on the ocean in New England. We personally recommend this company, as they partner with the New England Aquarium to give you very experienced guides. They also give you a free voucher for a future cruise if you don’t get to see whales during your cruise.

Ease of Getting Around Boston

The MBTA (Metro Boston Transportation Authority) has a series of buses, boats, subways, and commuter trains that cover not only the city but all of the surrounding cities. You’re never far from a Subway or Bus stop, and all of the MBTA Transportation options use the same method, a “CharlieCard” or “CharlieTicket” to pay, making it easy. Of course, you can also jump on the hop-on/hop-off bus to get around to all of the most famous Boston sites.

Visit Famous Sites

Boston has a lot of famous sites worth visiting. Although I could go on for hours and hours about all of the incredible places to visit, I’m just going to give you a brief description of each and encourage you to go research them some more. And I highly recommend visiting any of them.

Swan Boats

Located in the Boston Public Garden, the family-owned attraction has been a Boston staple since 1877. Using boats built as long ago as 1910, the experience hasn’t changed much in decades. For $4.50 for adults and $3 for kids, you can take a 15-minute trip around the lake. The boats only run from April to September.

Fenway Park

Built in 1912, it’s the only MLB Stadium in Boston, home of the Boston Red Sox. It also holds the claim as the oldest, still operating MLB Stadium in the country. It is home of the Green Monster, a wall with seating atop it built at the back of the stadium to keep baseballs from flying onto the highway below. You can either get tickets for a game at this famous park or just go for a walking tour.

Cheer’s Bar

If you’ve seen the Cheer’s TV show, you’d love to learn that the series was inspired by and filmed in an actual functioning bar. Originally known as the “Bull & Finch Pub,” it was established in 1969, and still looks like the Cheer’s movie set. Although with the bar, there is also a gift shop on site. Just a note, there is a “tourist” version of the Cheer’s Bar located at Faneuil Hall, but the real one is located just outside of Boston Commons. Open every day except Christmas.

Acorn Street

A beautiful street in the Beacon Hill area. Listed as the most photographed street in Boston with its cobblestone streets, beautiful historical row houses, and beautiful greenery and flowers. Also in the neighborhood are cute shops worth stopping in at.

FAQs About Visiting Boston

Is Boston walkable?

Boston is very walkable. Although it’s a fairly populated city, it’s very compact. For most of the areas that you would want to explore, you can easily walk everywhere. Boston also has a really good transportation network, so you’re generally never far from a Subway or Bus Stop. I would just advise caution if you visit in winter because walking around in the cold or icy, slippery roads can be more challenging.

When is the best time to visit Boston?

Boston has a lot going on all of the time, but New England can get very cold and windy in the winter. Although Boston doesn’t get a lot of snow, they do get a strong breeze off of the ocean. Because it’s so far north, it doesn’t have the same heat as much of the US, so the summers aren’t too uncomfortable. But, if you really want to get out and walk around, spring or fall are the best times to visit Boston.

Is Boston safe?

Boston is safe. Boston Police, MBTA Police, and Massachusetts State Police regularly patrol the city. Because of things like the Boston Marathon Bombing, Boston has increased security even more for most public events. There are some neighborhoods, mainly the residential ones south of downtown, that I would avoid at night. But, nearly anything in the downtown core of the city is very safe at all hours.

Does Boston feel like a big city?

Although Boston is a highly populated city, it doesn’t feel like it. It’s small in size and focuses the residential areas outside of the downtown city area. With some really fun distant neighborhoods such as North End, South End, Seaport, and Chinatown it’s really easy to find new and exciting things to see and do. Although we lived there for over 3 years, we still didn’t see all of it, but we always felt like we knew our favorite neighborhoods well.

What is the prettiest street in Boston?

Acorn Street is commonly known as the most photographed street in Boston. Located in the historic Beacon Hill area, and originally built in 1823, it still has the cobblestone streets originally used by horses and carriages. It’s lined with beautiful old row houses, colorful greenery, and flowers, and gas-lit looking lanterns. It’s worth the trip for some pictures.

Is Boston cheap or expensive?

Boston is comparable to most big cities as far as expenses go. Housing is expensive, and in most of downtown, parking is expensive. But, restaurants, bars, and hotels can range from very inexpensive to very expensive, depending on where you look. Events are generally reasonably priced but can feel expensive compared to similar events in much smaller cities. Public Transportation is reasonably priced.

So, Is Boston Worth Visiting?

Yes! There is so much for everybody in Boston. Just be warned that traffic can be a pain and public transportation can be a little bit challenging. But, all of the places you can visit and explore absolutely make it worth the trouble. Expect to spend some money and time there. I would recommend skipping the winter months in Boston.