10 Best Things to Do in City centre Boston

One of the best things to do in City centre Boston is to take a walk on the Freedom Trail. The 2.5-mile path is a walkable brick route stopping by 17 historic locations. The trail tells the storey of Boston’s place in the American Revolution and takes you through the steps of the fight for freedom.

The trail stretches from Old North Church in North End to Boston Common. Along the way you will read from historic markers on your stops at museums, parks, churches, meeting houses, burial grounds, and even a ship.

Boston Common is a must-see stop when visiting City centre Boston. Boston Common is a stop on the Freedom Trail, but it’s also a huge, iconic green space that is essential to the City centre Boston experience. The 50-acre park was founded way back in 1634 and has interest in every season. Find flowering trees in the spring, shade in the summer, gorgeous foliage in the fall, and ice skating in the winter.

The park is bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street, Charles Street, and Boylston Street. The visitor centre for the City of Boston is located on the Tremont side of the park. And don’t dare call it Boston Commons.

The Rose Kennedy Greenway is a stunning park that stretches through several City centre Boston areas. It’s a linear park, because it is built on top of the former John F. Fitzgerald Motorway. The 17-acre Greenway opened in 2008 after the Big Dig project wrapped up.

The park has fountains and manicured gardens as it runs through North End along the waterfront and through the Financial District and Chinatown. While visiting the park, you’ll find food trucks and beer and wine gardens throughout the space. The Rose Kennedy Greenway also hosts the Greenway Carousel for kids of all ages.

If you are a culture connoisseur, The Boston Athenaeum is a great place to spend a few hours or an entire day. The historic spot is a library, museum, and cultural centre all in one space. Grab a day pass to explore the Boston Athenaeum at your leisure.

You’ll be able to browse thousands of works of art, including sculptures, prints, photos, and paintings. There are maps and rare manuscripts, in addition to a wealth of of rare books. The Boston Athenaeum is housed in a landmark building, a perfect stop in City centre Boston. Don’t be surprised if you lose track of time exploring the vast collection.

A spot not to miss along the Freedom Trail and City centre Boston is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. This destination has shopping, food, and entertainment. More than 40 local vendors sell their handmade and local goods. And the Quincy Market Colonnade, which is part of the marketplace, has 25 local eateries to choose from.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace has been serving locals and visitors since 1742. The charming cobblestone promenade hosts a rotating list of renowned street performers and musicians. Definitely check out the Faneuil Hall Marketplace website before your visit to see the robust variety of events on the calendar.

While visiting City centre Boston, you’ll no doubt notice the building with the giant golden dome. That’s the Massachusetts State House, located across the street from Boston Common. The state capitol building anchors the Beacon Hill area.

The iconic building was designed by famed architect Charles Bullfinch and is a stop on the Freedom Trail. Inside the building you’ll find murals, statues, and portraits of past governors of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. You can take a self-guided tour or book a free, guided tour.

If you are exploring City centre Boston with children, the New England Aquarium is not to be missed. The aquarium will take you to the depths of the ocean to get an up-close look at life under the sea. The New England Aquarium features a touch tank and encourages visitors to gently touch epaulette sharks and Atlantic and cownose rays.

Aquarium exhibits will take you around the globe, from the Amazon rainforest to exotic coral reefs. There’s also a 5-story cinema where the 3-D images immerse you into the film. Also, make sure you check out the African penguins and say hello to Myrtle the green sea turtle.

Another stop on the on the Freedom Trail is the Old South Meeting House. This historic building tells the history of the Boston Tea Party and is where angry early Americans met to discuss the tax the British had levied against them. It was here where founding father, Sam Adams, gave the signal to dump hundreds of chests of tea into the Boston Harbour in protest.

The Old South Meeting House was the largest building in Colonial Boston and has been a public museum commemorating the Boston Tea Party since 1877. Today, it hosts public forums, concerts, and theatrical performances in addition to its historic interpretation.

If you’re looking for great photos of Boston from above, the perfect spot is the Custom House Tower. This was one of the city’s first skyscrapers, and from 1915–1965, it was actually the tallest building in the city. These days, the Custom House is home to a Marriott hotel, but the public can still visit the first-floor rotunda and book a trip to the top.

The trick to getting a spot on the daily tower tour is to make a reservation. The ride up to the observation deck on the 26th floor happens only once daily, at 2 pm, every day but Friday. Any wet weather will close the tour, but the views up there are spectacular and breathtaking.

If you are looking to enjoy the waterfront, look no further than Boston Harborwalk. The 43-mile connected shoreline walk links 8 areas across City centre Boston and has places to shop and dine. Boston Harbour Walk is a pedestrian-only walkway that joins areas including East Boston, Charlestown, North End, Wharf District, Seaport, Fort Point Channel, South Boston, and Dorchester.

The walk is lined with restaurants and shops, in addition to other popular destinations, such as the Institute of Contemporary Art. And if you get tired of walking, there’s a water taxi. There are even some public beaches along the way where you can take a dip or cast a line.