The Emerald Necklace
Discover Boston’s emerald gem, a 1,100-acre chain of parks linked by parkways and waterways designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 19th century. This seven-mile-long network includes the Boston Common, Public Garden, Back Bay Fens, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, and Franklin Park, providing urban green spaces for recreation, relaxation, and experiencing seasonal natural beauty.
Phone: (617) 522-2700
TD Garden
Experience the electrifying atmosphere of Boston’s premier sports and entertainment venue, home to the NHL’s Boston Bruins and NBA’s Boston Celtics. This multi-purpose arena hosts major sporting events, concerts by top musical artists, ice shows, and family entertainment throughout the year, while The Sports Museum located within showcases New England’s rich sports heritage through memorabilia and interactive exhibits.
Phone: (617) 624-1050
Seaport District
Explore Boston’s rapidly transforming waterfront neighborhood, a former industrial port area now home to sleek glass towers, innovative restaurants, contemporary art spaces, and harborside parks. This vibrant district offers stunning water views, public art installations, seasonal markets, and outdoor events including concerts and fitness classes, all connected by the scenic Harborwalk promenade running along the water’s edge.
Phone: N/A
Boston Public Library – McKim Building
Marvel at the architectural splendor of America’s first large free municipal library, established in 1848 and housed in its Renaissance Revival building since 1895. The historic McKim Building features a grand entrance staircase, the stunning Bates Hall reading room with its barrel-arched ceiling, and remarkable art treasures including murals by John Singer Sargent and Edwin Austin Abbey plus the intimate courtyard inspired by a Venetian palace.
Phone: (617) 536-5400
Boston Duck Tours
Experience Boston by land and water aboard a renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle on this unique sightseeing adventure. These 80-minute narrated tours showcase Boston’s most famous landmarks including the State House, Bunker Hill, and TD Garden before splashing into the Charles River for spectacular views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines from a completely different perspective.
Phone: (617) 267-3825
Beacon Hill
Wander through one of Boston’s oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods characterized by narrow cobblestone streets, gas lamps, brick sidewalks, and historic Federal and Greek Revival architecture. Beacon Hill’s charming Acorn Street is often called the most photographed street in America, while Charles Street offers boutique shopping and dining experiences in a setting that transports visitors back to 19th-century Boston.
Phone: (617) 227-1922 (Beacon Hill Business Association)
Boston Harbor Cruises
Set sail on Boston’s historic harbor to enjoy spectacular skyline views and learn about the city’s maritime heritage. Numerous cruise options include whale watching expeditions to the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, sunset sails, lighthouse tours, and ferry services to the Harbor Islands, providing memorable aquatic adventures with professional narration about Boston’s natural environment and rich seafaring history.
Phone: (617) 227-4321
The North End
Immerse yourself in Boston’s “Little Italy,” a charming neighborhood with European flair featuring narrow streets lined with Italian restaurants, cafes, and specialty shops. Beyond its renowned culinary scene with iconic pastry shops and traditional trattorias, the North End houses important historical sites including Paul Revere’s House and Old North Church, creating a unique blend of Revolutionary history and vibrant Italian-American culture.
Phone: (617) 643-8106 (North End Business Association)
Boston Common Frog Pond
Enjoy year-round outdoor recreation at this versatile water feature in America’s oldest public park. The Frog Pond transforms seasonally from a summer spray pool and wading area for children to an ice skating rink in winter, surrounded by the historic landscape of Boston Common and offering affordable family fun with skate rentals, a café, and special events throughout the year.
Phone: (617) 635-2120
Commonwealth Avenue Mall
Stroll along this picturesque tree-lined promenade designed by Arthur Gilman in 1856 as part of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood development. Stretching from the Public Garden to Kenmore Square, this elegant greenway features statues of notable historical figures, ornamental cast-iron fencing, Victorian-era benches, and a double row of mature elm trees, creating a serene urban pathway modeled after Parisian boulevards.
Phone: (617) 723-8144
Mapparium at Mary Baker Eddy Library
Step inside a breathtaking three-story stained-glass globe depicting the world as it appeared in 1935, viewed from the unique perspective of standing inside the Earth looking outward. This one-of-a-kind attraction designed by architect Chester Lindsay Churchill uses cutting-edge lighting technology and acoustics to create an immersive educational experience exploring geography, global politics, and how our worldview has changed over time.
Phone: (617) 450-7000
Copley Square
Experience one of Boston’s most significant public spaces surrounded by architectural masterpieces including Trinity Church, Boston Public Library, and the historic Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. This vibrant urban plaza hosts regular farmers’ markets, cultural events, and public gatherings while serving as a showcase of contrasting architectural styles from Romanesque Revival to modern glass skyscrapers that illustrate Boston’s evolution over time.
Phone: (617) 536-4100 (Copley Square Hotel)
Samuel Adams Brewery Tour
Discover the art and science of craft brewing at the original Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood. These informative and entertaining tours take visitors behind the scenes to learn about brewing processes, ingredient selection, and the company’s role in America’s craft beer revolution, concluding with a tasting session featuring classic brews and experimental small-batch creations.
Phone: (617) 368-5080
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Explore the campus of one of the world’s most prestigious science and engineering universities located along the Cambridge side of the Charles River. MIT’s campus features distinctive modern architecture by renowned designers including Alvar Aalto, I.M. Pei, and Frank Gehry, alongside an impressive public art collection with works by Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, and Sol LeWitt accessible through self-guided or student-led tours.
Phone: (617) 253-1000
Harvard University
Tour America’s oldest institution of higher learning, founded in 1636, where historic architecture and academic tradition blend with vibrant contemporary campus life. Harvard’s iconic redbrick buildings and landscaped courtyards of Harvard Yard provide a glimpse into American educational history, while its museums offer world-class collections of art, cultural artifacts, natural history specimens, and scientific instruments open to the public.
Phone: (617) 495-1000
Boston HarborWalk
Discover Boston’s revitalized waterfront on this 43-mile linear park connecting neighborhoods, cultural attractions, and historic sites along the harbor’s edge. The HarborWalk provides public access to the water with scenic pathways, parks, art installations, interpretive signage, and inviting seating areas, showcasing both Boston’s maritime heritage and its commitment to sustainable urban planning and environmental restoration.
Phone: (617) 482-1722 (Boston Harbor Now)
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Explore the life and legacy of America’s 35th president at this stunning waterfront museum designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei. Located on Columbia Point overlooking Boston Harbor, the museum features compelling exhibits on Kennedy’s presidential campaign, the Space Race, the Peace Corps, and the Civil Rights movement, along with personal artifacts, photographs, and video presentations that bring the Kennedy era to life.
Phone: (617) 514-1600
Rose Kennedy Greenway
Enjoy this contemporary urban park created atop Boston’s “Big Dig” highway tunnel, connecting diverse downtown neighborhoods with a ribbon of landscaped gardens, promenades, plazas, and fountains. The 1.5-mile Greenway features seasonal plantings, rotating public art installations, food trucks, open-air markets, and interactive water features, transforming what was once an elevated highway into a vibrant community gathering space.
Phone: (617) 292-0020
Charlestown Navy Yard
Discover America’s naval history at this former shipyard that built and maintained warships from 1800 until its closure in 1974. Now part of Boston National Historical Park, the Navy Yard is home to the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), the USS Constitution Museum, and the USS Cassin Young, a World War II-era destroyer, along with restored historic buildings that showcase shipbuilding technology and maritime craftsmanship.
Phone: (617) 242-5601
Black Heritage Trail
Follow this 1.6-mile walking tour through Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood to explore the history of the city’s 19th-century African American community and their contributions to the abolition movement. The trail connects historic homes, churches, schools, and meeting houses that were central to the free Black community’s fight against slavery and discrimination, with guided tours available through the Museum of African American History.
Phone: (617) 742-5415
Castle Island and Fort Independence
Experience a perfect blend of military history, outdoor recreation, and harbor views at this peninsula connected to South Boston’s shoreline. The star-shaped Fort Independence, a National Historic Landmark dating to 1851, offers free seasonal tours exploring its stone fortifications, while the surrounding 22-acre park provides walking paths, beaches, fishing spots, and picnic areas with spectacular views of planes landing at Logan Airport.
Phone: (617) 727-5290
Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory
Enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of Boston and beyond from the city’s only sky-high vantage point, located 50 floors above street level in the Prudential Tower. This indoor observation deck offers audio tours in multiple languages highlighting Boston’s historic sites, cultural attractions, and distinctive neighborhoods, along with exhibits on the city’s history, architecture, and immigrant communities.
Phone: (617) 859-0648
Cheers Bar (Original)
Visit the iconic pub that inspired the setting for the beloved television sitcom “Cheers,” which aired from 1982 to 1993. Originally called the Bull & Finch Pub and now known as Cheers Beacon Hill, this historic basement tavern offers classic American pub fare and memorabilia from the show while maintaining its authentic Boston neighborhood bar atmosphere beneath the Hampshire House on Beacon Street.
Phone: (617) 227-9605
The Lawn on D
Experience Boston’s innovative outdoor interactive space featuring glowing swing sets, lawn games, art installations, and flexible seating areas. Located in the Seaport District adjacent to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, this 2.7-acre urban playground hosts seasonal events including concerts, movie nights, fitness classes, and food festivals, offering a creative community gathering space that redefines public park design.
Phone: (877) 393-3393
Gibson House Museum
Step back in time at this remarkably preserved Victorian rowhouse in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, maintained virtually unchanged since 1860. This National Historic Landmark offers guided tours through four floors of period rooms filled with original furnishings, decorative arts, family portraits, and personal items that provide an intimate glimpse into upper-middle-class Boston life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Phone: (617) 267-6338
Museum of African American History
Explore America’s largest museum dedicated to preserving the contributions of African Americans in New England from the colonial period through the 19th century. Located in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, the museum includes the African Meeting House (1806), the oldest surviving Black church building in America, and the adjacent Abiel Smith School, the nation’s first public school for African American children.
Phone: (617) 725-0022
Boston Ballet
Experience world-class dance performances by one of North America’s premier ballet companies at the historic Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston’s Theater District. Founded in 1963, the Boston Ballet presents a diverse repertoire ranging from classical full-length ballets to contemporary works by groundbreaking choreographers, along with the beloved annual production of “The Nutcracker” that has become a cherished holiday tradition.
Phone: (617) 695-6955
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Freedom Trail
Follow the iconic 2.5-mile red brick path through Boston’s historic neighborhoods to discover 16 nationally significant historic sites that tell the story of the American Revolution. This self-guided walking tour connects Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, allowing visitors to experience over 250 years of history while strolling through modern city streets.
Phone: (617) 357-8300
Fenway Park
Experience America’s oldest Major League Baseball stadium, home to the Boston Red Sox since 1912. This historic ballpark with its iconic Green Monster left field wall offers tours year-round where visitors can explore the dugout, press box, and luxury suites while learning about legendary players and moments that have made Fenway a beloved symbol of Boston’s sports heritage.
Phone: (877) 733-7699
New England Aquarium
Discover ocean life at one of Boston’s premier attractions featuring a four-story Giant Ocean Tank that recreates a Caribbean coral reef ecosystem. The aquarium showcases thousands of aquatic animals including penguins, sea turtles, sharks, and seals, while offering innovative exhibits on marine conservation and interactive touch tanks where visitors can have hands-on experiences with tide pool creatures.
Phone: (617) 973-5200
Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
Explore this unique urban wilderness consisting of 34 islands and peninsulas just minutes from downtown Boston. Accessible by ferry, these diverse islands offer hiking trails, historic forts, scenic beaches, and camping opportunities with spectacular views of the Boston skyline, providing a perfect outdoor retreat for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and adventure seekers alike.
Phone: (617) 223-8666
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Step into a Venetian-inspired palace built by art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner to house her extraordinary collection of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and decorative arts from ancient Rome to 19th-century Europe. This unique museum preserves the founder’s vision with rooms arranged exactly as she designed them around a stunning four-story indoor courtyard filled with seasonal blooming plants and classical sculptures.
Phone: (617) 566-1401
Boston Public Market
Sample the flavors of New England at this indoor, year-round marketplace featuring over 30 local farmers, fishers, and food entrepreneurs selling fresh produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and specialty items. Located in downtown Boston, this vibrant market offers cooking demonstrations, workshops, and events that celebrate the region’s culinary heritage and sustainable food systems.
Phone: (617) 973-4909
Institute of Contemporary Art
Experience cutting-edge modern art in a stunning waterfront building designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro architects in Boston’s Seaport District. The ICA showcases works by established and emerging artists across diverse media including painting, sculpture, film, and digital art, while offering spectacular harbor views through its dramatic cantilevered gallery and outdoor deck suspended over the water.
Phone: (617) 478-3100
Harvard Square
Discover the historic and cultural hub adjacent to Harvard University in Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Boston. This vibrant neighborhood offers an eclectic mix of bookstores, boutiques, restaurants, and street performers surrounding a central plaza, creating a lively atmosphere where students, locals, and visitors gather to shop, dine, and enjoy the area’s distinctive intellectual energy.
Phone: (617) 491-3434 (Harvard Square Business Association)
Charles River Esplanade
Stroll, bike, or jog along this scenic three-mile park stretching along the Boston side of the Charles River from the Museum of Science to the Boston University Bridge. The Esplanade features lovely lagoons, community boating docks, playgrounds, and the iconic Hatch Memorial Shell where free outdoor concerts, including the famous Fourth of July Boston Pops performance, take place during summer months.
Phone: (617) 227-0365
Arnold Arboretum
Explore 281 acres of botanical diversity at this living museum established in 1872 as part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Home to over 15,000 plants representing 4,000 different species, the arboretum offers free admission year-round, with seasonal highlights including spring lilac blooms, summer meadows, brilliant fall foliage, and distinctive winter bark and evergreen collections.
Phone: (617) 524-1718
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Experience world-class classical music performances by one of America’s “Big Five” orchestras in the acoustically superb Symphony Hall, built in 1900 and considered one of the finest concert venues in the world. The Boston Symphony Orchestra presents a diverse range of symphonic works from September to April, while the Boston Pops takes the stage from May through July offering lighter, more popular programs.
Phone: (617) 266-1200
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Travel back to December 16, 1773, at this immersive museum featuring full-scale replica ships where you can participate in reenactments of the famous protest against British taxation. Interactive exhibits with holographic displays, authentic artifacts, and multi-sensory experiences bring Revolutionary history to life as costumed interpreters guide visitors through the events that helped spark America’s fight for independence.
Phone: (617) 338-1773
Boston Children’s Museum
Engage curious minds at one of the world’s oldest and most innovative children’s museums, founded in 1913 and located on Fort Point Channel. This award-winning museum features three floors of hands-on exhibits focused on science, culture, environmental awareness, health, and arts, including the iconic three-story climbing sculpture and authentic Japanese house transported from Kyoto to foster creative play and learning.
Phone: (617) 426-6500
Newbury Street
Stroll along Boston’s premier shopping destination, an eight-block stretch of historic 19th-century brownstones converted into stylish boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. Beginning at the Boston Public Garden and running through the heart of Back Bay, Newbury Street offers everything from high-end luxury retailers to local designers and vintage shops, making it perfect for shopping, people-watching, and outdoor dining.
Phone: (617) 267-9200 (Newbury Street League)
Museum of Science
Explore over 700 interactive exhibits covering astronomy, biology, engineering, physics, and more at this renowned science center located on the Charles River. The museum features New England’s only domed IMAX theater, a state-of-the-art planetarium, daily live presentations, and iconic displays including the world’s largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator and dinosaur fossils, providing educational entertainment for visitors of all ages.
Phone: (617) 723-2500
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