10 Best Things To Do Over The Weekend In Boston, Massachusetts - Updated 2024

Pauline
Pauline 
Updated
| 5 min read

Being one of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston is really the definition of something that ages with grace. It’s a place of many things. There are a lot of highly reputed schools and universities that can be found here, which make it the heart of international education. Boston, Massachusetts is also known as a place that houses a lot of business centres. One can say that it is one of the best places to stay in terms of safety, wellness, and entertainment. Being a city of a lot of firsts, and being a city surrounded by education and culture, it’s no doubt that life here is worthwhile. And what better way by spicing up that lifestyle every now and then? Here are some of the top 10 best things to do over the weekend in Boston, Massachusetts.

Tip from tour guide

Naim

Naim
Boston

Commonwealth Ave Mall

A must-visit attraction during your trip to Boston is the statue of Phillis Wheatley, which is located in Commonwealth Ave Mall. Originally enslaved in America, Wheatley went on to make history as the first African American author of a published book of poetry. Her remarkable achievements held significant importance in the early anti-slavery movement.

1. Walk back in time with a visit to a monument

things to do in boston weekend | walk back in time with a visit to a monument
Source: instagram

The Bunker Hill Monument is the best place to visit if you want to know more about Boston in a deeper sense. This 220-foot (67 meters) granite tower was built to acknowledge the Patriots’ bravery that took place during the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill. It’s a really great part of American history that you can learn a lot from. Aside from the monument, there’s a museum nearby which you can also visit to add to the historical knowledge that you will be acquiring during your stay. Make sure don’t miss out on this experience!

Bunker Hill Monument

Address: Monument Sq, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA

Website: Bunker Hill Monument

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm

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2. Go for a historical tour on a cruise (from USD 35.0)

Spending your weekend learning and experiencing something new is always worth it. So why not try the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum and experience not just history, but also an adventure? This historical museum tour is not your typical tour because it happens within a mini ship. Expect live actors, high-tech interactive exhibits, restored tea ships, and a chance to watch the multi-sensory documentary “Let it Begin Here.“ After going through the tour, we also suggest that you visit Abigail’s Tea Room to unwind and relax with your loved ones.

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Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Admission

Duration: 1 hour

1483 reviews

3. Spend an evening filled with great music


Considered as one of the top three best orchestras in the world, the Boston Symphony Hall holds multiple concerts for all sorts of musicians in the classical genre. It’s not your typical Symphony Hall because what’s special about them is that they make sure that they’re accessible to all types of audiences, may it be students or the working class. They also have special deals and promos that are student friendly. Bars are located nearby, so if you feel like getting buzzed before the concert starts, alcohol is very accessible. We also suggest going to the location an hour before the concert time so you have time to check out the beautiful architecture of the orchestra hall as well as the gift shops nearby.

Boston Symphony Hall

Address: 301 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Website: Boston Symphony Hall

Opening hours: 7am - 1am

Price: 25-100 USD

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4. Shop till you drop at a local marketplace


If you like shopping and checking out a lot of quirky places all at once, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is our best pick for your mini weekend getaway. Situated in the heart of Boston, this shopping area features speciality stores, food stands, restaurants, national chain stores, performers, and a whole lot more! It’s the perfect place to spend Sunday afternoon in the company of family and friends. You can find almost everything here since Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a mixture of many things. If you don’t have anything specific in mind, but you still want to head out during the weekend, this might be the perfect pick for you.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Address: 4 S Market St, Boston, MA 02109, USA

Website: Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 7pm

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Boston Tour Guide

Naim Benmayor

Naim Benmayor

As a Boston tour guide, I have the added experience of being a world traveler. For many years, I frequently visited Europe, Asia, and Latin America on business. During this time, I also organized tours of the USA, Europe and Asia for my business clients. I now bring this passion, excitement and expertise to the Boston area.By exploring the globe, I was exposed to various cultures, and this uniq... Read more

5. A hangout place for the baseball lover


Have you ever heard of the Boston Red Sox? You probably have because they’re one of the best baseball teams out there. Fenway Park in Boston has been home to this historical team since 1912. This baseball park houses the 37-foot (11 meters) tall left field wall which is called the “Green Monster.” Despite the park’s long existence, it has always been clean and well maintained and that’s why it’s still frequently visited by fans. It’s a historical place, and it will surely bring forth a lot of nostalgic memories to its visitors, especially the Boston Red Sox fans!

Fenway Park

Address: 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm

Price: 10 USD

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6. Embrace your inner artist with a visit to the museum


Do something different this weekend, plan a date with yourself and expose yourself to art by visiting the Museum of Fine Arts. This museum is the oldest and largest museum in Boston where you can find art collections that revolve around Impressionist paintings, Asian and Egyptian collections and early American art. Aside from their permanent collections, you should also know that they house different exhibits as well so there is always something new to look forward to inside the museum. Don’t miss out on this!

Museum of Fine Arts

Address: 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Website: Museum of Fine Arts

Opening hours: Mon - Tue, Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm; Wed - Fri: 10am - 10pm

Price: 10-25 USD

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7. Drink and learn about beer at the same time

Samadams
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kafziel used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Is beer your go-to drink? If it is, Samuel Adams Brewery will give you a different kind of an experience when it comes to drinking beer. Not only do they offer you a wide selection of craft beers, but they can also give you a brewery tour to know more about the history of beer, and what they serve their customers. The tour will allow you to try different samples, and you get to choose which one you like the best. Samuel Adams Brewery is also very generous when it comes to giving their customers free beer, so who knows, you might get freebies!

Samuel Adams Brewery

Address: 30 Germania St, Boston, MA 02130, USA

Website: Samuel Adams Brewery

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 8pm; Sun: 12 - 6pm

Price: 10-15 USD

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8. See 800 different marine animals up close (from USD 34.0)

things to do in boston weekend | see 800 different marine animals up close

The New England Aquarium offers a lot of fun exhibits and sights for you and your family to enjoy. Your ticket allows you to visit some of the following: Amazon Rainforest, Atlantic Harbor Seals, Blue Planet Action Center, Coral Reef Center, The Giant Ocean Tank, Gull of Maine, Pacific Community Reef, Marine Mammal Center, the penguins, and the seadragons! These are just some of the exhibits you can see. We suggest that you avail of this tour. Enjoy one full day immersing yourself in the beautiful marine life.

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Boston: New England Aquarium Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket

567 reviews

9. Whale-watching on a cruise (from USD 79.0)

Get a chance to see the beauty of marine life up close, with the Boston Whale Watching Cruise! This three-hour experience will allow you to witness humpback and fin whales, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, and harbour porpoises in action with the help of a naturalist. If you’re getting hungry, you can also munch on some snacks that are for sale during the cruise itself. Don’t forget to bring your cameras and binoculars and feel free to snap some moments and get a good view of the marine life!

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Boston Whale Watching Cruise on a High-Speed Catamaran

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

2448 reviews

10. Enjoy sea views while riding a duck boat (from USD 57.0)

A duck boat is a renovated World War II amphibious vehicle being used to accommodate tourists in touring major sights in Boston like the Pass Boston Common, Quincy Market and the Celtics’ home turf at TD Garden. After that, you head on to the Charles River and enjoy city views by the water. Yes, the duck boat can be both used in land and in the water! Get educated by the tour guide who will help you understand the historical aspect of the sights that you will see. It’s a two in one experience, because not only do you gather information, but you also enjoy a sense of adventure!

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Boston Duck Boat Sightseeing City Tour with Cruise Along Charles River

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

8494 reviews

Enjoy a city filled with wonders

Boston is undeniably a place of many attractions, being one of the oldest cities in the United States. Explore what it has to offer and experience only the best at Boston.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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