Last Updated on March 31, 2024
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It’s no secret, that Boston is not the cheapest destination. If you go and research the most expensive places to visit in the US, Massachusetts’ capital will sure make the top 10. Between the very high hotel prices, pricey restaurants and cost of attractions, don’t expect your Boston trip to be a cheap one. Having said that, there are also plenty of free things to do in Boston and a lot of them happen to be the city’s top attractions.
Since you will have your share of expenses, taking advantage of the freebies is a no brainer. Boston is a city loaded with history, so naturally a lot of the top attractions and activities revolve around that. It’s great if you are a history buff, but it could be a bit of a history overload for some. That’s why, when putting together the list of free things to do in Boston, I made sure, that it’s a nice mix of history, art and outdoor activities.
Free things to do in Boston on the map
Free things to do in Boston
Walk the Freedom Trail
Walking the Freedom Trail is on every Boston itinerary and it also happens to be one of the free things to do in Boston. It’s a 2.5 mile walk through the city, that takes you past the most important historical attractions, that played the role in the American Revolutionary War. Among the 16 stops are Park Street Church, Old State House, Paul Revere House and Bunker Hill Monument.
The Freedom Trail starts at Boston Common and ends at the USS Constitution, or the other way around, if you want to do it in reverse. While you can join an organized tour, walking and following the Freedom Trail on your own is very easy. Just follow the red brick path and there will be plenty of signs and markers along the way. I recommend downloading this brochure, which has short descriptions of each stop. If you’d like more in depth information and stories, get this Freedom Trail audio tour, which you download on your phone and listen to it as you walk at your own pace.
How long will the walk take will depend on how much time you spent at each site, but plan for at least 4 hours, or even longer if you include a stop for snack or lunch. Most of the stops are free, but some of them charge admission, if you decide to go in.
Take a free walking tour of Boston
If you prefer a more guided tour of Boston, you can take advantage of the free walking tours. You can find these tours in most cities and they are always one of my favorite things to do.
Free Tours by Foot offers not only the classic Freedom Trail Walking Tour, but also a few others that focus on specific neighborhoods. North End and Little Italy Tour or a Beacon Hill Crime Tour are some of the ones to choose from. You can check the up to date schedule of the Free Tours By Foot on their website.
Even though the Walking Tour is one of the free things to do in Boston, don’t forget to tip your guide!
Public Garden and Boston Common
Don’t leave Boston without spending some time in at least one of the parks. Boston Common and Public Garden are located right in the heart of the city, literally next to each other. Whether you want to just stroll through it, or have a little picnic and people watch, it’s one of my favorite free things to do in Boston.
Boston Common, spread over 50 acres, dates back to 1634, making it the first public park in America. The large green space is a great place for a walk or a picnic, it features a softball field, carousel and the Frog Pond, a popular splash pool in the summer and the ice skating rink in the winter. If you plan on walking the Freedom Trail, Boston Common is where it starts.
Public Garden is the smaller and more picturesque of the two parks and was the very first botanical garden in America. It’s perfectly manicured, with many pathways, a lagoon, beautiful plants, flowers and plenty of seating. If you visit Boston in the summer months, you can also take a ride in the famous Swan boats. Also, make sure to stop at the Make Way for Ducklings statues, especially if you are visiting with kids. The statues are inspired by the popular children’s book and make for a fun photo op.
Brattle Street Bookstore
Just steps away from Boston Common is one of the oldest bookstores in the country. Brattle Street Bookstore first opened its doors in 1825 and has an impressive collection of over 250,000 books, spread over 3 floors. But perhaps the most unique part of the store is the outdoor section, located in an alley, with carts filled with books on sale for $1-5. It’s definitely one of the must stops when you are in Boston, especially if you are a book lover.
Brattle Street Bookstore is located at 7 West St, and it’s open Monday – Saturday 9 am – 5.30 pm
Explore Beacon Hill neighborhood
Let’s face it, Boston is very easy on the eyes. There are many picturesque parts of the city, but the most beautiful neighborhood is without a doubt Beacon Hill. With gorgeous brownstone homes, cobblestone streets and charming alleys, this historic neighborhood is a must visit.
Take a walk down Charles Street, one of the busiest streets in the neighborhood, lined with cafes, restaurants and boutiques. Wander through the quiet Loiusburg Square, that has the most expensive real estate in the city.
And then there’s Acorn Street of course. This narrow cobblestone street is regarded as one of the most beautiful and most photographed street in the country. Instagram made the street even more popular, so seeing throngs of tourists and influencers trying to get that perfect shot is a daily occurrence. This led fed up residents to put up No trespassing signs on both ends of the street. In no way you should skip visiting Acorn Street, just remember these are people’s private homes. You can still see it and snap a perfectly fine picture from the sidewalk.
Visit Boston Public Library
Easily one of my absolute favorite free things to do in Boston is visiting the Boston Public Library. The stunning building, located in Copley Square, first opened in 1852, with more modern extension added in 1972. But its the original McKim building, that you simply can’t miss.
The moment you step inside, you have the gorgeous marble staircase with large lion statues on each side and murals on the walls. Walk up the stairs to the 2nd floor, where you will find Bates Hall, the main reading room. With the vaulted ceilings, original oak tables and bookcases, the room is one of the most impressive in the building. Head to the Sargent Gallery on the 3rd floor for more murals and make sure to step outside to the beautiful courtyard.
You can explore the library on your own, or join a free tour, that focuses on the architecture and history of the building. The Art & Architecture tours are offered Mondays and Tuesdays at 2 pm, Thursdays at 6 pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 11 am. The tour lasts about an hour and is led by knowledgeable volunteers. The tour groups are limited to 25 people and are on first come, first serve basis (no reservations). Just show up at the McKim Building Welcome desk before the tour.
Located at 700 Boylston Street ( Copley Square )
Go window shopping on Newbury Street
Newbury Street in the Back Bay neighborhood is the 5th Avenue of Boston. The 8 block stretch is lined with lots of high end stores, upscale boutiques, cafes and restaurants. What makes this street so attractive is, that all of these places are housed in gorgeous brownstones. While a shopping spree on Newbury Street will cost you big bucks, taking a stroll and window shopping is totally free.
Walk along the Esplanade
The Esplanade, a 3 mile stretch along Charles River, is a favorite spot among runners, bikers and boaters. On a nice day, you will find plenty of people walking or just soaking up the sun and the breeze coming from the river. You can also rent a kayak or a canoe and get out on the water. The Esplanade is also home to Hatch Memorial Shell, an iconic outdoor concert venue, that is best known for the big 4th of July celebration. But there are also several other concerts throughout the summer.
For some of the best views of Boston, walk onto the Longfellow Bridge and continue for about 1/3 of the way. If you are feeling ambitious, you can keep going and cross to the Cambridge side.
Walk the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is one of the newer free attractions Boston. It’s a 1.5 mile pathway, that stretches from Chinatown all the way to the North End, with many attractions along the way. Beautiful gardens, carousel, interesting art installations, fountains, food trucks and beer gardens are some of the things you’ll find as you stroll along.
What’s great about the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is, that it’s a gateway to so many other amazing spots in the city. Yes, you can just spend a couple of hours walking the path all the way and back, but you can also do detours and turn it into an all day event. Quincy Market, Long Wharf and North End are right off the main pathway.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a great destination for shopping, eating, entertainment and people watching. You will find plenty of stores, restaurants, bars and street performers all within the lively square. It’s without a doubt a very touristy place, but definitely worth a visit. And if you walk the Freedom Trail, the red brick path will lead right to it.
The actual Faneuil Hall building was built in 1742 and played a significant role in American history. It was the site of the first town meeting and several other important speeches took place there as well.
Right next to Faneuil Hall is Quincy Market, which used to be a traditional market and was built as an extension to Faneuil Hall to accommodate all the vendors. Today it’s basically a giant food court with over 50 stalls serving cuisine from all over the world. Don’t expect fine dining, but it’s a great spot to grab a quick bite and enjoy it while walking around the plaza or watching street performers.
Climb to the top of Bunker Hill Monument
Bunker Hill Monument is located in the nearby Charlestown and it’s the second to last stop on the Freedom Trail. The 221 foot monument commemorates the first major battle in the American Revolution.
Aside from the historical significance, Bunker Hill monument offers some of the best views of Boston. But before you can enjoy them, you have quite a few steps to climb, 294 to be exact. There’s no elevator, so it’s the only way to get to the top. It’s a bit of a workout, but I promise you, the views will be worth it. Before you start the climb, stop at the Lodge ( which is adjacent to the monument ) to pick up your free passes.
Afterwards, if you want to learn more about the battle and construction of the monument, stop at the Bunker Hill Museum. It sits right at the bottom of the Hill and it’s also one of the free things to do in Boston.
Take a tour of USS Constitution
After visiting Bunker Hill Monument, take a short walk down to the Charlestown Navy Yard, which is home to USS Constitution. Known as the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the United States Navy, USS Constitution is a must stop if you are into history. The ship is open to public and offers free tours, which last about 30 minutes. If you would like to step aboard this historic ship, definitely put USS Constitution on your Boston itinerary.
Touring the ship is completely free, but if you are over 18 years old, you will need to show your ID such as driver’s license or passport.
Note: there is also a USS Constitution Museum, which is separate from the actual ship and has a suggested admission of $10-15 ( $5-10 for kids ).
USS Constitution ship is located in Charlestown Navy Yard and it’s open for tours Wednesday – Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm ( closed Mondays and Tuesdays ).
Enjoy the views of Boston from the Observation deck at Independence Wharf
This observation deck is one of the lesser known ones in Boston, but it’s a great spot to enjoy the city views for free. It’s located on the 14th floor of the Independence Wharf building, and it offers some decent views of Fort Point Channel and the Seaport district.
The observation deck is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. To get there, just walk into the Independence Wharf building and go to the front desk. After they check your ID, take the elevator to the 14th floor and you’re there.
Located at 470 Atlantic Ave
Visit a museum
Boston has a lot of great museums and if you time it right, you can enjoy some of them for free. Several museums offer free entry on certain days and times.
- Museum of Fine Arts – is free to visit on Wednesdays after 4 pm
- Institute of Contemporary Art – offers free Thursdays between 5-9 pm. Make sure to reserve your free timed tickets, which become available at 10 am the day of.
- Boston Children’s Museum – every Friday night between 5-9 pm, you can enter the museum for just $1.
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum – you get free admission if you visit on your Birthday, or any day if your name happens to be Isabella.
Take a Sam Adams Brewery Tour
If you are a beer lover, this will sure be one of your favorite free things to do in Boston. Sam Adams is one of the bigger names on the beer scene and as you can probably tell by its name, it’s brewed in Boston. Samuel Adams Brewery is located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood and offers free tours every day except for Sunday. The Classic free tour lasts about one hour and goes over the history of Sam Adams beer, ingredients, the brewing process and ends in the tasting room. Don’t forget your ID to be able to sample 3 of the beers.
Samuel Adams Brewery is located at 30 Germania St in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but easily accessible even if you don’t have a car. Take the Orange T line from downtown Boston towards Forrest Hills and get off at Stony Brook stop. From there you are just a couple of blocks away from the brewery.
2024 UPDATE: While Sam Adams continues to offer tours of the brewery, they are no longer free.
Head to Castle Island
Even though it’s technically not an island, and you won’t find any castles there, Castle Island is a great place to spend a couple of hours away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With 22 acres of green space and great water views, it’s the perfect nature escape. Most people come to take a walk along the Harborwalk, have a picnic and enjoy the city views. Castle Island is really close to Boston’s Logan Airport, so you’ll see plenty of airplanes taking off. Also, lots of boats going in and out of harbor.
Castle Island is also home to large Fort Independence and if you visit on Saturday or Sunday during the summer months, you can take a free 30 minute tour of the Fort.
Whether you come for history or outdoor activity, visiting Castle Island is one of the fun free things to do in Boston in the summer.
READ MORE:
- 13 Best Day Trips from Boston
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