One day in Boston

Day by day

1. Day 1: Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market

   Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, Boston Common and Public Garden and Museum of Fine Arts, then Fenway Park in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Freedom Trail

      Walk it north from Boston Common in the morning and break for lunch in the North End; most sites can be seen from outside for free, and a few charge entry. Allow 3–4 hours.

   2. Late morning

      Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market

      Quincy Market is fine for a quick cup of chowder, but the North End and the Boston Public Market nearby are better for a proper meal. Allow 1 hour.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: New England clam chowder

      Union Oyster House near Faneuil Hall, open since 1826 and among the oldest restaurants in the US, and seafood restaurants all over the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Boston Common and Public Garden

      The Swan Boats run from spring to late summer; in winter, the Frog Pond on the Common becomes an ice rink. Allow 1–2 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Museum of Fine Arts

      Look up in the rotunda and main staircase at the murals Sargent painted for the museum in the 1920s. Allow 3 hours.

   6. Evening

      Fenway Park

      Arrive early to walk Jersey Street and Lansdowne Street, which fill with food stands and bars before the first pitch.

Before you go

• Fenway Park: Popular games sell out; buy through the Red Sox's official ticketing rather than street resellers.

If it rains

• Swap in Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Fenway–Kenmore): Anyone named Isabella gets in free, as does everyone on their birthday.
• Swap in New England Aquarium (Downtown and the Waterfront): Whale-watching trips to Stellwagen Bank take about three to four hours; take seasickness precautions if you need them.
• Swap in Boston Public Library, Central Library (Back Bay): Sit in the courtyard on a sunny day; it is one of the calmest spots in Back Bay.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–13 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.1 hours in December to 15.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Metro. The T's four subway lines meet downtown at Park Street, Downtown Crossing, Government Center and State; the Green Line's branches serve Back Bay, Fenway and the museums.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Boston
• 3 days in Boston
• 4 days in Boston
• 5 days in Boston
• 7 days in Boston

Questions travellers ask