Outdoors · Boston · United States
5 best outdoor things to do in Boston
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Amoran002, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Freedom Trail, Boston Common and Public Garden and New England Aquarium. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 11–15 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 11–15 hours
- Areas
- Downtown, Beacon Hill and Downtown and the Waterfront
Outdoors in Boston
Historic site · Downtown
1.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.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
Garden · Beacon Hill
2.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.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
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Aquarium · Downtown and the Waterfront
3.New England Aquarium
Whale-watching trips to Stellwagen Bank take about three to four hours; take seasickness precautions if you need them.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
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Garden · Jamaica Plain
4.Arnold Arboretum
Visit in May, when the lilacs bloom; take the Orange Line to Forest Hills and walk about 10 minutes to the gate.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Island · Boston Harbor
5.Boston Harbor Islands
Pack a picnic and note the return ferry times; services are infrequent and missing the last boat back is not an option.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Views
- Nature
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | Freedom Trail | 3–4 hours |
| Beacon Hill | Boston Common and Public Garden | 1–2 hours |
| Downtown and the Waterfront | New England Aquarium | 2–3 hours |
| Jamaica Plain | Arnold Arboretum | 2 hours |
| Boston Harbor | Boston Harbor Islands | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 3 free, 1 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Freedom Trail; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Downtown): Freedom Trail, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Beacon Hill and Downtown and the Waterfront): Boston Common and Public Garden → New England Aquarium, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Jamaica Plain): Arnold Arboretum, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Boston Harbor): Boston Harbor Islands, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- September: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm, settled weather and a lively city as students return; conferences make it one of the priciest months for hotels.
- June: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 10 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm, long days with outdoor dining and harbour trips in full swing; the sea is still cold for swimming.
- August: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm and relaxed, with the sea at its warmest; students are away until the end of the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Beacon Hill — Gas lamps, brick pavements and the gold-domed State House
- Downtown and the Waterfront — Faneuil Hall, the aquarium, harbour cruises and the Rose Kennedy Greenway
More of Boston
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Boston?
Freedom Trail. A red-brick line in the pavement links sixteen historic sites over about 4 km: Boston Common, the State House, the Granary Burying Ground where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock are buried, the Old State House near the Boston Massacre site, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, Old North Church and, across the river in Charlestown, USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument.
+Which of these are free in Boston?
Freedom Trail, Boston Common and Public Garden and Arnold Arboretum.