Boston’s Top 10 For Your First Visit

Boston is a thriving, clean, and well maintained major metropolitan area. Boston doesn’t have the world’s tallest buildings, but it’s prestigious and endearing architecture around every corner sets it apart from the rest. And the food! How to choose from so many options?! These reasons and many others make Boston one of my favorite cities I have ever gone (across the globe). A place I could call home if it just wasn’t so cold. This list of Boston’s Top 10 covers the main attractions that cannot be missed for your first time in the city!

Boston’s Top 10 sights for your first time in the city:

During our last visit, we stayed at the Westin Copley Place. It is a central location to Boston’s top 10 must see’s, allowing for a quick walk or bike ride to any destination. To have enough time to explore, plan on a three day stay.

1 – Water Taxi

Flying into Logan International? Take a water taxi across the harbor – weather permitting. We scheduled our pick-up time in advance and the airport shuttle has a stop at the taxi dock. This is the perfect time to capture all the selfies you could want with a backdrop of the downtown skyline – also beats the view from inside the harbor tunnel. 🙂

2 – Christopher Columbus Park & Boston Harbor

This area has something to do at all hours of the day – watch the sunrise over the harbor in the morning, grab lunch at one of the many restaurants and food trucks (there are an abundance of patios/benches that allow you to overlook the harbor), or just relax in the evening after a long day of touring Boston. I prefer grabbing a bench in the evening. The sunset behind the lighting of the Custom House Tower is remarkable!

 

3 – Freedom Trail

There is no better way to experience Boston’s history than walking the Freedom Trail. The 2.5 mile long trail is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burial grounds, parks, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond. The path weaves in and out of downtown, but don’t worry about getting lost because the path is marked with red bricks (you can also purchase an app that gives you a self-guided tour of each of the 16 locations).

4 – Quincy Market

You are sure to work up an appetite strolling through Boston. Don’t know what you are in the mood for? No worries – the Quincy Market (aka Faneuil Hall Marketplace) has everything you could want. The market is an indoor/outdoor dining and shopping hub with over 50 restaurants to choose from, showcasing culinary arts of many nationalities. Most restaurants are order at the counter and then find a spot in the public seating area.

Almost better than the food, is the abundance of street performers, including musicians, acrobats, and break dancers, leaving you with a meal and a show!

Also, a notable mention is the amount of farmer’s markets found throughout Boston such as SoWa. You will run across fresh fruits and veggies, small boutiques, art, and hand crafted items.

5 – Public Garden & Boston Common

The largest park area in Boston is the Public Garden and Boston Common. Technically two different parks, they are right across from each other in the middle of the city. The Public garden is better maintained with many willows and cherry trees. You’ll find many tourists riding around on the swan boats!

  

6 – Little Italy/North End

Arguably my wife’s favorite Boston destination, Little Italy is a must do! There are many restaurants to choose from, but try to make a reservation because they are always full – truly authentic Italian food, prepared by authentic Italian heritage. Our last visit was during an Italy/Germany UEFA EURO (soccer) quarter-finals match. All throughout the streets of Little Italy, there were crowds of Italians peering through windows & yelling at the TV in a patriotic fashion.

La Galleria 33 is our favorite restaurant to date. Smaller and less crowded than most, it is a quaint place with great food and service. The chicken bona boca is da morire (to die for)! After dinner we like to take a stroll to the harbor and spend some time in Christopher Columbus Park, since it is so close, and give ourselves some time to digest!

  

7 – Newbury Street

There are hundreds of shops and restaurants scattered throughout the mile-long stretch of Newbury Street, so plan a full morning here (or afternoon).

  

8 – Charles River Esplanade

If you don’t get enough exercise walking miles through Boston, take an early morning walk or run through the Charles River Esplanade. More than just trails running alongside the Charles River, the park offers many activates, from renting sail boats to tennis courts. Not ready to take on the run through the park, we rented bikes through Boston’s public bike transportation, Hubway, for a morning ride.

9 – MIT & Harvard Campuses

Extend your Charles River Esplanade bike ride across the river to MIT & Harvard. It is possible to tour both campuses in a morning. With Brooke being in Law School, Harvard Law was a must! The campuses are easily accessible to the public. A great brunch spot after touring the campuses is Grafton Street Pub & Grill on Harvard Square.

10 – Fenway Park

The final stop on Boston’s Top 10 is my personal favorite, Fenway Park! Since I was a child, it has been my dream to experience a game at Fenway Park. Finally, I got to attend a game and it was on Independence Day! The BoSox put on a clinic against the Rangers with a 12-5 victory. It was a 37 hit and 5 homerun game and Mookie Betts blasted one over the Green Monster!

Built in 1912, Fenway is the oldest (and most beloved) stadium in the United States and one of the smallest. Not to disappoint, the stadiums architecture molds right into the unique feel of the city. If you visit is in the off season, take a tour of the stadium.

Don’t want to spend all your money on ballpark dogs? Grab lunch at Loretta’s Last Call before heading into the stadium for a hefty portion of southern style plates.

That wraps up our list of Boston’s Top 10 sights for your first time in the city! Feel free to contact us through our Travel Planning page if you have any questions or want assistance planning your own trip to Boston!

Be sure to subscribe to our blog, follow us @HartmansTravel, and join us as we #TravelinLove!

~ Zain Hartman