Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, has been a culture hub ever since the Puritans built the first buildings there. The ancient city of Boston was able to become one of the most important in US history, in part because of the Boston Common, which encouraged community and free thought.
Boston is full of old buildings, streets, and green areas, from the North End to Back Bay and Cambridge. Each one tells a different story about a group of rebels, Paul Revere crossing the Charles River, hundreds of years of graduations in Harvard Yard, and the rise of Italian culture in the North End.
Many of the things to do in Boston are free to visit, which is a practice in the city. The Freedom Trail is one of the best parts of it. It’s a beautiful 2.5-mile walk through time and building that connects some of Boston’s best cheap and memorable attractions.
8 Fantastic Free Activities To Do in Boston
1. New England Holocaust Memorial
The New England Holocaust Memorial is an important and eye-catching place that is right next to Quincy Market in the historic Blackstone business area. Six 54-foot glass towers have been there since 1995 as a place to think about the terrible things that happened in WWII.
There are six million numbers etched into each tower, which stands for one of the six main death camps. Between each tower, there is a path with quotes from tourists spread out on it. This makes the experience thoughtful and emotional.
Just a short distance away from the Freedom Trail is the New England Holocaust Memorial. After that, you’ll be close to the Union Oyster House and some of Boston’s best restaurants.
2. Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has a different kind of history and society. Visitors can look forward to seeing a wide range of historic art and artifacts from many centuries ago because this is the biggest museum of its kind in Massachusetts.
The Museum of Fine Art has art from all over the world. You don’t have to leave this beautiful place to go anywhere in the world. The Claude Monet room is the best part of the museum’s European Wing. People can’t miss it. In the same way, the MFA’s amazing collection of Korean art and old Egyptian artifacts will stop you in your tracks.
Massachusetts locals can get into the Museum of Fine Arts for free on certain Mondays throughout the year.
3. Bunker Hill Monument
Boston’s first major fight in the Revolutionary War was the second-to-last stop on the Freedom Trail. It was at Bunker Hill that Colonel William Prescott led his ragtag group of Provincial forces against all odds.
The army fought each other head-to-head. In two of the three waves of the fight, they pushed the British back toward the Charles River. Getting hurt or killing almost half of the 2,400-person Redcoat troops.
The new force wouldn’t be able to handle the third wave. In spite of that, the outcome motivated them to do even better and marked the start of the end of British rule.
The Bunker Hill Monument is a beautiful 221-foot column that was finished in 1842. It is now a place to learn and think.
4. Massachusetts State House
There is a lot of fun going on at the Massachusetts State House, which is on beautiful Beacon Hill. The State House took the place of the “Old State House” in 1798. It used to be John Hancock’s cow field. This happened right after they won the Revolutionary War.
The building, which was designed by Charles Bulfinch with ideas from Sam Adams and Paul Revere, is a grand celebration of the city’s important role. From many places in Boston, even Cambridge, you can see the beautiful golden dome on top of Beacon Hill shining in the sun.
5. Beacon Hill
There is no better place in Boston to get lost than in the beautiful Beacon Hill neighborhood. Beacon Hill has many beautiful brownstones and homes right next to the Common and Public Garden. The rich red bricks are covered in Boston ivy, which makes you want to walk along the cobblestone streets with their shiny lampposts.
It wasn’t always like this, though. In the 1600s, a light was put up at the highest point in the neighborhood. Sailors and ne’er-do-wells would go there, which hurt its image. But in 1798, a new State House drew Boston’s wealthy people away from downtown and the North End.
In the past, John Hancock lived in the area, and famous writers like Sylvia Plath, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Robert Frost made it a literary hotspot.
6. Quincy Market
Faneuil Hall may have been the first big market building in downtown Boston, but the Quincy Market is what keeps that spirit alive today. Because so many sellers and customers were leaving Faneuil, it was decided that Quincy Market would meet Boston’s growing need for goods and food.
The beautiful Greek Revival building was finished in 1826 and has a large plaza that shows off the columns and pediments of the building. By the middle of the 20th century, Quincy Market was in bad shape. But a lot of work has been done to bring the market back to its glory days in the 1800s.
Nowadays, it’s a highlight of the Freedom Trail and a great spot to eat, rest (hello, lobster roll!), and look at the huge selection of souvenirs.
7. Back Bay
Paul Revere sent a canoe through the Back Bay to let the Continental Army (now the US Army) know that Britain was coming. In contrast, if you try to do the same brave thing, you will end up stuck in a boat on a busy road.
Back Bay is now one of the best places to live in Boston. It used to be a bay. The area has parks squished in between beautiful brownstone buildings. Tom Brady’s old house is in this area, as well as shops and the beautiful Charles River.
It’s fun to walk around the Back Bay, which has one of Boston’s few grid plans. Some of Boston’s tallest buildings are just past the historic houses. Copley Square and the Charles River Esplanade are just a few of the green areas that are close by.
8. Visit Harvard for free
As you walk through campus, you can see how famous and important Harvard is. Some of the oldest buildings at the college can be seen in Harvard Yard, which is in the middle of the university. From the Widener Library to the Memorial Church, the beautiful building will steal your heart.
The statue of Mr. Harvard is the most interesting part of any Harvard trip. But this is where you’ll find out about the Three Lies of Harvard. What’s the first? John didn’t start Harvard; he was a big donor to what was then called New College.
