Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States with roots tracing back to the mid-1600s. It has seen the birth, expansion, and change of a nation throughout its existence. Despite this evolution, it has never lost its sense of self.
Today, the city preserves its past while launching the world into a brighter future. It’s home to some of the nation’s first historic sites, including Paul Revere’s home, the Old State House, and Massachusetts Hall at Harvard University. And it has some of the world’s most prestigious universities, with alumni that have gone on to lead nations, start innovative companies, and shape society.
Just like our Boston scent, the city is captivating and inspirational.
Discover the city’s sights and tastes through our Boston travel guide.
Rich in History: What to Do in Boston
Follow the Freedom Trail to see historical sites like Paul Revere’s house, the Old State House, the Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Boston Common, and Bunker Hill.
Explore vibrant multicultural neighborhoods like Chinatown and North End (Little Italy) to learn about the significance and evolution of these diverse communities.
Tour Boston’s historic colleges and universities, including Harvard, Tufts, MIT, Boston College, Boston University, and Northeastern.
Attend a Boston Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park, Major League Baseball’s oldest stadium.
What to Eat
Breakfast/Brunch
The Friendly Toast is a great place to fuel up in the morning before a day of sightseeing. It’s easy to see why it won Boston Magazine’s “Best Breakfast” category, with menu items like pumpkin pancakes, hash quiche, and donut French toast.
Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar is not only a Davis Square fixture, but it’s also on the National Register of Historic Places. It has a classic diner car façade and serves up spicy “En Fuego” Bloody Marys and French-and Portuguese-inspired eggs benedict.
Lunch
The Banks Fish House is a restaurant that pays homage to generations of Atlantic fishermen through their New England-style seafood menu. Head chef Robert Sisca’s sensational menu includes a lobster bake, fried fishermen’s platter, smoked mackerel pate, and a Berkshire pork belly New England clam chowder.
Contessa Trattoria is a modern glass rooftop terrace that serves Italian fare on its “garden in the sky” at The Newbury Boston. You can pair an imported burrata cheese appetizer with their decadent prosciutto and black truffle Focaccine pizza while enjoying sweeping views of the Back Bay.
Dinner
Neptune Oyster is a restaurant that appears in almost every Boston travel guide. While all of their seafood dishes are exceptional, they’re widely known for having one of the best lobster rolls around town.
Pagu mixes two cuisines you don’t typically see together – Spanish and Japanese. Unique creations at this restaurant include the suckling pig with bao and the spicy hand-pulled biang biang noodles.
Where to Stay
The Omni Parker House has a stately, old-world presence in historic downtown where many incredible moments have taken place since its construction in 1855. This Boston hotel’s on-site restaurant, Parker’s Restaurant, invented the Boston cream pie and Parker House rolls and catapulted the careers of celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse and Jasper White. Additionally, it hosted literary legends, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charles Dickens, as regulars. Its contributions to food history and convenient location along the Freedom Trail, with easy access to the Boston Common, Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall Marketplace, make it a great spot to stay for foodies who want to explore without a car.
The Liberty in Beacon Hill is steeped in history and noteworthy for its architectural transformation. What was once the Charles Street Jail is now a 298-room hotel, maintaining its “Boston Granite Style'' exterior but with converted jail cells serving as cozy dining nooks at its on-site restaurant, CLINK. The Liberty is a national historic landmark that honors the hotel’s rich history while incorporating contemporary elements into its interior design. With its historic preservation, dramatic architecture, and central location, the Liberty tops our list for a “Quintessentially Boston” experience.
Did you enjoy this Boston travel guide with ideas for what to do? Explore other WanderMist collections and scents to discover other exciting destinations.