Old North Church: The Lanterns, the Crypt and the New Tickets
The North End church where the two lanterns were hung in 1775: its history, what is inside, the 2026 Discovery Pass and bell chamber tour, the crypt, hours and services,…
Chart No. 01 · Boston Proper & Cambridge
The Boston Travel Guide
Three hundred and ninety-six years of streets worth walking, and where to eat, sleep and wander between them.
By the editors · Updated 20 Oct 2026 · Independent guide
Legend · Hover a mark to open its guide
- History
- Neighborhoods
- Culture & sport
- Waterfront
Now in season October
Boston in fall-
Mid-October
Head of the Charles Regatta
Three days of rowing races on the Charles, free to watch from the bridges and riverbanks.
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Mid to late October
Peak foliage
Color in the city peaks later than in the mountains. The Arnold Arboretum and the Emerald Necklace are the places to see it.
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All month
Salem in October
Haunted Happenings runs all month, about thirty minutes by commuter rail from North Station.
§ 01 · Latest dispatches
Latest Boston articles
§ 02 · Things to do
Things to Do in Boston
Things to Do in Boston: What’s Worth Your Time
A working guide to the best things to do in Boston: what each attraction costs, how long it takes, when to go, and the…
The Most Instagrammable Places in Boston, and When to Shoot Them
Twenty of Boston's best photo spots, from Acorn Street and the Public Garden to the Longfellow Bridge, the Zakim at night and Graffiti Alley,…
The Emerald Necklace: Boston’s Seven-Mile Olmsted Park Walk
Frederick Law Olmsted's chain of parks, from the Common through the Fens, Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum to Franklin Park: what each one…
Boston Ghost Tours: Which to Book, What They Cost, What You’ll Hear
Ghosts & Gravestones, independent lantern walks, pub crawls and a free self-guided route through Boston's burying grounds, with prices, age limits, the real stories…
Things to Do in Boston When It Rains: The Best Indoor Picks
The museums, libraries, markets and indoor Freedom Trail stops that make a wet Boston day worth having, with prices, closed days, four ready-made plans…
Is Boston CityPASS Worth It? The Math, Attraction by Attraction
What Boston CityPASS includes, what each attraction costs at the gate, which combinations save $70 and which save nothing, the catches in the fine…
§ 03 · The Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail, in sixteen stops
Two and a half miles of red brick line from Boston Common to Bunker Hill. Walk it in three hours, or take all day.
- Distance
- 2.5 mi
- Sites
- 16
- Cost
- Free
- Boston Common
- Massachusetts State House
- Park Street Church
- Granary Burying Ground
- King’s Chapel & Burying Ground
- Boston Latin School Site
- Old Corner Bookstore
- Old South Meeting House
- Old State House
- Boston Massacre Site
- Faneuil Hall
- Paul Revere House
- Old North Church
- Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
- USS Constitution
- Bunker Hill Monument
§ 04 · Ports of call
A directory of Boston neighborhoods
- Beacon HillKnown for: Gas lamps & brick lanesNearest T stop: Charles/MGH (Red Line)
- Back BayKnown for: Brownstones & Newbury StreetNearest T stop: Copley (Green Line)
- North EndKnown for: Cannoli, espresso & Paul RevereNearest T stop: Haymarket (Orange Line)
- South EndKnown for: Victorian rowhouses & brunchNearest T stop: Back Bay (Orange Line)
- SeaportKnown for: Harbor views & the ICANearest T stop: Courthouse (Silver Line)
- Fenway–KenmoreKnown for: The ballpark & the MFANearest T stop: Kenmore (Green Line)
- CharlestownKnown for: Old Ironsides & Bunker HillNearest T stop: Community College (Orange Line)
- CambridgeKnown for: Harvard, MIT & Central SquareNearest T stop: Harvard (Red Line)
- Jamaica PlainKnown for: The Arboretum & the PondNearest T stop: Green Street (Orange Line)
- ChinatownKnown for: Dim sum & the Theater DistrictNearest T stop: Chinatown (Orange Line)
§ 05 · Plan your visit
Notices for the visitor
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Getting here
Logan Airport to downtown
The SL1 Silver Line bus runs free from every terminal to South Station. For the waterfront, a free shuttle links the terminals to the Blue Line.
Airport transfer guide -
Getting around
Ride the T like a local
Four subway lines and the Silver Line reach nearly every sight. Tap a contactless card at the gate.
Boston transit guide -
When to go
The best time to visit
September and October bring crisp days and foliage. May and June are mild. Winter is cold, quiet and cheaper.
Weather by month -
On a budget
Boston for less
The Freedom Trail, the Common, the Public Garden and the Harborwalk cost nothing to enjoy.
Free things to do
§ 06 · Questions
Questions, answered
How many days do you need in Boston?
Three days covers the Freedom Trail, Back Bay, the North End and a museum or two. Add a fourth for Cambridge or a day trip to Salem.
When is the best time to visit Boston?
Late September to late October, for warm days, cool nights and foliage. Late April to early June is almost as pleasant and noticeably cheaper.
Is Boston a walkable city?
Yes. Most central sights sit within two miles of each other, and the T fills the gaps.
Do I need a car in Boston?
No. Parking is expensive and the streets are tight. Use the T, the commuter rail and the harbor ferries instead.