Free Things to Do in Boston, MA

Boston is one of my favorite cities in the world! Having once lived there for about eight years, I learned that there are a lot of things that you can do in Beantown for free, especially if you are willing to do a little walking! Here are some of my favorite things to do in Boston that don’t cost a penny:

1) The Freedom Trail – Walking the Freedom Trail is an activity that most Boston tourists have heard about, but the fact that it is well-known doesn’t make it any less interesting! The Freedom Trail is approximately two and a half miles long, and it takes visitors past sixteen different historic sites in the city. The Visitor Center is located on the Boston Common, and the route is marked by a painted red line on the sidewalks, so you don’t even need to buy a map. A few of the sites (like the Paul Revere House) do have admission fees if you want to go inside the buildings, but just walking along the trail itself can provide a lot of historic information. Trail-goers can learn a great deal just by reading the educational signs and plaques that can be found at most of the sites.

2) Window shopping on Newbury Street – Newbury Street is one of the best places in Boston to see and be seen. It would be easy to spend hours browsing through the numerous boutiques and art galleries without spending a cent. Some of the more well-known shops on Newbury Street include Chanel, Gucci, Godiva, Sephora, Aveda, and Vera Wang.

3) Castle Island and Fort Independence – Located in South Boston, Castle Island is a local hangout that many tourists never hear about and never get to see. Getting there is not particularly easy. You will need a car, or you will need to take the subway (Red line) and then catch a bus. But the hassle is worth it! Castle Island is a beautiful refuge from life in the city. There are great walkways for strolling, running, or rollerblading. The kids will love the playground and watching airplanes take off and land at Logan Airport. Or you can bring a blanket and just lay out on the grass in the sun. If you are willing to spend a little money, you can get some decent fried seafood at the on-site snack bar.

4) Exploring Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market – Faneuil Hall was built in 1742 by Peter Faneuil, a wealthy Boston merchant. Today, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are home to numerous eateries, bars, and shops, such as Newbury Comics and Urban Outfitters. This is a great place to hang out and people watch, as the marketplace is always packed. Musicians, jugglers and magicians also perform every day, and there are often special events like the Street Performers festival, which took place on Memorial Day weekend in 2009.

5) Taking a stroll through the Boston Common/Public Gardens – On a nice day, there is nothing more beautiful than taking a leisurely stroll through the Boston Common and Public Gardens. Many different types of flowers bloom in the Gardens depending on the season. You can also take the kids to see the very popular Make Way for Ducklings bronze statutes near the Public Gardens’ Charles and Beacon streets entrance. If you are willing to shell out some cash, you can take a fifteen minute paddleboat ride around the Public Garden Lagoon on one of the famous Swan boats for just $2.75 for adults and $1.50 for children.

6) Museum of Science observatory – The Gilliland Observatory is located on the roof of the Museum of Science’s parking garage. Equipped with a computer-controlled telescope, it’s a great way to get in some free stargazing, weather permitting. The observatory is free to the public on Friday nights from 8:30-10 p.m. As an added bonus, the view of the city from the rooftop is amazing!

Source: Personal experience; www.thefreedomtrail.org/; www.swanboats.com/; www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com