Top 15 Boston Sights

On the east coast of the USA lies the city of Boston. Boston is the capital of the state of Massachusetts and is one of the oldest cities in the USA and the largest city in New England. It was founded in 1630 and is also the cradle of American history. In this article, I have compiled for you the most popular top sights in Boston that you may not have had on your plan yet.

The city of Boston has a really great charm and combines not only the past and modernity, but presents itself with art and culture as well as great sights that you should have seen once in your life. But the surroundings of the city are also recommended. So if you want to see not only the sights in Boston, you should definitely plan 2 weeks for the vacation.

1. The Freedom Trail

If you want to experience the history of the USA, especially the independence movement, you have to walk the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a trail that connects all 16 sites that were instrumental in the independence movement in the United States.

At each of the sites, starting in Boston Common, through Charlestown to the Old State House, you can learn about their historical significance. At the end of the Freedom Trail is the Old State House, where John Adams proclaimed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Freedom Trail has a length of about four kilometers and so that you do not miss it, a red line leads along the trail on the sidewalks.

2. Black Heritage Trail

The Black Heritage Trail is 2.5 km long and deals with black American history. Here you can learn a lot about black history in the USA, but also especially in the city of Boston. Especially Boston has distinguished itself early on by granting equality and rights to blacks. In total, the Black Heritage Trail goes through 15 different places that are of great importance to black history. The start is at Faneuil Hall and ultimately the trail goes to Beacon Hill.

3. Boston Massacre

If you are interested in the independence movement, you should also look at the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre was the origin that ultimately sparked the War for Independence. In the Boston Massacre, five civilians were killed by British soldiers on March 05, 1770. It was this that went down in history as the Boston Massacre and was taken as the justification for the war. At the site of the Boston Massacre you can get comprehensive information about this important event in the history of the USA.

4. Museum of Fine Arts - A must for art lovers.

For art lovers, there is the Museum of Fine Arts. It is one of the oldest museums in the city and includes a worldwide art collection. In total, there are over 450,000 paintings that can be viewed here at the museum. Whether it is American history or ancient Egypt, there is much to see and experience here. One can look at the very extensive collection alone or also in the context of guided tours.

A guided tour has of course the advantage that you do not miss important paintings while walking. It is not possible to see 450,000 paintings in one day. There is comprehensive information about each painting. So that parents can look at the museum in peace, there are various offers with great children's programs for their children. So the children are in good hands and you can enjoy the art in peace.

5. Boston Tea Party Ships

Not to be missed when visiting Boston is the Boston Tea Party Ships in the harbor. The Boston Tea Party Ships date back to an event on December 16, 1773. Here, several English merchant ships were attacked by Indians disguised as ordinary citizens. The cargo on board the merchant ships was tea, which was stored in 342 boxes. The entire cargo was thrown overboard into the harbor by the Indians.

On the old and restored tea ships you can experience this story. For from this night, with the Sons of Liberty, also developed a political movement that exists to this day in the United States. Namely, a libertarian protest movement that has great significance. The visit of the Boston Tea Party Ships is connected with an entrance fee of 26.87 Euro per person. But every euro is worth it.

6. US Custom House Tower

If you want to see Boston in a 360 degree view from above and also look far into the surrounding area, the US Custom House Tower is a good choice. It is a skyscraper in the heart of the city, in the Financial District at McKinley Square. The US Custom House Tower has an observation deck and reaches a height of 151 meters. The US Custom House Tower was built between 1837 and 1847 and was then extended at the tower. How far you can look into the distance from the US Custom House Tower depends largely on the weather and the associated visibility conditions. To enhance the view into the distance, there are also permanently installed binoculars on the observation deck.

7. Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox

The city and its surroundings also have a lot to offer for sports fans. Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team. Fenway Park has been the stadium of the Boston Red Sox since 1912. Here you can not only visit during a game to experience the very special feeling of Fenway Park, but also outside the game times.

There are several guided tours available, dealing with the long and glorious history of Fenway Park on the one hand, but also with the Boston Red Sox on the other. If your heart beats for American football, you will find the Gillette Stadium of the New England Patriots outside the city.

Boston is a sports city, among other things, with venues for ice hockey and basketball in TD Garden. The famous Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics play here. In the mentioned venues, however, not only games in the various sports take place, but also regularly concerts of famous stars. If you want to visit such a concert, you must note that an early booking is necessary.

8. John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum & Library is the official museum of the presidency of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Whether visiting the library or viewing historical exhibits of John F. Kennedy, many things are possible here.

You can also learn a lot about the issues that the former president dealt with. Whether the Cuban Missile Crisis or with the space program, much information awaits one here. This information is not only available as part of guided tours or for reading, but also electronically and in films.

9. New England Aquarium

Since the city is located directly on the east coast and thus on the sea, there is of course an aquarium in Boston. The New England Aquarium is home to many animals that can also be found in the wild, in the sea.

Whether hundreds of species of fish, turtles or even sea lions and penguins. You can see them all at the New England Aquarium. In addition to viewing the animals, there are guided tours and information about each animal. In addition, the New England Aquarium also offers a daily trip to the sea, where you can see dolphins and humpback whales in the wild.

10. Museum of Science

The Museum of Science is all about science. The spectrum here ranges from the natural sciences to engineering. And when it comes to topics, the Museum of Science not only deals with inventions and technology of the past, but also with the future.

In addition to the exhibition of various topics on the large exhibition areas, you also have the opportunity to participate and touch. So you can experience science up close. In addition to the museum, there is also the Hayden Planetarium for a look at the stars, an IMAX cinema and a butterfly garden. Especially in the butterfly garden you can learn a lot about the different butterfly species, but also about breeding.

11. Boston Public Garden

The Boston Public Garden was opened in 1837 by philanthropist Horace Gray. It is the first and also the oldest botanical garden in the whole USA. Especially if you want to relax or take a ride on the swan boat fleet on the lake, this is possible in the Boston Public Garden.

The Boston Public Garden, which is located right next to the Boston Common, comes to a size of 97,000 m² and also offers a good view of the city skyline. The Boston Public Garden as well as the Boston Common are considered recreational parks where, among other things, Boston residents do many activities and also concerts and parades are held in the summer.

12. Tours of the city of Boston

In the capital city of Boston, there are a variety of tours offered by land and air. One example is the historical sightseeing boat tour. Whether along the coast or in the harbor, much can be seen and also experienced here in the context of the boat trip. Already from 40 Dollars per person a participation is possible here. If one would rather have creepiness, then the creepy tour through Boston offers itself here.

From 42 dollars, you can learn a lot about alleged ghosts and cemeteries in the city during the tour. The range of tours is of course much wider. There are also tours through the restaurants or through the city center, where you can learn a lot about the different skyscrapers and historic buildings.

13. North End

Old historic buildings of Boston with cobblestone streets , but also many historic buildings can be found in the North End. In the North End are also sights like the Old North Church and the house of Paul Revere.

But you don't only get sights in the North End of Boston, North End is also known as the Italian Quarter. You can find many small stores for shopping as well as many restaurants in this neighborhood. Especially if you want to experience the old Boston, a visit to the North End should not be missed.

14. Boston Athenæum

The Boston Athenæum is considered the oldest cultural institution in the state of Massachusetts. The Boston Athenæum is a mixture of museum and library. Thus, one can find here a variety of historical documents of the country's history, such as those of former U.S. presidents.

But in the Boston Athenæum you can also look at old photographs and many paintings. The art collection consists exclusively of paintings by American artists. For each of the paintings and documents that can be viewed in the Boston Athenæum, there is comprehensive information. If you would like to learn more, it is also worth taking a guided tour. The Boston Athenæum is a real insider tip!