A Week in Boston Itinerary - 5 to 7 Days in Boston for a Fun Filled Vacation
Planning to spend a week in Boston and wondering how to make the most of your time? We’ve put together a great itinerary for 5 to 7 days in Boston that will show you the best of the city in just one week! From guided sightseeing tours and museums to historical buildings and beyond, Boston has a ton of fun things to see and do - we've grouped them by neighborhood.
Must-see places include:
- Fenway Park and Back Bay
- Faneuil Hall, the Waterfront, & Noth End
- Cambridge, MA
- Salem, MA
Planning to visit lots of Boston attractions? With Go City® you won't miss a thing, plus with a pass, you can save up to 50% compared to buying individual entry to everything you want to do - winning!
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Fenway Park and Back Bay Area
Fenway Park Tour
If visiting "America's favorite baseball stadium" appeals to you, a guided tour of Fenway Park is the way to go. This behind-the-scenes look at Fenway's features and typically off-limits-to-the-public sites provides an in-depth look at this Boston landmark. Some of the famous stadium areas you'll visit on the tour include Pesky’s Pole, the Green Monster, the Lone Red Seat, and more.
Visit the Boston Red Sox website for more information on games.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
The area surrounding the famously historic baseball stadium - which you should also check out - has evolved in recent years with lots of apartment developments and trendy restaurants, shops, and boutique fitness studios that come along with it.
Back Bay Area
So named because it was once a bay before the city of Boston filled in the bay to create more land, Back Bay is largely considered the cultural hub of Boston with multiple museums, one-of-a-kind boutiques, brick row houses, trendy restaurants, cafes, and more.
Museum of Fine Arts
The highly regarded Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is home to 450,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, furniture, and more that span from ancient Egypt to the present day. It’s known for a rotating series of temporary exhibits that always offer a fresh take on relevant topics in culture today.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Steward Gardner Museum is another popular museum space for Boston visitors. More than a museum, the building itself was the former estate of Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) herself before she gifted the estate to the museum.
You'll get to learn all about the fascinating and progressive lifestyle led by the art collector, philanthropist, and active member of Boston's high society, as you tour the picturesque mansion, complete with an indoor courtyard/garden. You'll even get to see the tragically blank walls where the pieces of art that were stolen during the infamous art heist of 1990 once hung.
With more than 2,500 works of art from masters like Titian, Rembrandt, Manet, Degas, Sargent, and more, you’re bound to find a favorite here.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Swan Boats of Boston
One of Boston’s best-loved historic treasures, is located in Boston Public Garden. If there's a line, it usually moves pretty fast! Be sure to spend some time walking around the paths that take you throughout the gardens, you'll stumble upon some beautiful scenery and great photo ops.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Freedom Trail Walking Tour
You'll literally 'see' the trail winding through Boston, marked by a double brick line (or sometimes red painted line) that punctuates the sidewalk and takes you past major points of historical and cultural interest. While visitors often walk along the line at their own pace, we recommend taking a guided tour to make sure you see all the major highlights so you can learn about each stop and its significance to Boston’s history as you go.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Boston Public Library (free)
The Boston Public Library is one of the most architecturally stunning buildings in Boston and worth stepping into even if just for a glimpse of their beautiful reading rooms. A visit to the library is one of the top things to do in Back Bay.
Faneuil Hall and North End area
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (free)
This busy shopping destination is a must for Boston visitors. Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are both historic buildings. Faneuil Hall was where America's first town meeting was held, and is now home to souvenir shops and tourist information booths. Quincy Market was once a commercial center and is now home to tourist-friendly restaurants and popular stores.
Boston Children’s Museum
If you're traveling with kids to Boston, the Boston Children's Museum is a must-see. Designed specifically to entertain, engage, and spark curiosity about the world we live in, this museum is packed with tons of interactive and informative exhibits.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Cambridge area
Harvard University
Explore the grounds of the school that attracts some of the best and brightest students from around the world - Harvard University. Get the most out of your visit by taking a walking tour, led by a current student, for a true insider's perspective on all the highlights and important history behind some of the campus' stunning architecture, beautifully landscaped green spaces, and famous sites.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Located on the Harvard University campus and showcasing earth science, and biology, this museum is packed with natural gemstones, fossils, skeletons, artifacts, and more. You'll get to see over 12,000 specimens from around the globe – including dinosaurs!
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
Located right next to the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is another great museum to visit in the Cambridge area and focuses on exploring ancient world cultures. From Native American art to Mayan architecture, you’ll find a fascinating range of artifacts and ancient objects on display.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Tour
Explore the campus of another world-renowned school, guided by one of the students. This hub of innovation - where the internet itself was invented - served as the setting for Good Will Hunting, and it’s the place where Buzz Aldrin got his doctorate in astronautics. Get a glimpse into campus life, learn more about what studying at MIT is like, and see key locations throughout.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Salem area
Explore historic Salem, known for the infamous witch hunts of the late 1600s.
Salem Witch Museum
Learn all about the evolution of witches, or the belief in witches, throughout history at Salem's most visited museum. The museum explores the presence of witches in various cultures with of course a particular focus on the witch hysteria of 1692 in a way that is both educational and entertaining.
Tip: check out the museum's gift shop - they sell tons of fun souvenirs, crafts by local artists, and some of the most fun Halloween costumes and decorations around.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
House of the Seven Gables
Built in 1668, New England’s oldest wooden mansion was once home to Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter. Take a guided tour of the famous home, stroll through the well-kept gardens, and enjoy the waterfront views.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is only available on the All-Inclusive Pass.
Peabody Essex Museum (PEM)
The PEM has a fascinating history of its own worth exploring. It’s home to a collection of one million artifacts and treasures, collected by sea captains who brought back interesting treasures and rare finds from their adventures overseas, and which make for a unique representation of world history. In addition to its permanent collection, the PEM dedicates a lot of resources to its temporary exhibits -- be sure to check their site before you go to see what's going on.
🎟️ Getting in: Admission is included on all passes.
Save on admission to top Boston attractions with Go City®
Discover our full line-up of Boston attractions including the USS Constitution Museum, Salem Witch Museum, Paul Revere House, and more.
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