24 Hours in Boston

Wondering what to do with 24 hours in Boston? We took a trip up to the Northeast in mid-September, and during that time, we spent about a day exploring Boston. This city is full of history, charm and amazing Italian food. It’s definitely a city that shouldn’t be missed, and I wish we could have spent more time in Boston.

Below is a list of everything we did during our time in Boston. Even though we didn’t have a ton of time to explore, I feel like we covered a lot of ground!

Walk the Freedom Trail

If you’ve never been to Boston, the Freedom Trail is a must! The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walking tour through the city where you’ll find several historical points and landmarks. It’s a great way to learn about the history of our country. We decided to do the walking tour on our own, but there are several options if you prefer to have a knowledgeable guide take you through the trail. Depending on how much you stop along the way, it could take several hours. I would budget at least a half day for this!

Eat Italian Food in the North End

If you walk the Freedom Trail, you will find yourself in the North End when you reach the Paul Revere House. Boston’s North End is full of amazing Italian food and culture. We ate dinner at Limoncello and it was incredible. We ordered two different pasta dishes and they were both delicious and extremely filling. Another popular place in the North End is Mike’s Pastry. We didn’t make it over there, but if you are in need of a sweet treat, this would be the place to stop. I loved all of the old buildings and the overall charm of the North End.

Attend a Ball Game at Fenway Park

If the Red Sox are in town when you visit Boston, you have to go to a game at Fenway Park. Fenway is the oldest MLB ballpark and has so much history. Even though we aren’t Red Sox fans, we had so much fun at the game. My favorite part of the night was singing “Sweet Caroline” in the middle of the 8th inning. If you are unable to attend a game, I would try to do a tour of the ballpark instead. Overall, we had a great experience at Fenway and the fans were incredible.

Have a Sam Adams in America’s Oldest Tavern

I think it’s a requirement to have a Sam Adams when you visit Boston. While we were walking the Freedom Trail, we decided to stop in at America’s oldest tavern, Bell in Hand Tavern. This tavern has been around since 1795! It was really neat to stop in for a drink and think about what kind of people have been inside this establishment. It is a really small bar, so keep that in mind if you are visiting during a busy season.

I know there is so much more to see in Boston than what I have listed above, but I feel like we covered a decent amount of ground with the time we had! If we had a little more time, I would have liked to go on one of the swan boats in the Boston Commons.

Have you ever been to Boston? What are some of your favorite things about this city? I am sure we will be back someday (for more than 24 hours)!