Boston Tips and Tricks
Boston is an amazing city with a rich history and culture. It is also a great place to visit for its many attractions, such as the Freedom Trail, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Fenway Park. If you are planning a trip to Boston, this Boston tips and tricks guide will help you out!
- If you are getting in early and can’t check in until much later, I highly recommend Bounce Luggage storage! It’s only about $5 a day per bag. I use it whenever I get in early and don’t want to carry around my bags.
- Get a GoCity Boston Pass! The GoCity Boston Pass is a great way to save money on admission to some of the city’s top attractions. It includes admission to nearly every single thing on my Boston Itinerary.
- If you do get a GoCity Pass, some things need to be booked in advance! So make sure you grab those spots where you can!
- Walk or take public transportation. Boston is a very walkable city, and it is easy to get around using public transportation. The city has a subway system, buses, and a commuter rail system. It was extremely robust and easy to use! Check out the MBTA for Boston & Commuter rail for getting to Salem!
- Visit during the off-season. Boston is a great place to visit year-round, but if you want to avoid the crowds, consider visiting during the off-season (October-April). I visited during April and it was so fun! The downside is some attractions will be closed around this time (Swan Boats & North End Italian Food Tour doesn’t open til May!)
- If you’re travelling solo, check out my tips for solo traveling!
Where to Stay
When it comes to choosing the right area to stay in Boston, you’ll find a variety of vibrant neighborhoods, each with its own charm and appeal. Downtown Boston offers convenience and easy access to popular attractions like Faneuil Hall and the historic Freedom Trail. For a mix of history and modernity, Beacon Hill is perfect with its cobblestone streets and beautiful brownstone houses. However, because I’m not interested in spending a million dollars for a 3 day trip, I opted actually to stay right outside of Boston. I stayed close to Harvard which is near cambridge and it was more affordable and close to public transportation so getting to the city wasn’t too bad! I’m all about saving that money!
How Long to Stay
While the answer ultimately depends on your personal preferences and schedule, I honestly think that three to four days to fully immerse yourself in the Boston scenery is plenty! With such a deep-rooted past and an abundance of landmarks to explore, you’ll want to dedicate ample time to visit iconic sites like the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, and the historic neighborhoods of Beacon Hill and Back Bay. Additionally, don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in Boston’s renowned culinary scene, from savoring fresh seafood at Quincy Market to experiencing the flavors of Little Italy in the North End. Whether you’re interested in history, art, sports, or simply strolling through picturesque streets, Boston offers a delightful blend of experiences that will make your visit truly memorable. So, allow yourself enough time to savor the city’s offerings and create lasting memories in this captivating destination.
What to Do & Eat
Boston has so much to offer, from museums, food, history. I put in hours and hours of research to decide what the heck to do or where to go to eat while I was here. I had lots of restaurants I was planning on going to that were highly recommended through the internet but just so incredibly expensive, so a lot of plans were changed last minute while exploring the city. Check out my 3-day itinerary to see the details!
How to Get Around
Public transportation is an AMAZING option for Boston! The trains and buses come often and go everywhere. I didn’t use Uber or Lyft one single time while in this city. Each ride within Boston was just $2.40 and you can transfer between trains and buses as much as you want within 2 hours! The public transportation goes from Harvard to North End to Back Bay and more! It’s called MBTA and it was extremely convenient. I even opted to use public transportation to get to Salem using the commuter rail, for literally only $5 one way. For perspective, this would have been about a $40 uber or Lyft ride one way!
I also took advantage of the GoCity Pass for the CityView Hop On & Off Bus. It’s good for 2 days and takes you all over Boston! It’s a bit more private than the buses and trains and also comes with commentary about the city!
What I Would Do Differently
When I go on these trips, I research for hours and hours for weeks, sometimes months. However, even after all that research and time, plans change and things happen where I decide if I come back to the city that I will change it up a bit to be able to get to do everything and more!
I loved all the attractions, however, quite a few things were still closed at the end of April. I would probably shoot for May next time. Swan Boats, Pirate Museum, the North End Italian Food Tour were all not open yet, and many of them said they opened just one week later than when I went! Especially that food tour. It’s included with GoCity Pass and sounds amazing!
Boston 3-Day Itinerary
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