Boston

Day 1: Freedom Trail, North End and the Harbour

Start with Boston’s revolutionary roots and handsome brick streets before crossing the river to Charlestown. Today mixes iconic history with neighbourhood flavour, ending by the water if the weather plays nice.

• Morning: Begin on Boston Common and follow the Freedom Trail past the Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church and Granary Burying Ground; detour through Beacon Hill’s cobbles (Acorn Street) for photos and coffee on Charles Street. Aim to start by 08:30 to beat tour groups; in winter, use grippy footwear for icy bricks.
• Midday: Continue the trail via Old South Meeting House and Old State House to Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market for a quick bite. Press on to the North End for the Paul Revere House and Old North Church; reward yourself with cannoli (shorter queues at Bova’s, open 24/7).
• Afternoon: Walk over to Charlestown for the Bunker Hill Monument (free climb when open) and the USS Constitution and its museum. In warmer months, take the MBTA harbour ferry back to Long Wharf for a scenic return; in winter, hop the Orange Line instead.
• Evening: Dine in the North End (book ahead on weekends); for a snug historic finish, have a pint at Warren Tavern in Charlestown. Summer option: a sunset harbour cruise; winter option: linger in a cosy wine bar and plan tomorrow over a bowl of chowder.

Day 2: Art, Back Bay elegance and the Seaport

Today pairs world‑class art with Victorian boulevards and ends amid gleaming glass on the waterfront. It’s a gentle arc from tradition to innovation—very Boston.

• Morning: Choose the Museum of Fine Arts or the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum next door; both open at 10:00 most days. Tip: MFA has pay‑what‑you‑wish entry on Wednesdays after 16:00; photography isn’t allowed in the Gardner’s historic galleries.
• Midday: Stroll to Copley Square for the Boston Public Library’s murals and tranquil courtyard, then lunch at Eataly in the Prudential Centre or a café on Newbury Street. In bad weather, use the indoor skywalks linking Copley Place and the Prudential to browse without freezing.
• Afternoon: Walk the Mass Ave Bridge to Cambridge for river views, then explore MIT’s public art (download the campus map) and peek at Kendall Square’s labs and cafés. It’s breezy on the bridge—layers are your friend even in June.
• Evening: Head to the Seaport for the ICA’s harbour‑facing galleries; in summer, add the free ICA Watershed in East Boston via museum ferry. Book dinner in Fort Point/Seaport (tables go fast on Fri/Sat), then grab a nightcap with skyline views.

Day 3: Harvard, neighbourhood arts and a show (or game)

Round things off with campus charisma, indie bookshops and local art before a big‑night finish. Flex this day to the season—foliage, rink nights, free Shakespeare—Boston’s rhythm changes with the weather.

• Morning: Roam Harvard Yard, then the Harvard Art Museums and nearby book havens like Harvard Book Store and Grolier Poetry. Autumn brings glorious colour; on wet days linger in the museums’ bright courtyards.
• Midday: Lunch in Harvard Square, then amble the river path; families can swap in the Museum of Science (easy Red→Green Line connection). If you’re here on Patriots’ Day week, expect marathon buzz and some road closures.
• Afternoon: Explore the South End’s SoWa arts district; on Sundays May–Oct the Open Market blends artists, vintage and food trucks, while 450 Harrison’s studios are a good bet year‑round. Prefer greenery? Head to the Arnold Arboretum (peak lilacs in May; blazing foliage in late Oct).
• Evening: See a production at the A.R.T. in Cambridge or The Huntington/Colonial in the Theatre District; arrive 20–30 minutes early as late seating is strict. Sports fan? Swap in a Red Sox game at Fenway (Apr–Sept) or Bruins/Celtics at TD Garden; use the T—parking is dear and traffic is wicked.

By Air

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) – the primary gateway, 5–10 km from Downtown.
  • MBTA Silver Line SL1 (free from the airport) to South Station: ~20–30 minutes.
  • Free Massport shuttle to Airport station (Blue Line) then onward to Downtown: ~20–25 minutes.
  • Taxi/rideshare to central Boston: ~15–30 minutes off‑peak (longer in rush hour).
• Alternatives within driving distance:
  • Manchester–Boston Regional (MHT), New Hampshire: ~50–70 minutes.
  • T.F. Green/Providence (PVD), Rhode Island: ~60–90 minutes.
  • Worcester (ORH), Massachusetts: ~60–90 minutes.
  • Bradley International (BDL), Connecticut: ~2 hours.

By Train

• Main stations: South Station (principal hub), Back Bay, and North Station.
• Amtrak Northeast Corridor (South Station/Back Bay):
  • To New York City: Acela ~3 h 30–3 h 50; Northeast Regional ~3 h 50–4 h 30.
  • To Philadelphia: ~5–6 h (Acela faster end).
  • To Washington, DC: ~6 h 30–8 h.
  • To Providence: ~1–1 h 10.
• Amtrak Downeaster (North Station):
  • To Portland, ME: ~2 h 30; to Brunswick, ME: ~3 h 30.
• Amtrak Lake Shore Limited (South Station/Back Bay, daily):
  • To Albany, NY: ~5–6 h; to Chicago: ~19–20 h.
• MBTA Commuter Rail:
  • Extensive regional links from North Station and South Station across Greater Boston and beyond.

By Bus

• Main terminal: South Station Bus Terminal (also some services at Back Bay and Logan).
• Operators: Greyhound, Peter Pan, Megabus, FlixBus, Concord Coach, Dartmouth Coach.
• Typical times:
  • New York City: ~4–5 h 30 (traffic dependent).
  • Providence, RI: ~1–1 h 30.
  • Portland, ME: ~2–2 h 30.
  • Manchester/Concord, NH: ~1–2 h.
  • Hartford, CT: ~2–3 h.

By Car

• Primary routes:
  • I‑90 (Mass Pike) east–west into the city (all‑electronic tolling).
  • I‑93 north–south through central Boston.
  • I‑95 circumferential route around Greater Boston (joins US‑1 in places).
• Approximate driving times (without heavy traffic):
  • New York City: ~4–5 hours (via I‑95 or I‑84/I‑90).
  • Providence, RI: ~1–1 h 30.
  • Portland, ME: ~2 hours.
  • Albany, NY: ~3 hours.
  • Montreal, QC: ~5–6 hours (via I‑89/I‑93; border crossing time extra).
• Notes: Congestion and parking costs are high in central Boston; consider park‑and‑ride or public transport for the final leg. E‑ZPass compatible for regional tolls.