Best Free Things to Do in Boston

Freedom Trail, Arnold Arboretum, Public Gardens, Sam Adams Brewery

Feb 15, 2008

Boston Skyline, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Traveling to Beantown on a budget? No worries! The historic city offers loads of sightseeing attractions and outdoor pursuits that won't cost you a cent.

Here is a list of six absolutely free attractions to see and activities to do when you're in Boston on a budget.

Take a self-guided tour of the Freedom Trail. Boston is so rich in history, especially from the American Revolutionary War. Learn about this period of time while you stroll any or all of the 2.5-mile red-brick or red-painted trail through downtown Boston. Stop at 16 different historic sites along the way. See Paul Revere's House built in 1680 and the Old North Church, where lanterns hung to signal the "British are coming!" A good place to start is the Visitors Information Center on Boston Common, public park dating back to 1634.
Hop aboard the U.S.S. Constitution. "Old Ironsides" is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat today, and it's docked in Boston Harbor. The ship, officially known as the U.S.S. Constitution, is one of the highlighted sites along the Freedom Trail. Free tours with costumed docents are held on board every 30 minutes during the warm-weather months. Daily raising and retiring of the flag, at 8 a.m. and sunset, include cannon fire.
Walk through glorious gardens at the Arnold Arboretum. Affiliated with Harvard University, this is the oldest public arboretum in North America (originating in 1872) and one of the world's leading centers for the study of plants. The 265-acre grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year. Admission is free, but donations are always welcome.
Tour the Sam Adams Brewery. This famous beermaker in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston offers tours Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m., Fridays from noon to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tours depart approximately every 45 minutes, and participants of legal drinking age (21) can sample the brews. Tours are free, but a suggested voluntary donation of $2 goes to local charities.
Stroll through fun neighborhoods and marketplaces. Boston is a compact city with dozens of neighborhoods that make great places for strolls. Check out the shops and streetside entertainment at Fanueiul Hall Marketplace; see the chic boutiques of Newbury Street; explore the North End with its rich Italian heritage; enjoy the collegiate vibe of Harvard Square in Cambridge.
Watch the swan boats at the Public Garden. Established in 1837, this is the first public botanical garden in the United States. Visitors and local residents have delighted in taking rides on the famous swan boats in the Public Garden Lagoon since 1877. This is a lovely oasis in the middle of city for relaxation and reflection.
See important historic sights. Again, history reigns in Beantown, and important landmarks don't disappoint. Climb 294 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument for awesome views of the city skyline; take a 45-minute guided tour of the Massachusetts State House, the oldest building on Beacon Hill; see the sights from the observation tower at Boston's Custom House, the city's first skyscraper.