Family Favorites & Evening Tours

Boston is one of the easiest big cities in America to visit with kids. It is compact and walkable, history comes with costumes and cannon fire, and some of the best attractions are free. When the kids are in bed, or if you are traveling without them, the city has plenty to do after dark too.

The Public Garden, Swan Boats and Make Way for Ducklings

Next to Boston Common, the Public Garden opened in 1837 as the first public botanical garden in America. Its pedal-powered Swan Boats have been gliding around the lagoon since 1877, run by the same family for generations. They operate from spring into early fall.

Near the entrance you will find a mother duck and her eight ducklings in bronze, from Robert McCloskey's 1941 children's book Make Way for Ducklings, which is set right here. Kids climb all over them, and on holidays the ducks are often dressed for the occasion. In winter, the Frog Pond on the Common becomes an outdoor skating rink.

Museums and attractions kids love

New England Aquarium. A giant four-story ocean tank, penguins, sea turtles and harbor seals on the waterfront.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Kids can join a colonial town meeting, board a replica ship and throw tea into the harbor themselves.

Museum of Science. Hands-on exhibits, lightning shows and a planetarium, right on the Charles River.

Boston Children's Museum. Look for the giant Hood milk bottle out front.

Harvard and MIT. Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest university in the country. Older kids love touring Harvard Yard, and the nearby MIT campus is full of science and quirky art.

Boston after dark

As the sun goes down, the city changes. A sunset cruise lights up the skyline. Ghost tours lead you by lantern through old burying grounds and the darker corners of colonial history. Symphony Hall, home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops, is considered one of the finest concert halls in the world, and the Theatre District hosts touring Broadway shows.

For a quieter evening, walk the gas-lit streets of Beacon Hill. Acorn Street, a tiny cobblestone lane, may be the most photographed street in the city.

Free and easy family fun

Make Way for Ducklings statuesPublic Garden, free

Frog PondSpray pool in summer, skating in winter

The Freedom TrailFollow the red line on your own for free

Charles River EsplanadePlaygrounds, paths and boats

Rose Kennedy GreenwayFountains, a carousel and food trucks

Castle IslandFort Independence and harbor views in South Boston

Our top tours

Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour (13 Stops)

See the whole city in a day with live narration, and use it as your transportation.

★ 4.3 (6,100+ reviews)
Flexible
From about $51

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Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Interactive history with costumed actors. Kids get to toss tea overboard.

★ 4.7 (3,000+ reviews)
1 hour
From about $36

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Harvard University Campus Guided Walking Tour

Student-led tour of Harvard Yard and the stories behind America's oldest university.

★ 4.7 (3,900+ reviews)
70 min
From about $23

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Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley Tour

A theatrical night tour with stops at two of the city's oldest burying grounds.

★ 4.5 (2,700+ reviews)
2 hours
From about $46

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Boston Duck Boat Tour with Charles River Splash

Kids love the splash into the Charles. Book ahead in summer.

★ 4.6 (10,000+ reviews)
80 min
From about $62

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New England Aquarium Admission

The giant ocean tank, penguins and harbor seals on the waterfront.

★ 3.9 (500+ reviews)
2 hours
From about $40

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Aquarium, Museum of Science, the zoo? Do four of them for one price with Boston CityPASS® and save up to 45% →

Planning your days? See how these tours fit into our 2, 3 and 5-day Boston itineraries →