“There are only 4 unique cities in the U.S.: New Orleans, San Antonio, Boston, and San Francisco.” Before you oppose! It’s not me, it’s Mark Twain, ok? While I think there are many wonderful beautiful cities in the U.S., I have to agree that Boston has its own distinct vibe. And while one day in Boston might not be enough to cover it all, you will definitely be able to see what makes it so unique.
Boston is one of my favorite cities in the U.S. in big part because it’s walkable. And while you walk around there’s no shortage of gorgeous buildings to see and delicious foods to eat. I used to visit Boston fairly often as I lived nearby in Nashua, New Hampshire. Boston was always that cool big city where my husband and I would drive for the weekend to try an exciting new restaurant, visit an art museum, or have a picnic in the Public Garden in summer.
I wrote this itinerary for 24 hours in Boston to include as many cool sights as possible without being too overwhelming. I also mentioned lots of my favorite restaurants, cafes, and bakeries along the way. To me, exploring a city is not only about history and architecture, but about its culinary scene too. I hope your one day in Boston will not only be entertaining, but delicious too!
One Day in Boston: a Few Tips
- You don’t need a car here. Boston is best explored on foot, and this itinerary is designed so that you can walk from one stop to the next. Wear comfortable shoes!
- If walking gets a bit tiring you can always take public transport. It’s well developed in Boston, the metro system is especially convenient.
- If the weather is nice, it’s a great idea to rent a bike. Bluebikes is Boston’s public bike-sharing program. There are over 400 stations in and around the city where you can get a bike by simply using an app.
- I tried to design this itinerary in the most logical way and included time stamps. Those are just meant to give you a sense of how long each stop will take. You can, of course, spend more or less time at each sight.
- I highly recommend making reservations for lunch and dinner at the restaurants I mention in this guide. It’s usually not too difficult to find a table at the cafes and bakeries, but restaurants can be booked out.
A Few Notes on the Freedom Trail if you have only 24 Hours in Boston
The Freedom Trail must be the most popular thing to do in Boston. It’s an iconic 2.5-mile route with 16 stops along the way, including museums, churches, burial grounds, and a ship, to name a few. On my first day in Boston, I followed the red line that marks the trail to a T.
I find it important to visit the iconic sights on the trail, but with only one day in Boston integrating some stops into your itinerary while skipping a few others might be a good idea. I tried to combine some of the Freedom Trail sights with other cool things to do and delicious things to eat in this guide so you get the best of your time in Boston.
Disclosure: this post contains some affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
One Day in Boston Itinerary
9.00 — Breakfast at flour Bakery
flour Bakery is one of my favorite places to eat in the city for so many reasons. First of all, it’s an iconic bakery (or rather a chain of bakeries by this point) opened by amazing Joanne Chang back in 2000. Almost 25 years on the Boston food scene says a lot about the quality of their goods. Which is my second point: they use high quality ingredients, locally-sourced when possible. You can feel it in every bite.
Their most popular item is, without a doubt, sticky buns with caramel and toasted pecans. But there are so many more pastries and sweets to try, including my favorite Boston cream pie in the city.
If you want something savory for breakfast, they got you covered too: there’s a range of bowls, sandwiches, and salads. Not to mention, the coffee is really great.
Tip: I included the original Boston cream pie a bit later in this itinerary, but the one from flour bakery is definitely my favorite! Give it a try!
flour bakery — 12 Farnsworth St
10.00 — Beautiful Views of Boston from the top of Independence Wharf Building
An 8-minute walk from the flour bakery
After breakfast, cross the Seaport Boulevard bridge and you will find yourself in front of Independence Wharf Building. The observation deck on top of the building is absolutely free of charge and might be one of the best kept secrets in Boston.
You see, the most popular spot to see Boston from above is Skywalk Observatory at Prudential Center which will cost you $25. If you are not willing to spend that much, Independence Wharf Building is a great alternative.
A few things to keep in mind: it’s only open on weekdays from 9am to 5 pm. You must present a photo ID to the security guard in the lobby to be able to go upstairs.
Independence Wharf Building — 470 Atlantic Ave
10.30 — A Walk by the Waterfront
Start at Independence Wharf Building and walk towards the Paul Revere House, the whole walk will take 17 minutes
Now walk along the Harborwalk, a scenic pathway that stretches 43 miles along Boston’s shoreline. Boston being a waterfront city, a stroll by the harbor is simply a must, to my mind. Make sure to stop at one of the wharves to take a few pictures.
10.50 — Boston’s North End and its Famous Sights
A 17-minute walk from the Independence Wharf Building
Boston’s North End is a tiny, but vibrant neighborhood with rich historical background. It occupies only 0.36 square miles, but is packed with great shops, bakeries, and restaurants. Considered the oldest residential neighborhood in the city, it has been a hub for Italian-American community since the late 19th century. Here’s what to see in the North End (I listed the stops in the logical order so you can simply follow in my footsteps)!
The Paul Revere House
The Paul Revere House, one of the stops on the Freedom trail (as promised, we are going to cover quite a few), is the oldest building in downtown Boston built in 1680. Paul Revere was a revolutionist famous for alerting the local militia about the British coming to Lexington and Concord. It was from this house that his “midnight ride” to Lexington started. Today, the house is turned into a museum. You won’t really have enough time to visit the museum, but you can admire the house from the outside.
Paul Revere Statue
Just 4 minutes away from the Paul Revere’s house is Paul Revere statue, one of the most photographed monuments in Boston. It took the sculptor Cyrus Edwin Dallin 16 years to finalize his creation. It was installed at its current spot and opened to public 40 years later, in 1940.
Old North Church
Directly behind the statue is located the Old North Church. In fact, one of the most recognizable photos of the North End is of the Paul Revere Statue with the Old North Church in the background.
It is the oldest surviving church in the city and another important landmark of the American Revolution history. The famous phrase “One, if by land, and two, if by sea” from the Henry W. Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” refers to the events that happened at the Old North Church on April 18, 1775.
The caretaker of the church, Robert Newman, and vestryman Captain John Pulling, Jr. climbed the steeple of the church to display two lanterns. That was a signal from Paul Revere that the British were coming from sea (across the Charles River). One lantern would have meant they were coming by land.
Inside the church, you will also find a crypt where over a 1000 prominent Boston residents were laid to rest.
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
A 2-minute walk away from the Old North Church is located the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, another one of the 16 stops along the Freedom Trail. It served as the final resting place for many merchants and artisans who lived and worked in the North End. This is where Robert Newman, the man who held two lanterns on top of the Old North Church to give signal about the coming British troops, is buried.
11.30 — Great Pastries and Coffee at the North End
A 7-minute walk from the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
Now make your way back to Hanover street, the main street of the neighborhood, because it’s time for a break! And by break I mean delicious food.
Cannoli at Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry
These two bakeries are located across the road from each other. They are both so famous there’s a line of people waiting outside at all times. While the bakeries offer a great range of pastries, the most popular item at both is undoubtedly cannoli.
Of course, you could simply buy cannoli at one bakery, but it’s fun to run a little competition and see whose cannoli you love best! I personally prefer Modern Pastry’s cannoli, because they go the extra mile of filling the shells in right in front of you. That helps the shell stay crispy.
Mike’s Pastry — 300 Hanover St
Modern Pastry — 257 Hanover St
Hazelnut Latte at Thinking Cup
Stop at the Thinking Cup coffee shop for a little break from walking. They make exceptional coffee using high quality coffee beans from Stumptown, a company that originated in Portland, Oregon. While all their coffee is great, I especially love the hazelnut latte made with freshly roasted hazelnut paste.
Thinking Cup — 236 Hanover St
12.30 — Fresh Produce at Boston Public Market and Haymarket
A 3-minute walk from the Thinking Cup
Boston Public Market is an indoor market that houses over 30 companies from New England under one roof. In short, this is a food Mecca and a place to get your locally made (often edible) souvenirs. Here, you will find everything from artisanal chocolates to special blends of spices to handcrafted stone tableware to pastrami sandwiches.
If your one day in Boston happens to be on a Friday or Saturday, then you can also visit the Haymarket, steps away from the Boston Public Market. It’s an open-air market that takes place on Blackstone, Hanover, and North Streets. Established in 1820, it has a long tradition of selling fresh produce. Today, it features over 40 fruit, vegetable, and seafood vendors.
Boston Public Market — 100 Hanover St
Haymarket — 100 Hanover St
13.00 — Vertical Garden Mural by Richard Haas
A 6-minute walk from the Boston Public Market
The enormous mural painted in the lobby of the office building at 101 Merrimack street is a true hidden gem! I told you, 24 hours in Boston might not be too much, but it’s enough to cover both popular tourist attractions and a few hidden gems!
The mural portrays a lush tropical garden. It takes over the whole wall and the ceiling creating an optical illusion where painted parts and real architectural elements blend into one.
Vertical Garden Mural — 101 Merrimack St
Important: you can only visit it on weekdays during office hours.
13.20 — a Quick Stop at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace
A 10-minute walk from the Vertical Garden mural
Faneuil Hall Marketplace includes 4 places in one location: Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market. The marketplace was built in 1742 and served both as a market and a gathering point. Faneuil Hall hosted the first town meeting in American history and is a site of many important speeches by prominent Americans.
Today, it’s a busy shopping and dining space. Perhaps, a bit too busy. I would walk around to see the beautiful restored buildings, but skip the dining part.
Tip: on the way to Faneuil Hall you will be passing the New England Holocaust Memorial. The memorial consist of 6 glass towers — each one symbolizes a major extermination camp. From under the towers, steam rises through metal crates which makes the whole experience even more eerie and heartbreaking.
13.40 — Old State House
A 3-minute walk from the Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Now you will be passing by the Old State House, the oldest surviving public building in Boston. It was constructed in 1713 and at different periods of time served as the seat of the Massachusetts General Court, the seat of the Massachusetts state government, the City Hall, and was even rented out for commercial use by merchants and tailors. Today, it’s a history museum.
13.45 — Neapolitan-style Pizza for Lunch
A 5-minute walk from the Old State House
MAST’ was the place where I tried my very first real Neapolitan pizza, just like in Italy (only I had never been to Italy by that point). I was introduced to this place by my Italian friends who swore the pizza was the most authentic you could find in Boston. And they were right.
MAST’ has a trained pizzaiolo, a wood-fired oven, and the best of Italian produce. It takes only 45 seconds to bake a pizza which is why it results in the most delicious puffed edges with blistered spots all over. I wrote more about this restaurant’s story and their technique here.
Tip: make a reservation beforehand.
Tip: don’t order desert! The next stop on this itinerary for 24 hours in Boston is perfect to satisfy your sweet tooth.
MAST’ — 45 Province St
15.00 — Original Boston Cream Pie
A 2-minute walk away from MAST’
A perfect one day in Boston wouldn’t be complete without trying the original Boston Cream Pie. Which is really a cake, not a pie. The legend claims, back in the day the baking forms for pies and cakes were used interchangeably, hence the confusion with the name.
The pie was created at the Parker’s restaurant located inside the Boston’s Parker House hotel (it is currently known as the Omni Parker House hotel) in 1856. In 1996, 140 years later, Boston cream pie was proclaimed the official state dessert of Massachusetts.
You can find the pie at many bakeries and restaurants in Boston. I hope you tried the flour bakery version at the start of your one day in Boston, as I suggested, so now you can compare it to the original one! You can find it at the little shop called Morsel’s inside the Omni Parker House hotel.
Omni Parker House — 60 School St
15.15 — Massachusetts State House
A 3-minute walk from the Omni Parker House
Depending on how many more historical sights you want to see, you can visit the King’s Chapel and King’s Chapel burying ground, Park Street Church, and Granary burying ground which are all part of the Freedom trail. All of them are located within a few steps from the Omni Parker House.
But if you feel that you’ve seen enough of historical buildings, churches, and burying grounds for today (which is what usually happens to me after several hours), just walk past the Massachusetts State House, one last Freedom trail stop in this itinerary. You won’t be able to miss it anyways because of its shiny golden dome.
Massachusetts State House is the state capitol designed by Charles Bulfinch. It has served as the seat of Massachusetts government since it was built in 1798. It is considered one of the oldest capitols in the U.S.
15.30 — Beacon Hill, the Prettiest Neighborhood in Boston
A few-minutes walk from the Massachusetts State House
Technically, the Massachusetts State House is located in Beacon Hill, so you have already arrived. Beacon Hill is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Boston, what with its Victorian-style brick houses, antique street lights, and cobbles-stone streets. The best way to explore it is to get lost on its streets.
Tip: make sure to stop by Acorn street, one of the most photographed streets in Boston.
Tip: if you are a fan of the TV show Cheers, the Cheers pub is located in Beacon Hill.
16.30 — a Walk Through Boston Common and Public Garden
A 5-minute walk from Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill starts at the edge of Boston Common, so once you are done admiring the beautiful houses, step into the most popular green space in Boston. Boston Common and Boston Public garden are located right next to each other. I have to admit I love the Public Garden a little more because it’s more compact and has this cozy feel about it. In comparison, Boston Common is really large and spread out.
In summer you can ride a swan boat on the lake, in winter — skating is a popular activity. Make Way for Ducklings statue is also a popular tourist attraction.
Tip: if you love Good Will Hunting, here’s the location of the bench that was used in a scene with Matt Damon and Robin Williams in Boston Public Garden.
17.30 — Beautiful Architecture on Commonwealth Avenue
Commonwealth Avenue starts at the western edge of Boston Public Garden
From Boston Public Garden walk down the Commonwealth Avenue, a major street that runs through the Back Bay neighborhood. Like Beacon Hill, Back Bay has no shortage of gorgeous Victorian houses, each one a perfect photo spot. In the middle of the street runs a beautiful greenway, called Commonwealth Avenue Mall, with many statues and memorials along the way. You can walk all the way to Harvard Bridge (if you still feel like walking that is). The walk will take about 25 minutes.
Alternative: if you’d rather stroll by water (a nice idea on a warm summer day) you can also take a walk on Charles River Esplanade (a few minutes away from Boston Public Garden). It runs parallel to Commonwealth Avenue.
18.30 — Dinner at Select Oyster Bar
An 11-minute walk from Commonwealth Avenue
Anyone who spends at least 24 hours in Boston must have a seafood meal. For the freshest local oysters, as well as ceviche, shellfish, and Spanish octopus, head to Select Oyster Bar. Chef Michael Serpa combines high quality seafood with simple preparation methods to showcase the true flavors of the produce. It’s a small space, always busy and buzzing. Do make a reservation beforehand.
Select Oyster Bar — 50 Gloucester St
Alternative: Saltie Girl is another great seafood spot in Back Bay neighborhood.
And here our one day in Boston comes to an end! Let me know if you follow this itinerary and try the delicious foods along the way. I would love to hear from you!
Do You Have More than One Day in Boston?
If you have more than 24 hours in Boston, consider taking a guided tour. For example, whale watching catamaran cruise, a guided tour of Fenway Park, or a guided walking tour of the Freedom Trail.
And here are a few posts on my blog that can be helpful:
12 Cool and Cheap Things to Do in Boston
2 Days in Boston: a Step-by-Step Itinerary
Best Things To Do in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in One Day
Behind The Scenes at MAST’ Boston: Making True Neapolitan Pizza
Why You Should Try Afternoon Tea at Boston Public Library
Where to Stay in Boston?
High-End Historic Option: Omni Parker House
If you only have 24 hours in Boston, it may be worth splurging on a one-of-a-kind experience at a historic hotel. I included Omni Parker House in this guide as the place to try the original Boston cream pie. The hotel itself offers old-world charm, elegance, and convenient central location.
Unique Quirky Option: The Liberty
Here’s your chance to stay at a jailhouse-turned-hotel. The Liberty, a modern hotel overlooking the Charles River, was once Charles Street Jail, a national historic landmark built in 1851. Today, the hotel combines historic architecture and elegance with modern amenities. It is conveniently located at the edge of beautiful Beacon Hill.
Cozy and Moderately-Priced Option: The Copley House
If you are looking for a mid-range hotel, check out cozy rooms at The Copley House. Located inside a red-brick building in the Back Bay neighborhood, it has distinct Boston vibe. Back Bay is one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Boston, and the hotel is located only 10 minutes away from Newbury and Boylston Streets.
