Things to do in Downtown Boston

5 places to start in Downtown Boston

The Freedom Trail

A 2.5-mile walking route marked in red brick that links 16 historic sites. It starts at Boston Common and you don't need a guide to follow it.

Official site →Photo: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0

Granary Burying Ground

Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock are all buried in this small cemetery on Tremont Street. It's free to walk in.

Official site →Photo: JPizzle1122, Public domain

Old State House

A ring of stones in the pavement outside marks the site of the Boston Massacre. The museum is inside the brick building dwarfed by towers.

Official site →Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 2.5

Faneuil Hall

The meeting hall where colonists argued for independence is upstairs, and Quincy Market next door has the food stalls.

Official site →Photo: Daderot, CC BY-SA 3.0

Brattle Book Shop

This West Street shop has three floors of used and rare books. In good weather, bargain carts fill the open lot next door.

Official site →Photo: Rob Faulkner, CC BY 2.0

Hotels in Downtown Boston

Staying over? These are the picks from our guide, Hotels in Downtown Boston ranked by proximity, rating, and sustainability, and Dyme members see private rates on each. You can also browse every Boston hotel guide or search hotels on Dyme.

The Godfrey Hotel Boston 505 Washington Street, Boston 9.06,478 reviews The closest hotel on this list to Downtown Crossing, about a 2-minute walk from the station.3 min walk to Downtown Crossing (Red/Orange) View hotel → The Ritz-Carlton, Boston 10 Avery Street, Boston 8.4182 reviews Marriott International's Serve 360 program covers this property, with documented goals around carbon reduction, responsible sourcing, and community investment.3 min walk to Boylston (Green) View hotel → Moxy Boston Downtown 240 Tremont Street, Boston 9.01,869 reviews Marriott International's Serve 360 program covers this property, targeting reductions in water use, single-use plastics, and food waste across the portfolio.4 min walk to Boylston (Green) View hotel → W Boston, a Marriott Hotel 100 Stuart Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, Boston 8.8147 reviews Marriott's portfolio-wide Serve 360 program covers this hotel; we have not confirmed property-level sustainability data.3 min walk to Boylston (Green) View hotel →

This weekend in Downtown Boston: November 13–15

51 things on: 6 tours, 5 shows, 3 gigs and 4 free. Listed by day and start time.

Friday, November 13

6:00 AMFive Iron Golf: Indoor Virtual Golf SimulatorsIndoor sim golf & bar.Games1 Washington StView listing →10:00 AMFolio: European-style Restaurant & Cafe inside Boston AthenaeumCozy bistro, literary backdrop.Bar10-1/2 Beacon StView listing →10:00 AMPrivate Walking Tour in Boston - America's 250th AnniversaryRevolutionary history walking tour.Tour191 Atlantic AveFrom $179View listing →10:15 AMRuckus Boston Revolutionary Experience: Old South & State HousesRevolutionary history show and tour.Talk310 Washington StFreeView listing →11:00 AMThe Greenway CarouselWhimsical native creature rides.Games191 Atlantic AveView listing →11:00 AMBoston North End Food and History Tour Stories Behind the BitesNorth End food tour.Tour100 Hanover StFrom $90View listing →2:00 PMHigh Tea at Bistro du Midi | New Garden View Tea ServiceGarden view afternoon tea.Food272 Boylston StFrom $75View listing →5:00 PMThe Bosworth $10 Small PlatesUpscale happy hour hideaway.Bar90 Tremont StView listing →5:00 PMLoyall Counting RoomHidden speakeasy cocktails.Bar510 Atlantic AveView listing →6:00 PMJazz Fridays at The FedLuxury lounge jazz & cocktails.Bar250 Franklin StFreeView listing →6:00 PMHong Kong KaraokeLate-night karaoke dive.Games65 Chatham StView listing →7:00 PMPubs of the Freedom Trail The Crawl to LibertyHistoric pub crawl tour.Tour35 Temple PlFrom $99View listing →7:30 PMPhoebe Robinson: Feral & Fired Up!Sharp stand-up & social satire.Show246 Tremont StView listing →7:30 PMLucy Darling: The More the MerrierLive comedy variety show.Show270 Tremont StView listing →8:00 PMPunch BrothersPunch Brothers concert.Music265 Tremont StFrom $60View listing →8:00 PMHadestown (Touring)Folk Opera Musical.Show106 Boylston StView listing →

Saturday, November 14

6:00 AMFive Iron Golf: Indoor Virtual Golf SimulatorsIndoor sim golf & bar.Games1 Washington StView listing →10:00 AMFolio: European-style Restaurant & Cafe inside Boston AthenaeumCozy bistro, literary backdrop.Bar10-1/2 Beacon StView listing →10:00 AMPrivate Historical Walking Tour in Boston Cultural LandmarksBoston historical walking tour.Tour191 Atlantic AveFrom $179View listing →10:15 AMRuckus Boston Revolutionary Experience: Old South & State HousesRevolutionary history show and tour.Talk310 Washington StFreeView listing →11:00 AMThe Greenway CarouselWhimsical native creature rides.Games191 Atlantic AveView listing →11:00 AMBoston North End Food and History Tour Stories Behind the BitesNorth End food tour.Tour100 Hanover StFrom $90View listing →11:00 AMAfternoon Tea returns to The Ritz-Carlton, Boston this FallTheatrical afternoon tea.Café10 Avery StFrom $99View listing →12:00 PMBoch Center Wang Theatre Behind the Scenes TourWang Theatre backstage tour.Tour270 Tremont StFrom $17View listing →1:00 PMHomemade Dumplings 101 in BostonHands-on dumpling class.Class21 Kingston StFrom $120View listing →2:00 PMHadestown (Touring)Folk Opera Musical.Show106 Boylston StView listing →2:00 PMHigh Tea at Bistro du Midi | New Garden View Tea ServiceGarden view afternoon tea.Food272 Boylston StFrom $75View listing →2:00 PMCustom House Observation Deck | Free TourHistoric skyline vistas.Tour3 McKinley SquareFreeView listing →5:00 PMLoyall Counting RoomHidden speakeasy cocktails.Bar510 Atlantic AveView listing →5:00 PMHong Kong KaraokeLate-night karaoke dive.Games65 Chatham StView listing →6:00 PMItalian Dinner with Tiramisu Finale in BostonItalian cooking class.Class19 Kingston StFrom $120View listing →7:00 PMDrew & Deison Afualo Present: Two Idiot Girls LIVELive podcast show.Talk246 Tremont StView listing →8:00 PMAn Acoustic Evening With Prateek Kuhad – Full Moon Chamber TourIndie-folk intimacy.Music265 Tremont StView listing →

Sunday, November 15

6:00 AMFive Iron Golf: Indoor Virtual Golf SimulatorsIndoor sim golf & bar.Games1 Washington StView listing →10:00 AMPrivate Historical Walking Tour in Boston Cultural LandmarksBoston historical walking tour.Tour191 Atlantic AveFrom $179View listing →10:15 AMRuckus Boston Revolutionary Experience: Old South & State HousesRevolutionary history show and tour.Talk310 Washington StFreeView listing →11:00 AMThe Greenway CarouselWhimsical native creature rides.Games191 Atlantic AveView listing →11:00 AMBoston North End Food and History Tour Stories Behind the BitesNorth End food tour.Tour100 Hanover StFrom $90View listing →11:00 AMAfternoon Tea returns to The Ritz-Carlton, Boston this FallTheatrical afternoon tea.Café10 Avery StFrom $99View listing →11:00 AMDrag Me To BrunchSunday drag brunch.Show11 Beacon StFrom $30View listing →2:00 PMHigh Tea at Bistro du Midi | New Garden View Tea ServiceGarden view afternoon tea.Food272 Boylston StFrom $75View listing →2:00 PMCustom House Observation Deck | Free TourHistoric skyline vistas.Tour3 McKinley SquareFreeView listing →5:00 PMLoyall Counting RoomHidden speakeasy cocktails.Bar510 Atlantic AveView listing →5:00 PMHong Kong KaraokeLate-night karaoke dive.Games65 Chatham StView listing →7:30 PMA Drag Queen ChristmasFestive drag spectacular.Show106 Boylston StView listing →8:00 PMThe Mountain Grass Unit (18 and Over)Live bluegrass concert.Music279 Tremont StFrom $40View listing →8:00 PMKaraoke at The Alley BarWeekly sing-along bar.Bar14 PI AlleyFreeView listing →

On all weekend

No set start time for these, so go when it suits you.

Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite CatechismInteractive nun comedy.Show74 Warrenton StView listing →BountyIndigenous resistance testimony.Film310 Washington StView listing →HaymarketHistoric produce bazaar.Shopping100 Hanover StView listing →A Colonial Boston Audio Tour with ContextRevolutionary audio walk.Tour66 Long WharfFrom $20View listing →

More Boston neighborhoods

• Back Bay
• The South End