Boston is a charming and compact metropolis on the east coast of the United States, about 3-4h north of New York City, from which it can convenientl be reached via Car, Bus (~30 USD) or Amtrak Train (~80-140 USD). Home of about 600.000 people, Boston boasts amazing architecture, stunning views, countless activities, and two of the world's top ranked universities (MIT and Harvard).
Below are my recommended activities for a refreshing weekend trip to Boston.
#1: Walk the Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is an about 4km long route throughout Boston. The trail takes you to many of the most interesting and beautiful sights of Boston. Founded in 1630, Boston is often considered to be America's oldest city and the richest in history and tradition.
The Freedom Trail takes you through the city center and passes many historical burial sites, churches, museums, and picturesque quarters such as Little Italy.
Stop by the famous Quincy Market to refresh with one of the many local and international delicious foods offered there.
Walk across little Italy to get a flavor of Bostons Mediterranean population.
The Freedom Trail finally culminates in the Bunker Hill Monument, an obelisk with a 294-step staircase inside that offers stunning views on the top. Admission is free, but you need to get the free tickets from the visitor center in the opposite side of the street to be allowed to enter.
Finally, the walk ends at the USS Constitution memorial where you can also enjoy great views of the city Skyline.
#2 Eat Seafood
Boston lies directly at the sea and has a great harbor infrastructure, which makes it a perfect place to eat seafood. Lobster is one of the local specialties and I strongly recommend the Legal Harborside restaurant.
other things that are not seafood but definitely worth eating
Burgers at the Boston Burger Company
Breakfast at Ball Square Café, Somerville
#3 Explore Harvard and MIT
Boston is home to over 50 higher education institutions, among them two of the world's most well-known universities, Harvard and MIT. They both have a beautiful campus that is easy to explore on foot, though it tends to be easier to actually see the buildings from inside on the MIT Campus than on the Harvard campus where most buildings require a Harvard ID to access.
Harvard
MIT
#4 Enjoy the view from the Harborside
Make sure you also visit at night.
#5 Get inspiration at the Museum of Fine Arts
For a rainy day, I recommend going to the museum of Fine Arts. It boasts the largest collection of European art in the US and also a huge collection from art around the world. Admission is free on Wednesdays.
That's all folks! I hope you found this guide helpful to plan your trip to Boston and enjoy the city! Let me know when you get there and I would appreciate any feedback.