Boston in 2 Days: everything you need to know

To refer to Boston solely as a historic city is an understatement. In recent decades, the city of Boston has moved beyond its traditional baseball and university atmosphere to become a cosmopolitan city of art and culture.

With so much to see, do and enjoy in this beautiful corner of the United States, I think a perfect itinerary will be one that combines the traditional with the modern.

This guide covers 2 full days from morning to evening; if you need to see shorter itineraries I recommend checking out the article on what to see and do in 1 day in Boston or what to see and do in 3 days in Boston.

The Freedom Trail is a traditional route that every first-time visitor to Boston should take to experience the city. It is designed to take you through at least 16 of Boston's historic landmarks.

Although the trail is not complicated to follow and the historic sites are easily recognisable, I highly recommend taking a guided tour of the Freedom Trail, an experience rated by travellers touring the city as one of the best guided tours of Boston.

If you decide to venture out on your own, here are a few highlights I recommend visiting.

See Langone Park at sunrise

Boston is a city famous for its beautifully landscaped public parks. To the north of the city, just on the edge of Boston Harbor is Langone Park, a small but attractive public park offering fabulous views of the stunning Massachusetts Bay.

If you're a photography buff, get your gear ready and get ready for some fabulous shots of the sun shining over the waters in the early hours of the morning. Take the opportunity to grab a coffee or breakfast before continuing.

See Boston's Old North Church

Leaving Langone Park behind, the next stop is just a 4 minute walk away on Salem Street. The Old North Church, one of the city's most important historical landmarks and where I recommend a guided tour.

The church played a major role in American history when, in 1175, Robert Newman and John Pulling Jr. ascended the steeple with lanterns to notify the rebels of the presence of the British by land and sea.

This event would ignite the flame of the American Revolution that would lead to the declaration of American independence.

• Hours: Open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday. From 10am to 6pm.
• Price: There are 2 different tours each costing about €5 per person.
• Duration: I recommend booking for about 1 hour. The two main tours take about 15 minutes each to complete.

Visit the home of a historical figure: The Paul Revere House

Within walking distance of the Old North Church is another space of great historical significance to Bostonians. The Paul Revere House is located on N Square, just a 10-minute walk away.

Paul Revere was an important merchant who contributed greatly to the revolutionary struggles. However, a visit to his house is worthwhile not only for the historical figure, but also to see what life was like in this particular historical period. The house is small, but has very well preserved facilities.

• Opening hours: Open to the public every day of the week from 10am to 6pm.
• Price: Adult admission ticket costs €6, children between 5 and 17 pay only €1; approx.
• Duration: It is a short tour that you can complete in less than 1 hour.

Go to Faneuil Hall Marketplace for lunch.

Just a 6-minute walk away is Faneuil Hall Marketplace, a four-building architectural complex that travellers rate as one of the must-see sights on any trip to Boston.

Built in 1742, the complex has played a pivotal role in the political history of the state of Massachusetts. Memorable historical events, such as the 1764 proclamation of the Sugar Act and Samuel Adams ' push for resistance to the British, occurred here.

Today the complex includes a market with more than 100 shops and restaurants, making it the best place to recharge your batteries before moving on. I recommend visiting the Faneuil Hall website to take a look at the gastronomic offerings available on site.

• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 10am to 7pm; Friday and Saturday from 10am to 8pm; Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
• Price: Free admission.
• Duration: As long as you like. 1 to 2 hours is usually enough.

Walk the Boston Common

The next stop takes us to Boston Common, now known as the oldest public park in the United States.

It hosts a wide variety of activities and events including theatre and music, especially during the summer. If you're in Boston in July or August, don't hesitate to join in.

It's also known as the place that marks the end of the Freedom Trail. Walking from Faneuil Hall, Boston Common is a 12-minute walk away. Take advantage of the walk to admire the old buildings of Boston's Old Town.

My favourites: the Old State House and the Old South Meeting Museum; with impressive brick structures, both are among the best museums in Boston.

• Hours: Open all day every day of the year.
• Price: Free to the public.
• Duration: As long as you like, spend at least an hour touring the main walkways.

Hang out in the Boston Public Garden

Boston Public Garden is right next to Boston Common, but although both are among Seattle's most important public parks, they are at the same time completely different from each other.

Established in 1837, it has the distinction of being the first public botanical garden in the United States. Take a stroll through the grounds and enjoy the natural surroundings, where you'll find an abysmal collection of flowers and trees beautifully arranged and maintained year-round by the local government.

If you're in Boston in autumn, don't miss a tour of the Boston Public Garden to enjoy its gigantic trees in brilliant autumn colours. If you're a photography buff, it's worth taking your camera and capturing the magic of the moment.

• Hours: Open all day every day of the year.
• Price: Free for the general public.
• Duration: As long as you like, spend at least an hour touring its main walkways.

Enjoy a sunset cruise.

End your first day exploring Boston with one of the most recommended activities in the city: a sunset cruise on the waters of Massachusetts Bay.

There are several local companies in the city that offer this service in a variety of formats, so you'll need to carefully consider the different options available.

Boston cruises take place on small and medium-sized boats, with a limited number of participants. Due to your short stay in the city, I recommend booking in advance and securing your place days before your trip, especially if you are going to the city during peak tourist seasons such as summer in Boston.

• Hours: Various times throughout the day, but I recommend booking an evening or sunset tour.
• Price: Varies depending on the company; I recommend booking around €50 per traveller for this experience.
• Duration: Boat rides in Boston last approximately 2 hours.

The second day of your trip should be spent exploring the Boston area beyond the old part of the city. Explore a more modern and equally touristy part of the city including world-class museums and some major shopping.

Wake up early to tour the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden

Wake up early on the morning of your last day in Boston to make the most of every second. I recommend recharging your batteries in one of the most beautiful corners of the city: the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden.

A beautiful public garden where you will find an impressive collection of 200 different species of roses. You will also be able to contemplate carefully designed gardens among paths of dust and stone, benches to rest, statues of cherubs and water fountains.

The park is located at 70 Park Drive in Fenway. There are numerous cafes and restaurants nearby, so I recommend grabbing a snack before heading out for the day.

• Opening hours: Open to the public from Monday to Sunday from 07h to 18h in the evening.
• Price: Free for all public.
• Duration : Reserve at least 1 hour of your itinerary to visit the facilities.

See the Museum of Fine Arts

From your location in the James P. Kelleher Garden, this museum is only a 5-minute walk across the park and Fenway Avenue.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is a must-see for any traveller who enjoys history, art or museums in general.

On your visit you will find one of the oldest museums in the United States and an impressive space that houses one of the finest art collections in the world.

Within the collection you'll find extensive galleries displaying iconic pieces from the native cultures of the Americas. At the same time, you'll be able to tour large rooms dedicated to the work of contemporary artists such as Edward Hooper and Joan Mitchell.

If you're an art lover, you'll want to take the time to explore and discover the paintings of artists such as Monet, Renoir and Rembrandt himself, all of which make it one of the best museums in Boston.

• Hours: Open to the public Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm.
• Price: Adult ticket costs approximately 25€; children from 7 to 17 years old pay 10€ on average and children under 6 years old get in for free.
• Duration: This is a large museum and I recommend arriving early and setting aside at least 3 hours to explore it.

Take a food tour of Boston

When you leave the museum, the urge to eat may be stronger than ever. To make the most of your stay and experience the best of local cuisine, I recommend booking a food tour of Boston in the early afternoon.

There are several tour companies in the city that offer this type of experience in different formats, so I recommend taking the time to look at the different options and choose the one that best suits your requirements.

Most tours are walking tours and take travellers through Boston's historic North End, not for a history tour of the city, but to sample the city's most delicious dishes and eat where the locals eat.

• Hours: The experience is offered at different times depending on the company you hire.
• Price: Approximately €60 or €70 per person.
• Duration: The gastronomic tour will take at least 2 hours to complete.

Walk down Newbury Street, Boston's most charming street.

Whether you decide to take the food tour or not, I recommend spending part of the afternoon of your last day walking down one of Boston's most charming streets: Newbury Street.

Located in the Back Bay East area, the best way to get there from the Museum of Fine Arts is to take Boston Bus 39 from the stop near the museum and get off at Saint James Ave, just one street away from Newbury.

Stroll down Newbury Street to discover some of Boston's best boutiques and restaurants. I recommend stopping at Georgetown Cupcakes or the Trident Café for delicious local desserts.

If you need to buy some souvenirs from your trip, this is the time and place to do it!

Say goodbye with a ghost tour of Boston.

On your last night in the city, I suggest taking the spookiest adventure of all: a ghost tour of Boston. This type of adventure takes a group of travellers through the city's most haunted spots to uncover tales of centuries-old witches and ghosts.

Considered by many travellers to be one of the best things to do in Boston at night, you'll find numerous tour operators in the city offering the tour in a variety of formats: on foot, by ghost bus or combined with a visit to local bars.

• Time: Tours take place at dusk during the evening, the time may vary depending on the company you hire.
• Price: Around €30 per adult traveller. Some tours limit the age of participants, so I recommend paying attention to this factor if you are going to Boston with children.
• Duration: You should reserve at least 2 hours for the tour.