Want to know which Boston tourist attractions are worth the hype and which are worth skipping?
No one knows a city better than its locals. And Boston is no different. As tourism reaches a high ahead of the Boston Marathon filling the city with vivacious energy, families are eager to explore the city.
Some tourist attractions are worth the time, money, or hassle to observe and interact with, and others are just plain anticlimactic and disappointing. Such as this tourist attraction which was ranked on of the most disappointing in the state! We accumulated a healthy slew of answers from Bostonians to provide you with trusted recommendations:
Must-see: these Boston tourist attractions are “worth the hype”
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum*
- JFK Museum
- Walden Pond
- Fenway Park and Fenway tour
- Duck Boats
- Mapparium
- Any lobster roll
- USS Constitution
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Public Library
- Public Garden
- Custom House Observation Tower
- Old Town Trolley
- Whale watching tours
- Codzilla boat
- North End
- African Meeting House
- Old South Meeting House
- Bova’s for cannoli
- Freedom Trail
- Day trip to Martha’s Vineyard or Kennebunkport, Maine
- Boston Children’s Museum
- Piers Park
- Institute of Contemporary Art
- Sip Cafe
*The most popular “must-see” attraction is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Skip: these attractions are “not worth it”
- Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market*
- Bunker Hill Monument
- Segway tours
- Newbury Street
- Copley Place
- Plymouth Rock
- South Station
- All pizza spots
*The attraction most recommended to be skipped is Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Instead, Bostonians recommend a nice meal from the neighboring North End.
There were also a few responses that stirred up a heated debate. Some Bostonians voted the Swan Boat, New England Aquarium, Boston Tea Party Museum, Cheers, Museum of Science, and Seaport neighborhood a “must-see” attraction, while other vetoed and said they are worth skipping. Of course, it always depends on the season, what your interests are, and how much time and money you have. But Boston is always a beautiful place to visit-even on a budget!
Check out some of our favorite free things to do!