Boston is a historic city with buildings dating back centuries from the colonial era and a strong connection to the country’s founding. The wonderful thing about Boston is that even though it is full of fascinating places to visit and things to see and is rich in early American history, a lot of it can be done on a tight budget.
Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the country, Boston can still be visited on a tight budget. An overview of Boston travel advice is provided below to make it simple for you to plan your trip. We wish you a wonderful and cost-effective trip to Boston!
Create a Travel Budget
While organizing a large trip can be exciting, it can also be stressful, especially when attempting to estimate the cost. The last thing you want is to get there only to find yourself short on cash. Making a travel budget is crucial, and it should cover everything from seat selection fees to rental car costs. Be flexible with your travel dates and try to avoid busy times.
The secret to creating a successful travel budget is to go through each category of expenses and make an effort to estimate your costs as realistically as possible. No matter what kind of trip you’re planning, don’t skip this step.
Take a Trip Off-Season
Because Boston is in New England, the summers there are quite pleasant and temperate. The 70s and 80s are the norm for highs, though the 90s can occasionally be reached. Due to the large number of tourists attending baseball games, outdoor concerts, and festivals, this is also one of the most expensive times to travel.
Although fall is Boston’s favorite season because of the pleasant weather and beautiful foliage, there are more discounts during the winter, also known as the off-season. For hotels, this is especially true. Boston has fewer visitors during the winter. The benefit of traveling in the winter is that you can see the city decorated for the holidays. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get to see Boston covered in a fresh layer of snow. Try traveling during the beginning of the spring season if you find the winter to be too cold but find that summer and fall’s hotel prices are out of your price range.
Consider Low-Cost Boston Hotels
Hotels in Boston can be quite pricey. But don’t think that you’ll have to pay an arm and a leg for your hotel room if you can’t visit Boston in the winter. There are countless affordable ways to enjoy Boston. Both affordable hotels and entertaining hostels are widely available in Boston. Boston hotels are less expensive in February and January. To get the best rate on a Boston hotel, book more than 90 days before your stay starts.
Although there are many variables that affect hotel room costs, staying on a Saturday is probably when you’ll find the best hotel deals in Boston. Wednesday, which is typically the most expensive day, is the exact opposite.
Get Cheap Flight Tickets
Finding cheap flights will allow you to allocate more of your budget to other travel expenses, such as lodging, entertainment, and mementos. Finding inexpensive flights also gives you the freedom to make more impromptu travel arrangements. You won’t have to stress as much about the cost of transportation that way.
While a good airfare deal can appear at any time, last-minute fares typically cost more. On the other hand, you don’t want to reserve too early. The best prices can usually be found when booking up to a year in advance. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are typically the least expensive days to fly. Business travelers frequently take to the skies on Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays, which increases demand and, consequently, airfare on those days.
Visit Boston’s Cheap Restaurants
Yes, living in and dining out in Boston is notoriously expensive. However, there are many places in the city where you can find a cheap, delicious meal. The most satisfying and deliciously prepared inexpensive foods in Boston are prepared with care. The best Indian restaurants, Thai restaurants, and Mediterranean restaurants in town typically have food that is reasonably priced.
If you have a kitchen in your accommodations, cooking some meals on your own will enable you to save money. At a food truck, you can also get everything from desserts and freshly squeezed juice to complete meals.
Get Around on Public Transportation
Having a car in the city is not advised. Boston is an old city with streets that were built around houses, making it occasionally challenging to navigate them. There are also many one-way streets in Boston. Additionally, it can be challenging to find your way around Boston by car sometimes because GPS isn’t the best. Boston is a walkable city that is easy to get around on foot or by train because it is relatively small. In Boston, a car is not necessary.
You can save time, stress, and money by using public transportation to get around Boston. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is in charge of managing and regulating Boston’s most well-known public transportation options, including the subway (commonly referred to as the “T”), buses, commuter rail, water taxis, and ferries (MBTA).
Use Discount Cards to Save Money
There are two different kinds of prepaid discount cards that you can use in Boston to get discounts on well-known attractions, museums, tours, sightseeing trolleys, and cruises. Savings depend on how frequently you use the card during its valid period and which attractions you choose, but with the Go City Boston All-Inclusive Pass and the Boston CityPASS, you can save up to 55% and 42%, respectively.
Both Boston discount cards operate essentially in the same way: You purchase the card, and then you use it to receive free admission to the covered attractions for a specific amount of time. The majority of the time, you get to skip the line and receive freebies like maps and additional discount coupons. However, each card offers you various options, selections, and discounts. You can choose the option that is best for you once you are aware of what each one has to offer.
You can access more than 40 top Boston attractions, tours, museums, day trips, and cruises for free with the Go City Boston All-Inclusive Card. saving of up to 55%. You can purchase a card good for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days, during which time you are free to visit as many sites as you like. There are also children’s passes available.
Boston’s Go City All-Inclusive Passes are best suited for active visitors who want to see a lot of attractions in a short amount of time. Also advised if you want to see the top sights nearby Boston in elegant Salem, Concord, or Plymouth. When you purchase the 7-day Go Boston card, visit several locations each day, and opt for the more expensive options, you may end up saving the most money. Depending on the number of days you choose, prices change. If you need a card for 3, 5, or 7 days, you can occasionally find it on sale.
Boston CityPASS allows you to enter four top attractions over the course of nine days while saving you up to 47% off the regular admission price, or nearly half off. Purchase a Boston CityPASS and use it for nine days straight. With this card, there is no pressure to move quickly during the nine days. By purchasing a Boston CityPASS card, you can save up to 47% on popular Boston attractions.
Take a Blue Bike
Using one of Boston’s Bluebikes, the city’s bike sharing program, is an additional affordable means of transportation. Ten Boston-area municipalities have BlueBike service. These bikes are reliable, have adjustable seats, and are serviced by qualified mechanics. More than 18 million trips have been made by locals and visitors since the service’s launch in 2011.
Ride around town at a leisurely pace or quickly one way. Go on errands, commute to work or school, and explore the city. Then bring your bicycle back to any station. Wait for the green light to lock the bike after firmly slamming it into a vacant dock.
Bluebikes offers a variety of pricing options, so if you use them frequently, you might want to think about becoming a member. To locate the closest station and manage your rental options, use the Bluebike app (available on Apple and Google Play).
Walk the Freedom Trail in Boston
More than 4 million people visit Boston’s famed 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, which connects 16 historical sites. Earlier this year, Fodor’s Travel named it one of the top American landmarks. On the well-known brick path that connects Charlestown’s Bunker Hill Monument with Boston Common, visitors can trace the steps of the country’s forefathers.
To access the various locations, the majority of which provide free entry, simply follow the brick markers along the pavement. Get Your Guide offers daily 2.5-hour tours for $28 USD if you’d prefer a guide.
Visit Boston Common and Have a Picnic
Boston Common, widely regarded as the country’s first public park, had a significant impact on Massachusetts’s history of recreation, landscape architecture, military history, and conservation. Among Boston’s best features and most popular outdoor public spaces are The Common and the adjacent Public Garden.
The oldest urban park in the country was established at Boston Common in 1634. Prior to the American Revolution, it was initially used as a campground for British troops and shared pasture land by Puritan settlers when they first arrived. The park, which is almost 50 acres in size, is a great place to people-watch, have a picnic with a book, stroll along the paths, and take pictures of the surrounding area. In the summer, cool off in the Frog Pond, and in the winter, ice skate there. Shakespeare on the Common and outdoor opera performances are just a couple of the many free festivals and events that take place in the park all year long.
See the Cemeteries from Colonial Times
In Boston, headstones that are almost 300 years old are commonplace. There are numerous graves dating back to the Revolutionary War in the city. Bostonians inter their dead in local cemeteries before considering doing so in remote cemeteries. Several old cemeteries are still there, right in the middle of the busy downtown. They boast rhyming epitaphs and skulls with wings on marble, granite, and slate slabs, among other materials. Names of notable Americans from the earliest colonial periods studied in American history are carved on old gravestones.
Explore Harvard University
In 1962, Harvard University opened the Visitor Center as the institution’s main entrance. There, students welcome guests from all over the world, respond to their inquiries about campus, and lead official tours of Harvard. Daily physical and online tours are available at the Harvard University Visitor Center.
Anyone can travel to Harvard University and see for himself why so many smart people chose it. The campus provides hour-long tours of the grounds that are led by students to learn more about its history. Although tours are free, you must register online.
The public transportation system in Boston is very effective and simple to use. A quick and inexpensive way to get to Harvard is by taking the subway. All you have to do is find a subway stop where you can board the Red Line, travel to Harvard Station, and exit. As you ascend the stairs, you will be in Harvard Square, directly in front of the university.
Wander Newbury Street
Today it’s impossible to imagine, but this lovely Boston location was once submerged. Midway through the 1850s, the harbor began to gradually fill, and soon it was home to the renowned Newbury Street and the Back Bay neighborhood. Newbury was regarded as the most coveted neighborhood in Boston by the 1880s and early 1890s after other areas were filled in with dirt from neighboring communities. And even though the area’s once-distinctive coal-burning furnaces are no longer present, Newbury’s original charm and allure are still present.
Newbury Street, one of Boston’s renowned shopping and dining areas, is a vacation destination in and of itself and offers a variety of distinctive experiences. Beautiful storefronts, architectural treasures, and a wide range of options for some retail therapy can be found here. Visit the independent research library, Massachusetts Historical Society, established in 1791.
Check Out the Boston Public Garden
This area, next to Boston Common, was a mudflat before it was transformed into a garden in 1837. The first public botanical garden was eventually built on the site that was almost used for a cemetery. Take a swan boat ride on the enormous (4-acre) pond in the center of the gardens, or just take a stroll and admire the lovely flowers and impressive statues. It’s free to enter.
The renowned Make Way for Ducklings statues in Boston’s Victorian-era garden draw tourists from all over the world. But this lush haven, situated in the middle of the city between Boston Common, Beacon Hill, and Back Bay, offers plenty more to see, do, and enjoy. You can take a Swan Boat ride around the park’s serene lagoon, feed the local mallards and swans breadcrumbs, and take pictures of yourself next to thousands of vibrantly colored tulips each spring.
Climb the Bunker Hill Monument
The Battle of Bunker Hill was first commemorated by the construction of the Bunker Hill Monument, a public obelisk in the United States. Because Breed’s Hill, where the monument is located, is where the majority of the action took place, the battle was actually misnamed. The monument’s construction was started in 1827, but it couldn’t continue, so it wasn’t finished until 1843. The granite for the 221-foot structure was imported from Quincy, Massachusetts, by the structure’s architect, Solomon Willard.
The Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the Revolutionary War’s first significant clashes between British troops and American revolutionaries, took place on June 17, 1775. The poorly armed colonial forces held off two British assaults on their hastily built redoubt before turning back for lack of ammunition. On top of the hill, which served as the actual location of the famous encounter, is where the Bunker Hill Monument is situated. The 221-foot-tall granite obelisk, built between 1827 and 1843, honors the battle. The 294 steps to the top are accessible for free. A nearby museum is also free and nearby. Don’t miss it; this is the best view of the Boston skyline. It’s near the Freedom Trail’s conclusion.
Spend Time at Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall, called “The Cradle of Liberty” by the founding fathers of our country in 1742, is still active today and can be found in the heart of Boston, just a short distance from the water. Faneuil Hall has served as a popular gathering spot for Boston locals and tourists as well as the hub of the city’s commerce for more than 280 years.
One of the top ten tourist destinations in the nation and the top attraction in Boston is Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The renowned mixed-use festival marketplace has more than 80 retailers spread across 200,000 square feet of space. The Faneuil Marketplace is a well-liked hangout for locals. Many people come here during the day to shop. In one of the busiest bar districts in the city, the restaurants are packed with patrons at night.
Travel to Castle Island
South Boston is home to Castle Island. At the northernmost point of a 3-mile stretch of South Boston beaches looking out onto Dorchester Bay, Castle Island anchors Pleasure Bay Beach. The Boston Harbor Islands are viewed from the historic Fort Independence, which is at the top of the hill and usually has a cool breeze.
It is well-known for Fort Independence, a 1634-built British fort that later served as a US prison. Excellent beaches and running trails can be found on the island, which juts out into the harbor. Additionally, there is a picnic area nearby, and the historic fort is free to explore. Since it was joined to the mainland in 1928, it has technically become a peninsula, and you can drive or walk here.
Discover the North End
The North End, a one-square-mile area jutting into Boston Harbor, is one of the Hub’s smallest neighborhoods and is unofficially referred to as “Little Italy” of Boston. But it has significantly contributed to the cultural, historical, and culinary histories of the city. Boston’s oldest residential area, with a history of European settlement dating back to the early 17th-century Puritans, is within easy walking distance of Government Center.
The center of Boston’s Italian neighborhood is the famed North End. Both the Boston accent and the Italian accent are equally prevalent here. Little Italian grandmothers are often seen shopping at the markets in the mornings while the grandpas relax and drink their morning espresso. It resembles Italy almost exactly. Here, you can also find the best gelato made outside of Italy.
Take a Trip to the Arnold Arboretum
The Harvard University Arnold Arboretum is a significant botanical research facility known for its collection of ornamental trees and shrubs from Asia. The arboretum was established in 1872 and is located on 281 acres in Jamaica Plain, Boston, as well as another 106 acres in Weston, Massachusetts.
The 281 acres of this free public park are accessible every day from dawn until dusk. It is the oldest public arboretum in the nation and is situated south of the city. There are walking paths, lawns, and a huge variety of international flowers. Take a break from the hectic pace of the city and unwind among the plants. Compared to the Public Gardens, this location is much quieter and has a wider selection of plant life. They also have a fantastic collection of bonsai trees.
View the Stars at Coit Observatory
Visit Boston University’s Coit Observatory and spend some time observing your favorite constellations. Every Wednesday throughout the year, beginning at 8:30 p.m. in the spring and summer and 7:30 p.m. in the fall and winter, they offer free stargazing. Please reserve your free tickets in advance, as space is limited. Dress warmly if you’re going during the colder months because the telescope is outside.
Head Over to the Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library, which is not a museum, is crammed with magnificent artwork, tapestries, architectural details, and sculpture. It also has a stunning third-floor gallery with murals by John Singer Sargent. But there is much more to see, do, and experience here than just art treasures.
The Boston Public Library was established in 1848 and inaugurated in 1854 as the country’s first significant free municipal library. Over 2.2 million people visit it each year, including researchers, admirers of art and architecture, and Boston locals looking for a peaceful place to read or to find a book to borrow and take home.
Check Out the Museum of Fine Arts
This museum, which was established in 1870, is among the best in the nation and one of the biggest in the entire world. Over 450,000 works of fine art, ranging from works by Italian Impressionists to pre-Columbian artists, are housed at the MFA Boston. The largest collection of Japanese artwork outside of Japan is also present, along with a sizeable collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Throughout the year, the museum also offers a variety of classes and workshops, ranging from one-day to multi-week offerings. It costs $27 USD to enter.
Visit Copley Square and Relax
Go to Copley Square in Boston’s affluent Back Bay neighborhood. This tiny green area is the ideal spot for a break because it is surrounded by architectural treasures, some of which are over a century old. The historic heart of this bustling commercial district is Copley Square, which bears the name of the American portraitist John Singleton Copley. On the northern side of the square is a bronze statue of Copley. Additionally to Newbury Street’s upscale boutiques and restaurants in its charming 19th-century townhouses, nearby Boylston Street offers attractions and shopping.
In Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, Copley Square is home to a significant subway stop. It’s best to arrive by bus or subway, as parking can be challenging.
We’ve got you covered, from ways to get discounts on transportation, food, and more. Plan your next trip to Boston with our guidance and travel tips, from accommodation and dining options to sights and attractions!
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