Culture Lover’s Guide to Boston

From food markets to top museums, here's wher to

2 min readNov 26, 2019By Sarah Iredale

A Boston park and bronze statue in the summer

Hi, I'm Sarah!

Sarah is an experienced copywriter specialising in travel, finance, and IT. Born and raised in Sri Lanka and India, and with stints living in the UAE and Oman, her love of South Asia and Arabia has seen her add travel writing to her record of copywriting for cross-sector global brands. Sarah has a BA Hons in History from Reading University and lives in East Sussex with her partner. When not working, she enjoys scuba diving, wild swimming, and woodland walks with her rescue Jack Russell, Charlie.

With its colonial past, proud artistic heritage, and rich collegiate tradition centered on Harvard University, Boston bustles with cultural experiences. Here’s how to tap into the city’s cultural offerings, from visiting its great art and science museums to sampling its diverse food scene.

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Uncover Boston’s revolutionary heritage

The exterior of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.

Visit the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum to learn about the incident that triggered the revolution.Photo Credit: Amanda Voisard / Viator

Chart Boston’s revolutionary heritage along its Freedom Trail—the red-brick path that links locations associated with the city’s role in sparking the American Revolution. Tours typically cover the Old State House, Boston Common, and other highlights and offer the advantage of a guide to recount the stories behind the sites. Combine a tour with time at the harborside Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum to learn about the incident that helped trigger the revolution, and take a harbor sightseeing cruise for panoramic views of Boston’s historical waterfronts.

Visit an art, science, or history museum

The gardens at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Boston is home to plenty of museums like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.Photo Credit: LnP images / Viator

Boston offers numerous museums that celebrate its arts and scientific heritage. Head for Fenway to visit the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and nearby Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, explore the waterfront Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), and roam the Museum of Science and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Museum—the Go Boston sightseeing pass includes entry to all five. Other must-visits include the Harvard Art Museums and Harvard Museum of Natural History, both in Cambridge.

Explore beyond the city center

Explore the many small neighborhoods Boston has to offer.Photo Credit: Alena Kuzub / Viator

Downtown Boston melts into a mosaic of small neighborhoods with their own individual atmosphere and cultural heritage. Cross the Charles River to absorb the bookish-yet-boho vibe of Cambridge and Harvard Square; immerse yourself in the Italian-American North End; discover the contemporary art galleries of fashionable SoWa; or pedal cobbled Beacon Hill and Back Bay on a bike tour.

Delve into the eclectic food scene

Visitors buying baked goods at the Boston Public Market.

Enjoy classic New England eats at the Boston Public Market.Photo Credit: Amanda Voisard / Viator

Boston’s food scene reflects the city’s multicultural roots. Enjoy classic New England seafood eats such as lobster rolls on a tour of the Public Market; savor Italian pastries and pizzas in the Italian-American North End; or treat your tastebuds to Boston’s artisanal chocolates and beers with a guide to lead you to the top purveyors.

Discover Boston’s baseball culture at Fenway Park

Fenway Park is the US’ oldest temple to the game of baseball.Photo Credit: Nils Backe / Shutterstock

Boston and baseball go hand in hand, and Fenway Park stadium is the US’s oldest temple to the game. Exploring the 1912 ballpark, home to the Boston Red Sox, delivers a fascinating insight into Boston’s baseball culture. Tours are popular—be sure to prebook to secure your place on a day that suits you.