Boston is known for its high cost of living, but there are some inexpensive activities to do in Boston that are enjoyable and easy on the budget. In reality, there are a plethora of free activities available. Going out in Boston can be extremely affordable, thanks to the abundance of history, architecture, museums, and open space. Whether you're looking for the finest live music in Boston, the top Boston attractions, or where to view art in Boston, the city has a range of free activities both inside and out.
Jump to:
- 1. Go to the finest museums in the city
- 2. Take a stroll around Boston Common and the Public Garden
- 3. Visit galleries on First Fridays in SoWa
- 4. Take a tour of the Sam Adams Brewery
- 5. Take a stroll along the Greenway
- 6. Take a look at the ICA Watershed
- 7. Take the Liberty Trail
- 8. Attend a lecture or tour at the BPL
- 9. Climb Bunker Hill Monument
- 10. Take a walk around the Arnold Arboretum and smell the blossoms.
1. Go to the finest museums in the city
Yes, you may have free access to world-class art collections. The revered Museum of Fine Arts invites visitors to enter for a voluntary donation ($5 minimum) every Wednesday from 3-4pm. Admission to the Institute of Contemporary Art is also free on Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Also, remember that on your birthday, everyone receives a free ticket to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and anybody named Isabella gets in for free, now and forever.
2. Take a stroll around Boston Common and the Public Garden
Any time of year, the Public Garden is a wonderful, free location to visit. It's America's first botanical garden, and it's a tiny Parisian park, complete with promenading paths, formal flower beds, and a small lake surrounded by weeping willows. The Boston Common is located across Beacon Street. You may ice skate on the Frog Pond, throw a frisbee around, or just relax with a book on one of the grassy knolls depending on the season.
See also: The Best Outdoor Pursuits In Boston
3. Visit galleries on First Fridays in SoWa
The SoWa Art + Design District is accessible to the public every first Friday of the month from 5pm to 9pm. This creative centre provides a range of choices, including steampunk sculptures, beautiful photography, modern interpretations on classic paintings, and more, with over 200 artists, galleries, stores, and showrooms to pick from.
4. Take a tour of the Sam Adams Brewery
Samuel Adams, the Revolutionary and "maltster" after whom the renowned beer is named, was the city's most famous brewer historically. Tours of the Samuel Adams Brewery in Jamaica Plain are almost free (a $2 contribution is requested). Friendly, engaging guides will allow you to smell the hops and, of course, taste the final product.
5. Take a stroll along the Greenway
One of the most well-known outcomes of the now-famous Big Dig is the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. This lush, mile-long ribbon of grassy parks and outdoor resting spots is free to walk, making it an excellent choice for a low-cost date. Keep a look out for the park's many festivals, events, and art exhibits, which are held on or around the grounds.
6. Take a look at the ICA Watershed
An abandoned site on the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina has been converted into a venue for large-scale, immersive art by the ICA's seasonal annex (May-October). Every summer, new installations and public programmes are unveiled. There's also an exhibit dedicated to the shipyard's and East Boston's history. While entry to the Watershed is free, normal ICA admission includes a refreshing water shuttle ride across the harbour.
7. Take the Liberty Trail
For first-time visitors to Boston, the Freedom Trail is a good place to start before seeing the city's finest attractions. It's an opportunity for residents to brush up on all they need to know about their city's history. For a free, self-guided tour, the two-and-a-half-mile path is simple to follow.
8. Attend a lecture or tour at the BPL
The main branch of the Boston Public Library (BPL) is an odd beast with a plethora of architectural details: half McKim masterpiece, half contemporary jumble. (Renovations have brought the 1970s wing into the twenty-first century.) Sign up for a free guided stroll around the venue's extensive art collection after taking a complimentary hour-long architectural tour. Visitors who are interested in literature may time their visit to coincide with an author lecture or a book reading.
9. Climb Bunker Hill Monument
The first significant battle of the American Revolution is commemorated by this 221-foot granite monument. Visitors may listen to free park ranger lectures or climb the monument's 294 stairs for a spectacular perspective of Boston (a five-minute vigorous ascent).
10. Take a walk around the Arnold Arboretum and smell the blossoms.
Frederick Law Olmsted collaborated on the 281-acre arboretum's planning and design. This live collection of thousands of trees, shrubs, and woody vines is one of the most extensive and well-documented of its type in the world, and it is open to the public. Most days of the year, free guided tours are offered; contact for information.
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