Boston is one of the richest, historical, influential and cultural cities in the United States. It has a wealth of museums and historical monuments as well as extensive programs of cultural events and live performances, which explains why the city receives more than 16 million visitors a year.
Despite being a city of considerable size, the center can be covered on foot in just a few hours, including landmarks such as the Freedom Trail or the Institute of Contemporary Art, thanks to which, we can visit Boston on a budget. If you want to continue saving or spending as little as possible, this guide of free things to do in Boston includes a list of the best places to visit in the city on a budget.
The Black Heritage Trail is a popular road of Boston, located along the Beacon Hill and it is marked to go around important places in the the Black American hsitory, since the state of Massachusetts was the first to declare slavery illegal. So, an important community of free blacks and runaway slaves took place in Boston, particularly in the north of Beacon Hill.
One of the most important corners in the area is the African Meeting House, also known as the First African Baptist Church, built in 1806 making it the oldest black church in the United States and it has become a National Historic Landmark.
Close to Beacon Hill, is the New England Aquarium, the most popular in the country, due to the aquatic animals that hosts come mostly from New England (region whose capital is Boston). In the library of the city, you can get free tickets for the Aquarium.
The Old North Church is Boston’s oldest church, dating from the early eighteenth century and it has some history, because on the eve of the Revolution of 1775, the British king and his government met here before waging any battle.
We can not leave Boston without walking around Newbury Street, the main avenue of the city, which runs east-west from the Boston Public Garden to Massachusetts Avenue. It consists of an eclectic mix of shops and traditional red stone buildings. It is also a great place for luxury shopping, since it includes exclusive boutiques such as Chanel, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs and Cartier.
One of the most remarkable places of the city is the SoWa Outdoor Market, where we can find craftsmanship and quality fresh food. It also provides contact with artists, farmers and artisans, so we can talk with them and the origin of the products.
The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most important museums in the United States and it contains outstanding collections of Egyptian antiques, old European painting, Post Impressionist paintings and works of contemporary American painters, among others. Admission to the museum is free on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm to 9:45 pm.
The Public Library is one of the most visited places with greater historical importance, because it has an impressive library collection, areas for children and free tickets to several attractions and museums.
The USS Constitution Museum is a major National Historic Landmark, located at the end of the Freedom Trail, as it contains an ancient warship built by George Washington, like the Bunker Hill Monument, which commemorates the battle of June 17, 1775 and features an interactive museum to learn a little more about this moment in the U.S. history.
If you also want to stay in cheap hostels in Boston, to make your trip even more affordable, we recommend the 40 Berkeley and Copley Square Hotel, located in the downtown so you can easily walk to any place.
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