Winter Hours: Tours begin at 10a, last tour 4p. Tea Room and Gift Shop open to 5p. Plan Visit >

Unique Things To Do In Boston

Boston is a diverse city brimming with history, culture and interesting attractions. Whether you’re traveling with the family, friends or on your own, you’ll find there is something for everyone. Here are a variety of unique things to do in Boston.

Take the Art & Architecture Tour at the Boston Athenaeum
Offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays; this docent led tour gives you an insider’s view of what’s inside the Boston Athenaeum. A private, members-only institution, this place is loaded with incredible collections of books and art and is one of the area’s best-kept secrets. It’s also one of the oldest libraries in the United States and a great example of French Renaissance architecture. Located on Beacon Street, the ground floor is always open to the public, and features rotating exhibits, sculptures and other masterpieces. The tours are the best way to see what you can’t if you’re not a member—they are said to have books from George Washington’s personal collection. Reservations are required for the tours and space is very limited so it’s a good idea to call early.

Eat Pizza and Cannoli in the North End
Boston’s oldest residential community, the North End, is the place to go for delicious, authentic Italian food. There are more than 80 restaurants within the quaint cobblestone streets. Whether you’re in the mood for upscale dining, a pizza joint, or something in between, this is the place to go. From cappuccino and tiramisu, spaghetti and meatballs to gnocchi and lasagna, you’ll find it here. For traditional, home-cooked specialties, stop in at Mother Anna’s, a North End icon that’s been around since 1932 and is still run by the grandson and great-grandsons of Anna herself.

Experience The Boston Tea Party
Ever been to a floating museum? That’s just one of the many things that makes the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum unlike any Boston museum you’ve ever been to before. When you get there, don’t expect a hum drum tour, dusty artifacts and an overpriced gift shop. Live actors playing the roles of the Sons of Liberty will engage you with the events that took place on that fateful night. They’ll even assign you a role to play as you make your way from the Meeting House to Griffin’s Wharf and throughout the museum. You’ll throw tea overboard on an authentically restored tea ship and see one of the two surviving tea chest from the Boston Tea Party. Equipped with highly advanced 3D holographic and multi-sensory technology, you’ll see, hear and feel what is was like to be in the Boston harbor on December 16, 1773.

Ride The Greenway Carousel
A totally whimsical experience, the Greenway Carousel is a beautifully and uniquely designed carousel that is said to become a Boston landmark. Inspired by the drawings of children in Boston Public Schools, the ride features sculptured, life-like animals including a lobster, sea turtle, cod, grass hopper, harbor seal, fox, whale, butterfly, sea serpent and more. Located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway across from Christopher Columbus Park and Faneuil Hall Marketplace, this modern, one-of-a-kind merry-go-round is surrounded by trees and shrubs and is close to restaurants, the New England Aquarium, the Boston Children’s Museum and many of downtown Boston’s most popular attractions.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston
One of the most unique things to do in the city is visiting the iconic Museum of Fine Arts. Boston’s oldest cultural institution, Museum of Fine Arts is noted for its collection of French Impressionist paintings, including more works by Monet than any other museum or gallery outside of Paris. The museum also houses a vast collection of Egyptian, ancient Greek, and Roman art. The galleries displaying American works include paintings of famous historical figures, such as George Washington, Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere. In addition to works by the great European artists Gauguin, Renoir, Degas, and van Gogh, you can also see examples of some of the finest works produced by Americans John Singleton Copley, Winslow Homer, and John Singer Sargent.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Spend a captivating afternoon in the incredibly unique Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Designed after a Venetian palace, the museum is home to the private art collection of Isabella. Gardner bought her first painting, Vermeer’s “The Concert,” at auction in Paris. The painting was stolen in a famous heist in 1990, when 13 renowned works of art were stolen. Today, nearly 3,000 pieces representing periods from ancient Rome to 19th-century America fill the gallery. Walk through the legendary space and marvel at the furniture, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, ceramics, and paintings from almost every era displayed just as Mrs. Gardner left them, with empty spots where the artwork was stolen.

New England Aquarium
For something truly unique to Boston, a visit to the New England Aquarium ranks high on the list! Home to a 760,000 liter (200,000 gallon) tank simulating a Caribbean coral reef, the New England Aquarium simply spectacular. A spiral walkway takes you around the tank, where you can spot sharks, stingrays, eels, barracuda, sea turtles, and more through its 52 windows. The temperate gallery features ancient fish, rare sea dragons, and thousands of schooling fish, while the freshwater gallery hosts piranhas, anacondas, and electric eels. Outside the aquarium, you can enjoy a free viewing of the harbor seal exhibit or even venture over to the onsite IMAX theater. The New England Aquarium offers something for all, making it a true gem within the community.

Museum of Science
Home to more than 700 interactive exhibits, including engaging simulations that take you through space, the sea, and the skies, the Museum of Science is many tourists’ favorite unique thing to do in Boston. Jaw dropping activities such as a stroll through the butterfly garden, or exploring the renewable energy exhibit, will leave you with unforgettable memories of a day spent exploring one of the finest museums in America. Learn about New England habitats, see a hunter’s trophy room, and enjoy so much more when spending the day at this remarkably unique Boston attraction.

Mary Baker Eddy Library & Mapparium
One of the most fascinatingly unique things to do in Boston is visiting the Mary Baker Eddy Library & Mapparium. Exploring the life, ideas, and achievements of Mary Baker Eddy – who discovered and founded Christian Science – the library showcases a rich and extensive collection of original materials. Iconic items such as rare documents, art and historic artifacts, photographs, books, and engaging audiovisuals. Tucked inside the library is the real hidden gem, The Mapparium. The three-story, stained-glass globe offers a three-dimensional perspective of the world. The Mapparium’s three-dimensional perspective of the 1935 world is enhanced by A World of Ideas, which is an original presentation featuring a beautiful orchestration of music, spoken words, and LED lights.

Hood Milk Bottle- Located Across From Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Located across the street from the Boston Tea Party Ships is one of the most unique things to do in Boston, visiting the Hood Milk Bottle. Standing 40 feet tall, the timeless wooden structure has become one of the most sought-after instagrammable locations around town. Originally built, in 1933 as a roadside ice-cream stand by Arthur Gagner, the structure was sold to H.P. Hood and Sons, Inc. a dairy company, in the 1960s. Delivered to its current location by ferry, the massive landmark holds a special place in Boston’s treasured past. Today, you can still find a delicious ice-cream and snack stand nestled inside. A trip to Boston isn’t complete without snapping a picture in front of this unique location.

Ghosts & Gravestones Night Tour
You may have learned a thing or two about the American Revolution while touring Boston’s museums, but we can guarantee you haven’t learned about the Lady in Black. Board the Trolley of the Doomed with Ghosts & Gravestones to uncover the eerie side of Boston’s history. Walk among the dead at King’s Chapel Burying Ground, pass by the Omni Parker House hotel and hear the tales that have plagued this historic city for 400 years. Hop aboard the Trolley of the Doomed for a chilling night you’ll never forget and discover this spooktacular unique Boston activity!

Boston Tea Kettle
Have you ever seen a giant golden Tea Kettle floating in the sky? Well, here’s your chance. The Boston Tea Kettle located on Court Street, hanging above a Starbucks, is one of Boston’s most legendary symbols. With a capacity of over 200 gallons, it has hung over a sidewalk in downtown Boston since 1873. At the time it was designed as a huge publicity stunt for Oriental Tea Company. Drawing the interest of the entire community, the steaming tea kettle has become a beloved unique Bostonian treasure.

Harvard Square
Home to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the country, Harvard Square is an absolute must see unique thing to do in Boston! You don’t have to be a student to enjoy this neighborhood, which is expanding rapidly as new businesses and buildings continue to rise. The vibrant atmosphere and accessibility of its much-beloved epicenter makes it a favorite amongst many tourists. Brick sidewalks and painted colonial homes share space with street performers, shops, and some of Boston’s best restaurants.

Chinatown Gate
One of the city’s most beautiful attractions is the Chinatown Gate (paifong). The official entrance to Chinatown, the decorative gate, was a gift from the city of Taipei. Surrounding the gate and anchoring the southern end of the Rose Kennedy Greenway is Chinatown Park. A bamboo-lined walkway runs through the modern gardens. The plaza is often populated by local residents engaged in Xiangqi (Chinese chess) and Falun Gong (a Chinese spiritual practice). Discover the intricate and thoughtful details carefully placed on the gates, such as various inscriptions and chinese characters. Spending the day exploring this unique Boston attraction is one of our favorite things to do.

Public Garden + Boston Common
Established in 1837 as America’s first public botanical garden, the iconic public park and Boston common area is a wonderfully unique thing to do around town. With its winding paths and stunning floral species from annuals to greenhouse-grown, is an ideal place to stroll and get lost in. The Victorian era ushered in a period of high-level gardening elevating the science to art and the Public Garden is a direct beneficiary of this aesthetic. Nancy Schoen’s Duckling Sculpture, a tribute to Robert McCloskey’s ‘Make Way for Ducklings’, is famously located within the garden, algonside Boston Common. There are lots of fun unique things to do up and down the 50 acres of the Common. Throw a frisbee around, ride the over 100-year-old Swan Boats, take in some street performers, or simply marvel over venerated landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s stroke of genius.

A Golden Ticket Experience
Even Willy Wonka dreams of touring the Taza Chocolate Factory, and now you can too! Factory tours offer an incredibly unique experience that the entire family can enjoy. Specializing in stoneground chocolate, Taza offers guests the opportunity to learn all about their intricate process grinding cocoa beans for the boldest and most delicious flavor of chocolate. The tour begins with the fascinating Intro to Stoneground Chocolate, a brief Q&A, and a chocolate-tasting tour through the chocolate grinding and depositing rooms. Online reservations are required and may be made for a maximum of 10 people.

Fun for Everyone in Boston
A beautiful, clean and compact city, Boston offers so many unique things to do and see. Plan ahead to make the most of your visit and be sure to explore all the enriching, historic sites.

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