23 best free things to do in Boston

The Public Garden is truly the crown jewel of the city's parks, and makes for a lovely stroll any time of the year. America’s first botanical garden, the Victorian-era garden attracts visitors from all over the world who want to see the famous Make Way for Ducklings statues. Across Beacon Street is the slightly less manicured Common, where, depending on the season, you can ice-skate on the Frog Pond, toss around a frisbee or simply lounge on a bench with a book.

Possibly the most celebrated result of the Big Dig, this mile-long winding ribbon of grassy parks, outdoor spaces and public art only adds to Boston’s charm. Free to stroll, relax and people watch, this verdant strip provides plenty of resting places, a perfect option for a cheap date. Keep an eye out for the periodic festivals, events and art displays located on or near the park.

If you haven’t walked the Freedom Trail when you have friends and family in town, this is your reminder that it’s one of the most fun and unique activities in Boston.The trail provides a useful starting point for showing off some local history before diving deeper into the best attractions in Boston. The two-and-a-half-mile trail is easy to follow, allowing you to take a free, self-guided tour anytime you want. It’ll lead you from the Common all the way to Charlestown, letting you see all of the city’s most iconic sites—like the Paul Revere House, the USS Constitution and so much more—along the way.

Massachusetts was the first state to declare slavery illegal (in 1783) and you can learn a lot about the history of slavery and the African-American experience by taking this tour. Free maps are available at the Abiel Smith School, where the Museum of African American History is located, if you want to do a self-guided tour, which will take you to 14 fascinating spots around charming Beacon Hill.

With the idea that art should be available to everyone, there are plenty of ways to get into Boston’s museums for free, it just might take a little effort. On Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm, the Institute of Contemporary Art is free, but get there early during nicer weather. Everyone gets a free pass into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on their birthday, and anyone with the name Isabella gets in for free, now and forever (we love this). Every Wednesday from 3pm, the venerated Museum of Fine Arts allows guests to enter for $5 per person. Not quite free, but still a good deal.

Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest, and most well-regarded, university in America. If you’d like to learn more, but aren’t actually a student, hop on the red line to the school’s home in Cambridge and join a free tour. You can do an official tour, or self-guided historical tour by downloading the school’s Visit Harvard app. Also in Cambridge is The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which is a mass of buildings you can explore with a free map from the information office.

Boston’s largest park—527 acres spanning Jamaica Plain, Roxbury and Dorchester—Franklin Park offers the perfect blend of rural scenery, woodland preserve and many spots to toss around a ball or a frisbee. Head to the Long Crouch Woods section of the park to see where the zoo’s bears were once housed, before being moved to an enclosure better suited for them. While the Old Bear Dens no longer house any ursine animals these days, there are still beautiful stone carvings of bears to be found there, as well as a broad staircase leading up to a pavilion and the former pens. It is the perfect spot for a spooky photoshoot.

You don’t have to pay $34 a person to interact with sea life in Boston, just look right outside the main entrance to the New England Aquarium, and you’ll see the huge 42,000-gallon harbor seal exhibit, which is free to view and a favorite of kids and adults alike. With a little luck, you may even catch these animals during feeding time or as they participate in an activity—like painting—with their handlers. Yes, the seals can paint!

Every first Friday of the month, the SoWa Art + Design District in the South End opens their doors to the public from 5pm to 9pm. With more than 200 artists, galleries, shops and showrooms to see, there’s a wide variety of art to appreciate. Be sure to mind occupancy limits, as some of the artist spaces can be cozy.

Almost every Wednesday night, Boston University’s Department of Astronomy hosts public open nights at the Coit Observatory. You’ll need to grab a ticket in advance, but you’ll be able to use telescopes and binoculars to gaze at the stars and planets. The program starts at 7:30pm in fall and winter, and 8:30pm in spring and summer.

Boston’s glorious Emerald Necklace, a series of over 1,100 acres linked throughout the city includes picturesque Jamaica Pond. The pond is actually a glacial kettle hole and the perfect place for an afternoon stroll. A 1.5-mile path completely encompasses the pond, offering reflecting views, a peek at the boathouse and, oftentimes, the opportunity to pet strangers’ dogs. Head to the Pinebank Promontory during the warmer months for the Summer Sundays in the Park series, which features free evening concerts and movies.

The main branch of the Boston Public Library (BPL) is open to visitors, and the art and architecture tours of the half 19th-century McKim masterpiece, half modern marvel building run every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Check the official website for exact times, and schedule a visit to coincide with an author talk, book reading or an intimate musical performance.

Step away from your screens—or finals—because we all need a little bit of nature from time to time, and there are fortunately plenty of quality hikes right near Boston. Walk through World’s End for stunning views of the city or hike to the top of Blue Hills for some serious relaxation and a healthy dose of fresh air.

A relative newcomer to the park space in the city, the Lawn on D connects South Boston and the Seaport, and there are all sorts of free activities happening from May through October (check their website for the latest). There’s a lot to do on a warm afternoon or evening, including Instagram friendly light up swings, lawn games, Wi-Fi, art exhibitions and musical performances.

Step away from your screens—or finals—because we all need a little bit of nature from time to time, and there are fortunately plenty of quality hikes right near Boston. Walk through World’s End for stunning views of the city or hike to the top of Blue Hills for some serious relaxation and a healthy dose of fresh air.

The East Boston annex of the ICA, aka the Watershed, has truly transformed the Eastie waterfront into a stunning venue for the kind of large-scale art that you don’t normally get in a crowded city and it’s free for all. Each summer, the ICA invites one artist to create a site-specific work or installation for the space. You can also peruse the Watershed’s gallery highlighting the history of the shipyard. Please note that timed tickets are required for entry and the Watershed is open seasonally from May through October.

Starting in Cambridge near the Alewife T station and stretching 11 miles up to Bedford, the Minuteman Bikeway is a great, zero-cost way to get out of the city and enjoy some of Massachusetts’ prettiest towns. You can bike, rollerblade, walk or run—you just can’t drive on it. Be sure to keep to the right and take a breather at Arlington’s Spy Pond.

A jewel in the heart of the city, the 281-acre arboretum was planned and designed in collaboration with Frederick Law Olmsted. Open to the public every day, the arboretum isn’t just a park; it’s a botanical research institute with thousands of trees, shrubs and other flora. Take a stroll on your own, or try a free guided tour. Just call or check their website for details.

From early spring through fall, Boston’s famous Hatch Shell hosts free outdoor events for just about everyone. Built in 1939–1940, it is one of the city's prominent examples of Art Deco architecture, and its annual line-up of shows includes live music (like classical or jazz), dance performances and family-friendly movies. Bring a picnic and a blanket, and enjoy the fresh air after a stroll through town to the waterfront. Performances can get crowded, so best arrive early.

There’s a lot happening at the SoWa Open Market, which runs every Sunday from May through October. Think street festival meets farmers market, with roughly 200 vendors selling (and sampling) their crafts, snacks and more. Grab an inexpensive bite from a food truck or sip a cold local brew at the beer hall. It’s kid and pet friendly, so brace yourself for crowds on nice days.

If you can’t make it out to The Cape, or don’t want to sit in traffic all day, Boston’s North and South Shores have gorgeous beaches that are often located less than an hour’s drive from the city (though we make no promises during peak summer traffic). Even closer are spots like Quincy’s Wollaston Beach, Southie’s Castle Island and Revere Beach, all of which you can get to via the T and a little walking. Some have a fee, especially if you’re driving in and need to park, but most are free.

What’s more civilized than a trip to see Shakespeare performed? Bring a blanket, a basket of cheese and maybe some well-concealed wine, and grab a spot on the Common for an evening with the Bard. The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's productions take place in July and August. All performances are free, making for a perfect summertime date or relaxing group outing.

Located in South Boston, Castle Island isn’t really an island, it’s a peninsula. The 22 acre park is famous for Fort Independence, which you can walk around and has a picnic area for relaxing and eating. There are beaches and plenty of walking and running trails, and in the summer, for a few bucks, you can get a hot dog at the iconic Sullivan’s.