Boston rewards a short visit. Its historic center is compact, and the T links the main neighborhoods in minutes. In two days you can see the sites of the Revolution, eat your way through the North End, admire the brownstones of Back Bay, visit a world-class museum and cross the river to Harvard.

Day one: the Revolution and the waterfront

Morning

Start on Boston Common and follow the Freedom Trail: the State House, Park Street Church, the Granary Burying Ground, the Old South Meeting House and the Old State House, finishing the downtown half at Faneuil Hall. Allow about three hours with stops.

Lunch

Continue into the North End for pizza, pasta or a sandwich, followed by a cannoli.

Afternoon

Visit the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church, then either continue the trail across the bridge to the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill, or walk down to the waterfront and along the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a park built where an elevated highway once stood.

Evening

Dinner at a seafood restaurant on the waterfront, or back in the North End. If you have energy left, a harbor sunset cruise or a drink with a view.

Day two: Back Bay, art and Cambridge

Morning

Walk through the Public Garden, past the duckling statues, and along Commonwealth Avenue. Visit Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library on Copley Square, then browse Newbury Street.

Midday

Take the Green Line to the Museum of Fine Arts or the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, or both if you love art. Lunch at a museum café.

Afternoon

Take the Red Line across the river to Harvard Square. Walk through Harvard Yard, see the John Harvard statue and visit the Glass Flowers at the natural history museum.

Evening

If the Red Sox are playing, catch a game at Fenway Park, booked in advance. Otherwise, dinner in the South End or a show in the Theater District.

Swaps and extras

  • With children: swap a museum for the Boston Children's Museum or the New England Aquarium, and add the Swan Boats.
  • In winter: skate on the Frog Pond and spend more time indoors at the museums.
  • A third day: take the train to Salem, or spend a day in the Seaport and the Harbor Islands.

Practical tips

  • Stay in Back Bay or Downtown to walk to most of the plan; see where to stay in Boston.
  • Buy a CharlieCard or use contactless payment on the T; see getting around Boston.
  • Comfortable shoes: the Freedom Trail alone is two and a half miles of brick and cobblestone.

Frequently asked questions

Is two days enough for Boston?

Enough for the highlights. Add a third day for Salem, Cape Cod or more museums.

Can I do this plan without a car?

Yes, on foot and by T. A car is a burden in central Boston.

What if it rains?

Swap the order: museums and the library on the rainy day, the Freedom Trail when it is dry.