Boston offers 160+ restaurants, 60+ bars, and 50+ major attractions for World Cup 2026 visitors.North End (Little Italy)'s Italian food, cannoli wars, romantic evening stroll, Freedom Trail(Free (self-guided), $18-25 adults (guided tours)), and Salem Witch Trials History day trips (Half-day (4-6 hours)) are top experiences. Budget $80-120/day (sit-down restaurants, 1 splurge meal) for food.
160+ restaurants •60+ bars •50+ attractions
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Boston's top attractions center on Revolutionary War history (Freedom Trail), sports (Fenway Park), and colonial charm (North End). Many are FREE or low-cost ($15-30). Budget 2-4 hours per attraction. Walking distance between most sites.
Free
Freedom Trail (self-guided), Boston Common, Harvard Yard, Faneuil Hall
Budget
$15-30 (Museum tickets, guided tours, Fenway tour)
Splurge
$40-200+ (Red Sox game tickets)
America's most famous walking trail: 2.5-mile red-brick path connecting 16 historic Revolutionary War sites. Starts at Boston Common, winds through Downtown, North End, and ends at Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Self-guided (FREE) or guided tours ($18-25). Key stops: Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground (Sam Adams, Paul Revere buried here), King's Chapel, Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House (Boston Tea Party started here), Old State House (Boston Massacre site), Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church ('One if by land, two if by sea'), USS Constitution ('Old Ironsides'), Bunker Hill Monument.
Best Time
Early morning (8-9 AM) to avoid crowds, or late afternoon for softer light
How to Get There
Start at Boston Common (Park Street T station on Red/Green Lines)
Photo by Brett Wharton • Unsplash
America's oldest baseball stadium (1912), home of the Boston Red Sox. The 'Green Monster' (37-foot left field wall) is iconic. Stadium tours ($25-30) include Green Monster seats, press box, and field access. If Red Sox are playing during your visit (June-July home games possible), tickets $40-200+. Even non-baseball fans appreciate the history and atmosphere. Fenway neighborhood has great bars (Cask 'n Flagon, Bleacher Bar).
Best Time
Game days for full atmosphere, or weekday morning tours
How to Get There
MBTA Green Line (B, C, D branches) to Kenmore station (5 min walk)
Photo by Osman Rana • Unsplash
Historic marketplace (1742) nicknamed 'Cradle of Liberty' where Sam Adams gave protest speeches. Faneuil Hall 2nd floor meeting hall is FREE. Adjacent Quincy Market is indoor food hall with 20+ vendors: lobster rolls ($18-25), clam chowder ($8-12), Boston cream pie, cannoli. Always crowded but great for quick lunch. Street performers outside. North End (Little Italy) is 5 min walk.
Best Time
Weekday lunch (11 AM-1 PM) to avoid weekend tourist crowds
How to Get There
MBTA Blue/Orange Line to Government Center or State station (5 min walk)
Photo by David Trinks • Unsplash
America's first public park (Boston Common, 1634) and nation's first public botanical garden (Public Garden, 1837). Swan Boats ($4.50 adults, seasonal) on Public Garden lagoon are iconic. Great for picnics, people-watching, or Freedom Trail starting point. Make Way for Ducklings bronze statues (children's book) in Public Garden. Free concerts at Parkman Bandstand (summer).
Best Time
Morning (8-10 AM) or late afternoon (4-6 PM) for best light and fewer crowds
How to Get There
MBTA Green/Red Line to Park Street station (direct access)
Photo by Taylor Keeran • Unsplash
Boston's oldest neighborhood (1630s) now Italian enclave. Self-guided food crawl: Mike's Pastry vs Modern Pastry (cannoli war - locals prefer Modern), Regina Pizzeria (original 1926 location), Neptune Oyster (lobster roll $32 but worth it), Giacomo's Ristorante (cash-only, no reservations, line out the door). Paul Revere House and Old North Church on Freedom Trail here. Narrow cobblestone streets with colonial architecture.
Best Time
Evening (6-9 PM) for dinner + dessert, or Sunday morning for less crowds
How to Get There
MBTA Green/Orange Line to Haymarket station (5 min walk)
Photo by Zoshua Colah • Unsplash
Boston's food scene centers on three pillars: Fresh seafood (lobster rolls, clam chowder), Italian North End (cannoli wars, Regina Pizza), and historic taverns. Budget $15-25 for casual meals, $40-70 for sit-down restaurants, $100+ for splurge dinners. Cash-only restaurants common in North End (bring $60-80 cash).
Budget
$40-60/day (Dunkin', Quincy Market, pizza slices)
Moderate
$80-120/day (sit-down restaurants, 1 splurge meal)
Luxury
$150-250/day (Neptune Oyster, Legal Sea Foods, cocktails)
Boston's oldest neighborhood (1630s) now Italian enclave. Narrow cobblestone streets with red-sauce Italian restaurants, bakeries, cafes. Most restaurants cash-only, no reservations. Arrive 5 PM or 9 PM to skip 90-min lines.
63 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
$32 lobster roll, $40-60 entrees
Wait: 2+ hours peak, 30 min off-peak
Tiny 30-seat seafood counter with BEST lobster roll in Boston. Hot lobster roll with butter is perfection - sweet, buttery, overflowing with meat. Cold wait times 2+ hours unless you arrive 11 AM or 5 PM sharp.
11 1/2 Thacher St, Boston, MA 02113
$15-25 per pizza
Wait: 30-90 min
Boston's most famous pizzeria since 1926. Thin crust, sweet sauce, brick oven perfection. Original location in North End has long lines but worth it. Chain locations exist but locals only trust Thacher St spot.
355 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
$18-28 huge portions
Wait: 60-90 min peak
Cash-only Italian with HUGE portions, no reservations, always a line out the door. Intimate space, red-checkered tablecloths, old-school vibe. One plate feeds two people.
257 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
$4-6 cannoli
Wait: 5-10 min
Since 1930. Locals prefer Modern over Mike's - shorter lines, same quality, quieter. Ricotta cannoli filled fresh when you order. Crispy shell, sweet ricotta, chocolate chips.
300 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
$4-6 cannoli
Wait: 30-60 min
Since 1946. Tourist magnet with iconic blue boxes. Long lines (30+ min) but worth trying once. Try both Mike's AND Modern to pick your winner in the cannoli wars.
Pros
Cons
Tourist classic
Pros
Cons
Local favorite
The Verdict
Locals prefer Modern (shorter lines, same quality). Tourists love Mike's (iconic blue boxes). Try both and decide! Order ricotta filling, get it filled fresh.
Cost: $30-50 per person
5:00 PM - Neptune Oyster
(45 min)Hot lobster roll ($32) + oysters
6:00 PM - Walk Hanover Street
(15 min)Window shop Italian bakeries, gelato
6:15 PM - Regina Pizzeria
(60 min)Margherita pizza + meatballs
7:30 PM - Walk Salem Street
(20 min)Paul Revere House, Old North Church (exterior)
8:00 PM - Modern Pastry
(15 min)Ricotta cannoli + espresso
8:15 PM - Mike's Pastry (Optional)
(30 min with line)Compare cannoli (take home blue box)
Newest neighborhood with modern waterfront restaurants. Great for seafood, cocktails, harbor views. More expensive than North End but less crowded.
383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
$30-60 per person
Working-class oyster bar with craft beer focus. Industrial-chic space, communal tables, harbor views. Best oyster selection in Boston (10-15 varieties daily). Reservations recommended.
270 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210
$40-80 per person
Three-floor Legal Sea Foods flagship. Floor 1: Casual dining. Floor 2: Upscale entrees. Floor 3: Rooftop bar with harbor views. Tourist-friendly, consistent quality.
Upscale shopping district with diverse dining. Newbury Street has sidewalk cafes, Boylston Street has sports bars.
911 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02115
$15-35 per person
Red Sox-themed sports bar near Fenway Park. 30+ TVs, local craft beer, typical bar food. Great for pre/post-Fenway drinks. Gets PACKED on game days.
$9-14
Creamy New England style with clams, potatoes, bacon. NOT the tomato-based Manhattan style.
Where to Try:
Order 'New England' style (not Manhattan). Comes with oyster crackers.
$24-32
Two styles: Hot with melted butter (Maine style) OR cold with mayo (Connecticut style). Both served on toasted top-split bun.
Where to Try:
Hot with butter > cold with mayo (locals prefer hot). Expensive but worth the splurge.
$6-12
Not a pie - it's a cake! Vanilla sponge, custard filling, chocolate ganache. Invented at Omni Parker House (1856).
Where to Try:
Try original at Omni Parker House for history.
$4-6
Crispy fried shell filled with sweet ricotta, chocolate chips, pistachios. North End specialty.
Where to Try:
Order ricotta filling. Get it filled fresh (not pre-filled). Modern has shorter lines.
$2-5
A religion in Boston. 'Regular' = cream and sugar (don't order black if you want regular).
Where to Try:
→Every corner has a Dunkin'
'Regular' coffee = cream and sugar. Iced coffee year-round. Cheaper than Starbucks.
Boston bars close at 2 AM (earlier than NYC/Miami). Faneuil Hall area has tourist bars, Back Bay has sports bars, Cambridge has dive bars. Drink prices: Beer $7-10, cocktails $12-18, wine $10-16. Last call 1:30 AM.
Beer
$7-10
Cocktails
$12-18
Wine
$10-16
Last Call: 1:30 AM (bars close 2 AM)
Tourist bars, Irish pubs, sports bars • Best For: Groups, casual drinks, sports watching
45 Union St, Boston, MA 02108
$8-16 per drink
Oldest bar in America (1795). Three floors, live music weekends, tourist-heavy but historic. Beer $8-10, cocktails $12-16.
160 State St, Boston, MA 02109
$8-14 per drink
Irish pub near Faneuil Hall. Live Irish music nightly, Guinness on tap, shepherd's pie. Local and tourist mix.
Upscale bars, sports bars, hotel lounges • Best For: Date nights, cocktails, pre-dinner drinks
271 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116
$10-16 per drink
Mexican restaurant with 100+ tequilas. Happy hour 4-6 PM ($6-9 margaritas). Colorful decor, loud music, fun atmosphere.
College bars, dive bars, craft beer • Best For: Locals, craft beer, dive bars
1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139
$7-10 per beer
Craft brewery since 1989. Rotating taps, pub food, MIT crowd. Outdoor beer garden (seasonal).
Distance
16 miles north
Duration
Half-day (4-6 hours)
Transport
MBTA Commuter Rail from North Station (30 min, $8-12)
Cost
$20-40 per person
Witch trial history (1692), Witch House, museums, waterfront. Very touristy but historically significant. Best in October (Halloween vibes) but VERY crowded.
9:00 AM: MBTA Commuter Rail from North Station
9:30 AM: Arrive Salem, walk to downtown (10 min)
10:00 AM: Salem Witch Museum ($15, 1 hour)
11:30 AM: Walk through downtown, see Witch House
12:30 PM: Lunch at Finz Seafood ($20-35)
2:00 PM: Charter Street Cemetery (free)
3:00 PM: Return train to Boston
Distance
70 miles southeast
Duration
Full-day (8-10 hours)
Transport
Rental car required
Cost
$40-80 per person (car + parking + meals)
Classic New England beach towns: Hyannis (Kennedy Compound), Provincetown (LGBT mecca at tip), Chatham (seals), Wellfleet (oysters). Summer crowds intense. Rent car for day ($50-80).
7:00 AM: Rent car, drive to Cape Cod (90 min)
8:30 AM: Arrive Hyannis, see Kennedy Compound
10:00 AM: Drive to Provincetown (60 min)
11:00 AM: Walk Commercial Street, art galleries
1:00 PM: Lunch at Arnold's Lobster & Clam Bar ($25-40)
3:00 PM: Beach time at Race Point Beach
5:00 PM: Drive back to Boston (90-120 min)
Distance
70 miles south
Duration
Full-day (6-8 hours)
Transport
Rental car required
Cost
$50-100 per person (mansion tours + lunch)
Gilded Age mansions (Rockefeller, Vanderbilt estates). The Breakers ($27) is must-see. Cliff Walk (FREE 3.5-mile coastal path). Charming waterfront town. Newport Jazz Festival (August).
8:00 AM: Rent car, drive to Newport (90 min)
9:30 AM: Arrive Newport, park downtown ($10-20)
10:00 AM: The Breakers mansion tour ($27, 1.5 hours)
12:00 PM: Lunch on Thames Street ($20-40)
1:30 PM: Walk Cliff Walk (FREE, 1-2 hours)
3:30 PM: Drive Ocean Drive scenic loop (30 min)
4:30 PM: Return to Boston (90 min)
Iconic red brick line starting at Boston Common. Best photo: Standing on bricks with Massachusetts State House gold dome in background.
Best Time: Morning (8-10 AM) for soft light, fewer crowds
📍 42.3554, -71.064
Most photographed street in Boston. Narrow cobblestone street with gas lamps, brick row houses, window boxes. VERY Instagrammable.
Best Time: Morning (7-9 AM) before tourists arrive
📍 42.3589, -71.0693
Iconic swan boats on lagoon with willow trees. Best photo: Swan boat on water with bridge in background.
Best Time: Late afternoon (4-6 PM) for golden hour light
📍 42.3541, -71.0693
Iconic 37-foot green wall. Best photo from Jersey Street outside stadium.
Best Time: Anytime (but game days have more atmosphere)
📍 42.3467, -71.0972
Touch statue toe for good luck (it's shiny from tourists). Best photo: Touching toe with Harvard buildings behind.
Best Time: Morning (9-11 AM) for fewer tourists
📍 42.3744, -71.1169
Common questions about food, nightlife, and attractions for World Cup 2026 visitors