One day in Boston : 24 hour guide

Boston is one of those cities that immediately grabs you by the scruff – at first it is genteel and historic, then you’ll find friendly corners and fantastic dynamism. Not as brash as New York, or architecturally interesting as Chicago, Boston is a melting pot of history and humans. From learning about pivotal moments in the American Revolution to meandering around incredible public spaces, your one day in Boston will be a memorable one.

A 24 hour itinerary for your day in Boston:

From Midday to Midday

12 Midday – Lunch at Cafe Bonjour or The Halal Guys

Depending on your preferences and budget, these two spots south of Boston Common are a great start to your one day in Boston. Cafe Bonjour (55 Temple Pl) is a diner style place that serves fabulous all-day breakfast and great coffee. If you’re on a budget, head to The Halal Guys (137 Stuart St) for generous portions of gyros.

1pm – Boston Common

A walk around Boston Common is such a great way to start your exploration of the city centre. The view up to the Boston State Building reminded me very much of the boulevards in Europe. We enjoyed watching the sassy squirrels, visiting the Frog Pond, and having coffee at Brewers Fountain.

Established in 1634, Boston Common is the oldest public park in America! At the other end of the Common is Boston Public Garden – a manicured garden with a boating pond and the insta-famous ‘Make Way For Ducklings’ sculptures, based on the children’s book by Robert McCloskey.

2 – 6pm – Walk the Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail is a 4km trail around downtown Boston, taking in the significant historical sites that helped to shape the USA. It is by no means comprehensive, but it does include a lot of important sites in the Revolutionary War and Declaration of Independence. It wasn’t until we stood at these hallowed places that the gravity of the history hit us. I have listed some of my favourite spots along the Freedom Trail below – leave yourself at least 3-4 hours to walk this route.

Granary Burying Ground

This cemetery is the third oldest in the USA. Founded by the Puritan settlers in 1660, it is the final resting place for many important figureheads and those who lost their lives during Boston’s formative years. From the Revolutionary War – Paul Revere and James Otis; and from the Declaration of Independence – Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine.

Other US cities that have captured our hearts include Seattle and Savannah!

The Old South Meeting House

The Old South Meeting House is an 18th century church that is most famous for being the meeting place of those responsible for the Boston Tea Party! In its lifetime it had some famous congregants, including Benjamin Franklin, Samual Adams and John Hull. It is now a museum along the Freedom Trail.

6pm – While Downtown…

Don’t miss some of the other sites downtown. The Irish Famine Memorial is along the Freedom Trail, so easily accessible. This haunting and educational small park, seating area and statue is on the corner of School & Washington Streets. The birthplace of Benjamin Franklin is just around the corner from the Old South Meeting House, on Milk Street. If you fancy a rest, a meeting place, or somewhere from which to people-watch, the Steps at Franklin and Washington are very cool. They are like a mini version of the steps at Times Square in New York.

6:30pm – Dinner in an old school

It’s now time for dinner at the Old City Hall, which is now a Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Before the building was a city hall, and long before it was an office building and steak house, it was Boston’s first public school. The Boston Latin School was attended by Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

8pm – Enjoy Boston’s nightlife

Whether you choose to go and explore Boston’s snazzy cocktail bars, or enjoy a night at the theatre or opera, there’s something for everyone! We hung out at a few rough and ready places like The Tam (222 Tremont St) near Boston Common. As well as the stylish Drink (348 Congress St) over in Seaport. The custom cocktails were amazing, and it was great to see another suburb of Boston.

** Fall into bed at an undisclosed hour **

Where to Stay in Boston

I am a huge fan of the South End neighbourhood in Boston. This regenerated area has a lot of new housing developments, funky cafes and great hotels such as the AC Hotel by Marriott.

9am – Breakfast at South End Buttery

If you’re visiting on a weekend day, Boston’s cafes and restaurants will be bursting with brunch go-ers. My favourite spot for breakfast or brunch is the South End Buttery (314 Shawmut Ave). Grab yourself a fresh almond croissant, or try their french toast – and don’t forget a mimosa!

10am – Fenway or Bust

There are two options for your morning activity:

Baseball

If you’re a baseball fan like me, then a tour of Fenway Park is a great option for your time in Boston. Obviously, if you were visiting Boston during the baseball season, I would hope that you could catch a game!

Charles River

There are so many alternatives, if baseball isn’t your thing. Enjoy the Charles River and a tour of the city via the amphibious ‘Duck’ vehicles.

Boston Harbour

There’s nothing like seeing a city from its harbour. Why not take a morning sailing tour on aboard a schooner. Boston Harbour has seen a lot of historic events, and you can learn more on board such tours.

12 Midday – Lunch in Chinatown

You may not be hungry enough for lunch if you’ve gorged on french toast for breakfast, but if you are, you can’t beat Chinatown. The best restaurants in Chinatown are congregated around Beach, Tyler and Kneeland Streets. Look for the ones that are bustling and a bit divey looking – you want plastic seats, well-worn menus, and big tables of friends and families sharing food.

I do hope you have time to stick around a bit longer, if not only to enjoy Boston for another few days, but also to take a day trip to Salem!

One day in Boston : 24 hour guide

Boston quickly became one of my favourite US cities. It’s one of those places that reveals itself in layers – and each one we discovered, we loved! Please don’t see this 24 hour guide for Boston as a disservice to this wonderful city, but instead as a jumping off point for further exploration. I hope that your one day in Boston turns into many days, and that you continue to revisit this city, as we hope to soon!

If you enjoyed this 24 hour guide to Boston, you might also like this guide to 2-3 days in Chicago!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with an iPhoneX.