Get ready for the ultimate adventure on this 5-day Boston itinerary for families! Known for its role in the American Revolution, its many fine art museums, and its upscale dining, there’s so much to experience in this New England state. From the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill to the busy waterfront of the North End. we’ve included some of the best things to do in Boston with kids. Each day offers a blend of iconic landmarks, family-friendly attractions, dining experiences, and insider tips to help you make the most of your time in this kid-friendly city. We’ve also included where to stay in Boston with kids. Keep reading to plan your next adventure!
Day 1: Freedom Trail, Quincy Market, Boston Tea Party Museum
Any family visiting Boston for the first time can’t miss the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long path that passes by 16 significant historic sites in Boston, including Boston Common and the USS Constitution Museum. Start at the visitor’s center to grab a map. Eventually, you can make your way to the Paul Revere House in the North End, stopping at landmarks like the Massachusetts State House and Faneuil Hall along the way.
Afternoon Activity: Quincy Market, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
For lunch, families can explore the food stalls at Quincy Market or Faneuil Hall to eat anything from lobster rolls to pizza. After lunch, head to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Here, you can step back in time to December 16, 1773, and relive the events leading up to the Boston Tea Party through interactive exhibits and live reenactments. Kids can even participate in tossing tea overboard from a replica tea ship!
Families with younger kids may prefer the Boston Children’s Museum, which has Martin’s Park right across. Or, visit the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a green space along the harbor with a carousel kids can ride. If you’re visiting during the summer months, kids can cool off in the spray gardens. These are definitely some of the best things to do in Boston with kids!
Evening Activity: Seaport District
For dinner, head to Legal Sea Foods in the Seaport District. This iconic Boston seafood restaurant offers a wide selection of fresh seafood dishes, including lobster, clam chowder, and oysters. After dinner, take a stroll along the Harborwalk to enjoy the twinkling lights of the city skyline reflected in the water.
Day 2: New England Aquarium, Boston Public Market, North End
Fuel up for the day with a delicious breakfast at Bean & Lean Cafe. Then, check out the New England Aquarium. Kids will love the various exhibits showcasing marine life from around the world, including the Giant Ocean Tank, home to a vibrant coral reef and various tropical fish.
After the aquarium, stroll along the scenic Boston Harborwalk again. Enjoy views of the waterfront and watch the boats sail by as you make your way to Boston Public Market for lunch!
Afternoon Activity: Boston Duck Tour
For families who want to see Boston’s highlights uniquely on their itinerary, a Boston Duck Tour fits the bill! Lasting around eighty minutes, the tour is given on an amphibious vehicle that drives through the famous streets of Boston and continues in the famous Charles River.
Families will get to see and learn about historic sites, prestigious shopping streets, a beautiful historic garden, and explore the winding Charles River. Tours depart from the New England Aquarium, so you’ll be right in the vicinity too.
Evening Activity: Dinner In The North End
For dinner, head to the North End, Boston’s historic Italian neighborhood, and dine at Giacomo’s Ristorante. This cozy trattoria is known for its delicious pasta dishes and generous portions, perfect for hungry families. After dinner, indulge in some homemade gelato from one of the nearby gelaterias.
Don’t miss adding these 25 Amazing Things to Do in Boston with Kids to your itinerary!
Day 3: Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Copley Square
On the third day of your Boston itinerary for families, stroll through the charming streets of Beacon Hill, known for its historic architecture, cobblestone streets, and picturesque brownstones. Enjoy a hearty breakfast at The Paramount, which has diner classics like pancakes, waffles, omelets, eggs, etc.
From there, make your way to The Public Garden, the first public garden established in the U.S. You can relax and appreciate the beautiful blooming flowers, if you’re visiting in the spring or summer. Kids will love riding the famous Swan Boats, some of which date back 100 years!
For lunch, neighboring Boston Common Park is a lovely spot to bring a picnic and relax when the weather is warm. Kids will love the playground, carousel, and spray pond. In the winter, you can even go ice skating on the frog pond!
Afternoon Activity: Back Bay, Boston Public Library
Nearby, families will find another charming Boston neighborhood, Back Bay. Here, you can appreciate the grand Victorian-era architecture along Commonwealth Avenue, known as Boston’s “grand boulevard.” Children will also love strolling down Newbury Street, a shopping street lined with stores, cafes, and ice cream parlors.
Then, families can see The Boston Public Library, the oldest and first public library in the U.S. In fact, it dates back to 1895 with its ornate designs, a children’s room, and a central courtyard! Families can take free tours, which typically last an hour. You will get a good look at the Abbey Murals, the architecture, and some grand staircases throughout the building.
Evening Activity: Ghost & Gravestones Tour
Kids who want a spooktastic adventure through some of Boston’s most haunted places can’t miss the Ghosts and Graveyards Tour! From chilling murder sites to eerie graveyards, we suggest this one-and-a-half-hour excursion for mature kids ages thirteen and up.
They’ll love walking among the dead and hearing creepy stories about Boston’s past, as you venture to the site of the biggest grave-robbing scandal in New England history. In addition to exclusive nighttime access to two of Boston’s oldest burying grounds, the tour also takes families to Boston’s most haunted hotel: The Omni Parker House. Prepare to hear tales of the hotel’s weirdest tenants!
Day 4: Museum of Science, Charles River Esplanade, Cambridge
For breakfast on the second day of your Boston itinerary for families, head to Blake’s Kitchen and Bar, which has classic breakfast options like eggs, bacon, and french toast. After, spend the morning at the Museum of Science.
With interactive exhibits covering topics like biology, physics, and space exploration, there’s plenty to entertain kids and adults. Kids will love the live, walkable insect zoo and the behind-the-scenes viewing of the live animal care center!
Afternoon Activity: Boat Ride Along The Charles River
Grab a quick bite to eat at the museum’s café or pack a picnic lunch to enjoy by the Charles River Esplanade. After lunch, take a boat cruise along the Charles River. Several companies offer sightseeing cruises with stunning views of the Boston skyline and iconic landmarks like the Prudential Tower and the Longfellow Bridge.
Optional Activity: USS Constitution Museum & Ship
If you have extra time, visit the USS Constitution, where kids can meet active-duty sailors. Referred to as “Old Ironsides”, it is the oldest commissioned United States warship that is still afloat. Tours, which are free and run every 30 minutes, share information on the United States Navy and America’s naval heritage.
You can also check out the USS Constitution Museum to learn more about the ship and its importance to history. Plus, kids can even embrace the challenge of scrubbing the deck and learning how to tie a slip knot.
Evening Activity: Shopping & Dinner In Cambridge
For dinner, cross the bridge and head over to Cambridge. Cambridge Common Restaurant is family-friendly, has a kids’ menu, and has a convenient location near Harvard Square. After, you can visit some of the eclectic shops or get some Harvard swag at the university bookstores. If you are lucky, you may catch a street performer/singer in the Square.
Day 5: Museum Of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Fenway Park
Boston is a great city to visit with tweens or tweens who love art. On the last day of your Boston itinerary for families, check out the Museum of Fine Arts, which has an extensive collection ranging from ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary art. For a quick lunch nearby, head to Flour Bakery + Café, which has multiple locations in Boston, including one on Dalton Street near the museum. Here, you’ll find sandwiches, salads, and other to-go items.
Afternoon Activity: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
In the afternoon, visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Built by philanthropist and art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner at the turn of the 20th century, the collection includes works by some of history’s most renowned artists and sculptors. Keep an eye out for Titian, Rembrandt, Manet, Whistler, and Sargent. Take time to sit in the calming courtyard and enjoy the surroundings before checking out the collection.
Additional Activity: Fenway Park
Visiting Boston as a family should include a visit to the famous Fenway Ball Park. Fenway opened its doors in 1912 and has been referred to as “America’s most beloved ballpark.” If you can’t score tickets to a Red Sox game, you can still take a tour of Fenway. Lasting about an hour, kids and parents alike will learn about the ballpark and some of its most famous players.
Optional Activity: Franklin Park Zoo or Arnold Arboretum
Just south of Boston, families can also visit the Arnold Arboretum. Enjoy 281 acres of open spaces, trails, gardens, and lawns. There’s plenty of plant life to discover and a vast collection of Bonsai plants. There’s also the Franklin Park Zoo nearby, home to a wide variety of animal species from around the world, including lions, pandas, and giraffes.
For more nature on your Boston itinerary for families, check out Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary. Located a 10-minute drive from the Arboretum, this 67-acre center has plenty of short trails, nature exhibits kids will love, picnic tables, and even tours. Kids will love grabbing a bug net and magnifying glasses to get up close and personal with their finds!
Evening Activity: BBQ Dinner
For dinner, check out Sweet Cheeks Q, which has yummy BBQ food that kids will love. Since it’s in the area, it’s convenient for families spending time near Fenway. If you’re heading back toward downtown, you can also grab dinner at Regina Pizzeria.
Optional: Day Trip To Salem
Families with extra time on their Boston itinerary can also take a day trip to Salem. Famous for its 17th-century Witch Trials, kids will love witnessing the place where this historical event happened. Plus, it’s less than an hour away from Boston.
The Salem Witch Museum explores the Salem witch trials of 1692 through life-size stage sets, figures, and narration that’ll impress kids. At Salem Common, kids can run around on the playground or relax on the grass while taking in the scenery. Then, you can also take a walking tour of this charming town, where you will learn all about its sordid history in spooky detail. Families can even choose from themed tours, like a haunted history tour, which offers a fun and informative way to learn about Salem’s spooky legends. For lunch, head to the Salem waterfront area and grab a bite to eat at the Lobster Shanty.
After the tour, visit the Peabody Essex Museum, one of the oldest and most prominent art museums in the United States. For dinner, head to the Flying Saucer Pizza Company. Plus, did you know that Salem is one of the 13 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in New England with Kids?
To add more to your itinerary, check out these 13 Amazing Weekend Getaways Near Boston For Families!
Where To Stay In Boston With Kids
Boston has plenty of family-friendly hotels to choose from on your itinerary for families! For the most convenient locations, stay at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, the Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel, or the Boston Marriott Long Wharf. All boast kid-friendly amenities such as pools and are located in close proximity to the city’s best attractions. For more suggestions, consult our list of the best hotels in Boston for families!
Happy Travels!
We hope you liked this 5-Day Boston Itinerary For Families! Between museums, great restaurants, and historic attractions, there are so many ways to keep kids entertained in this dynamic city. Enjoy a trip to Boston with your kids!
*This post may contain affiliate links that may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links in no way inform the hotels, sights, products, or other recommendations included in our articles. All opinions and recommendations expressed here are compiled from submissions submitted by the generous members of our Families Who Love To Travel community.
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