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Boston
Things to Do
Free Things to Do

Free Things to Do in Boston

Arnold Arboretum

Casual / Dog Friendly / Free / Park

Reviewed by Seijah D.

"On a slow summer day in Boston with no plans and not much money to spend, one might find themselves without a clue on how to spend their day. To that ..." more

Harvard University
125 Arborway
Boston, MA 02130

Boston Common

All Ages / All Types / Baseball

Party Earth Review The oldest public park in the country, Boston Common is a year-round gathering point for Bostonians of every stripe. Founded in 1634, the fifty-acre expanse of green is a favorite hangout in warm weather, when students, young professionals, and lovers show up to stroll through the picturesque Public Gardens, picnic on the ... more

151 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108

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SoWa Open Market

Artists / Barbeque / Burgers / Free

Party Earth Review An art guild located in the trendy South End, and home to hundreds of studios and dozens of galleries, SoWa hosts an outdoor market every Sunday from May to October that attracts a dynamic array of local artists, farmers, designers, and vendors looking to sell their wares. Sometimes referred to as Boston’s ... more

460 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118

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North End

Bars / Birthday Parties / Cafés

Party Earth Review Home to Boston’s vibrant Italian district and many historic landmarks, the North End and its narrow cobblestone streets draw everyone from pasta lovers and tourists to wine-drinking partiers. Though gentrification has attracted a growing number of young professionals, the small neighborhood is still home to a high concentration ... more

I-93 and Commercial Street
form the rough boundaries of the North End

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Tia's On the Waterfront

Birthday Parties / Burgers / Bar

Party Earth Review A warm-weather destination for throngs of stylish city dwellers, Tia’s On the Waterfront is a popular spot for shaking off the winter doldrums and celebrating the return of the sun. Open April through October, the venue is usually packed from day one with young professionals and college students, who descend ... more

200 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02109

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Boston Esplanade

All Ages / All Types / Burgers

Party Earth Review A six-mile stretch of trails offering spectacular views along the Charles River, the Boston Esplanade is a year-round destination for Bostonians of all stripes. Early morning sees suited bicycle commuters and joggers passing each other on the picturesque riverbank, while later in the day, fit young professionals take to ... more

Along the Charles River between the Longfellow Bridge and Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02108

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Harvard Square

20s / 30s / Affluent / Artists / Bars

Party Earth Review Located in the center of Cambridge, Harvard Square is a fun and happening area with a past that draws tourists and local history buffs alike. The spot in which Washington took control of the Continental Army, and the home of Harvard University, the nation’s oldest college, nowadays the Square is more of a commercial and ... more

HSBA: 18 Brattle Street, Suite 352
Boston, MA 02138

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Faneuil Hall

20s / 30s / All Ages / All Types / DJ

Party Earth Review Dating back to the Revolutionary period when figures like Sam Adams stoked the flames of war, Faneuil Hall and its surroundings are now a daytime hotspot for shoppers and a nighttime haunt for barhoppers. Particularly packed on sunny summer days, the marketplace and its vendors attract hordes of tourists and bargain hunters ... more

4 South Market Building
Boston, MA 02109

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Newbury Street

20s / 30s / 40s / Affluent / Bars / Cafés

Party Earth Review An eight-block stretch containing some of the city’s best high-end shopping, restaurants, and cafés, Newbury Street is sometimes referred to as the Rodeo Drive of the East. Hidden under water until 1860 when part of the Boston Harbor was filled in to create the Back Bay neighborhood, the street is now ... more

Newbury Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Arlington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116

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City living can get pricey. Rent, groceries, parking, and even traffic tickets are always more expensive in America’s bigger towns. But a common trade-off for paying to live in a modern metropolis is the multitude of free things available for residents to do.

Free things to do in Boston tend to occur during the summer months. There’s outdoor movies, concerts, festivals, fashion shows, tasting events, and even block parties. The Longwood Orchestra performs classical music concerts at the Hatch Shell every Wednesday night throughout the summer. At the same time, the mayor's office hosts free movie screenings on the Common, and the Prudential Center hosts them on the lawn in the building's courtyard. The Boston Harbor Hotel hosts live jazz and salsa nights, as well as old movie screenings overlooking the harbor.

Many Boston museums offer opportunities for folks to enter – free of charge – at different points throughout the year. The Museum of Fine Arts has free open house days several times a year, with admission by voluntary contribution every Wednesday after 4pm. The Institute of Contemporary Art is free every Thursday from 5pm to 9pm, while the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is always free for visitors under 18, U.S. military members and their families, and anyone named “Isabella.” Visitors may also enter for free on their birthdays.