Boston is a city with activities for nearly every conceivable itinerary. And, contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to break the bank to check out Boston’s top experiences. We set out to answer two questions: 1)"What can you do in Boston for under $20?" and 2)"What can a family of four do in Boston for under $50?". From free museums and iconic tours at a bargain to live music at historic jazz venues, nights out at activity bars, legendary sports experiences, and more, here’s our list of the top 40 budget-friendly things to do in Boston! 

 

1. Walk Boston’s iconic Freedom Trail with the National Park Service's free self-guided audio tour, Action Tour Guide's self-guided tour ($), or a guided tour from the Freedom Trail® Foundation ($), Boston by Foot ($), or Tours by Foot ($). 

2. Spend the day searching for your next favorite read at Boston’s top bookstores ($), including Brattle Book Shop, one of America’s oldest and largest used bookstores. 

3. Enjoy free entertainment during Boston’s warmer months at a Hatch Shell Concert, Shakespeare on the Common, outdoor movie night, or outdoor music festivals like BAMS Fest (June), Cambridge Jazz Festival (July), or the Charles River Jazz Festival (July). 

4. Awe at Boston’s night sky during Coit Observatory’s weekly Public Open Night every Wednesday.

5. Discover the storied history of the second oldest fire department in the United States for free at the Boston Fire Museum.

6. Tour Samuel Adams’ Boston Brewery ($) and discover how your favorite beer is made. 

7. Get on the water with a scenic MBTA Ferry ride ($) and spend the day exploring beyond Boston in Hingham, Hull, Quincy, Charlestown, East Boston, Winthrop, Lynn, or Salem. 

8. Grab a drink and enjoy nightly jazz at Wally’s Café Jazz Club ($).

9. Marvel at the world-renowned collection of the Harvard Art Museums with free admission every day of the week.

10 Play pickleball, bocce, cornhole, and giant versions of the classics like Jenga, Chess, Checkers, and Connect 4 for free at the Lawn on D

 

11. Experience America’s oldest car collection at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum ($). 

12. Channel your inner academic on a free tour of Harvard University through the Harvard Visitor Center. 

13. Rent a Bluebike ($) and see how many neighborhoods you can visit. 

14. Explore the breathtaking architecture of Boston’s historic landmarks on a free public tour of the Boston Public LibrarySymphony Hall, or the Massachusetts State House

15. Uncover over 10,000 years of cultural history from six continents at Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archeology & Ethnology ($).

16. Head to Castle Island for spectacular views of Boston’s skyline, sandy beaches, and free tours of a 19th-century fort.

17. Find the hidden door at Roxy’s Grilled Cheese ($) and uncover a speakeasy-style arcade (21+) perfect for a night of nostalgia. 

18. Discover the power of play with nearly free admission ($1) to the Boston Children’s Museum every Sunday from 1:00-4:00 pm.

19. Hit astonishing speeds on F1® Arcade’s full-motion racing simulators ($). 

20. Embark on an unforgettable self-guided scavenger hunt of Boston Harbor or the Freedom Trail with Urban Adventure Quest ($).

 

21. Travel to Lexington for the Battle Green Tour ($), the location of the first shots of the American Revolutionary War.  

22. Bowl the night away at Urban Wild in Charlestown ($).

23. Experience the world of contemporary art at the Institute of Contemporary Art  ($) or by visiting the museum’s free seasonal exhibit space in East Boston, ICA Watershed (museum admission not required!). Visiting on a Thursday? The Institute of Contemporary Art offers free admission every Thursday from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. 

24. Laugh out loud during one of Improv Asylum’s improvisation and sketch comedy shows ($).

25. Stroll through Beacon Hill on The Black Heritage Trail® during a free public tour before visiting the Museum of African American History ($).  

26. See the world like never before as you explore a three-story stained-glass globe at The Mapparium ($) in The First Church of Christ, Scientist.

27. Become a sailor on the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat, with free admission every day of the year. 

28. Browse farmer and artist vendors at the SoWa Open Market during Boston’s warmer months or at one of Boston’s top farmers markets year round. 

29. Challenge your favorite people to a ping pong night at Spin Boston ($).

30. Explore the carefully curated galleries, elegant courtyard, and Venetian Renaissance architecture of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum ($). And, if you’re named Isabella, you get free admission for life!

 

31. Ride a Swan Boat in the Public Garden ($), admire spring blooms at the Arnold Arboretum, or kayak Jamaica Pond ($). See Boston’s top parks

32. Climb to the top of one of America’s tallest monuments with free admission to the Bunker Hill Monument and Museum

33. Cheer on the New England Revolution ($) during an MLS regular-season game at Gillette Stadium. (Please note that ticket prices vary and may be higher than our $20 and $50 thresholds)

34. Take the train to Concord and explore the Concord Museum ($), Minute Man National Park, Authors RidgeWalden Pond, and more.

35. Head to Dorchester Brewing Company to experience the world’s only museum dedicated to the collection of bad art at The Museum of Bad Art.

36. Take a self-guided tour of the Innovation TrailEquality TrailIrish Heritage Trail, or Boston Women's Heritage Trail.

37. Dive deeper into the natural world at the Harvard Museum of Natural History ($).

38. Discover 400 years of Massachusetts history at the Commonwealth Museum.

39. Explore the art collections of Boston University’s Art Galleries and Boston College’s McMullen Museum of Art with free admission.

40. Plan a trip around one of the many free festivals happening every weekend of the year.

Discover everything happening in Boston on our things to do, free things to do, and events pages.