Boston on a Budget
When to go, what’s actually free, and where the costs actually are, so you’re not paying more than you need to.
Boston has a reputation for being pricey, and it can be, but the city’s best history lesson, the Freedom Trail, costs nothing to walk. Here’s how to keep the rest of the costs down without cutting the trip short.
Visit January-March, or November
Winter brings Boston’s lowest hotel prices, well below the rates charged during peak summer and fall foliage season. It’s cold, but the museums, the Freedom Trail’s indoor stops and the Public Library all work just as well regardless of weather. Early November offers a properly good middle ground too, milder than deep winter and noticeably cheaper than October’s foliage crowds.
The Freedom Trail is genuinely free
Walking all 16 stops of the Freedom Trail costs nothing beyond your own time, and several of the individual sites, the Massachusetts State House, King’s Chapel, Faneuil Hall, offer free entry too. Boston Common, the Public Garden and Acorn Street in Beacon Hill round out a strong free itinerary, and the Boston Public Library’s Copley Square building is properly worth a visit purely for the architecture, also free.
Walk, or get a CharlieCard
Boston is widely one of the most walkable big cities in America, most downtown sights sit within a comfortable stroll of each other. The T, the city’s subway, runs efficiently for longer distances, a CharlieCard is worth it over paying per ride if you’re using it more than a couple of times a day.
The North End beats a Faneuil Hall tourist meal
The North End offers widely excellent, reasonably priced Italian food, Regina Pizzeria and Mike’s Pastry both come without the markup you’ll find right on the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Chinatown holds a similarly strong value scene too, and a clam chowder from a no-frills spot costs considerably less than the same bowl at a waterfront tourist restaurant.
Consider Allston or Somerville over Back Bay
Hotels in Back Bay and downtown sit at the top of the price range given the location. Allston and Somerville, both a short T ride from the centre, run noticeably cheaper while staying well connected, and university-town energy from nearby Cambridge keeps both neighbourhoods lively.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
