Romantic Places to Visit in Boston

Boston Common

Boston Common is a famous central park in downtown Boston. It's also the oldest city park in the country, dating back to 1634. The park spans 50 acres and has a botanical garden and a pond where you can enjoy the iconic experience of taking a Swan paddleboat. Visitors can also find a playground and other fun activities for kids. During the winter months, an ice skating rink is set up, and a huge Christmas tree and other decorations adorn the park.

Boston Public Garden

The Boston Public Garden, dating back to 1837, was the first botanical garden in the country. It is heavily influenced by the Victorian era with seasonally flowers that change regularly. The Boston Public Garden is an iconic park in the city with its famous Swan Boats that you can use to paddle around the pond. There are flower beds that line the paths and many places to enjoy a leisurely stroll. Boston Public Garden is a relaxed and romantic setting and you'll often see weddings or wedding pictures being taken in the park.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

This unique art museum features the collection once owned by Isabella Stewart Gardner, an eccentric collector who enjoyed travel and ancient cultures. The building this museum is housed in is impressive as well. It's a Venetian style palazzo that has a beautiful courtyard and elegant architecture. Within the museum, the collection has grown to include more than 7,500 art pieces, 2,700 books and manuscripts, and more than 8,000 historical objects.

Salem, Massachusetts

This small town on the coast north of Boston has a famous history for a variety of reasons, and is worth a drive to spend the day here. First and foremost, this is the location of the famous Salem Witch Trials during which several young women were tried and executed for suspicious behavior. The Salem Witch History Museum and the Witch Dungeon Museum can provide you with more details, if you're up for it. While you're in town, you can also visit the numerous shops, restaurants, and other historical locations dating back to the 17th and 18th century. After all, Salem was a busy trading port and was actually larger than Boston for a significant period of history. The Salem Maritime Historic Site, the Friendship of Salem historic ship, the Pirate Museum, and at least one seafood restaurant should be on your agenda for the day, too.

The Institute of Contemporary Art

The Institute of Contemporary Art is in the Seaport District by the harbor. From the location you can enjoy impressive views of the Boston Harbor. The beautiful museum features 20th and 21st century work by notable women including Louise Bourgeois, Doris Salcedo, and Eva Hesse. There is also a satellite space that is opened seasonally during the summer months. It's accessible by shuttle but must be booked in advance.

The Esplanade

The Esplanade is a riverside park in the Back Bay neighborhood. It has a number of charming footbridges including Arthur Fiedler Footbridge. Within the park you'll also find the Hatch Shell bandstand, which is where the Boston Pops Orchestra holds its annual Fourth of July celebration. There are also a number of movies and concerts in the park during the warmer months. The park is a nice place to explore with a number of nice running trails, or you could enjoy a walk beside the river. Also here is the Esplanade Playground for kids which is quite large.

Shubert Theatre

Opened in 1910, Boston's Shuburt Theatre has ties to the theatres in New York with the same name. As such, visitors can see a variety of Broadway-style shows here including dramas and musicals and large productions.

Harborwalk

The Boston Harborwalk is a nearly complete project designed to connect the waterfront walkways along the harbor. Currently, visitors can enjoy over 43 miles of walkways along the harbor, much of which runs along the main Waterfront and North End areas of central Boston near many of the city's top attractions. Along the trail, visitors can find public restrooms along with restaurants, cafes, shops, tourist attractions, marinas and wharfs, ferry terminals, and more. While it's quite easy to run and jog along the trails, bikes are only allowed along specific sections which have less pedestrian traffic. Bikes are allowed on the section from the Neponset River Greenway to Castle Island State Park. See the website and map for more details if you're looking to bike.

Cutler Majestic Theatre

Featuring a variety of Broadway touring shows, the Cutler Majestic Theatre dates back to 1903 and features a beautiful interior. The venue regularly features top touring productions, so there is always something to see. It was actually the first building in Boston that was built for electric lights!

Commonwealth Avenue Mall

Stretching west from the famous Boston Common, Commonwealth Avenue is home to a wide and beautiful tree-lined median for eight blocks. This public park and garden area is home to a number of monuments, statues, and public spaces where visitors can relax, have a picnic, or explore the history of Boston. While you're here, peruse the statues of Alexander Hamilton, Leif Eriksson, and Samuel Eliot Morison among others, as well as the Women's Memorial and the Firefighters' Memorial. Also, admire the historic homes on either side of the avenue while you're here.

Charles Playhouse

Featuring productions of Blue Man Group and Shear Madness for more than 30 years, these are the only two shows hosted at this theatre, and they are extremely popular! The theatre itself was built in the Greek Revival architectural style and offers plenty of charm.

Boston Opera House

The Boston Opera House is now the home of the Boston Ballet. It also hosts a number of Broadway shows.

Arnold Arboretum

The Arnold Arboretum spreads out over 281 acres and is a major horticultural research institution. The arboretum was designed by C.S. Sargent working with Frederick Law Olmsted. It was designed with a less formal intent than most botanical gardens and today it offers a relaxing place to explore and enjoy nature.