Boston with Little Kids: What to Do/Skip in 2024

Boston is a great city to explore with little kids! There’s so much history in Boston that every time we do something “touristy” I find out more about our city. Boston has a ton of family-friendly destinations and activities, too. I compiled this 3 day itinerary with the 5 and under crowd in mind, but go past this list to find more stuff appropriate for kids up to pre-teen/teenage years! If you have specific questions about your trip to Boston with kids, leave me a comment and I’m happy to help with recommendations!

Boston with Little Kids: What to Do/Skip in 2023

Here are some activities and places you could visit during a 3-day trip to Boston with kids (ages 5 and under)

Day 1:

Visit the New England Aquarium:

The New England Aquarium is a great place to take kids. They can see a variety of marine animals, including penguins, sea turtles, and sharks. If you’re there with littles under 5, I would skip the IMAX Theater. It can be really overwhelming since it’s a huge (huge) screen and makes you feel like you’re actually in the scene.

Walk over to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market

It is where you can see street performers and get some fresh seafood from one of the food stalls. Our favorites are any of the seafood spots (I always get fresh shrimp cocktail!) and also the chocolate chip cookie cart! If you prefer to sit down and eat, there’s a great Legal Seafood’s right outside the aquarium.

Walk the Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile walk through historic sites in Boston, including the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church, and the Massachusetts State House. If you’re up for a long walk with lots of history, this is a must-do. Bring a stroller and plan this around nap time if you want your kids to get a “walking nap” while you see some more sights.

Play at the Boston Common

The Boston Common is a large public park with a playground and a spray pool, perfect for kids to run around and cool off on a hot day.

Stop by the Public Garden

See the famed Make Way for Ducklings statues. The statues are often dressed up for holidays or major sports games! Hop on a swan boat for a paddle around the pond, just like in the book.

Day 2:

Visit the Museum of Science:

The Museum of Science has many interactive exhibits that are great for kids, including a butterfly garden, a planetarium, and a hands-on engineering exhibit. A lot of the museum is meant for older kids, but the little ones will probably have fun too if they’re tagging along with older siblings.

Take a Duck Tour:

The Boston Duck Tours take you around the city in a WWII-style amphibious vehicle, giving you views of the city from both land and water. The duck boats are used in every championship parade!

Walk along the Charles River Esplanade:

The Charles River Esplanade is a scenic path along the river, perfect for a leisurely walk with the family. There are some great picnic spots along the Charles, and you might even see some of the local university crew teams practicing if you visit in the springtime or fall.

Day 3:

Explore the Boston Children’s Museum:

The Boston Children’s Museum is a hands-on museum with exhibits and activities for kids of all ages. It’s really hard to do the entire museum in one trip, so feel free to pick and choose your activities based on your kids’ interests. There’s usually a building station, a sports area, and of course the famed rope climbing structure just inside of the lobby!

Visit Martin’s Park, built in memory of Martin Richard who died at the Boston Marathon in 2013. A really fun, ship-themed park, this is a favorite spot in the city. Fast slides, playing pirates, and even a small splash pad – perfect for a summer day.

Boston with kids Boston Children's Museum — *Boston Children’s Museum is a really fun place! It’s huge, and really hard to do everything in just one visit*

These are just a few ideas for things to do in Boston with little kids. Make sure to check the hours and availability of each attraction before you go, and plan your itinerary accordingly.

If you have older kids with you, too

Freedom Trail:

Older kids (ages 8-12) might have a better understanding and appreciation for the historical significance of the sites. They also might be more interested in the burial grounds, which have the oldest graves in the area, the Paul Revere house, and the site of the Boston Massacre. Paul Revere is buried in the Granary Burial Ground, as is Sam Adams. The Freedom Trail does take you through the North End, where you should 100% stop for dessert at either Mike’s Pastry or Modern Pastry (locals are loyalists to one or the other) and get fresh bread at Bova’s Bakery! The smell alone is worth the walk by.

The Museum of Science

It has many interactive exhibits suitable for kids of all ages, but older kids (ages 8-12) might enjoy the engineering exhibit and planetarium shows more than younger kids. A lot of the science concepts are geared toward kids 6+.

The USS Constitution Museum

It is best for older kids (ages 8-12) who are interested in history and naval ships.

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

It is ideal for older kids (ages 8-12) who are learning about American history and might have heard of the Tea Party.

Tour Fenway Park

America’s oldest ballpark, with baseball-loving kids of all ages. Fenway opened in 1912 and is home to the Boston Red Sox.

Activity Prices (for reference)

New England Aquarium: General admission tickets for adults cost around $32, and children ages 3-11 cost around $23. Children under 3 are free.

Walking the Freedom Trail is free, but some of the historical sites along the trail have admission fees. For example, the Paul Revere House admission fee is around $5 for adults and free for children under 5.

Boston Common and the Public Garden are both public parks and do not have an admission fee. There is a small charge for the Swan Boats, though.

Martin’s Park is a public park with no fee.

Museum of Science: General admission tickets for adults cost around $29, and children ages 3-11 cost around $24. Children under 3 are free.

Tickets for the Boston Duck Tours cost around $44 for adults and around $32 for children ages 3-11. Children under 3 are free.

Charles River Esplanade: Walking along the Esplanade is free.

Boston Children’s Museum: General admission tickets for adults and children cost around $20. Children under 12 months are free.

USS Constitution Museum: Admission to the museum is free, but donations of around $10 for adults and $5 for children are suggested.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum: General admission tickets for adults cost around $30, and children ages 5-12 cost around $20. Children under 5 are free.

Fenway Park tours are $25 each adult, and kids ages 3-12 are $17 each. Kids under 3 do not need a ticket. Fenway also offers a pregame tour ($40 per adult) and a quicker 15-minute tour of the highlights ($15) for those who don’t want to do the full one-hour tour. The normal one-hour tour happens daily and the other tours are only on specific days.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, so it’s always best to check the attraction’s website for current ticket prices and any discounts or deals that may be available!