Things to do in Boston in the Morning

Boston’s historic Freedom Trail is a treat at any time of day or night. But if you want to explore landmarks like Boston Common, the 17th-century King’s Chapel Cemetery and Old Corner Bookstore relatively unimpeded by fellow sightseers and tour groups, a self-guided morning tour of the trail’s key sites is the way to go. Admire the soaring steeple of Park Street Church, snap the golden dome of the Massachusetts State House, and pay your respects to freedom fighter Paul Revere in Boston Common's 17th-century Granary Burying Ground.

Top tip: if you prefer your tours to come with in-depth historical narration and a dash of theater, you could do far worse than joining a guided tour led by the Freedom Trail Players in their signature period costume. Afternoon tours with the Freedom Trail Foundation are included with a Boston pass from Go City, which could save you up to 50% on this and dozens more Boston attractions, including Paul Revere's former home, the USS Constitution Museum, and a tour of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Click here to find out more and pick your pass!

So you’ve bagged your Boston pass and you’re ready to get your sightseeing on. Most of Boston’s most popular attractions are already open by 9AM; all you need to do is strike while the iron’s hot and beat the lines by hitting up the bucket-list biggies first thing, rather than waiting until late morning or early afternoon when they start getting really busy. We’re talking behind-the-scenes tours of the beloved Boston Red Sox stadium, bird’s-eye views of the city from the sky-high View Boston Observation Deck, and a peep into the past at the former home of Boston revolutionary Paul Revere. You can also take a hop-on hop-off trolley tour of the town, rent a bike to go solo, or take a ride on the iconic Boston Swan Boats – all with one handy pass.

The mighty Charles River is as much an emblem of Boston as cream pie, baked beans and the Red Sox. Cutting a swathe through the city and out into the North Atlantic, this broad, picturesque waterway is perfect for mindful morning walks. Take a sunrise stroll along the Boston Harborwalk, as the early morning light dances on the water and colorful boats bob in the bay. Then there’s the Charles River Walk, a 20-mile waterside stretch that connects the Museum of Science to Watertown. You’ll find some of the most peaceful and picturesque city views along the Charles Esplanade at Back Bay, with plenty of park benches on which to rest wearing legs and kick back with a coffee while enjoying those fine river views.

If it’s sunrise skyline views you seek, hop over to the Cambridge side of the River, where Memorial Drive has you covered. Find the sweet spot between the MIT Sailing Pavilion and Charles River Yacht Club for the best uninterrupted views of the sun coming up over Boston.

Or get the best of both worlds: kayaks are available to rent at various points along the waterfront, and calm morning waters mean even novices can have a go.

Boston is home to some incredible art museums, most of which are best visited in the morning for unobstructed views of their most popular exhibits. Chief among these is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum which – alongside a collection of some 3,000 masterpieces by the likes of Raphael, Degas, Botticelli and Sargent – is renowned for its sumptuous Venetian-style courtyard garden where ever-changing seasonal blooms rival the art inside for their sheer variety and swoonsome beauty.

The vast collection at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is spread across some 100 galleries and runs the gamut from Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi to landmark masterpieces of French Impressionism by the likes of Monet, Manet and Renoir. Get there early to ogle John Singleton Copley’s portrait of Paul Revere and the museum’s crowning glory: a huge rotunda dome adorned with elaborate Beaux-Arts frescoes by John Singer Sargent.

Pssst: admission to both museums (and more!) is included with the Boston pass.

Check out our guide to the best art tours in Boston here.

Boston is one of those places that exudes natural beauty year-round – think cherry blossoms in spring and fall foliage that explodes in a veritable kaleidoscope of burnished coppers, lemon yellows and flame reds. Boston Common is one of the best places to see that famous fall foliage, thanks to the hundreds of oak, maple, chestnut, beech and elm trees that call America’s oldest public garden home. The Common’s long and storied past also takes in the American Revolution, Martin Luther King and Pope John Paul II, so you’ll be walking in the footsteps of some historical giants on your morning constitutional. It’s also here, in the park’s Granary Burying Ground, that you can find local hero Paul Revere’s grave.

The Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain is 281 acres of peaceful walking trails with equally pleasing seasonal blooms and foliage, several small ponds, and some excellent morning bird-watching opportunities – eyes peeled for woodpeckers, warblers, waxwings and many more feathered pals.

Arrive early to enjoy the morning peace and tranquility of Boston Public Garden, as well as bagging your spot in the queue for the highly popular (seasonal) Swan Boats of Boston. Or, if you really want to get your morning step-count up, stroll the leafy avenues of atmospheric Mount Auburn Cemetery or – heck, why not? – power your way up the 294 steps of the Bunker Hill Monument for sweeping views across Boston as the city wakes up.

Discover more fun things to do in Boston in the morning and save up to 50% with a Boston pass from Go City. Click here to find out more about the different pass options and to bag yours!