There's no better way to start your day off than at this cafeteria-style brunch hot spot in the heart of Beacon Hill. Beware there can be a crazy line here but if you come early it should be manageable!

One of the best places to take a stroll in the city (not to be confused with the Boston Commons nearby)

Walk down Newbury Street and do some shopping (actual or window!). There are a ton of beautiful brownstones and a wide range of stores from popular high-end shops to more affordable stores.

If you need to take a break, stop by Thinking Cup, a quaint coffee shop with some outdoor seating for excellent people watching.

Boston is known for its superb seafood - make a reservation here if you can!

Note: This is a detour from the walking tour (you could walk but it's a lot for some people).

This is an incredible museum - I easily spent two hours here and didn't even get to see everything. Tickets are usually, but most Boston college students get free admission (check here: https://www.mfa.org/membership/universities).

...and if you're already at the MFA, you might as well check out the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum too! It used to be a private collection and it's pretty fascinating.

End your day in the very cute South End neighborhood at one of the best Italian restaurants in the area.

They've got some funky options but it's a very unique, and delicious, brunch option.

MIT has taught some of the world's best and brightest engineers and scientists, and the campus offers some unique architecture (like the Stata Center - pictured).

Make sure to walk by the iconic MIT dome during your campus stroll!

As you walk along the Charles river from MIT to Harvard, it's absolutely worth stopping by this low-key no-frills lobster place. Some of the freshest lobster you'll find. I love getting a sandwich to-go (yep on sandwich bread and not a roll) and eating it on the water.

A school that needs no introduction... a gorgeous quintessential New England campus.

Aeronaut is one of the best places to unwind and relax after all of that walking :)

This may not exactly be a Boston staple... but it's my absolute favorite restaurant in the area. It's tapas style and even though there are a million things on the menu, I've never had a bad dish. You can't go wrong at Sarma (reservations recommended)!

If you can't get to Sarma, check out its sister restaurants, like nearby Oleana.

Classic Boston walking tour. If you want to learn some history, take your time and read the signs along the way!

You'll hit this as part of the Freedom Trail, but it's a lively, bustling marketplace worth popping into!

Ok I'm going to be honest - I've never been here but it's been on my list! It's not exactly part of the walking tour but it's in the Seaport district, a much newer area, worth checking out for a very different vibe from the rest of Boston.

I first tried this restaurant when I was a college intern in the area in 2012 and LOVED it. It's cash only and they don't take reservations (there's a second location in South End that does), but that's when you know it's good haha.

Who can resist a good cannoli?!? Snobs will say it's overhyped, etc. but come on, how often are you here? My favorite is the chocolate chip one.

From the web: Affluent Back Bay is a shopping and dining destination. Along Newbury Street, well-heeled locals frequent designer boutiques, fashion chains, art galleries and patio cafes set in elegant brick townhouses. Expansive Copley Square is flanked by 1800s landmarks Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library. Mansions dot the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets, many on Paris-inspired Commonwealth Avenue.

From the web: One of Boston’s most picturesque areas, tony Beacon Hill has steep streets lined with Federal-style and Victorian brick row houses lit by antique lanterns. The gold-domed Massachusetts State House overlooks Boston Common, with its winter skating pond. Across Charles Street, home to chic boutiques and antiques shops, is the formal Public Garden. The Charles River Esplanade’s Hatch Shell hosts summer concerts.

From the web: The North End, Boston’s Little Italy, is a maze of narrow streets with some of the city’s oldest buildings. On the self-guided Freedom Trail, tourists pass historic sites like the 1680 Paul Revere House and the Old North Church, which played a key role at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Italian restaurants, coffeehouses, pastry shops and old-school delis pack the area, especially on lively Hanover Street.

From the web: Cambridge is a city in Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston. It’s home to Harvard University. At the heart of campus, grassy Harvard Yard is anchored by the neoclassical Widener Library. Harvard Square has cafes, bars and bookstores. The Harvard Art Museums comprise the Fogg, Busch-Reisinger and Arthur M. Sackler collections. Southeast is the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

From the web: The South End is a culturally rich neighborhood with restored Victorian row houses surrounding charming English-style squares. Its popular dining and drinking scene spans family-friendly bistros, trendy eateries, gay bars and low-key pubs. The old warehouses of the SoWa Art & Design District house galleries, studios and home-decor shops. Artisans, farmers and food trucks gather at Sunday markets May through October.

From the web: The Seaport District is a redeveloped stretch of the South Boston waterfront lined with large, sleek restaurants, bars and hotels. The striking Institute of Contemporary Art has glass walls overlooking the harbor. Visitors and locals relax at cafe tables on Fan Pier, along the Harborwalk. Next to the huge Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the Lawn on D offers summer concerts and games like bocce and ping-pong.

From the web: The sprawling Fenway-Kenmore area is home to baseball’s iconic Fenway Park, drawing huge crowds for Red Sox games. Student hangouts and buzzy restaurants are concentrated around Kenmore Square, and clubs and sports bars line Lansdowne Street. Renowned cultural institutions include the Museum of Fine Arts and quirky Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The rambling Back Bay Fens park has a rose garden and walking trails.

From the web: South Boston, or "Southie," is an evolving residential neighborhood with a strong Irish-American heritage. Old-school diners and taverns mingle with pizzerias and gastropubs. Marking a Revolutionary War site, the Dorchester Heights monument offers sweeping Boston Harbor and downtown skyline views. Joggers and picnickers head to the waterfront trails and grassy lawn around the 1800s Fort Independence on Castle Island.

From the web: Somerville is a city located directly to the northwest of Boston, and north of Cambridge, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a total population of 81,045 people. Wikipedia.

From the web: Downtown Boston's Chinatown is the cultural heart of the Chinese community and a lively late-night hub. Asian eateries range from dumpling houses and dim sum palaces to seafood spots and upscale lounges. Bakeries, food markets and gift shops dot the area. At the entrance to the neighborhood, contemporary Chinatown Park features a river-inspired fountain, plants native to Asia and a square that draws chess players.

These are stationed all around the city and really convenient to use.

Take a look into the MBTA T stops for an underground subway/metro option.

This is basically like a version of NYC's Xi'an's Famous Foods. Cash only, some weird hours (they close pretty early in the day - check before going), and sadly the cold skin noodles are only available on Saturday.

I was surprised at how many vegan-friendly options there were in Cambridge (e.g., Clover, Veggie Galaxy) - if you're into this genre of food, there's no better place than Life Alive for delicious (yes, kind of overpriced) smoothies and grain bowls

If you're looking for some good ramen, think like Ippudo in NYC, here's your spot. It's a pretty small place and no reservations, but there's another one in Harvard Square that takes reservations.

With so many good lobster roll options in Boston, it's tough to say where's the best, but my friend SWEARS by Pauli's.

My favorite brunch place. Weekend menu highlights: crab cake Benedict and heavenly lemon ricotta pancakes (+ generous loads of fruit).

...if you're looking for a dinner place that turns into a fun nighttime scene (and when I say scene, I mean it. Lines can start forming around 8pm on a Friday night to get into the basement, which often has live music).

Bougie Mexican food (e.g., lobster guacamole?!) and great drinks. It's got its quirks too - get tatted (temporarily) and enjoy some complementary cotton candy.

Known for having one of the best burgers in Boston. It's typically limited in quantity (I waited outside 30 minutes before opening on a hot summer day to get one of these bad boys), but during COVID, they've ramped up their production and you can conveniently order it for takeout now.

Super cute restaurant with great Mediterranean dishes and cocktails! Came here with a few girlfriends for a birthday and it was a perfect spot.

From the web: Subterranean restaurant serving creative New American fare & cocktails on tap in rustic-chic digs.

Been here a couple of times with co-workers (yep I was a traveling consultant with a few projects in Boston), parents, and friends. Food has always been superb.

Never had the chance to go in-person, but ordered fancy takeout from here during quarantine and loved it. Who knew a beef tenderloin pizza with mashed potatoes could be so good? If it does that well with takeout, can only imagine what it's like dining in-person.

Multiple locations but a Boston staple.

If you're in search of the best cannoli... you'll have to try Mike's Pastry's biggest competitor

From the web: Historic, small-capacity ballpark, home of the Red Sox & occasional big-name concert venue.

Where the famed Patriots play their home games

Come to watch a Celtics or Bruins game, or any of the numerous concerts that come to town

From the web: Striking contemporary art & performance space with glass-filled walls overlooking the Harbor.

See how this 'pond' (it's massive - I immediately looked up the difference between lakes and ponds after visiting here) inspired Henry David Thoreau's famous Walden

Quick 20-minute drive south of Boston - nice to get some fresh air and great views of Boston!

I never made it here but it was on my list. It's so close and apparently has great running trails.

Kind of a weird addition to this list, but it's massive and so well curated & maintained. It's especially beautiful to walk through in the fall.