Boston's nearly four centuries of history are showcased by the city's must-see sites.Start your city tour on the Freedom Trail,which will lead you to landmarks like the Paul Revere House and Boston Common.Or, discover Beantown's artsy side at the Museum of Fine Arts and its fashion sense along Newbury Street.If you're a fan of baseball, you can't miss catching a game at Fenway Park, home to the beloved Red Sox. Though blowing through your travel fund is an easy thing to do in Boston, there are also plenty of things to do that won't cost you a penny; the lovely Boston Public Garden and the lively Faneuil Hall Marketplace can be experienced without opening your wallet.Four buildings – Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market – constitute Faneuil Hall Marketplace, with the oldest being Faneuil Hall. Built in 1742 and now located on the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall has had a long and important history in Massachusetts politics.Samuel Adams once stood here to push for resistance against the British, and abolitionists and suffragists have stood on their soapboxes here.In fact, this is where Jonathan Mayhew famously challenged the Sugar Act of 1764 by proclaiming, no taxation without representation. Since Mayhew's declaration, the marketplace has expanded to include more than 100 shops and restaurants.Some former visitors caution that the items sold at Faneuil Hall Marketplace are a bit overpriced.However, if you're looking to kill some time or snap some great photos, consider strolling through the market's halls.You'll also find various cuisines served in Quincy Market if you're in need of a quick bite.Keep in mind that this market gets crowded quickly (especially on weekends and in the summer), so it's best to visit during a weekday if you don't want to encounter hordes of people.The marketplace welcomes visitors Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays between noon and 6 p.m. (Restaurant and store hours may vary, so it's best to consult Faneuil Hall Marketplace's website before you visit.) To reach Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which sits just south of the North End in downtown Boston, travelers can take the T to the Aquarium, Haymarket or Government Center subway stations. Eight bus routes stop a block away on Congress Street, and a parking garage can be accessed on Broad Street. An hour of parking will cost you $28, but garage tickets can be purchased on the 75 State Street Garage website for a reduced rate, and parking validation coupons are available through select retailers. No fees apply to enter any of Faneuil Hall Marketplace's buildings, and free tours and performances are occasionally provided in South Market and outside Faneuil Hall. After Isabella Stewart Gardner's husband died in 1898, the art enthusiast bought land in Boston's Fenway area to open a museum to display her impressive collection of Italian art. The museum, which was fashioned after the Palazzo Barbaro in Venice, was completed in 1902, at which point Gardner moved in to the fourth floor and began installing her collection. Today, you can visit this Boston museum to get your fill of the Italian masters, such as Raphael and Titian. The building also showcases a cache of beautiful furniture, photographs, sculpture and rare books straight from Europe. In 2012, the museum unveiled a new wing designed by acclaimed Italian architect Renzo Piano. The most recent addition includes a glass atrium, greenhouses and landscaped gardens.Recent museumgoers said the collection captures Gardner's penchant for art, architecture and horticulture through its diverse displays. Though some previous visitors described the museum as a bit of a hodgepodge rather than a cohesive layout, many praised the property's vast collection of artifacts and intimate atmosphere. Also, remember to turn off your camera flash before entering since flash photography is not permitted inside.The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum sits a few blocks west of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston's Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood. Several buses drop within walking walking distance of the museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts metro stop is situated about five blocks away. Multiple parking lots are also located nearby. The property is open most days between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Extended hours are offered on Thursdays, and the museum is closed on Tuesdays. Tickets – which include access to all exhibits, as well as restrooms, a cafe and a gift shop – cost $15 for adults. Children 17 and younger enter for free, and reduced rates are available for college students, seniors and visitors with recent ticket stubs from the Museum of Fine Arts. Travelers who have Go Boston Cards, visit on their birthday or are named Isabella and register on the museum's website get in for free.The grounds of Boston Common started as a cow pasture in the mid-1600s. After a few years, overgrazing became a problem and the area was transformed into a British camp. After the Revolutionary War, the park became a popular locale for public speeches and rallies. Now, the Common is best known because of its status as the oldest public park in the country. You'll also find a variety of activities and events, including theater and musical performances, hosted here throughout the year.Though some visitors said you won't find much to do in this park, Boston Common is great for picnics or a leisurely stroll. Recent travelers also noted that this site is a wonderful spot to take young children. In addition to ample running room on the park's green space, kids can play at the Tadpole Playground or Frog Pond. Frog Pond offers a spray pool during the warmer months and an ice skating rink in the winter.Boston Common sits alongside the Boston Public Garden near the center of the city. The easiest way to get to the site is by the T – the Boylston Street and Park Street stations are located at the southern and eastern edges of the park – or by walking from downtown. You can also park for a fee in the underground parking garage or on the surrounding streets. The area is free to visit, but additional charges apply for food purchased at Frog Pond Café, rides on the carousel and ice skating on Frog Pond. Public restrooms are available, and in the summer, free yoga classes are offered by Frog Pond. The Common is open 24 hours a day, however, most park facilities are only open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. To learn more about Boston Common, visit the City of Boston's website. And for more information about Frog Pond's events and amenities, check out the official Boston Common Frog Pond website.If you want to make the most out of the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the oldest art institutions in the country, then you'll need to spend a good chunk of your day here. The museum is home to one of the best art collections in the world, including the celebrated Art of the Americas wing. Inside this sprawling collection, which debuted in 2010, you'll stumble upon 53 galleries showcasing iconic pieces from pre-Columbian times to the 20th century. John Singer Sargent's dazzling pieces are one standout here, and as you delve deeper into the collection, you'll see his paintings sharing wall space with those by masters like John Singleton Copley and Edward Hopper.You'll also find an impressive collection of Asian art here, plus works from Monet, Renoir, Manet and Rembrandt on display in the European collection. And in special temporary exhibits, you can admire masterpieces from masters like Georgia O'Keeffe and Picasso.According to recent museumgoers, if you're an art lover, you'll want to devote plenty of time to explore. Additionally, consider taking a complimentary guided tour of the collections. And to save some money during your trip to Boston, plan your visit for after 4 p.m. on Wednesdays or on select open house days throughout the year when there are no entrance fees.The Museum of Fine Arts can be found a few blocks away from the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum and the Northeastern University campus in Fenway-Kenmore. Multiple bus routes have stops nearby, and three T stations – Museum of Fine Arts, Ruggles and Northeastern – sit within walking distance. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. If you don't visit on a free day or have a CityPASS or Go Boston Card, expect to pay $25 to enter. Children 17 and younger get in for free on weekdays after 3 p.m. and on weekends, while students, seniors and travelers with recent Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum ticket stubs receive discounted rates. Once inside, you'll have access to most of the museum's exhibits, restrooms, restaurants and gift shops. Separate tickets are required for select exhibits. Learn more about the Museum of Fine Arts by visiting the property's website. Please check the sidebar for visitor information.

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Salem/ Lexington and concord almost certainly require a car. Freedom trail, library and such can very easily be accomplished by walking/ train. Boston is more walkable than a lot of US that I’ve seen.

Late March is usually pretty tame for snow, we have for sure seen snow that late in the season but it’s rare. I would bring a decent jacket for sure, cold wind here can be crazy. Have fun!

If it snows at the end of March, we will all be fucked I tell you.

Would you say Lexington/Concorde are worth it for history buffs? Is there a museum there? Or is it just a statue/memorial and grass field?

Honestly I’ve lived here all my life and only ever driven through the towns. the NPS seems to have some pretty good info/ scheduled events. Maybe even some battle re-enactments?

The city is walkable and you can take the subway. Salem and Concord can be reached by train, but Lexington would require a rental car or Uber/Lyft. For such a short trip I probably wouldn't try to visit all three.

Don't forget to visit the USS Constitution. Bunker Hill is nearby as well. You should also take the ferry to George's Island, it's worth it.

> Maybe even some battle re-enactments?

Oh wow that would be very cool!

Thank you so much! I'll look into that the train to Concord and Salem one of the days I'm there.

Lexington Green has the field and statue, and also a Visitor's Center. Not a museum that I'm aware of.

Just a mile or two from there, though, is the Minuteman National Historic Park, where you can walk through the location of actual battles during the opening hours of the Revolution. The park also often has events and such that teach about history, and how people in that time period lived. Definitely worth the time to go.

As for GETTING there? The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway stretches from Alewife Station (the end of the Red line subway) through Arlington, right past Lexington Green, and up to Bedford. It's a bit far to walk (a couple miles), but not at all too far to ride a bike. (You'd probably have to rent one, of course.)

Good information, but desperately needs to be reformatted. Giant walls of text are rarely welcoming to read, and this one is no exception.

There could be snow but probably not. The weather here is random.

This is an amazing response and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you sooooo much!

The weather is unpredictable in March. It might feel like spring, or we might have a blizzard. Who knows. But you can expect it to be pretty ugly that time of year. Street sweeping doesn’t start until April, so March is usually when you see the most trash.

Boston is one of the most walk-friendly cities in the country. You should use public transit to get around, which is safer than driving in every way. Driving here is quite challenging, even for experienced locals - and parking is limited and expensive. I do not recommend it. Use Uber/Lyft if you need to get somewhere not close to a subway/trolley stop - or if it’s late night.

You can get to Salem by Commuter Rail in about an hour. It costs $4.10 and it comes every hour or so. Salem itself is super walk friendly, small and compact. No trouble there.

Lexington and Concorde is best by car. And that’s about the only time you’d need one. You could also take a Commuter Rail to Belmont (about $6.50, 30-40 min) and then Uber about 5 miles to your location. Or take a local bus.

I would plan to take the T unless you are ok paying $25+ for parking garages. It’s walkable for sure, but especially with rain you’ll want to have a backup plan. I lose ~5 years of my life every time I drive in Boston and wouldn’t recommend unless necessary

What's "the T" exactly? Train?

You need a a good water proof shoe and layers. March can be our greyest and wet month but could randomly be 70! Tbh if you’re not a walker start getting your steps in because you really can’t drive the freedom trail. Car rental and parking are very expensive so Uber will be a better option for anything non walkable

https://www.mbta.com/guides/subway-guide#

The subway portion of the T is fine for getting around the core tourist parts of Boston (or you can just walk around - its a small city), but drive if you want to go to Salem or anywhere outside Boston. The commuter rail is a god damned fucking disaster and you're more likely to spend time sitting on the tracks than actually enjoying your trip.

You'd have to reschedule your trip to see any of the reenactments, but for a history nerd I think it's worth it. The Plimouth Pawtuxet living history museums are worth it too, but that's maybe for another trip.

Yep, I’d bring layers. February’s temps ranged from -30 to 60s, and March could very well be the same. If we had snow that melted, or it rains, you’d want the waterproof shoes.

There is a very nice museum in Concord across from the Alcott house

Mostly subway, but parts of it are on the surface, especially the Green line.

>The commuter rail is a god damned fucking disaster

Maybe your line, but not the whole system. The last several trips I've taken on the Lowell line, in either direction, have gone without a hitch.

If you’re planning on visiting Lexington and Concord you will need a rental car for that.

As someone who lives in Concord, you’re going to need a rental car. Both of our commuter rail train stops are far from historical sites and Uber is spotty especially in March.

So Lexington and Concord are next to each other but Salem is far from them. Separate trains. This person is right that visiting both would be a lot on such a short trip. I much prefer Salem as there is a lot more to do there.

> Lexington would require a rental car or Uber

It can be reached by bike as well. That would be much cheaper than renting a car or Uber and it is a great way to see more of the suburbs while traveling to the Lexington Battle Green.

I probably wouldn't use a blue bike and I would rent a bike specifically for it but it technically is possible.

This should be the top answer.

OP, the correct answers to the questions you asked are what Pinwurm says.

Given the length of your stay, I'd suggest sticking to Boston and Salem and skipping Concord. Yeah yeah, it's an important site and all that, but unless you go during one of the reenactments (which happen on Patriots' Day in April, not in March) you're basically just looking at an empty field with a few plaques.

The "T" is the nickname for the MBTA -- Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority. People usually use it to refer to the subway, but the MBTA also runs buses and Commuter Rail trains as well.

The four lines of the subway (Red, Orange, Blue, and Green) and buses are considered part of the same network, and you can buy a daily or weekly "Link Pass" for unlimited usage of them. This is what you'd use when getting around Boston, Cambridge, etc..

The Commuter Rail trains (indicated in purple on the system maps) are their own network which require you to buy separate tickets: you'd need to take the Commuter Rail to get to Salem and Concord.

If you have any flexibility in your plans, as a history nerd it might make sense to delay your trip a few weeks to the Patriots Day weekend instead (April 15-17). That's when the "big grass field and a few statues" in Lexington/Concord will be a lot more interesting since they have battle reenactments and other events to commemorate the anniversary of the battle itself.

Not sure how committed your plans are, but given that it's only three weeks after your planned trip and you're coming here for the history, it might be worth thinking about if you can do it.

Will see if I have those days off and look into re-scheduling my visit

Just wanted to point out that one of your planned stops--the Longfellow House--will not be open during your visit. It does not open for the season until late May. Their website will tell you that the grounds and garden are open year-round, but they are very small and not worth your time on their own.

The weather will also probably be better in April!

You’ll need coffee — the Patriots Day Battle Green reenactment happens at 5:30am! 😳 https://www.lexingtonma.gov/1558/2023-Schedule-of-Events

I mean, this is just andecdotal evidence. At least find some actual data if you want to "well actually...."

And u/Liqmadique's claim isn't equally anecdotal and devoid of actual data?

did I say that or claim either of you were right?

You replied to me, not both of us. Not even a mention of u/lqmadique. So, yeah, it definitely appears as if you're dismissing my account, in support of his.

please touch grass

You first.

Just to add, if you're already near North Station downtown, the commuter rail is very easy to Salem. It's usually faster than driving and you don't have to find somewhere to park. Salem is nice and walkable too so you won't need a car, unlike Lexington and Concord.

Google maps will give you the schedule.