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The top things to do in Boston's Seaport are the Institute of Contemporary Art on the harbor, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum on Fort Point Channel, the Boston Children's Museum with the free Martin's Park playground beside it, and an evening of oysters, lagers or a rooftop drink by the water. The ICA is free for everyone on Thursday nights from 5 to 9 p.m. and always free for visitors 18 and under, which makes Thursday the best-value day to go.
The Seaport and neighboring Fort Point sit across Fort Point Channel from South Station, a mix of new towers and older brick warehouses. It is Boston's newest neighborhood for hotels and restaurants, so it suits a half day of museums followed by dinner. The practical way in is the Silver Line from South Station to Courthouse or World Trade Center station; the ICA has no garage of its own and nearby parking is scarce.
Seaport sights at a glance
| Place | What it is | Cost | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institute of Contemporary Art | Contemporary art on the harbor | $20 adults; free 18 and under; free for all Thursday 5 to 9 p.m. | Mondays |
| Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum | Replica ships, museum and reenactment tours | Ticketed | Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Boston Children's Museum | Hands-on museum for young children | $24 for adults and children 1 and older | Tuesdays |
| Martin's Park | Inclusive playground with a replica ship | Free | None |
| The Lawn On D | Outdoor event space | Free community events | Programming is seasonal |
| Boston Fish Pier | A working fish pier since 1914 | Seen from Northern Avenue | A working pier, not an attraction |
Institute of Contemporary Art
The ICA is the Seaport's anchor: a contemporary art museum at 25 Harbor Shore Drive with the harbor on three sides. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., staying open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and it is closed on Mondays. On the first Friday of each month it closes at 5 p.m. for First Fridays, a ticketed 21-and-over evening. Adult tickets are $20, seniors $17 and students $15.
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
At 306 Congress Street on Fort Point Channel, the Tea Party Ships & Museum tells the story of December 16, 1773, on the waterfront where it happened, with replica ships and guided tours that run through the day. It opens every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For what else is within reach, see things to do near the Boston Tea Party Museum.
Boston Children's Museum and Martin's Park
The Boston Children's Museum at 308 Congress Street is next door to the Tea Party Ships. It opens Wednesday to Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed on Tuesdays; admission is $24 for adults and children 1 and older, and babies under 12 months are free.
Beside it, Martin's Park at 64 Sleeper Street is a free city park that opened on June 15, 2019, in memory of Martin W. Richard, the youngest victim of the Boston Marathon bombing. It was built so children of all abilities can play together, with a replica ship, water play and swings, and it makes a good break between the two museums.
The Lawn On D
The Lawn On D, run by Signature Boston beside the convention center, is an outdoor event space with free community programming through the warmer months and into the fall. Its schedule changes by season, so check the calendar before you plan around it.
The working waterfront: Boston Fish Pier
The Seaport was a fishing and shipping district long before it was a restaurant district. The Boston Fish Pier on Northern Avenue opened in 1914, is described as the nation's oldest continuously working fish pier, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is still a working pier, owned by Massport, where wholesalers pack cod, haddock and scallops, so treat it as something to see from the street rather than a place to wander into.
Where to eat and drink in the Seaport
- Row 34: a raw bar and seafood restaurant in a 1908 Fort Point warehouse, named for a row of oysters grown in Duxbury Bay.
- Woods Hill Pier 4: farm-to-table cooking at the end of Pier 4, with meat, eggs and produce from the owners' farm in New Hampshire and an entrance facing the ICA.
- Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall: a first-come, first-served beer hall at 306 Northern Avenue, with guided tastings for $15. Visitors under 21 may come in with a parent or guardian.
- Trillium Fort Point: the Boston taproom and restaurant of Trillium Brewing, with a roof deck in warm weather and reservations for up to eight.
- Rooftop at The Envoy: a year-round rooftop bar with skyline and harbor views, fire pits and winter igloos; it is 21 and over after 4 p.m.
- Lucky's Lounge: an underground, Sinatra-themed bar on Congress Street with free standup comedy on Monday nights.
If you want to stay in the neighborhood, the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport has a year-round heated rooftop pool.
The Seaport in winter
The museums carry a winter visit, and in November and December the Snowport holiday market fills a lot at 100 Seaport Boulevard with more than 125 local businesses and free admission; in 2025 it ran from November 7 to December 28. Rooftop at The Envoy puts up its igloos when the weather turns.
A Seaport day, start to finish
- Morning: the Tea Party Ships & Museum, or the Children's Museum with younger children (not on a Tuesday).
- Midday: Martin's Park, then lunch at Row 34 or Trillium Fort Point.
- Afternoon: the ICA (not on a Monday), timed for Thursday evening if you want free entry.
- Evening: a tasting at Harpoon, dinner at Woods Hill Pier 4, or a drink on the Envoy's roof.
For more evening ideas across the city, see things to do in Boston at night.
Sources: ICA; Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum; Boston Children's Museum; City of Boston, Martin's Park; The Lawn On D; National Fisherman on the Boston Fish Pier; Boston.com on Snowport 2025. Checked September 30, 2026.