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For things to do in Boston today, start with what is open every day: the Freedom Trail, Boston Common and the Public Garden, the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science, Fenway Park tours, View Boston on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower, and Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Then check the day of the week, because several museums close on one day: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Gardner Museum on Tuesdays, the ICA on Mondays, and the State House tours on weekends. For today's concerts, games and festivals, the city's tourism office keeps a today page on Meet Boston.
This page is the quick filter for a same-day decision. For a longer plan, see our top things to do in Boston, and if it is already evening, see our guide to things to do in Boston at night.
What is open in Boston every day?
| Place | Hours | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Trail | Outdoors, always open; sites keep their own hours | No |
| Boston Common and Public Garden | 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., walk-through 24 hours | No |
| New England Aquarium | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends | Yes, timed tickets |
| Museum of Science | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily | Recommended |
| Fenway Park tours | Every day, on the hour | Online, up to 180 days ahead |
| View Boston | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily | Online or at the box office |
| Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum | Tours from 10 a.m., last tour 5 p.m. | Recommended |
| JFK Presidential Library and Museum | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily | Walk-up until 4:15 p.m. |
| Faneuil Hall Marketplace | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon to Sat, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sun | No |
Hours are as published when we checked on October 1, 2026, and holidays change them, so confirm on the official site before you set out.
Which Boston museums are closed today?
- Monday: the Institute of Contemporary Art is closed. The MFA and the Gardner are open. See our Monday guide.
- Tuesday: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum are both closed, so Tuesday is a day for the ICA, the Aquarium or the Museum of Science.
- Saturday and Sunday: the Massachusetts State House is closed to tours, which run only on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Old North Church opens at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays, after its 11 a.m. service.
What to do in Boston today if it rains
Pick one big indoor stop and build the day around it. The Museum of Fine Arts, with nearly 500,000 works, can fill a day on its own and stays open until 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. The Museum of Science suits families, with the Theater of Electricity and its Van de Graaff generator. The New England Aquarium's four-story Giant Ocean Tank is the main draw on the waterfront. The Boston Public Library in Copley Square is free, with murals and a reading room to see, and View Boston works in any weather because the 52nd floor is enclosed.
What to do in Boston today if it is sunny
Walk the Freedom Trail from Boston Common toward the North End, stopping for lunch at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. In the afternoon, take the harbor: the Boston Harbor Islands ferries leave from Long Wharf until the season ends on October 12, 2026, and the MBTA's $2.40 inner harbor ferry runs from Long Wharf to the Charlestown Navy Yard, where boarding USS Constitution is free. End at View Boston, which suggests sunset for its skyline views.
What is free in Boston today?
- The Freedom Trail, Boston Common, the Public Garden and the Arnold Arboretum, every day.
- The Boston Public Library and Faneuil Hall, during opening hours.
- State House tours, on weekdays.
- On Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m., the Gardner and the ICA.
More ideas, with prices for the cheap ones, are in our guide to cheap things to do in Boston.
Where to find today's events in Boston
For concerts, games, festivals and talks happening today, use an official or curated calendar rather than a list written months ago. Meet Boston, the city's convention and visitors bureau, publishes an events-today page covering live music, theater, festivals, food and drink, sports and family events. For the weekend ahead, see our guide to things to do in Boston this weekend.
What is seasonal right now?
In early October 2026, a few things are near the end of their season. The Salem ferry from Long Wharf runs until October 31, the harbor island ferries until October 12, and the Swan Boats in the Public Garden have already closed until April 2027. The Head of the Charles Regatta is on the Charles River on October 16 to 18, 2026.