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A slow Sunday in Boston works best on foot: start in the Public Garden and on Boston Common, walk across Beacon Hill to the North End for pastry and pizza, visit Old North Church once it opens to visitors at 12:30 p.m., and end the afternoon on the Charles River Esplanade. From May to mid-November, swap the river for the SoWa Open Market, which only runs on Sundays. One stop to skip: the Massachusetts State House is closed on weekends.
This plan is built for a relaxed day rather than a checklist. If you want the classic Freedom Trail day instead, see things to do in Boston on a Sunday: three classic stops.
A slow Sunday in Boston, hour by hour
| Time | Where | Sunday notes |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Public Garden and Boston Common | Open from 6:30 a.m.; free |
| Late morning | Beacon Hill and Charles Street | Beacon Hill Chocolates at 91 Charles Street |
| Lunch | North End: pizza and pastry | Regina Pizzeria opens at 11 a.m.; Mike's Pastry from 8 a.m. |
| Early afternoon | Old North Church | Service at 11 a.m.; visitors 12:30 to 5 p.m. |
| Afternoon | Charles River Esplanade, or SoWa Open Market in season | SoWa runs Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., May to mid-November |
| Rainy-day swap | Museum of Fine Arts, Gardner Museum or Central Library | All open on Sunday |
| Evening | Live jazz in the South End | Wally's has live music every night |
Morning: the Public Garden and Boston Common
Both parks open at 6:30 a.m. and are free. The Public Garden, laid out in the 1860s around a lagoon, has the Make Way for Ducklings statue at the corner of Beacon and Charles streets; from mid-April to early September the Swan Boats take 10- to 15-minute rides on the lagoon. Across Charles Street, Boston Common dates from 1634. Look for the Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial facing the State House across Beacon Street.
Late morning: Beacon Hill
Walk from the Common across Beacon Hill to Charles Street. Beacon Hill Chocolates at 91 Charles Street keeps more than 100 kinds of truffles. The State House's gold dome is worth seeing from outside; inside visits and its free tours run only on weekdays. Cheers Beacon Hill, the pub that inspired the TV show, is at 84 Beacon Street, steps from the Public Garden, and opens every day of the year except Christmas.
Lunch: pizza and pastry in the North End
Head to the North End for lunch. Regina Pizzeria on Thacher Street, where the Regina name began in 1926, opens at 11 a.m. every day and takes no reservations. For dessert, Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street has sold cannoli since 1946 and is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Modern Pastry, at 257 Hanover Street, opens at 7 a.m. on Sundays.
Early afternoon: Old North Church
Old North Church on Salem Street is a working parish, so Sunday mornings belong to the congregation: the service is at 11 a.m. and everyone is welcome, and visiting hours run from 12:30 to 5 p.m. This is the steeple where two lanterns were hung on April 18, 1775. The Discovery Pass covers the sanctuary, a history exhibit, an audio guide and the crypt for $10 for adults.
Afternoon: the Esplanade or SoWa
The Charles River Esplanade runs three miles along the Boston bank of the river, from the Museum of Science to the BU Bridge, with more than five miles of paved paths. The Esplanade Association names the Frances Appleton footbridge at Charles Circle as the most accessible way in.
From May to mid-November, the SoWa Open Market is the better Sunday afternoon. More than 250 artisans, food trucks and farmers set up at 500 Harrison Avenue and along Thayer Street in the South End from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and entry is free. In 2026 the last market day is November 15.
If it rains: museums open on Sunday
The Museum of Fine Arts is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and the Gardner Museum 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; book the Gardner, since popular times sell out. The Central Library in Copley Square is free and open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday evening: jazz in the South End
Wally's Cafe Jazz Club at 427 Massachusetts Avenue has had live music every night since 1947. On Sundays and Mondays the doors open at 9 p.m., there are no reservations, and the music runs until midnight. The T stops running around 1 a.m., so plan the ride back.
For the next day, see things to do in Boston on a Monday; for both days, see a Boston weekend itinerary.
Sources: City of Boston: Public Garden; park hours; State House; Old North Church; Mike's Pastry; Modern Pastry; Esplanade Association; SoWa Open Market; MFA; Gardner Museum; Boston Public Library; Wally's. Checked October 1, 2026.