Whether you live in Boston or are planning a quick weekend getaway, the city offers many fun things to do for couples. Our list includes a range of options, from unique tours and gondola rides to relaxing at a spa or by the pool.
Couples can take a decadent chocolate tour of Boston, enjoy 360-degree city views from a panoramic observation deck, listen to jazz, visit the aquarium, have a romantic dinner, and view art from around the world. All the activities and attractions that made our list let you enjoy romantic time together in a unique setting.
1. View Boston (formerly Skywalk Observatory)
View Boston, formerly known as Skywalk Observatory, offers 360-degree views of the city of Boston from its observation deck at the top of one of New England’s tallest buildings. Located inside is Boston 365, a 3D model with projection mapping of Boston that reveals the celebrations, spirit, and seasons of the city. There are also a few spots at View Boston to grab a bite to eat or a drink. The Beacon features a window-facing bar and Stratus provides more amazing views of the city below accompanied by beer, wine, and specialty cocktails, as well as quick bites and shareable plates. More things to do in Massachusetts
800 Boylston St Floor 52, Boston, MA 02199
2. Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is one of the nation’s leading art institutions, dating back to 1876. The museum houses 450,000 works of art, including Egyptian, American, European, Asian, African and Contemporary. Whether you are interested in paintings, sculpture, prints, musical instruments, photography, fashion, jewelry, or works by living artists, there is something for everyone.
Choose from several dining options, ranging from casual to sophisticated. Stop for a romantic lunch or dinner at Bravo, an award-winning restaurant with both indoor and outdoor tables, an excellent wine list and dishes prepared with sustainable ingredients. New American Café is housed in a glass-enclosed courtyard and serves salads, hot and cold plates, wines, and craft beers. Taste Café and Wine Bar is the place for coffee, gourmet tea, sandwiches and gelato. Garden Cafeteria has a salad bar, pizzas, hamburgers, soups and desserts.
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3. Gondola di Venezia
Glide down the Charles River in an authentic Venetian gondola, surrounded by views of the Boston skyline. Gondola di Venezia operates two 36-foot gondolas, both built in Venice, complete with elaborate carvings, hand-forged figurines and brass railing. Couples sip champagne, listen to Italian music and take in the views.
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4. Bella Sante Boston Day Spa
Check into the Bella Sante Boston Day Spa on Newbury Street for an afternoon of pampering and relaxation. The spa has nine treatment rooms where you can get couples massages, facials, body treatments, and other services.
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5. Romantic Things to Do in Boston: El Pelon Taquería
El Pelón Taquería opened its first Boston location in the city's Fenway–Kenmore neighborhood in 1998, catering to crowds looking for takeout to take into nearby Boston Red Sox games at Fenway Park. Today, the chain offers several locations helmed by owner Jim Hoben, including a location near Boston College on Comm Avenue. All menu items are prepared with fresh ingredients to maximize health and food quality. Some of Boston's best tacos are highlighted on the restaurant's menu, including the Pescado, which pairs cornmeal-encrusted cod with arbol chile mayo, pickled cabbage, and limed onions. Quesadillas and enchiladas are filled with diners' choice of chicken, pork, steak, cheese, or black beans. Hearty Mexican-style tortas are also served up, along with overstuffed burritos and specialties like chimichangas and vegan tamales.
92 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215, Phone: 617-262-9090
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6. New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium is home to thousands of aquatic animals, educational exhibits, and a 3D IMAX theater where you can watch incredible films featuring whales, sharks and colorful fish. See several species of penguins, including African, Little Blue and Rockhopper Penguins. Learn about 15-inch Moon Jellies, 20-foot Giant Pacific Octopi, 18-inch Leafy Seadragons and other extraordinary creatures. See the new four-story, 200,000 gallon Giant Ocean Tank featuring a Caribbean coral reef with turtles, seals, sharks and stingrays.
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7. Romantic Things to Do in Boston: Charles River Esplanade
Boston’s Charles River Esplanade has been revitalized and enhanced by the non-profit Esplanade Association to create a community space with recreational, cultural, and educational programs and activities for people of all ages. The riverside park now offers a wide array of activities, including passive recreation, organized sports and free classes, and family activities, such as lounging on the park docks, renting a sailboat, or playing a pick-up game at one of the fields or courts. For children, there are three different playground areas at Charles River Esplanade. There are also several art murals and the occasional art activation.
Charles River, Esplanade, Boston, MA 02116, 617-227-0365
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8. Romantic Things to Do in Boston: A4cade
A4cade is a clever new bar offering from cult Boston-area foodie favorites Area Four and Roxy's Grilled Cheese, located in Cambridge's hip Central Square district. The 21-and-up speakeasy-style arcade is a retro gamer's paradise, offering a wide variety of arcade-style games from the 20th and 21st centuries, ranging from favorites such as Mario Kart and Pac-Man to themed games featuring iconic pop culture characters such as the Addams Family, Batman, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Clever cocktails offerings play on late-20th-century pop culture nostalgia, including the carrot-infused What's Up Doc and the Carmen Sandiego, which pairs tequila with absinthe and St. Germain. An extensive selection of draft and bottled local beers are also available, along with an abbreviated menu of sandwiches and burgers from Roxy's Grilled Cheese.
292 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, Phone: 617-714-3960
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9. The American Repertory Theater
The American Repertory Theater, commonly referred to as the A.R.T., is one of the United States' most distinguished regional theaters, housed within Harvard University's Loeb Drama Center in Cambridge. The theater, which was founded in 1980 by Robert Brustein, has received some of the theater world's most prestigious awards throughout its tenure, including a Pulitzer Prize and three Tony Awards. A full season lineup of American plays and musical theater performances is showcased each year, with a focus on new American works, reinterpretations of classical texts, and revitalizations of overlooked works of the past. Notable past performances have included the company's Tony Award-winning productions of Pippin and The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. In addition to its standard season lineup, the company also serves as the home for the Harvard-Radcliffe Drama Club and Harvard University's Advanced Theater Training program.
Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138, Phone: 617-547-8300
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10. Boch Center
Boch Center is an venue and nonprofit innovator that aims to provide inclusive and relevant cultural and educational experiences, as well as performing arts entertainment, to diverse audiences in Boston. The programming at Boch Center includes family programs, comedy, multimedia, theater, musicals, spoken word, dance, and both popular and classical music performances. Home to the iconic Shubert and Wang Theatres, a variety of artists perform on the Boch Center’s stages, ranging from local ensembles and emerging artists to internationally renowned performers. More than 200 performances are offered every year through partnerships with international, national, and local producers.
270 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116, 617-482-9393
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11. Sam Adams Brewery Tour
Tour one of the most well known beer breweries in the United States. Sam Adams was founded in Boston where it is still headquartered. Tours are offered daily, except Sundays and holidays. Visitors learn about the history of the brand, get to watch the brewing process and sample award winning beers.
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12. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is dedicated to the grand art collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner. An elegant courtyard surrounds a Venetian-style palazzo that houses masterpieces of art and architectural elements purchased by Gardner from Europe, providing a unique art museum experience in Boston. The personal collection of Gardner is reflective of luxury of ancient cultures, a bohemian lifestyle, and her desire for travel. She herself arranged the museum’s collection of over 7,500 decorative and fine art objects, over 2,600 manuscripts and books, and more than 8,000 historical objects from all over the world.
25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115, 617-566-1401
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13. Museum of Science
Situated along the Charles River, the Museum of Science in Boston is home to more than 500 interactive exhibits, as well as an array of live presentations offered at different times during the day. All of these are focused around the STEM fields of math, engineering, technology, and science. In addition to the exhibits and presentation, the museum also consists of a theater of electricity featuring one of the largest Van de Graaff generators in the world, the only domed IMAX in New England, and a planetarium. There are also several exhibits originally part of the city’s Computer History Museum.
1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114, 617-723-2500
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14. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum invites visitors to be part of the city’s famous event that helped change the course of history in America through its multisensory museum experience, which includes a replica of an 18th-century sailing vessel, interactive exhibits, and live actors. Guests can step back in time to the year 1773 as they enter The Meeting House to meet Samuel Adams and learn about where the Boston Tea Party began. The Tea Party Ships provide visitors with an opportunity to climb aboard a ship and throw tea themselves into the same water as the famous event took place.
306 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210, 866-955-0667
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15. Public Garden
Boston’s Public Garden was America’s first public botanical garden. One of the highlights of this Victorian-era garden are the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues. Guests can also take a 15-minute trip around the lagoon on a Swan Boat during the warmer months, a fun summer activity that has been around since 1877 and still delights garden visitors today. There are also several fountains, monuments, and unusual plants to admire in the Public Garden. More than eighty plant species are cultivated in greenhouses by the Parks and Recreation Department of Boston for the Public Garden and other city locations.
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16. Castle Island
Located at the north end of a three-mile stretch of beach and anchoring Pleasure Bay Beach, Castle Island is a destination for both recreation and history. Overlooking the islands of Boston Harbor, visitors can take a walk around or tour Fort Independence and take in the beautiful surrounding views. Swimming and sunbathing at one of the beaches nearby after touring the fort are popular summer activities. Please Bay Beach, which was designed as a marine park in the 1800’s by Frederick Law Olmstead, is a particularly popular option. Facilities at Castle Island beaches include a playground, restrooms, and picnic areas.
2010 Day Blvd, Boston, MA 02127, 857-702-3884
17. Arnold Arboretum
The Arnold Arboretum spans across over 280 acres of landscape and features more than 15,000 accessioned plants. Open seven days a week, the landscape of the arboretum is free to the general public to visit from sunrise to sunset. The Visitor Center, however, is open every day except for Wednesday. Valuing accessibility, the Arnold Arboretum aims to provide “something for everyone,” whether that’s learning science and stories behind the institution’s plants, looking for wildlife, or simply going for a leisurely stroll. There are self-guided family activities for visitors with kids and guided tours offered as well.
125 Arborway Boston, MA 02130, 617-524-1718
18. Boston Opera House
The Citizens Bank Opera House, or also known as the Boston Opera House, is a luxurious theater designed in 1927. Having been restored beautifully to its original grandeur, a wide variety of award-winning theater can be seen at the Boston Opera House, including performances from all over the world. Located in the heart of the Theatre District in downtown Boston, the Opera House offers an amazing setting for lavish shows, famous performers, international dance troupes, Broadway musicals, gala performances, and more. One such performance that can be seen every year is The Nutcracker performed by the Boston Ballet.
539 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, 617-259-3400
19. Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Located in the Seaport District of Boston, Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall is known as the brewer of “New England’s Original IPA.” In addition to their famous IPA, Harpoon also brews Otter Creek, Long Trail, Shed, Clown Shoes, and UFO Beer, as well as their Arctic Chill Hard Seltzer and Harpoon Craft Cider. Guests can stop by the Beer Hall to try one of these brews and also THC seltzer and house wines either inside or the outdoor patio. The brewery also offers a 30-minute guided tasting every day, which includes a look at the brewery before sampling Harpoon’s core beers.
306 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210, 617-456-2322
20. Mistral
An acclaimed French restaurant in Boston’s stylish South End from owner and chef Jamie Mammano, Mistral serves simple, yet tasty French Mediterranean cuisine that highlights quality ingredients of the season. The decor of the restaurant is inspired by the South of France’s sweeping winds and brings to mind the area of Provence with its arched floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, and hand-picked pottery. The setting is designed to be evocative of sophistication and warmth. In addition to the dining room, there is also a lounge area and a bar where fine wines and craft cocktails that complement the menu are served.
223 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116, 617-867-9300
21. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
Located between the Boston Harbor and Rose Kennedy Greenway, the 4.5-acre Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park is one of the earliest modern era waterfront parks in America. A life-size statue of Christopher Columbus made from white marble is the centerpiece of this urban green space. The statue was made by Norwood Monumental Works, but designed for Andrew Mazzola. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park’s recreation area includes extensive lawns for taking in the harbor views or picnicking, walking paths, and benches. There is also a playground and sprinklers for children. The park also occasionally hosts movie nights, concerts, art exhibits, and more.
100 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110, 617-635-7275
22. Euno
Considered by many to be a hidden gem restaurant, Euno is situated on one of the North End’s oldest streets and has been serving Mediterranean and Italian cuisine since 1995. The restaurant aims to provide authentic regional fare, but with their own original twist, including fresh local seafood, handmade pastas, and fire-roasted specialties. To provide an ideal atmosphere for the cuisine, the setting is reminiscent of a Sicilian country house. To go along with the dishes, Euno also offers a fine wine selection to choose from, or guests can let the servers suggest the best wine to pair with their meal.
119 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113, 617-573-9406
23. The Paul Revere House
The Paul Revere House first opened its doors as one of the country’s earliest historic house museums in April of 1908. During 1907 and 1908, the house was restored to its appearance during the late 17th century with 90 percent of original structural elements. The upstairs features period furnishings and many of the Revere family’s belongings. A large furnished, restored hall and a kitchen typical of the late 18th century can be seen on the ground floor, including cooking implements of the time. Tours of The Paul Revere House are self guided and complemented by museum interpreters and illustrated text panels.
19 North Square, Boston, MA 02113, 617-523-2338
24. Mooo Restaurant
Mooo Restaurant, operated by the Columbus Hospitality Group, first opened in Beacon Hill in 2007. Owner and chef Jamie Mamman creates modern versions of classic steakhouse dishes using his culinary expertise. The Beacon Hill Mooo location features modern, warm decor that provides a sophisticated, yet relaxed atmosphere for guests. Open daily, Mooo Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is also an award-winning wine list and a full bar available for drinks that complement the menu. Private dining is available in The Wine Cellar, Parlor Suite, or the Rooftop Deck. There are also Mooo locations in Seaport and Burlington, Massachusetts.
5 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, 617-670-2515
The 25 Fun Romantic Things to Do in Boston near me today according to local experts are:
- 1. View Boston (formerly Skywalk Observatory)
- 2. Museum of Fine Arts
- 3. Gondola di Venezia
- 4. Bella Sante Boston Day Spa
- 5. Romantic Things to Do in Boston: El Pelon Taquería
- 6. New England Aquarium
- 7. Romantic Things to Do in Boston: Charles River Esplanade
- 8. Romantic Things to Do in Boston: A4cade
- 9. The American Repertory Theater
- 10. Boch Center
- 11. Sam Adams Brewery Tour
- 12. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- 13. Museum of Science
- 14. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
- 15. Public Garden
- 16. Castle Island
- 17. Arnold Arboretum
- 18. Boston Opera House
- 19. Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
- 20. Mistral
- 21. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
- 22. Euno
- 23. The Paul Revere House
- 24. Mooo Restaurant
