what are the "must see" places in Boston. will be there for 4 days

Answered by Carol , Boston, United States

I would recommend The Museum of Fine Arts, particularly if weather prevents walking around a lot; I suggest that you NOT go at peak hours however, stick to week days & DEFinitely avail yourselves of the cafe & gift shop. When I have organized trips with my children, nephews & niece, we would hit the ground floor cafe first, decide from the map which exhibits most interested us while fortifying ourselves with fruit tarts & fresh tea or coffee! Nowadays, I like to go when there is tea on offer in one of the halls or enjoy music in the courtyard. This really should not be missed, fabulous collections, not just local but unique in all the world.
I agree with other responders: the Duck Boat Tours are a great way to see Boston from the road and from the Charles River. It is just so much fun, so much information from the knowledgeable drivers & a very serious tour to boot! (Think it is an hour and a half long.)
At some stage during the four days, you may want to go shopping & Boston has some worthwhile stores. I also agree that The Prudential Center is a great place to start & there are great little places for coffee & tea, nice restaurants for suppers.
Just down Boylston Street is Copley Square with two of our notable old churches; open for tours daily. The Square itself is nice, fountains & outdoor concerts on Thursday evenings.
I strongly recommend high tea in Boston; The Park Plaza Hotel is very nice, centrally located & reasonable. I know that some prefer The Four Seasons but I have been going to Park Plaza since I was very young & just love it. I should mention that Four Seasons has wonderful views of The Public Garden, in case that is of interest to you. (DO read 'Make Way For Ducklings,' if it has escaped you thus far!)
The Swan Boats in The Public Garden are very special, an old Boston institution: you take a seat in the boat & a young man or woman cycles you around the little lagoon. Just watching them is fun, too!
Weather permitting, these locations are just about within walking distance; from MFA to Duck Boat Tours might be the longest stretch. When you check on your map, you will see that they are all close enough to each other to be managed well within four days.
Welcome to Boston & all the best ~ Carol Leary