Best in Mass
Revolutionary history, seafood shacks, island ferries and mountain arts towns in one small state.
See things to do »Massachusetts at a Glance
Massachusetts is small enough to cross in about three hours, yet it holds an unusual amount of American history and a surprising variety of scenery. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620, the first battles of the Revolution were fought at Lexington and Concord in 1775, and Boston was the stage for the Tea Party and the Freedom Trail sites in between. Add the beaches of Cape Cod, the whaling-era streets of Nantucket, the witch-trial story of Salem and the hills of the Berkshires, and you have enough for several very different trips.
Boston is the obvious starting point. The city is compact and walkable, with the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail linking 16 historic sites from Boston Common to Charlestown, and neighborhoods such as the North End, Beacon Hill and Back Bay each worth an afternoon. Across the Charles River, Cambridge is home to Harvard and MIT, and a short drive west brings you to the Battle Road between Lexington and Concord, now part of Minute Man National Historical Park.
Summer belongs to the coast. Cape Cod curls 65 miles into the Atlantic, with bay beaches on one side, ocean beaches and the Cape Cod National Seashore on the other, and Provincetown at the tip. Ferries from Woods Hole and Hyannis carry visitors to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, where gray-shingled towns empty out after Columbus Day. North of Boston, Salem fills every October for Haunted Happenings, while Gloucester and Rockport send whale-watching boats out to Stellwagen Bank.
The western end of the state feels like a different place. The Berkshires are a range of wooded hills and small towns where Boston families have summered for well over a century, and the summer arts calendar is the draw: the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, dance at Jacob's Pillow, theater in Stockbridge and Williamstown, and world-class museums at the Clark and MASS MoCA. Fall foliage there usually peaks in early October, a week or two before it reaches the coast.
This guide splits the state into six areas, each with its own page of highlights and bookable tours. You will also find a dining guide of restaurants we checked are open and a list of annual events. Remember that much of Cape Cod, the islands and the Berkshires runs on a summer season, roughly Memorial Day to Columbus Day, and many seafood shacks and inns close or cut hours in winter. Boston, by contrast, is a year-round city: its museums, theaters, sports and restaurants keep going through the cold months, and hotel rates in January and February are among the lowest of the year. Spring arrives late, usually in May, and that is when the Public Garden blooms, the swan boats return and the first ferries of the season start running to the islands.
Explore Massachusetts by Area
Top-Rated Things to Do in Massachusetts
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best in Mass may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Where to Eat in Massachusetts
A raw bar that has served Boston since the 1820s, cannoli in the North End, fried clams in Essex, a Provincetown lobster house and a 1773 inn in the Berkshires: our dining guide covers each region with restaurants we checked are open.
Festivals and Events in Massachusetts
April brings the Boston Marathon and the Patriots' Day battle reenactments, summer the Pops on the Esplanade and music at Tanglewood, and fall the Head of the Charles, Salem's month of Halloween and Plymouth's Thanksgiving parade.
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Massachusetts — FAQ
How many days do I need in Massachusetts?
Three days covers Boston and Cambridge with a half day in Lexington and Concord or Salem. A week lets you add Cape Cod or the Berkshires. The islands deserve at least two nights each in summer.
Do I need a car in Massachusetts?
Not in Boston and Cambridge, where the subway, buses and walking work better than driving. You will want a car for Cape Cod, the Berkshires and most of the North and South Shores, although commuter rail reaches Salem, Rockport and Plymouth and ferries serve Provincetown and Salem in season.
When is the best time to visit?
Late May through mid-October. Summer is peak on the Cape and in the Berkshires, and early to mid-October brings foliage, apple picking and Salem's Halloween season. Winter is cold, but Boston's museums and restaurants stay busy.
How do I get to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket?
The Steamship Authority runs year-round car and passenger ferries from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard and from Hyannis to Nantucket, and seasonal fast ferries add more options. Reserve car space early for summer weekends.
What is the main airport?
Boston Logan International Airport, a short subway or water taxi ride from downtown. Smaller airports at Worcester, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket have limited service, and many Berkshires visitors fly into Albany, New York.