Where to Find the Best Views in Boston

Winter, spring, summer, or fall; here's where to find the best views in Boston.

2 min read•Oct 08, 2019•By Sarah Iredale

Hi, I'm Sarah!

Sarah is an experienced copywriter specialising in travel, finance, and IT. Born and raised in Sri Lanka and India, and with stints living in the UAE and Oman, her love of South Asia and Arabia has seen her add travel writing to her record of copywriting for cross-sector global brands. Sarah has a BA Hons in History from Reading University and lives in East Sussex with her partner. When not working, she enjoys scuba diving, wild swimming, and woodland walks with her rescue Jack Russell, Charlie.

Hi, I'm Sarah!

Boston’s historic harbor, leafy parks, and skyscrapers provide a picturesque backdrop for visitors throughout the year. From sightseeing cruises around the city’s naval yards and waterfronts to fall foliage tours, here are some ways to soak in the best views in and around Boston.

Why you are seeing these recommendations

Harbor cruises

For views from the water.

For the best vantage point over Boston Harbor, hop aboard a sightseeing cruise to glide by the historic USS Constitution, the tall-masted Tea Party Ships, and picturesque waterfront and skyline. The options are numerous, from dinner cruises aboard modern motor cruisers to trips on 1920s-style yachts with live music or sunset cocktails served onboard.

More Boston cruises

Fall foliage tours

For seasonal snapshots.

Boston and the wider New England region are famous for their autumnal displays, when trees and forests burst into vivid golds, oranges, and reds. Sign up for a fall foliage tour that takes you deep into New England to see the colors, or pedal around Boston’s parks to admire the city’s homegrown display.

Explore Boston's fall foliage

Visitors wander around a park in Boston.

Fall foliage tours allow you to see New England at its photogenic best. | Photo Credit: Alena Kuzub / Viator

Boston Skywalk Observatory

For picture-perfect panoramas.

Ride the elevator up to Boston’s Skywalk Observatory for 360-degree views over the city from 700 feet (213 meters) above the street. Take in the panoramas—on a clear day they can stretch as far as 100 miles (161 kilometers)—and use the audio-guide handsets to identify and learn about the different sights.

Explore Skywalk Observatory experiences

Boston Duck tours

For land and river vistas.

Enjoy views of Boston on land and then from the Charles River courtesy of a tour on the Boston Duck. Step aboard the amphibious, World War II–inspired craft, and after splashing down into the river, soak in unobstructed panoramas of Boston’s and Cambridge’s sights from the water.

More Boston duck boat tours

A Boston Duck tours on the streets of Boston.

Boston Duck tours allow for both land and river exploration. | Photo Credit: Alena Kuzub / Viator

Niagara Falls tours

For travel-worthy views.

Boston is a great jumping-off point for visiting Niagara Falls—one of the world’s most powerful sets of waterfalls. Take the opportunity to see its crashing cascades on a day trip by air, which includes a ride on the famous Maid of the Mist sightseeing boat for incredible, close-up views.

More Niagara Falls tours

Whale-watching cruises

For up-close animal sightings.

The seas off Boston attract migrating humpback, minke, pilot, and other species of whales from April to October, offering the chance of once-in-a-lifetime sightings. Book one of the many whale-watching trips that leave during the season, and, with luck, enjoy unforgettable views of these gigantic mammals in their natural habitat.

Explore Boston whale-watching experiences