The Best Cheap Date Ideas in Boston
Ten affordable date ideas in Boston, from free museum nights and a walk from South Station to the North End to a chocolate factory tour and a shared pizza in East Boston.
Boston has plenty of ways to spend time together without spending much. These ten ideas range from free museum hours and riverfront walks to a chocolate factory tour, neighborhood pizza and a route that takes you from South Station to the North End.
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Harvard Art Museums
Spend a few hours at the Harvard Art Museums near Harvard Square, where admission is free every day. The restored courtyard sits on the first floor, and Jenny's Cafe gives you a place for coffee or a snack.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm and closed Mondays. A free evening with music, food and drink, and art experiences happens on the last Thursday of the month.
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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Spend Thursday evening at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a palace-style museum built around an indoor courtyard garden. Admission is free from 5pm to 9pm.
Free tickets are released two days ahead, and timed tickets are recommended since popular entry times sell out. The museum is closed Tuesdays.
Timed tickets, free-night tickets released two days ahead
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Institute of Contemporary Art
Head to the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Seaport for contemporary art along the Boston waterfront. Free Thursday Nights run from 5pm to 9pm.
Book ahead for the free nights, since they need advance tickets. The museum is closed Mondays.
Advance tickets required for Free Thursday Nights
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Mount Auburn Cemetery
Walk the winding paths of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, a 72-acre National Historic Landmark with ponds and benches throughout the grounds. Admission is free, and it is open 365 days a year.
Sofra Bakery is nearby, so you can pick up a treat before or after the walk.
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Rose Kennedy Greenway
Walk the 1.5-mile Rose Kennedy Greenway from South Station to the North End, passing gardens, fountains and public art along the way. Benches and swings near the Haymarket fountains give you an easy place to stop.
The park is free and open from 7am to 11pm.
Charles River Esplanade
Walk a loop along the Charles River Esplanade, a 64-acre riverfront park with miles of trails. Pick up coffee or food along the way if you want to make more of the outing.
Free programs include fitness classes, concerts and guided tours, and summer concerts play at the Hatch Shell on the lawn.
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Fresh Pond Reservation
Take a free daytime walk around the reservoir at Fresh Pond Reservation in West Cambridge, following the foot and bike paths around the water. The reservation is open daily from dawn to dusk.
La Saison Bakery is nearby for coffee or hot chocolate afterward. Picnics are allowed only in Kingsley Park.
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Santarpio's Pizza
Share a pizza and a skewer at Santarpio's in East Boston, a casual spot that combines pizza and barbecue.
The restaurant is open daily from 11:30am to 10pm.
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Taza Chocolate
Follow chocolate from bean to bar on a guided factory tour at Taza Chocolate in Somerville, finishing with a tasting. Tours run Wednesday through Sunday.
Reserve online, since reservations are required. The factory store has viewing windows and free samples, and no chocolate is made on weekends.
Online tour reservations required
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SoWa First Fridays
Spend the first Friday of the month browsing galleries and meeting artists across the South End from 5pm to 9pm. Entry is free, with galleries, studios, shops and showrooms all taking part.
Food trucks are on site from 5 to 9pm at 500 Harrison Avenue, weather permitting.
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