Family Friendly Things to Do in Boston

October 20, 2026

Boston has several museums built for children and a good zoo, and most are on or near a subway line. Subway fares are $2.40 a ride, with the latest rules on mbta.com . Below are the main family stops with current prices and the details that catch parents out.

Boston Children’s Museum

The museum is at 308 Congress St. Admission is $24 for everyone from age 1 up, and babies under 12 months are free. Days and hours are worth confirming. It is open Wednesday to Sunday year-round, with Mondays added in summer and school vacations. Exhibits include the New Balance Foundation Climb, Bubbles, Peep’s World and the Japanese House, a silk merchant’s house from Kyoto that is about 100 years old. Newer additions include Dream it! Build it! and a temporary The Pigeon Comes to Boston! exhibit. See bostonchildrensmuseum.org .

Museum of Science

At Science Park, exhibit halls cost $33 for adults and $28 for children 3 to 11, with under-3s free, and the museum is open daily 9 to 5. The Planetarium, Mugar Omni Theater and 4-D shows are $6 each on top of admission. The Theater of Electricity is billed as home to the world’s largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator, so check the daily schedule for show times.

New England Aquarium

Tickets on Central Wharf are $39.95 for adults and $30.95 for children 3 to 11, and under-3s are free. The Penguin Colony, the 200,000 gallon Giant Ocean Tank and the Shark and Ray Touch Tank are the main draws. Weekends and holidays sell out, so buy ahead. The harbor seals are currently off exhibit, so do not promise children the outdoor seal viewing.

Franklin Park Zoo

The zoo at 1 Franklin Park Rd is open 9 to 4 daily from October to March and has free parking. Prices vary by date, roughly $17 to $28 for adults and $13 to $22 for children, so buy ahead. Animals include African lions, giraffes and gorillas, and the Kalahari Kingdom, Outback Trail and Tropical Forest areas are worth a look. By transit, take the Orange Line to Forest Hills and then the Route 16 bus. Details are on zoonewengland.org .

Swan Boats, carousel and spray pool

The Swan Boats in the Public Garden have been run by the Paget family since 1877. They run from spring to roughly Labor Day, with fares of about $3.25 to $4.75, and under-2s ride free. On Boston Common the Frog Pond carousel costs about $4 a ride in the warmer months, and the spray pool is a summer-only feature. The pond becomes a skating rink in winter, and under-58-inch skaters were free in the 2025-26 season.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

In Cambridge, adults pay $20 and children 3 to 18 pay $15, with under-3s free. It is a quieter rainy-day option and is one of the choices on the Boston CityPASS.

Duck Tours with little ones

The Duck Tours last about 80 minutes. Babies 2 and under need a ticket at $11, so factor that into the budget.

Planning notes

Boston winters, roughly December to March, bring nor’easters, heavy snow and wind chill. Check the forecast and MBTA service alerts, and expect the Swan Boats, carousel and spray pool to be closed.

To compare family tickets and combo passes, browse Boston family activities on GetYourGuide .