Boston has plenty to fill your first morning. Follow the Freedom Trail to sites including Faneuil Hall and the 18th-century USS Constitution warship, or explore Harvard University or the city’s museums. Walking and bike tours cover the top sights, or buy a discount sightseeing pass or hop-on hop-off ticket for more flexibility.

After a morning of sightseeing, dial up the adventure for the afternoon. Splash down into the waters of the Charles River on a Boston Duck amphibious tour, or if it’s whale-watching season (generally April-October), take to a high-speed catamaran to see whales in nearby Massachusetts Bay.

Revolutionary history infuses every corner of Boston, making it especially atmospheric after dark. Explore the city’s secret lanes and spooky legends on a ghost-themed evening tour. Options include guided walks into Boston’s oldest lamp-lit districts and a trolley tour that takes you to the city’s haunted buildings and half-forgotten graveyards.

Delve into Boston’s revolutionary war heritage on its Freedom Trail. Take a walking tour along the redbrick trail to learn about its British colonial and patriot past, or see the sights from a private car. Finish at the Tea Party Ships and Museum in Boston Harbor to learn more about the war-sparking protests.

See a different side of the city on a tour of some of Boston’s culinary hot spots. Join a guided food walk around the city’s North End district—aka “Little Italy”— to taste its pizzas. Alternatively, opt for a tour of Beacon Hill to discover off-the-beaten path eateries and treats that many miss.

At dusk, take a harbor cruise to relax after your sightseeing and watch the sunset from the water. Choose an all-singing, all-dancing boat with a dinner buffet and live entertainment, or opt for a mellower cruise that settles for serving up sundowner cocktails alongside the city views.