10 Free And Cheap Date Ideas To Try In Boston

You and your dream date both swiped right, but you don’t get paid until next week. If this predicament sounds all too familiar, fear not. There are plenty of dating options in Boston that offer a great night out without breaking the bank. All you have to bring is the charm.

Walk along the Esplanade

One of the most beautiful spots for a stroll in the entire northeast, the Esplanade offers a gorgeous view of the Charles River with downtown Boston as a backdrop. If you can’t make this romantic, there may be no hope for you.

Charles River Esplanade, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Oyster happy hour

Food trucks

Boston food truck culture has experienced a boom in the last decade, both in numbers and variety. For a cheap and delicious dining option, grab some grub from one of the city’s countless ethnic food trucks and take it to the nearest park.

http://instagram.com/p/BZFITUQFwIp/

Free museum nights

Trick your date into thinking you are smart and cultured by planning a fun—and free—evening at one of the many art and historical museums in Boston. With well over 80 cultural institutions in the city, there is something for just about every interest.

Free music festivals

At the time of this writing, the author is less than six hours away from seeing George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic play for free at a local street festival. He is bringing a Tinder date with him.

Picnic in the park

There are several parks in Boston with enough greenery to offer a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Tell your date you are the “outdoorsy type,” grab some cheap food from a taco truck and find a nice spot in the shade.

Beer and wine tastings

Another clever way to look cultured when really you are just broke is to join a wine tasting. There is no shortage of wine and spirits shops in Boston, many of which offer special tasting events and promotions for little or no money. If you and your date are more into beer, take a tour of one of Boston’s breweries and enjoy the free beer at the end.

Free outdoor movies

Remember that walk along the Charles River (see above)? If you are really clever, you can time it to arrive at the Hatch Memorial Shell on one of the free movie nights hosted there in the summertime. Last month they showed The Jungle Book, arguably the greatest film of all time.

Lawn on D

Another great outdoor spot for movies, art galleries, and exhibitions, Lawn on D is one of the most unique (and highly Instagrammed) event spaces in Boston. It also happens to be located on the waterfront, which has an evening view that makes everything you do and say seem romantic by default.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZEQUUJDNmR/?taken-by=lawnond

Ice skating at the Charles Hotel

When it’s too cold for outdoor activities but you still want to feel like you’re in an ’80s movie, the Charles Hotel opens its rink to the public for only $5 per person. At that price, you can afford to tip the DJ a few bucks to play “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” on your way out.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.