Boston is a bustling metropolis with exciting things to do around every corner. The hard part is narrowing down what exactly your group wants to do and who to team up with to make it happen. That’s why today we’re listing our favorite Boston activities for small groups, large groups, as well as outdoor options for groups!
Since 2011, we’ve helped organizers create 5-star dining experiences that connect people better. From team building offsites and corporate events to milestone celebrations, we specialize in elevated experiences that go beyond the traditional dinner. Because connection doesn’t happen over boring meals.
Our top picks for the best group activities in Boston regardless of group size.
Traditional dinner can be a boring, stuffy affair; that’s why we invented the Boston Interactive Meal! You still get a phenomenal four-course meal with delicious drink pairings, AND you also get to enjoy the interactive experiences led by an expert Avital host. Your guests will shake up a signature cocktail, go head-to-head at Boston food and drink trivia, and we always end the night with our signature “flavor-tripping” experience.
The New England Aquarium is a fabulous place to bring your group for the day! It has incredible exhibits, like the giant ocean tank with Myrtle the Sea Turtle, touch tanks where you can interact with the animals, and an adorable penguin area.
The folks at Boston Winery have been in the business of making wine for three generations. Take your group in for a tasting in their rustic tap room, where an expert sommelier will guide you through tasting five of their wines.
The Museum of Fine Arts is one of Boston’s greatest cultural institutions. Some highlights when you visit this incredible museum are paintings by Sargent, Monet, and other famous impressionists, as well as their incredible collection of Japanese artwork.
If you’re hosting a big group in Boston, here are the best activities that can accomodate.
A great way to elevate any event is to add an interactive experience. When you book an Interactive Bar with us, you can bundle together 2 or more bars to create the perfect activity for reception-style events. Guests mix and mingle between the bars for quick, fun, foodie activities. Many of the bars also include a take-home gift that you can brand with your logo or event. A few of our clients’ favorite bars:
Popcorn Seasoning Bar – Make your own savory or sweet popcorn seasoning, then package it up as a take-home gift
Cocktail Spice Rim Blending Bar – Blend a custom mix of spices, salts, and zests to create your own cocktail spice rim
Bitters Blending Bar – Learn the art and science behind making cocktail bitters, then bottle up your own creation to take home
Spiced Nut Mixing Bar – Choose from a variety of nuts, spices, and seasonings to craft your perfect nutty and savory snack
Water Tasting Bar – Learn how to distinguish the flavors in water like you would with fine wine at this interactive tasting bar
Hands-on Cocktail Bar – An expert host will teach you how to shake up a signature cocktail or mocktail when you book this hands-on experience
Mobsters and Lobsters is an awesome tour of Boston’s gritty history with the Italian mafia and Irish mob. Your group will hop aboard a trolley and explore five iconic neighborhoods where historic mob violence occurred, but don’t worry, your guide will keep it light and entertaining!
Spin is a great place to bring a large group because there are 20 ping pong tables available to play on (and plenty to eat and drink). You can set up a tournament and have duos play each other until there’s only one team standing!
Boston Bowl is an awesome place to bring a large group because you have the choice of bowling, playing billiards, or hanging out at the arcade. The food and drink menu is full of elevated bowling alley fare with delicious dishes for sharing and creative cocktails to sip while you play that night away.
If you’re looking for activities that are great for small groups, this section is for you.
Duck Tours are absolutely iconic to the city of Boston. Take your group on a tour of the city that starts on land and takes you out on the harbor, all on the same vehicle! There’s no way to describe the magic of driving right into the water until you try it yourself.
Escape rooms are always a fun group activity for adults Boston, and PanIQ Escape Room is one of the best! You get to choose between rooms with themes like “Atlantis Rising”, “Cartel Crackdown”, or “The Red Wire”, and patrons say the puzzles are satisfyingly complex and the storytelling is masterful.
Boston is home to many quality breweries, and a great way to sample these brews is on a tour. The folks at City Brew Tour offer a great experience that includes tastings at 3 breweries, behind-the-scenes access, as well as round-trip transportation.
Take your small group for a class at Clay Lounge. This pottery studio offers beginner-friendly classes where your group will learn how to create a craft of their choosing, pick a color to glaze it, and get the piece fired and returned in a few weeks’ time.
If your group is athletic, you should take them to Rock Spot Climbing. It doesn’t even matter if they have never tried rock-climbing before because the friendly staff takes everyone through a brief orientation where you learn the ropes so they can have a successful and fun time on the rock wall.
Third Space Kitchen is a great place to take your small group for a culinary experience that transcends your average cooking class. They’re experts at team-building experiences that center around cooking, which is why we like this Boston group activity.
Paint the Town hosts fully customizable painting classes for those of all skill levels and experience. Get creative with your group and hone your artistic ability when you book a guided class here and create a masterpiece!
Dumplings are both incredibly delicious and deceptively hard to make. That’s why Patty Chen created Dumpling School. She’s been making dumplings since she was eight and living in Taiwan, and now she wants to pass down this special cultural tradition to you, so you can share it with your friends and family!
Take a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard out on the Charles River when you book with Paddle Boston. As you paddle downstream, you’ll get to take in the sights of the Esplanade, the Boston skyline, and the beautiful college campuses of Harvard, M.I.T., and B.U.
A scavenger hunt is a great way to get to know the city of Boston more intimately. City Hunt specializes in team-building scavenger hunts that show you the best of Boston, from the hidden gems to the iconic spots, and get your mind going with exciting puzzles and clues that make you feel like a detective!
Boston’s Harbor is rich in history and beauty. That’s why we recommend teaming up with Boston Harbor Cruises and taking a relaxing ride on one of their sailboats. They offer fun specialty events like a Pastries and Prosecco cruise of a breathtaking Sunset Sail that is sure to wow your group.
Granite Links is a beautiful golf course with 27 holes and multiple restaurants to eat and drink at. Take your group for a day on the links, complete with award-winning cuisine and a fleet of electric golf carts to escort you to each hole in style.
If your group has any history fans in it, walking the Freedom Trail is sure to be at the top of their list of activities. On this path, you will get to see museums, churches, and homes that tell the story of Boston’s essential part in the American Revolution.
Adrenaline junkie rave about Tree Top Adventures! This tree-climbing and zip-lining obstacle course is just a short drive from Boston in Canton. A seasoned staff surveys the proceedings to help you have a fun and safe time up in the trees, as you take in New England from a different perspective.
Franklin Park Zoo is a great place to spend the day. This zoo has a focus on animal conservation, and their exhibits are educational and fun. The diverse array of animals you’ll get to see in this zoo will certainly be a highlight of your time in Boston.
Catch the Red Sox playing at Fenway Park! This iconic stadium hasn’t changed much since it opened in 1912, but that’s a large part of its charm. Any sports lover will have a ball when they spend the day at Fenway Park.
The most engaging group activities combine interactive elements with good food, plenty to drink, and enough downtime to bond and get to know one another better. That’s why our clients choose to work with us here at Avital. When you book an event or activity with us, you get to sit back and relax while one of our expert hosts takes the reins!
Avital Ungar is dining and restaurant expert and the founder of Avital Experiences. She has spent 15+ years designing dining experiences nationwide and has been featured in The New York Times, Shark Tank, Travel Channel, Bon Appétit, and more. Learn more
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Boston Interactive Meal
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Spiced Nut Mixing Bar
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Popcorn Seasoning Bar
