Boston to Washington D.C. & Niagara Falls

Travel south by rail through four historic East Coast cities, then fly to Buffalo to end your trip at Niagara Falls.

This itinerary expands the typical 7-day tour of the East Coast into a more relaxed 10-day journey. Travel by Amtrak between Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., then fly from D.C. to Buffalo to save a full day of driving. This route focuses on the US side of the falls, so no Canadian visa is required. It is perfect for first-time visitors with a longer holiday who want to see all the classic East Coast highlights in one go.

The Maid of the Mist boat tour operates from late April to early November. Boat tours do not run during the winter.

Day by day

Day 1 · Discover Boston via the Freedom Trail

Boston（Freedom Trail、Quincy Market / Faneuil Hall、North End）

Take the Silver Line bus or a taxi from the airport to the city center (about 30 minutes). Walk along the Freedom Trail to the North End.

Stay: Downtown and Waterfront

Day 2 · Harvard, MIT & Museum of Fine Arts

Boston（Harvard University、Massachusetts Institute of Technology、Museum of Fine Arts, Boston、Boston Common / Public Garden / Beacon Hill）

Take the Red Line metro to Harvard (about 20 minutes), then transfer or take a taxi to Kendall Square and the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA).

Stay: Downtown and Waterfront

Day 3 · Amtrak South to New York

Boston → New York City（The High Line、Times Square / Broadway）

Take Amtrak from South Station to New York Penn Station (about 4 hours). Spend the afternoon walking along the High Line and exploring Midtown.

Stay: Midtown Manhattan

Day 4 · Statue of Liberty & Lower Manhattan

New York City（Statue of Liberty、National September 11 Memorial & Museum、Wall Street & Charging Bull、Brooklyn Bridge、DUMBO & Brooklyn Bridge Park）

Take the subway to Battery Park and board the ferry to Liberty Island (about half a day). Spend the afternoon walking through Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Stay: Midtown Manhattan

Day 5 · Museum Mile to the Empire State Building

New York City（The Metropolitan Museum of Art、Central Park、Museum of Modern Art、Empire State Building）

Take the subway to the Upper East Side, walk through Central Park, take the subway back to Midtown, and head up to the observatory in the evening.

Stay: Midtown Manhattan

Day 6 · Philadelphia's Revolutionary History

New York City → Philadelphia（Reading Terminal Market、Independence Hall、Liberty Bell Center、Franklin Court & Benjamin Franklin Museum）

Take a morning Amtrak train to Philadelphia (about 1.5 hours), transfer to the subway to the Old City, and walk to all major historic sights.

Stay: Old City

Day 7 · Arrive in Washington D.C. & Capitol Hill

Philadelphia → Washington, D.C.（United States Capitol、National Air and Space Museum、National Gallery of Art）

Take an early Amtrak train to Washington Union Station (about 2 hours). Spend the afternoon walking around Capitol Hill and the National Mall.

Stay: Penn Quarter and Chinatown

Day 8 · Monuments & Arlington

Washington, D.C.（National Museum of Natural History、The White House、Washington Monument、National Mall & Lincoln Memorial、Arlington National Cemetery）

Walk through the western end of the National Mall, then take the Blue Line metro to Arlington National Cemetery and back (about 30 minutes round trip).

Stay: Penn Quarter and Chinatown

Day 9 · Fly to Buffalo for Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, New York（Goat Island、Luna Island & Bridal Veil Falls、Terrapin Point）

Fly from Washington D.C. to Buffalo (about 1.5 hours; some flights may require a layover). Take a shuttle or taxi to Niagara Falls (about 40 minutes).

Stay: Downtown Niagara Falls

Day 10 · Maid of the Mist & Departure

Niagara Falls, New York（Maid of the Mist、Cave of the Winds、Whirlpool State Park & Niagara Gorge Trail）

Explore the sights on foot within Niagara Falls State Park. In the afternoon, take a taxi or rental car to Buffalo Airport (about 40 minutes).

The Hurricane Deck at Cave of the Winds is open in summer; parts of the wooden walkways are dismantled in winter.

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