Day 1: Boston – Freedom Trail & Faneuil Hall

Arrive in Boston and take the T (subway) to your accommodation. Start at Boston Common, America’s oldest public park (1634). Follow the red brick line of the Freedom Trail — a 2.5-mile walking route through 16 historic sites. Visit the Massachusetts State House (free guided tours), the Granary Burying Ground (where Paul Revere and Samuel Adams are buried), and the Old State House (where the Declaration of Independence was first read in Boston).

Walk through Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market — yes, it’s touristy, but the granite buildings and cobblestones are genuine. The New England Holocaust Memorial (free) is a powerful six-tower glass installation on the Freedom Trail. End at the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) at the Charlestown Navy Yard — the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat (free entry, last tours at 3:30 PM).

Accommodation: Boston ($50-100/night budget, $120-200 mid-range).

Transport: MBTA subway from Logan ($2.40).

Day 2: Harvard, Cambridge & the North End

Take the Red Line T across the Charles River to Harvard Square in Cambridge. Walk through Harvard Yard (the main campus with the iconic John Harvard statue — rub his foot for luck). Join a free student-led tour (departs from the Smith Campus Center, 1 hour). Browse the Harvard Museum of Natural History ($15, incredible glass flower collection). Explore the bookshops and indie stores of Harvard Square.

Walk back across the Larz Anderson Bridge for views of the Boston skyline and the Charles River sailboats. Spend the afternoon in Boston’s North End (Little Italy) — the oldest continuously residential neighbourhood in the US. Visit the Paul Revere House ($6), the Old North Church (free), and walk the narrow streets that feel frozen in the 18th century. Evening: a cannoli from Mike’s Pastry or Modern Pastry — the rivalry is fierce, both are excellent ($4-6).

Transport: Subway ($2.40/ride) + walking.

Day 3: Salem & Cape Ann

Take the Commuter Rail (Newburyport/Rockport line) from Boston’s North Station to Salem (30 minutes, $8.25 each way). Salem is famous for the 1692 witch trials but has much more to offer. Visit the Salem Witch Museum ($16), the Peabody Essex Museum ($20, excellent maritime and Asian art), and walk the historic Chestnut Street District with its stunning Federal-era mansions.

Continue north on the same train line to Rockport on Cape Ann (another 30 minutes). Rockport is a postcard-perfect New England fishing village — the red shack on the harbour (Motif #1) has been painted by artists for over a century. Walk out to Bearskin Neck for lobster rolls ($14-18) and sea views. Return to Boston by early evening. Alternative: Renting a car for this day gives you flexibility to explore Gloucester (America’s oldest fishing port) and Hammond Castle (a medieval-style castle on the coast).

Transport: Commuter Rail from Boston ($8.25 each way).

Day 4: New York City Arrival & Midtown

Take the Amtrak Acela or Northeast Regional from Boston’s South Station to New York’s Moynihan Train Hall / Penn Station (3.5-4.5 hours). Check into your NYC accommodation and dive in. Walk through Grand Central Terminal, then up Fifth Avenue to Rockefeller Center. Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral (free) — the neo-Gothic architecture is magnificent.

Take the subway to Times Square — you have to see it once. Walk through Bryant Park and head to the New York Public Library (free, the Rose Reading Room is stunning). For a first dinner in New York, you want a classic: Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side (pastrami sandwich $18-22 — yes it’s expensive, yes it’s worth it).

Transport: Amtrak ($30-80 Northeast Regional, $80-160 Acela).

Day 5: NYC – Downtown & Brooklyn

Take the subway to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Take the Staten Island Ferry (free, 25 minutes each way) for an unbeatable view of the Statue of Liberty. Visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum (the twin reflecting pools are free, the museum is $26).

Walk through the Financial District to the Brooklyn Bridge. Walk across the bridge (30 minutes, Manhattan skyline views get better with every step). In DUMBO, get the iconic photo on Washington Street with the bridge framed between buildings. Walk through Brooklyn Bridge Park for the best Manhattan skyline view. Grab lunch at Time Out Market (food hall, $10-15).

Explore Williamsburg — walk Bedford Avenue for vintage shops, indie music venues, and incredible people-watching. Dinner at a Williamsburg gastropub or tacos at a food truck.

Transport: Subway ($2.90/ride) + walking.

Day 6: NYC – Museums & Central Park

Take the subway to the Upper East Side. Spend the morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) ($30 suggested admission). You can’t see everything, so pick two areas: the Egyptian Temple of Dendur and the European Paintings collection (Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Gogh).

Walk into Central Park from the Met’s back entrance through the Egyptian wing. Walk the Mall, see Bethesda Fountain and the angel sculpture, and the Loeb Boathouse. Rent a rowboat ($15/30min) or just sit on a bench and watch New York pass by. Exit the park at 72nd Street and walk through the Upper West Side — Zabar’s for a lox bagel ($8) and a walk down Broadway.

Head to the High Line (elevated park, free) at Chelsea. Walk south from 34th Street to the Whitney Museum area. Dinner in Chelsea Market ($10-18, food hall with dozens of vendors).

Day 7: Philadelphia – History

Take the Amtrak from NYC Penn Station to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station (1.5 hours on the Northeast Regional, $30-50). Walk 15 minutes to the Independence National Historical Park. The Liberty Bell is free but has a security line (arrive before 10 AM to avoid the queue). The Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed) requires a free timed ticket — pick one up at the visitor center.

Visit Carpenters’ Hall (free), the Second Bank of the United States (portrait gallery), and Congress Hall (free). Walk the Elfreth’s Alley — the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in America, dating to 1702. Check into your Philadelphia accommodation in Center City. Evening walk along South Street for the neon signs and alternative vibe, or Rittenhouse Square for the elegant side of Philly.

Transport: Amtrak ($30-50), SEPTA subway ($2.50/ride).

Day 8: Philadelphia – Food & Murals

Start at Reading Terminal Market for breakfast — Amish donuts, scrapple, or a fresh-baked pretzel. Then explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art ($25, the “Rocky steps” out front — run up them for the photo). Inside, the museum is world-class: the “Great Stair Hall,” Duchamp’s “The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even,” and a huge collection of American and Impressionist works.

Take the Philadelphia Mural Arts tour ($20, 2 hours) or explore the Magic Gardens ($10) — Isaiah Zagar’s incredible mosaic-covered building and lot on South Street. Visit the Philadelphia’s Magic City of independently owned bookstores and galleries. Have a cheesesteak for lunch — the debate between Pat’s and Geno’s never ends, but John’s Roast Pork or Dalessandro’s are better than either.

Day 9: Amish Country (Lancaster County)

Rent a car for the day ($40-50) and drive 1.5 hours west from Philadelphia to Lancaster County — the heart of Amish Country. This is a unique cultural experience: the Amish and Mennonite communities live without electricity or cars, farming the land as they have for 300 years. Drive the back roads near Strasburg and Intercourse (yes, that’s the name — accept the giggle and move on).

Visit the Amish Village ($15, self-guided tour of an Amish farmhouse), or take a buggy ride ($40-60 for a family of 4, negotiable). Stop at Kitchen Kettle Village for jams, relishes, and baked goods. Have lunch at a family-style Amish restaurant — the Plain & Fancy Farm ($18-22 all you can eat, chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, it’s a feast). Drive back to Philadelphia by early evening.

Transport: Rental car for the day ($40-50).

Day 10: Baltimore

Take the Amtrak from Philadelphia to Baltimore’s Penn Station (1 hour, $15-30). Drop your bags at a station locker or your Baltimore accommodation. Start at the Inner Harbor — Baltimore’s revitalized waterfront with the National Aquarium ($40, excellent dolphin show and shark tank). Skip the aquarium if budget is tight; the harbor walk is free.

Visit Fort McHenry National Monument ($15) — where Francis Scott Key saw the flag still flying after the British bombardment in 1814 and wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The 30-minute film and the flag exhibit are excellent. Walk through Fells Point, Baltimore’s historic maritime neighbourhood with cobblestone streets, pubs dating to the 1700s, and excellent seafood restaurants.

Have dinner in Little Italy (attached to Fells Point) or Hampden (quirky, artsy neighborhood). Try Faustina’s in Hampden ($12-18) for excellent local food. Evening Amtrak to Washington DC (45 minutes, $10-20). Check into your DC accommodation.

Transport: Amtrak ($15-30 to Baltimore, $10-20 to DC).

Day 11: Washington DC – Monuments

Start at the Washington Monument — you need a free timed ticket (online, $1 reservation fee) to go to the top. Walk the National Mall east to the United States Capitol (free tours available through your representative’s office — book weeks ahead). The Capitol Visitor Center is worth walking through even without a tour.

Walk the Tidal Basin loop (2.1 miles) past the Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. End at the Lincoln Memorial — walk up the steps and stand where MLK delivered “I Have a Dream.” The view from the top, looking east across the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument and Capitol, is one of the most powerful in America.

Walk the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — the black granite wall descending into the earth is profoundly moving. The Korean War Veterans Memorial (ghostly soldiers in the mist) is equally powerful. Visit at dusk when the reflections grow long.

Transport: Metro ($2-6/ride) + walking. The Mall is walkable end-to-end in 30-40 minutes.

Day 12: DC – Smithsonians

ALL Smithsonian museums are FREE. This is arguably the best free museum system in the world. You cannot see them all in a day. Choose based on your interests:

The National Air and Space Museum (the original Wright Flyer, Apollo 11 command module, moon rocks — the most popular Smithsonian). The National Museum of American History (the original Star-Spangled Banner, Dorothy’s ruby slippers, Julia Child’s kitchen). The National Museum of Natural History (the Hope Diamond, dinosaur skeletons, the butterfly pavilion). The National Museum of African American History and Culture (incredible, powerful, requires free timed-entry pass — book months ahead).

For lunch, eat at one of the museum cafeterias ($10-14) or walk to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden for the outdoor cafe. If you have energy, add the National Gallery of Art (West Building for Old Masters, East Building for Modern) — also free.

Day 13: DC – Georgetown & the Waterfront

Take a DC Metro or walk to Georgetown — the oldest and most beautiful neighborhood in Washington. Walk down M Street and explore the side streets of brick Federal rowhouses. Visit Georgetown University‘s main campus (Heckscher Library has a great reading room). Walk down the Exorcist Steps (famous from the film).

Walk along the C&O Canal towpath — the historic canal that connected DC to the Ohio River. Georgetown’s section is beautifully preserved with locks, mule-drawn canal boats in summer ($9, seasonal). Browse the Georgetown Waterfront Park for a beautiful view of the Key Bridge and the Potomac. Have a lunch or coffee at one of Georgetown’s excellent independent cafes.

Farewell dinner in Adams Morgan — DC’s most diverse neighborhood with Ethiopian restaurants, Latin American spots, and live music. Try Etete ($14-20, excellent Ethiopian cuisine) or Lauriol Plaza ($12-18, Mexican rooftop dining).

Day 14: DC – Farewell & Departure

One final morning in DC. Visit the Library of Congress (the Jefferson Building is the most beautiful government building in America — the Main Reading Room is spectacular). Walk through the United States Botanic Garden (huge conservatory, free) beside the Capitol. If you haven’t visited the White House Visitor Center (free, 1450 Pennsylvania Ave), it offers a good exhibit on the history of the building.

Head to Reagan National Airport (DCA) via the Metro Blue/Yellow lines (30 minutes from downtown, $2). DCA is small and laid-back for a major airport. If you’re flying out of Dulles (IAD), take the Silver Line Metro ($6, 60 minutes).

Departure: DCA (preferred, closer to city) or IAD (larger, more international connections).