17 Unforgettable Team Building Activities in Boston

When it comes to team building activities in Boston, you’ve got no shortage of options. To help you pick the perfect one, we’ve rounded up a list of 17 ideas we think you’ll love.

With its vibrancy and historic significance, there are abundant opportunities for team building activities in Boston. And in this article, we’ve curated 17 of our absolute favorites, from exploring iconic landmarks to engaging in outdoor adventures and beyond.

Whether you’re walking the Freedom Trail, enjoying a picnic in Boston Common, or embarking on a self-guided food tour in the North End, these ideas for team building activities in Boston will help you create lasting memories and build a stronger, more cohesive team.

Check them out.

1. Historic Freedom Trail Walk

Explore Boston’s rich history with a self-guided tour along the Freedom Trail. You can start at Boston Common, the oldest public park in the U.S., and follow the red-brick path to the Bunker Hill Monument.

Key stops along the way include:

• The Massachusetts State House
• Paul Revere’s House
• The Old North Church

To enhance your experience, you and your team can research and share interesting facts about each site beforehand. Encourage team members to take turns leading the group at each stop, fostering collaboration and shared learning.

2. Boston Public Garden Scavenger Hunt

Plan a scavenger hunt in the beautiful Boston Public Garden. Create a list of items to find, such as:

• The George Washington statue
• The Make Way for Ducklings sculptures
• Specific types of flowers or trees

We recommend that you include tasks like taking a group photo on the Swan Boats or identifying certain birds in the lagoon.

Break your colleagues into teams, split up to complete the hunt, and then reconvene to share their findings.

3. Wild Goose Chase

If you want to partake in a scavenger hunt in Boston where all of the stops and challenges are mapped out for you, then Wild Goose Chase is the ideal choice.

In this scavenger hunt activity, your team can get out of the office and explore Boston in a whole new way.

Together, your team will need to think outside the box, bond as a group, and venture outside into the community in order to complete a series of fun and unique photo and video challenges.

You’ll need to tackle a list of challenges, including:

• Snap a photo of your team standing next to a large public clock that reads EXACTLY 22 minutes past the hour
• Search for a business that is open 24 hours 7 days a week and snap a photo of a team member with the sign showing the business’ hours
• Snap a photo of a teammate next to a vehicle that has an “antique” or “collectible” license plate
• Head to a nearby playground and take a photo of your entire team balanced on a seesaw. Here’s the catch: everyone’s feet must be off the ground while balanced!
• Find a hopscotch course or use a piece of chalk to create your own on a sidewalk. Record a 5-second video of a teammate hopping and completing it
• Stage a martial arts battle with another team in a nearby park. Record a 5-second video of both teams facing each other (with plenty of space between you) and doing the famous crane kick

The team with the most points when time runs out will be named the winners!

4. Self-Guided Museum Tour

Visit the Museum of Fine Arts or the Boston Science Museum for a self-guided tour. You and your colleagues can download the museum’s app or use a map to explore different exhibits.

For example, at the Museum of Fine Arts, explore the Art of the Americas Wing, the Egyptian exhibits, and contemporary art galleries.

You can regroup periodically to discuss your favorite pieces and what you learned.

5. DIY Foodie Tour in North End

Embark on a self-guided foodie tour in Boston’s North End, known for its Italian cuisine.

On your tour, we’d recommend you plan a route to visit iconic eateries like:

• Mike’s Pastry for cannolis
• Regina Pizzeria for classic pizza
• Modern Pastry for sweet treats

Encourage team members to share their favorite dishes and try something new. This delicious adventure promotes bonding over shared culinary experiences and introduces team members to the rich food culture of Boston.

6. Random Acts of Kindness

Feel like getting out and spreading some kindness throughout Boston? We recommend it! Doing good in the world is good for you. In fact, it actually builds team morale.

Random Acts of Kindness fuses the scavenger hunt concept with a philanthropic twist. This team building activity gets teams racing against one another to try and complete as many good deeds as possible before time runs out.

7. Harborwalk Exploration

Take a walk along the Boston Harborwalk, a public walkway that stretches along the waterfront.

Start at the Boston Harbor Hotel and walk towards the Institute of Contemporary Art, passing parks, piers, and marinas.

Plan stops at places like the New England Aquarium or Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park.

Teams can take photos, share interesting facts about the harbor, and enjoy the scenic views together.

8. DIY Brewery Tour

Who’s thirsty?

If you and your team like to partake in tasty beers, create a DIY brewery tour in the Seaport District.

Here’s where we’d stop if we were you:

• Visit Harpoon Brewery, where you can sample a variety of craft beers and tour the brewery.
• Next, head to Trillium Brewing Company for a tasting of their latest releases

You and your colleagues can discuss your favorite beers, learn about the brewing process, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

9. Charles River Esplanade Biking

Get outside, get some fresh air, and explore the Charles River Esplanade with a bike tour as a team building activity in Boston.

Your colleagues can either bring their own bikes or rent them before you go.

For a quintessential Boston experience, start at the Boston University Bridge and ride along the scenic paths, stopping at landmarks like the Hatch Shell and the Longfellow Bridge.

10. Beacon Hill Photography Walk

Plan a photography walk through the picturesque Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Encourage your colleagues to bring cameras or smartphones and explore historic streets like Acorn Street and Louisburg Square.

You can also challenge your workgroup to capture specific themes or elements, such as architectural details, street scenes, or nature.

After the walk, gather to share and discuss the photos, fostering creativity and collaboration.

11. DIY Historical Quiz in the Boston Public Library

Are there any history buffs on your team? If so, you’ll love this team building activity in Boston.

Gather your colleagues, visit the Boston Public Library, and organize a DIY historical quiz.

Divide your team into small groups and assign them to research different aspects of Boston’s history.

We’d recommend creating a quiz based on their findings and having groups compete to answer questions.

Include categories like Revolutionary War events, famous Bostonians, and significant landmarks.

12. Picnic Party Games

We love a good picnic, chock-full of food, drinks, and activities. So, you can’t go wrong with hosting one as a team building activity in Boston and supercharging it with Picnic Party games.

This activity has teams complete as many goofy photo and video challenges as possible before time runs out.

Some examples of challenges you can do in this activity include:

• Catapult Cuisine: Use a utensil to launch a bite-sized food item into another person’s mouth from 10 feet away.
• Tree Hugger: Snap a photo of someone hugging a tree trunk like a koala bear. Legs and arms must be completely off the ground!
• Spoon Relay: Participate in a relay race while balancing a small rock on a spoon.

These games can be done all at once or spread out throughout the day.

13. Self-Guided Art Walk in SoWa

Explore the SoWa Art + Design District with a self-guided art walk. Visit galleries, studios, and shops, such as the SoWa Artists Guild, to view contemporary art and meet local artists.

Teams can discuss their favorite pieces and the stories behind the artworks.

If you really want to make this an awesome team building activity in Boston, plan a visit during the SoWa Open Market to enjoy local food vendors and artisan products.

14. Fenway Park Tour

Take a self-guided tour around Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Explore the exterior, including the famous Green Monster and statues of Red Sox legends. Teams can visit nearby Yawkey Way and Lansdowne Street for additional baseball history. Share fun facts and trivia about the park and its iconic moments.

15. Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

With this team building activity in Boston, you’ll split into groups and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided—cardboard and tape.

Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking.

Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats to test their durability.

16. Boston Harbor Islands Adventure

You can never go wrong with a day trip to the Boston Harbor Islands!

Gather your team and take a ferry from Long Wharf to Spectacle Island or Georges Island. There, you can hike trails, explore historic forts, and enjoy beach picnics.

Organizing activities like a beach clean-up or a nature scavenger hunt is also a great idea.

17. DIY Public Art Tour

Create a DIY tour of Boston’s public art installations. Plan a route that includes:

• The Boston Murals at Dewey Square
• The Abstract Sculpture at the Christian Science Plaza
• The Make Way for Ducklings statues in Boston Public Garden

You and your teams can discuss the artists, the stories behind the works, and their interpretations. This activity encourages teamwork, creativity, and a greater appreciation for public art.

With its rich history, scenic beauty, and vibrant culture, there are endless opportunities for team building activities in Boston.

So, gather your team, plan your outing, and discover the many ways Boston can bring your group closer together.

Learn more about team building activities in Boston. 

If you’ve got questions about how to facilitate unforgettable team building activities in Boston, Massachusetts, reach out to an Employee Engagement Consultant.