Overview
Braintree is a town of 37,000 people (2019) on the South Shore in Southeastern Massachusetts. It is located along several major thoroughfares, making it convenient to Boston. Its scary-sounding name comes from Braintree in Essex, although that name's origin is obscure.
Avon is a town with a population of about 5,000 (2020).
Holbrook is a town with a population of about 11,000 (2020).
Randolph is a suburb of Boston with a population of about 35,000 (2020).
2 sights · 1 things to do · 5 places to eat · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Braintree
General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace
Sylvanus Thayer (1785-1872) was dubbed "father of the military academy" at West Point because he thoroughly reorganized and put it on sound footing. He also endowed Thayer Academy in Braintree and Thayer School of Engine…
Jonathan Belcher House
The Jonathan Belcher House is located just north of the center of town. Built in 1806 by Jonathan Belcher, it's the oldest building in Randolph. Building rentals available for weddings and other significant events.
Braintree Municipal Golf Course
18 hole, par 72.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Oct.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BOS Boston Logan International Airport, Boston — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BED Laurence G Hanscom Field, Bedford — 23 mi away. Directions
Given the proximity to Boston, please refer to the Get In and Get Around sections of that article for general transportation details.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace, Braintree Municipal Golf Course
- Lunch Sintra
- Afternoon Jonathan Belcher House
- Dinner Ascari at X1
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Given the proximity to Boston, please refer to the Get In and Get Around sections of that article for general transportation details.
By train
By car
Interstate 93, US-1, MA-3, and MA-24 converge in Braintree.
By bus
The MBTA 230 bus is an alternative connection to Braintree from Montello station in Brockton. For Randolph, bus 240 and 238 are accessible from Ashmont and Quincy Center/Quincy Adams T stops.
Massport also runs a shuttle bus from Boston Logan Airport to Braintree called the Logan Express.
Get around
By car
The highways in and around Braintree are often heavily congested for much of the day.
By bus
There are 5 MBTA bus routes in Braintree, the 225, 226, 230, 236, and 238 bus routes. Bus service can be infrequent at times (35 to 80 minutes), especially on evenings and weekends. The 226 route does not operate on Sundays and the 236 only operates during the daytime.
See
See General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace
Sylvanus Thayer (1785-1872) was dubbed "father of the military academy" at West Point because he thoroughly reorganized and put it on sound footing. He also endowed Thayer Academy in Braintree and Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.
Do
Buy
Shop South Shore Plaza
Eat
Eat Jamie's Grill & Pub
at five corners. Wide range of choices and decent value.
Eat Konditor Meister
Fine pastries. Favorite of locals who often order their wedding or special occasion cakes here.
Eat Sintra
Small, forty seat place with top-notch chef who has a Portuguese bias. Casual atmosphere, but cloth napkins, attentive service, great wines and creative food. Entrees $20-30.
Sleep
Go next
Nearby
Quincy
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Weymouth
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Milton
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Hingham
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Boston Harbor Islands
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Hull
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Rockland
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Stoughton
City / town · 10 listings · 9 mi away
My experience
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