Medford, Massachusetts travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Medford is a city in Massachusetts with a population of 60,000 (2020). It is home to Tufts University.

3 sights · 2 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Medford

Grandfather's House

the house mentioned in the song "Over the River and Through the Woods".

Royall House and Slave Quarters

Jingle Bells Plaque

This plaque, located on the site of Simpson Tavern, a 19th-century boarding house, commemorates the birthplace of "Jingle Bells" and claims that James Pierpont wrote the Christmas carol after watching a sleigh race.

Middlesex Fells Reservation

Wrights Tower, located within Medford city limits, overlooks Medford and the city of Boston skyline. Various hiking trails.

Chevalier Theatre

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 23°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Dec and Mar. (climate data from nearby Boston)

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 — 6 mi away (major hub). Directions
BED Laurence G Hanscom Field, Bedford — 10 mi away. Directions

Given that Medford is relatively close to Boston, please refer to the Get In and Get Around sections of that article for most of the details. Medford is not that far from Logan Airport.

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 Grandfather's House, Royall House and Slave Quarters, Chevalier Theatre
Lunch Yoki Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Afternoon Middlesex Fells Reservation, Jingle Bells Plaque
Dinner Alamo Roast Beef & Seafood

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 that Medford is relatively close to Boston, please refer to the Get In and Get Around sections of that article for most of the details. Medford is not that far from Logan Airport.

By public transit

Medford is home to the final two stops on the E branch of the Green line — one at Tufts University and the other at Ball Square. The Lowell commuter rail line from North Station also has a station at West Medford. The 96 bus can take you to downtown Medford from Davis station of the Red line, and the 134 bus from Wellington station of the Orange line. From Sullivan Station the 101 and 95 do go to Medford. The 101 can also be accessed from Malden Center station.

By car

You can take exit 31 (Route 16 exit) or exit 32 (Medford/Malden exit) from Interstate 93 to Medford. Local routes that go into Medford include Route 38 form the southeast, Route 16 from the east and west, and Route 60 from the northeast.

By bike

Unfortuantely, there is very little in the way of cycle infrastructure getting to and around Medford. Virtually all cycle routes into Medford require cycling in mixed traffic.

Get around

By public transit

The 101, 95, 94, and 134 buses all cross throughout Medford. The 100 bus mainly serves more residential areas of Medford. Bus service can be very infrequent at times, especially evenings and weekends. Medford Square and Wellington MBTA station offer the most connections between these bus routes and others.

By car

It can be difficult to use the car to get around in the Medford city center, given the difficulties of finding parking and the one way streets. Further away from the city center, towards the residential areas of Medford, a car can be more useful.

Route 28 runs along the eastern edge of Medford, next to the Fellsway Plaza. Routes 60, 16, and 38 all travel throughout Medford.

By bike

There are BlueBikes stations available within Medford, though they are spaced much further apart compared to neighboring Somerville and Everett. You'll need to contend with cycling in mixed traffic, though.