Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston is one of the best-valued cultural experiences in the city for families with older kids and teens — and the pricing structure makes it uniquely accessible: admission is completely free for anyone 17 and under, every day, plus Thursday evenings 5-9PM are free for all visitors.

The building itself is a destination. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the ICA is a dramatic glass structure that cantilevers out over Boston Harbor at Fan Pier. The Mediatheque, a ground-floor space with floor-to-ceiling harbor views, is one of the most striking interior spaces in Boston — worth experiencing even without going through the exhibitions.

Contemporary art tends to connect with young audiences differently than classical fine arts. The ICA's rotating exhibitions feature work that's visually bold, conceptually engaging, and often interactive in ways that a museum full of Renaissance paintings isn't. Teens who have dismissed art museums as boring often find the ICA genuinely interesting.

For families visiting Boston, the ICA is best paired with the adjacent Fan Pier neighborhood — excellent restaurants, Boston Harbor views, and the Silver Line transit connection from South Station make this an easy half-day addition to any Boston itinerary.

Note on geography: this is Boston, MA (South Boston Waterfront, 02210) — the listing appears under a Portland city_slug, which is a data classification issue.