It's a new year, and getting to know your town better is a pretty common resolution. To help you with this resolution, here's a list of cheap (or free) things to do around the Boston area.

Check out Mount Auburn Cemetery

It may sound creepy to want to visit a cemetery, but Mount Auburn is both beautiful and historical. Located in Cambridge and open to the public during the day, Mount Auburn also has contains Washington Tower, which gives visitors a panoramic view of Boston.

Walk around Newbury Street

Newbury Street is a bustling center of activity with all kinds of shops lining it. You can spend hours there shopping or just get a snack from one of the many restaurants and cafes and people watch.

Go to the New England Aquarium

Personally, my favorite part of the aquarium is the seals outside, but there are a lot of really interesting exhibits inside, plus they have a lot of IMAX movies that rotate in and out of circulation. Students can get discounted prices for tickets with their IDs, and it’s near the North End, Quincy Market, and Faneuil Hall.

Walk around the North End

Get some classic Italian food, take in the Little Italy-esque neighborhood, and go to Mike’s Pastry for some amazing cannolis. The North End also contains a lot of historical sites and borders many other interesting areas in Boston.

Spend Time in the Boston Public Library

Architecturally, the library is beautiful, and it’s full of not only books but also paintings and sculptures. If you’re a student you can spend time studying, but even people without library cards can go in and walk around. Plus, once summer starts, there are concerts in the courtyard.

Check out the Harborwalk

You can take an audio tour, or just walk around unguided and look at the signs and take everything in for yourself. Spanning 47 miles it’s more than a one-day thing, but you can do pieces at a time or walk along it between checking out other attractions in Boston.

Go to the USS Constitution

“Old Ironsides” dates back to 1797 and played a significant part in the War of 1812. Nowadays, the historical ship has free tours every 30 minutes in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Walk around Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall

Located just off the Freedom Trail, you can spend the day shopping and eating any food you can think of. You can also watch the entertainers or just people watch in the crowds.

Go to the Museum of Science

Like with the New England Aquarium, students can get discounted tickets to go to the museum. With traveling exhibits as well as exhibits that stay year-round, the Museum of Science is a cool place for people of all ages.

Enjoy Boston Common

Walk around the oldest park in America which is beautiful in all seasons. In the winter, you can skate on the Frog Pond (which is free if you bring your own states) and in the summer you can enjoy free summer performances.