Travel guide · United States
Boston travel guide
Revolutionary history, brownstone streets, harbour seafood and Fenway Park
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ian Howard, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US and one of the most walkable: the 4-km Freedom Trail links sixteen Revolutionary-era sites from Boston Common to Bunker Hill, and most central neighbourhoods are within a 30-minute walk of each other. Visitors usually stay in Back Bay, Downtown or the Seaport and use the T, the country's oldest subway, for longer hops. Beyond the history, the city has first-rate art museums, Fenway Park, the universities across the river in Cambridge, and seafood from chowder to lobster rolls. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- BOS, PVD, MHT
- Mid-range daily budget
- $260–$420 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Freedom Trail, American Revolution history, Clam chowder and Fenway Park
Why visit Boston
- The Freedom Trail packs Paul Revere's house, Old North Church, Faneuil Hall and USS Constitution into a single 4-km walk.
- The Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, with its empty frames from the 1990 art theft, are a short walk apart.
- Fenway Park, opened in 1912, is the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, and the Green Monster is still in play.
- New England seafood is the local cuisine: clam chowder, lobster rolls, oysters and fried clams, plus cannoli in the Italian North End.
- Salem, Concord, Cape Cod and the Cape Ann fishing towns are all within reach by train or ferry for day trips.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Historic site · Downtown
Freedom Trail
A red-brick line in the pavement links sixteen historic sites over about 4 km: Boston Common, the State House, the Granary Burying Ground where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock are buried, the Old State House near the Boston Massacre site, Faneuil Hall, the Paul Revere House, Old North Church and, across the river in Charlestown, USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
Garden · Beacon Hill
Boston Common and Public Garden
Boston Common, set aside in 1634, is the oldest public park in the US.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
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Market · Downtown
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
Built in 1742 and known as the Cradle of Liberty for the protest meetings held there before the Revolution, Faneuil Hall still has a public meeting hall above its ground-floor shops.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
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Museum · Fenway–Kenmore
Museum of Fine Arts
One of the largest art museums in the US, the MFA's Art of the Americas wing holds John Singleton Copley's portraits, Paul Revere's silver Sons of Liberty Bowl and John Singer Sargent's The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Landmark · Fenway–Kenmore
Fenway Park
Opened in 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and home of the Red Sox, with the 11-metre left-field wall known as the Green Monster, a hand-operated scoreboard and narrow wooden-era seats.
- Time needed
- 3 hours for a game; 1 hour for a tour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- After dark
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Religious site · North End
Old North Church and Paul Revere House
Boston's oldest standing church building, from 1723, is where two lanterns were hung in the steeple on 18 April 1775 to signal that British troops were crossing by water, sending Paul Revere on his midnight ride.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Architecture
Where to stay
Back Bay is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, couples and luxury
Back Bay
Victorian brownstones, Newbury Street boutiques and Copley Square
$$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
Beacon Hill
Gas lamps, brick pavements and the gold-domed State House
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and first-timers
North End
Boston's Little Italy, with trattorias, pastry shops and Paul Revere's house
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and luxury
Downtown and the Waterfront
Faneuil Hall, the aquarium, harbour cruises and the Rose Kennedy Greenway
What to eat
- New England clam chowder — A thick, creamy soup of chopped clams, potatoes, onions and salt pork, served with small oyster crackers; locals say 'chowdah'.
- Lobster roll — Chunks of lobster meat in a buttered, toasted split-top bun, served either cold with a little mayonnaise or warm with melted butter.
- Fried clams — Whole-belly clams dipped in batter or crumbs and deep-fried, served with tartar sauce and fries; Woodman's of Essex on the North Shore claims to have invented them in 1916.
- Oysters — Massachusetts oysters from Wellfleet on Cape Cod, Duxbury and other bays are briny and crisp, usually served raw on ice with lemon and mignonette.
- North Shore roast beef — Thin-sliced rare roast beef piled on a bun and ordered 'three-way' with barbecue sauce, mayonnaise and American cheese, a speciality of the towns north of Boston.
- Cannoli — Crisp fried pastry tubes filled with sweet ricotta, often dipped in chocolate chips or chopped pistachios; the North End's bakeries have a long-running rivalry over who makes the best.
When to go
The best months for Boston are May–June and September–October, when the weather is mild for the Freedom Trail and the city's parks and harbour are at their best. October adds autumn colour but also the year's highest hotel prices, as do May graduations. July and August are warm and good for beaches and islands. January to March is cold and snowy but the lowest-priced season.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | A slow, chilly start, then blossom in Back Bay, the marathon in April and graduation crowds in late May. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm days cooled by sea breezes, outdoor dining, harbour cruises, island ferries and Red Sox games; busy but less hectic than the big autumn weeks. |
| Autumn | September–November | Students return, the leaves turn in October and the weather is crisp and sunny; hotels are at their most expensive until early November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold and often snowy, with nor'easter storms that can disrupt travel, but festive lights, ice skating and the lowest hotel rates. |
Getting there and around
Logan Airport is about 5 km from downtown. The Silver Line SL1 bus runs from the terminals to South Station in about 20–30 minutes and is free from the airport. A free shuttle links the terminals with Airport station on the Blue Line, about 10 minutes from downtown, and water taxis cross the harbour to the waterfront.
Central Boston is compact and best explored on foot, with the MBTA's subway (the T) covering longer hops on the Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines, the Silver Line bus rapid transit to the Seaport and airport, and commuter trains and ferries for day trips.
Plan your days
Two full days covers the Freedom Trail, the North End, Back Bay and one museum. Four days adds Cambridge, the Museum of Fine Arts or the Gardner, a Red Sox game or harbour trip, and a day trip to Salem or Concord; a week lets you add Cape Cod or Newport.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink and widely praised for its quality.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
Boston's central neighbourhoods are generally comfortable for visitors; usual city precautions apply around busy stations such as Downtown Crossing late at night. In winter, nor'easter storms can bring heavy snow and flight disruption, and in summer the sea stays cold, so swim only at guarded beaches.
Flights to Boston
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Boston?
Two full days covers the Freedom Trail, the North End, Back Bay and one museum. Four days adds Cambridge, the Museum of Fine Arts or the Gardner, a Red Sox game or harbour trip, and a day trip to Salem or Concord; a week lets you add Cape Cod or Newport. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Boston?
The best months for Boston are May–June and September–October, when the weather is mild for the Freedom Trail and the city's parks and harbour are at their best. October adds autumn colour but also the year's highest hotel prices, as do May graduations. July and August are warm and good for beaches and islands. January to March is cold and snowy but the lowest-priced season.
+What is Boston known for?
Freedom Trail, American Revolution history, Clam chowder, Fenway Park, Harvard and MIT, Beacon Hill and Boston Marathon. The Freedom Trail packs Paul Revere's house, Old North Church, Faneuil Hall and USS Constitution into a single 4-km walk.
+Is Boston expensive?
Boston is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $260–$420 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Boston?
No. Driving in central Boston is slow and confusing and parking is expensive. Hire a car only for Cape Cod beyond Provincetown, Newport or the New England countryside.