It's not New York or Chicago, so quit comparing them and appreciate Boston for what it is. This city is charming and legitimately historic, from the cobblestoned streets of Beacon Hill to the authentic Italian restaurants and food purveyors of the North End. Its size and legacy bolster its appeal: The oldest ballpark in the MLB, Fenway Park is smack in the middle of the city, which even non-baseball fans can get excited about, and cozy Cambridge is as accessible to visitors as the sprawling waterfront. So many of its parts feel lost in time, plus there's a diverse food and drinks scene, a smart offering of places to stay, and more cultural activities than you might expect in a place this quaint. And that's why we love it.
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Boston Travel Guide
Plan Your Boston Trip
Featured
Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Cambridge and Neighboring Somerville, Massachusetts
Camberville—the local portmanteau for neighboring Cambridge and Somerville—offers a playful alternative to Boston’s brusque beauty.
Where Locals Go Along Boston’s Freedom Trail
Exploring the Boston of yesteryear through today’s best restaurants, shops, and outdoor scenery.
What’s New on Nantucket
Despite the rising crowds, this island is still a haven—with plenty to do in what's set up to be a comeback summer.
15 Best Hotels in Boston
An eclectic mix of old and new, just like the city itself.
Editor Recommendations
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The Whitney Hotel$$$ | United States, Boston, 170 Charles StAn entirely new look in a very old cityRead full review
Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston$$$ | United States, Boston, 1 Dalton StreetThe 724-foot-high, 61-story One Dalton is the third-tallest skyscraper in Boston.Read full review
Mandarin Oriental, Boston$$$ | Boston, 776 Boylston St.There is an elegant minimalism here that has long made this Back Bay hotel a Boston favorite.Read full review
Fairmont Copley Plaza$$ | United States, Boston, 138 St James AveIf a snapshot of grand old Boston is what you're after, it's hard to find a better situated and more luxurious than the Fairmont.Read full review
Four Seasons Hotel Boston$$$ | United States, Boston, 200 Boylston StA resplendent stay fit for Eloise herselfRead full review
InterContinental Boston, an IHG Hotel$$ | United States, Boston, 510 Atlantic Ave.A picturesque waterfront option for comfort and location alike on downtown Boston's Fort Point ChannelRead full review
The Langham, Boston$$ | United States, Boston, 250 Franklin St.In the heart of the Financial District, truly opulent yet thoughtful digsRead full review
Canopy by Hilton Boston Downtown$ | United States, Boston, 99 Blackstone StreetA central location, no-fuss rooms, and a whole lot of bang for your buckRead full review__2018_LibertyHotel_Lobby.jpg)
The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston$$ | Boston, 215 Charles St.The old Charles Street jail transformed.Read full review
Raffles Boston$$$ | US, Boston, 40 Trinity PlRaffles’ splashy North America debut hits all the right notes.Read full review
XV Beacon$$ | United States, Boston, 15 Beacon St.The vibe is sexy, but the ethos is undeniably Boston.Read full review
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The Best Things to Do in Boston
12 Best Things to Do in BostonAspire to the Ivies, discover new neighborhoods, and feast like a local.
12 Best Museums in Boston You'll Want to VisitYou can nab a world-class education visiting these fine institutions.
4 Best Day Trips From BostonWhere to stay, eat, and drink—and what to do—in Provincetown, Newburyport, Salem, and Kennebunkport.
The Best Weekend Getaways from BostonWhere to stay when you need a getaway—now.
Editor Recommendations
CharlestownUnited States , Boston,An authentic neighborhood for history-loving travelersRead full review
HarborwalkUnited States, Boston,This remains of the best free ways to really see Boston.Read full review
Guerlain Spa at Raffles Boston$$$ | USA, Boston, 40 Trinity Pl, Fourth FloorA wellness haven on the fourth floor of the first Raffles in North America, and one of only a few Guerlain spas in the country.Read full review
Boston Tea Party Ships & MuseumUnited States, Boston, 306 Congress St.An interactive opportunity to relive the Boston Tea Party.Read full review
Museum of ScienceBoston, 1 Science ParkThis sprawling institution is one of the world's largest science museums.Read full review
Museum of Fine Arts, BostonUnited States, Boston, 465 Huntington Ave.The crown jewel of Boston's art sceneRead full review
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and MuseumBoston, Columbia PointDeepening visitors' understanding of one of the Boston's most famous sons.Read full review
Boston Children's MuseumBoston, 308 Congress St.One of the biggest children’s museums in the world, with a permanent collection that includes some 25,000 items.Read full review
Emerson Colonial TheatreUnited States, Boston, 106 Boylston StreetA time-capsule glimpse into Boston's grand and gilded pastRead full review
MassArt Art MuseumUnited States, Boston, 621 Huntington AvenueBoston’s only free contemporary art museumRead full review
Boston AthenaeumUnited States, Boston, 10 ½ Beacon St.Stately repository of Boston history, this private library and event space holds more than books.Read full review
MIT MuseumUnited States, Cambridge, 314 Main Street, Building E-28Built for tinkerers, techies, and curious-minded folks, MIT Museum waxes visual poetry about the research that underpins this famous institution.Read full review
Otis HouseUnited States, Boston, 141 Cambridge StreetThe rare Federal-era building in the city to still have its original interiors almost entirely intactRead full review
Harvard Art MuseumsCambridge, 32 Quincy St.Three museums in one at one of the most revered Academic institutions in the world.Read full review
Museum of African American History (MAAH)Boston, 46 Joy St.Honoring the life and work those who propelled the abolitionist and civil rights movements forward.Read full review
Where to Eat, Stay, and Play on Cape Cod
From the Bourne Bridge to the tip top of Provincetown.
The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Boston
19 Best Restaurants in BostonLobster rolls and clam chowder barely scratch the surface.-1.jpg)
15 Best Bars in BostonA prelude to belting “Sweet Caroline” while waiting for your Uber driver.
11 Best Seafood Restaurants in BostonShucking and cracking its way to seafood immortality since 1630.
10 Best Places for Brunch in BostonA microcosm of the Boston food scene itself, these 13 inventive brunch spots go way beyond Bloody Marys and eggs Benedict.
10 Best Pizza Spots in BostonThis New England city has pies that can compete.
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Editor Restaurant & Bar Recommendations
La Padrona$$ | USA, Boston, 38 Trinity PlaceThe debonair Boston dining space the city has been missing—wrapped up in the most exciting new hotel on the scene, no less.
Mooncusser$$$ | United States, Boston, 304 Stuart StreetModern, disciplined, and unapologetically flavorful seafood
Brassica$$ | United States, Boston, 3710 Washington StreetA star-chef-led neighborhood institution worth venturing out to, whether it's for brunch or dinner
Comfort Kitchen$$ | United States, Boston, 611 Columbia RoadA challenge to everything you think you know about Boston—in the best way
Tonino$$ | United States, Boston, 669a Centre StreetPillowy handmade pastas and pizza, plus a smattering of aperitivo and natural wines in a cozy-sleek neighborhood joint
Dovetail Restaurant & Shop$$ | United States, Boston, 1 6th StreetA neighborhood mainstay that's a favorite with locals
Field & Vine$$ | United States, Somerville, 9 Sanborn CourtSeasonality and sustainability take center stage..png)
Desnuda Cocina & Bar$$$ | United States, Boston, 647 Tremont StreetBoston's "oh, this old place?" sleeper hit
The Red Fox$$$ | United States, Boston, 326 Commercial StreetA subterranean shake-up to the North End
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13 Best Things to Do in New England in the Fall
Foliage makes a fabulous backdrop for hiking and witch-storied towns, from Salem to Maine.
More from Boston
Destinations
10 Best Winter Activities in Boston, From Curling to Rooftop Happy Hour in Igloos
From soul-warming mugs of cocoa to wood-fired saunas, Boston has no shortage of seasonal delights.
Destinations
11 Boston Seafood Restaurants to Bookmark for Winter
The city’s chefs reach peak creativity in winter, giving the city’s famed lobster rolls and fried clams a welcome rest.
Destinations
Boston’s Wellness Scene Is Finding Its Core
This winter, Boston’s wellness scene offers a dreamy opportunity to hibernate.
Destinations
Boston's Nightlife Scene Is Finally Up Past Bedtime
With support from the City and a groundswell of energy, The Hub is slowly, surely shedding its Puritan roots.
Destinations
How Boston’s Revolutionary Spirit Is Writing Its Next Chapter
Sarah Khan returns to her hometown to meet the artists, entrepreneurs, and dynamic young mayor changing the city.
Destinations
Where to Watch Boston's July 4th Fireworks Tonight
Nobody celebrates the fourth like Boston.
Destinations
7 Best Beaches in and Around Boston, According to a Local
All the best beaches for when you need a seaside sojourn in (or just beyond) The Hub.
Places to Stay
The Best Airbnbs in Boston
Including a North End apartment built over Paul Revere’s bell foundry.
Places to Stay
My Favorite Airbnb: A Boston Yacht Named Carpe Diem
A stay where you won't mind hitting the deck.
Destinations
A Runner's Guide to Boston for the Marathon and Beyond
The trails, run clubs, route-adjacent hotels and spas, and pasta dinners to know for the event and well beyond marathon weekend.
Destinations
Where to Celebrate the Boston Pride Parade This Year
This year marks the city’s first Pride parade since 2019—here are the best block parties, drag shows, and fundraisers to check out.
Destinations
These Boston Bars Are Reinventing the City's Drinks Scene
Despite some seriously outdated liquor laws, now may be the best time yet to imbibe in Boston.
Places to Stay
My Favorite Airbnb: A Downtown Boston Loft With Unbelievable Natural Light
It was the perfect place for two to explore everything Boston has to offer.
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Destinations
Where to Watch the July 4 Fireworks in Boston
From the iconic Boston Pops Spectacular to a rented kayak on the Charles.
Destinations
Where to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks in Boston
From glitzy rooftops to self-guided canoes.
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Yellowstone National Park at 150Wonderland: The early nickname of America’s first national park is as apt today as when Yellowstone was founded, in March of 1872. On its sesquicentennial, we celebrate this miraculous place—while exploring a history that has too often excluded its original stewards—and consider how to ensure its survival for generations to come.
San Francisco Travel GuideDon't forget to pack an extra layer
Dallas Travel GuideHard to crack. Easy to love.
Washington, D.C. Travel GuideIt all starts at the Capitol.
Seattle Travel GuideOysters and craft beer so good you won’t notice it’s drizzling
Savannah Travel GuideFamous for its ghosts, but plenty full of life
Portland, Oregon Travel GuideBeverly Cleary, Matt Groening, and James Beard are all from here. Enough said.
