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
- Four Seasons Hotel Boston$$$ | United States, Boston, 200 Boylston StA resplendent stay fit for Eloise herselfRead full review
- Canopy by Hilton Boston Downtown$ | United States, Boston, 99 Blackstone StreetA central location, no-fuss rooms, and a whole lot of bang for your buckRead full review
- The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston$$ | Boston, 215 Charles St.The old Charles Street jail transformed.Read full review
Readers Choice Awards - Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston$$$ | United States, Boston, 1 Dalton StreetThe 724-foot-high, 61-story One Dalton is the third-tallest skyscraper in Boston.Read full reviewReaders Choice Awards
- InterContinental Boston, an IHG Hotel$$ | United States, Boston, 510 Atlantic Ave.A picturesque waterfront option for comfort and location alike on downtown Boston's Fort Point Channel.Read full reviewReaders Choice Awards
- Boston Harbor Hotel$$ | United States, Boston, 70 Rowes WharfFive-star waterfront luxury, with wonderfully spacious roomsRead full reviewReaders Choice Awards
- Raffles Boston$$$ | US, Boston, 40 Trinity PlRaffles’ splashy North America debut hits all the right notes.Read full reviewReaders Choice Awards
- XV Beacon$$ | United States, Boston, 15 Beacon St.The vibe is sexy, but the ethos is undeniably Boston.Read full reviewReaders Choice Awards
Gold List - The Langham, Boston$$ | United States, Boston, 250 Franklin St.In the heart of the Financial District, truly opulent yet thoughtful digs.Read full reviewReaders Choice Awards
Hot List - The Colonnade Hotel$$ | United States, Boston, 120 Huntington Ave.The Colonnade has set the standard for customer service in Boston for decades—all while delivering a sense of fun.Read full reviewReaders Choice Awards
- Encore Boston Harbor$$ | United States, Everett, 1 BroadwayWynn's maximalist luxury in a Red Sox hatRead full review
- The Envoy Hotel, Autograph Collection$$ | United States, Boston, 70 Sleeper St.A new hotel defining the new Boston seaport.Read full reviewReaders Choice Awards
- The Dagny Boston$ | United States, Boston, 89 Broad StreetThis recent retrofit helps remind us that the financial district is, in fact, a desirable vantage point from which to experience Boston’s best.Read full review
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The Best Things to Do in Boston
- 12 Best Things to Do in BostonAspire to the Ivies, discover new neighborhoods, and feast like a local.
- 12 Best Museums in Boston You'll Want to VisitYou can nab a world-class education visiting these fine institutions.
- 4 Best Day Trips From BostonWhere to stay, eat, and drink—and what to do—in Provincetown, Newburyport, Salem, and Kennebunkport.
- The Best Weekend Getaways from BostonWhere to stay when you need a getaway—now.
Editor Recommendations
- CharlestownUnited States , Boston,An authentic neighborhood for history-loving travelersRead full review
- HarborwalkUnited States, Boston,This remains of the best free ways to really see Boston.Read full review
- Guerlain Spa at Raffles Boston$$$ | 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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.
- 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
- 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$$ | United States, Somerville, 9 Sanborn CourtSeasonality and sustainability take center stage.
- Desnuda Cocina & Bar$$$ | United States, Boston, 647 Tremont StreetBoston's "oh, this old place?" sleeper hit
- The Red Fox$$$ | United States, Boston, 326 Commercial StreetA subterranean shake-up to the North End
- Contessa$$$ | United States, Boston, 3 Newbury St RooftopClassic at first blush, with a few contemporary twists
- Celeste$$ | United States, Somerville, 21 Bow StThis Peruvian spot proves that Boston has an enormous appetite for global flavors.
- Amar$$$ | United States, Boston, 40 Trinity PlaceThe kind of obsessive attention to detail that a Raffles hotel demands
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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
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
Where to Watch the 4th of July Fireworks in Boston 2024
Nobody does the fourth like Boston.
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
Boston's Creative Seafood Scene Shines Brightest in Winter
Must-try restaurants are easier to get a table at, certain fish are more readily available, and famed lobster rolls and fried clams enjoy a welcome rest.
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.
News & Advice
Currently Obsessed With: The Weekend-Only Donuts at the Fairmont Copley Plaza
You need these impossibly light crullers in your life.
News & Advice
We Planned Your First Trip to Boston: Travelogue Podcast
Historical sites, the best dive bars, and (of course) the Green Monstah: We cover it all.
Places to Stay
This Boston Hotel Lets You (Literally) Walk Off Your Stay
Walk 10,000+ steps a day, pay less for your room that night.
Destinations
Beyond the Basics: Boston
A complete guide to Boston, compiled by Condé Nast Traveler editors.
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