Boston
A compact, walkable harbour city where the American Revolution began, with brick streets, great universities and some of the best seafood in the country.
Quick decisions
How many days?
3 days: the Freedom Trail, Back Bay, Beacon Hill and Cambridge. 4 to 5 days: add a harbour trip, the Seaport and a day trip to Salem or Concord. 6 days or more: add Provincetown by ferry or Plymouth.
Where should I stay?
Back Bay: elegant and central. Beacon Hill: brick lanes and few hotels. Downtown and the Waterfront: handy for the Freedom Trail. Seaport: new and glassy. More in our where to stay guide.
Do I need a car?
No. Boston is small, the T covers the rest, and the streets confuse even locals. Hire one only for New England road trips, and pick it up as you leave.
Best for
History lovers: the Revolution on foot. Families: the aquarium, the swan boats and a ballgame. Seafood lovers: chowder, oysters and lobster rolls. Nightlife seekers: it goes to bed earlier than New York.
Before you go
ESTA: most visa-waiver travellers need one. Book ahead: hotels on Marathon weekend, graduation weekends and in October. Tipping: expected in restaurants, bars and taxis.
Getting around
From Logan Airport: the free Silver Line bus or a free shuttle to the Blue Line. In the city: walking and the T. Details in our getting there guide.
Continue your trip
Amtrak trains reach New York in four hours or so, a little less on the Acela, and continue to Philadelphia and Washington. Maine's coast, Cape Cod and the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire are a few hours' drive.
Overview
Boston is the rare American city you can see properly on foot. The centre is small, the streets are old and crooked rather than gridded, and within a mile of Boston Common you'll pass the church where the lanterns were hung for Paul Revere, the balcony where the Declaration of Independence was first read to the town, and a harbour where tea went into the water in 1773.
It isn't a museum piece, though. Across the river, Harvard and MIT fill Cambridge with students, the Seaport is a district of new towers, and the Red Sox still play in a ballpark from 1912. Three days covers the essentials, and four or five let you add a day trip to Salem or the coast. Start with our Boston travel guide.
Getting there
Logan Airport sits across the harbour, closer to downtown than almost any big-city airport in the country, and the Silver Line bus from the terminals into town is free. Amtrak trains from New York and Washington arrive at South Station and Back Bay. Our getting there guide covers every option.
Where to stay
Stay central and you can walk almost everywhere. Back Bay suits most first-timers, Beacon Hill has charm, and Downtown and the Waterfront put you on the Freedom Trail. Our where to stay guide compares the neighbourhoods, including Cambridge.
Things to do
The Freedom Trail comes first, and our Freedom Trail guide walks it stop by stop. Harvard and MIT are in our Cambridge guide, and the museums, the ballpark and the harbour are in our things to do list.
Food and drink
This is seafood country. Order New England clam chowder, thick and creamy, fresh oysters from the Massachusetts coast, and a lobster roll, served either cold with mayonnaise or warm with melted butter. The North End, Boston's Italian quarter, is the place for pasta and cannoli, and Boston cream pie was invented at the Parker House hotel.
Culture
Puritan settlers founded Boston in 1630, and it quickly became one of the most important towns in British North America. The Boston Massacre of 1770 and the Tea Party of 1773 pushed the colonies towards revolution, and the first battles were fought just outside the city in 1775. Later, Irish immigration shaped its politics, and its universities made it a centre of learning and medicine.
Weather by month
Boston is warmest in July, with average highs around 29°C, and coldest in February, when nights drop to about -5°C. December is the wettest month, with rain on about 11 days. For mild weather with fewer rainy days, aim for September and October.
| Month | Low | Range | High | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -5°C | 3°C | 106 mm | 10 d | |
| Feb | -5°C | 4°C | 88 mm | 10 d | |
| Mar | -2°C | 8°C | 109 mm | 12 d | |
| Apr | 4°C | 13°C | 107 mm | 12 d | |
| May | 10°C | 20°C | 79 mm | 11 d | |
| Jun | 15°C | 25°C | 87 mm | 11 d | |
| Jul | 19°C | 29°C | 110 mm | 12 d | |
| Aug | 19°C | 28°C | 74 mm | 11 d | |
| Sep | 15°C | 23°C | 109 mm | 9 d | |
| Oct | 9°C | 17°C | 119 mm | 10 d | |
| Nov | 2°C | 11°C | 84 mm | 8 d | |
| Dec | -2°C | 6°C | 120 mm | 11 d |
Averages of daily values from 2015 to 2024. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. Source: Open-Meteo · Compare destinations by month.
Boston on the map
Every place we cover in Boston. Tap a category or pin to explore.
In-depth Boston guides
Browse the guides grouped by topic: sights, neighbourhoods, food, transport, day trips and trip planning.
Sights, Landmarks & Parks
Key monuments, viewpoints, museums and nature trails.
Neighbourhoods & Where to Stay
Districts, historic quarters and the best bases for your stay.
- Freedom Trail Guide: A Walk Through Revolutionary BostonThe sixteen stops, which ones to go inside, and how long it really takes.
- Cambridge Guide: Harvard, MIT and Harvard SquareTwo great universities across the river, and how to spend a day between them.
- Where to Stay in Boston: A Neighbourhood GuideBack Bay, Beacon Hill, the Waterfront or Cambridge: which base suits your trip.
Getting Around & Arrival
Airport transfers, public transit, passes and driving rules.
Day Trips & Excursions
Easy half-day and full-day trips from the city.
Trip Planning & Itineraries
When to visit, what to pack and day-by-day routes.
- Boston: What to Know Before You GoHow the city fits together, how to get around it, and when it gets expensive.
- Best Time to Visit BostonLate spring and early autumn, and why October books up months ahead.
- What to Wear in BostonGrippy shoes for brick pavements, and layers for a city of four real seasons.
- Boston 3-Day ItineraryThree days on foot, with the Revolution, the museums and Cambridge.
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