The Open Road Travel

As a city with one of the most unique cultures in the entire United States, working out the best areas to stay in Boston is imperative if you want your trip to be a success. Unfortunately, that may not be as straightforward as it would be in some other, smaller cities.

From historic neighbourhoods to waterfront districts and areas filled with sporting and entertainment activities, Boston has something to offer for everyone. That means every person will have their own personal best place to stay, based on what they want to do when they visit Boston.

That is why we wanted to try and give you a hand. We are going to outline the very best areas the city has to offer, along with detailing what makes each so great. This should allow you to plan your dream travel itinerary and know where to stay in Boston, based on your own wants and needs.

Boston is the capital and most populous city in both the state of Massachusetts and the New England region as a whole, as well as the 24th most populous in the entire United States.

Having been established in 1630, it is also the 6th oldest city in the state and among the oldest in the nation. Originally established due to its strategic port location, it remains one of the most active ports in the United States to this day.

It is also renowned for its iconic higher education establishments, as well as its engineering, law, and medicine industries and business and entrepreneurial initiatives.

One of the most important cities in the United States War For Independence, it is a popular hotspot for history buffs.

Similarly, it is a common destination for sports fans, as it is home to some of the most successful sports teams in U.S. history, while also hosting the legendary Boston Marathon.

The best time to visit Boston is from late April to the end of October, thanks to both the weather and the events that the city enjoys during this period each year.

It encompasses the driest, warmest stretch the city sees each year, which runs from late May to the end of September. Also the only time when you are guaranteed it won’t snow in Boston, this period ensures you can enjoy all of the attractions, without having to worry about keeping warm or dry.

At the end of April, the city also hosts the legendary Boston Marathon, making it the only time to visit for those wanting to attend the legendary event.

Likewise, at the end of October you will be able to enjoy the festivities held just 17 miles (27 km) away in Salem, which is considered the best place to spend Halloween in the United States.

As we move on to our list of the best areas to stay in Boston, I am now going to suggest a few options. Each will be ideal for some of the most common needs people have when travelling to Boston and they will all try to keep you walking distance from some of the city’s top attractions.

Downtown Boston is the heart of the city and is simply bursting with things to do and see during your visit, all within walking distance. This makes it easily the best place to stay in Boston without a car and for first time visitors.

With attractions, bars, hotels, restaurants, and shops all located just a short walk from each other, Downtown Boston is equally ideal whether you want to go exploring or spend a relaxing vacation enjoying all of the luxuries that are on offer.

As far as unique attractions in Downtown Boston go, there may be nowhere that can compare to its historic Waterfront neighbourhood.

The reason for this is that it is the site of the Boston Tea Party, a protest in Boston Harbor on the 13th of December 1773 that kickstarted the American Revolution.

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum houses artefacts and exhibits detailing both the protest and the war itself, in a location where some of its most prominent events occurred.

This makes it an ideal destination for anyone interested in Boston history or the United States War Of Independence.

The Waterfront district is also where you’ll find a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) stretch of interconnected parks known as the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. With wide open green spaces, features like a carousel, and a rotating collection of fine art, it is ideal for lovers of both art and the great outdoors.

Further inland in Downtown Boston, you have the legendary Faneuil Hall marketplace and meeting hall. Opened by Samuel Adams in 1743, Faneuil Hall is a part of Boston National Historical Park and is considered among the most important and iconic buildings in the entire United States.

The building now hosts the extremely popular Quincy Market, while it and the surrounding plaza and historic markers have been designated a United States National Historic Landmark since October 1960 and listed on the U.S. National Register Of Historic Places since October 1966.

You also have other historic attractions in this area, like Boston City Hall and the surrounding Boston Centre Plaza, which is where the sitting Mayor Of Boston has worked since it opened in 1968.

With everything considered, Downtown Boston is perfect for those who want to see a little bit of everything that the city has to offer and is the best place to stay in Boston for anyone who can’t decide on a perfect destination to stay for them.

Stay In Downtown Boston If:

• You want everything within walking distance
• You are interested in the Boston Tea Party or U.S. Independence
• You want to visit Boston City Hall or Faneuil Hall
• You want to explore the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway
• You don’t plan to rent a car
• This is your first time visiting Boston
  

The Boston Harbor Hotel is a stunning, 5-star hotel on Rowes Wharf, in Downtown Boston’s Waterfront neighbourhood. An award winning property, it offers luxury, style, stunning views of the water, and convenient access to some of the city’s top attractions.

Each of the lavish rooms features stylish, comfortable furniture, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi, as well as amenities like a Smart TV with Bluetooth audio streaming, Illy coffee machine, and personalised mini bar. Some will offer views of the water, while deluxe rooms include a spacious seating area.

The property also boasts an award winning restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while also offering room service. A modern gym, swimming pool, bar, concierge service, gift shop, and private parking are all also available at this fabulous, pet friendly hotel.

Located directly to the west of Downtown Boston, on the banks of the Charles River, Back Bay is easily one of the most popular Boston neighbourhoods. It features plenty of attractions of its own and easy access back to Downtown Boston, while offering a slightly more relaxed experience.

Perhaps the most popular area in Back Bay is Copley Square. Filled with sculptures and green spaces, while surrounded by buildings boasting stunning architecture and filled with history and things to do, Copley Square perfectly combines both relaxation and entertainment.

Among the most prominent buildings surrounding Copley Square you have the Boston Public Library. First opened in 1895, the Boston Public Library was declared a “palace for the people”. It boasts an arcaded courtyard, is filled with beautiful decorations, and regularly displays stunning works of art.

Then there is the tallest skyscraper in New England, the John Hancock Tower. Although its observation deck has long been closed, its design and construction are true marvels to behold, and it gives a clear demonstration of how the architecture is Boston has evolved through the years.

You even have the Hynes Convention Center just a short walk away. A building that hosts many of Boston’s biggest conventions and events, Back Bay is the best place to stay in Boston if you plan to attend an event here or enjoy more than one of the city’s top events during your stay.

Beyond its establishments, Back bay also plays a vital role in one of Boston’s biggest annual events. This is because it’s the site of the finish line of the legendary Boston Marathon, a world-famous 26 mile (41.8 km) race from Hopkinton to Back Bay that passes just south of Commonwealth Avenue.

This makes Back Bay the best place to stay in Boston for anyone who wants to see the culmination of the race or simply enjoy the many festivities that go along with the event while visiting Boston.

Back Bay is even ideal if you are looking for a more relaxed vacation, as it is one of the best areas in the city for shopping. As perhaps the top shopping street in the city, many will head to Newbury Street and its various cafés, restaurants, and stores to get their shopping fix during a stay in Boston.

Just a short walk from Newbury Street, you also have a pair of shopping malls, Prudential Center and Copley Place, which are interconnected by a skybridge. Between them they boast 155 stores, plus hotels, offices and eateries. This makes Back Bay easily the best place to stay in Boston for shopping.

All of these events and attractions within walking distance of one another, combined with the river views, relaxed pace, and more space also make Back Bay the best place to stay in Boston with family or children, as you can keep them entertained and active, without dragging them all over the city.

Stay In Back Bay If:

• You are travelling with family or children
• You are coming to see the Boston Marathon
• You are attending an event at the Hynes Convention Center
• You like to go shopping while on vacation
• You want to stay near Downtown Boston but not actually in it
• You like river views and a more relaxed pace
  

The Fairmont Copley Plaza is a wonderful, 5-star hotel situated directly opposite Copley Square and located in a historic building built in 1912. From its stunning architecture to its exquisite décor, it offers guests the height of style and sophistication during their stay in Boston.

Among its features are a business centre boasting computer kiosks and high speed internet, a fitness centre filled with modern equipment, and a bar, concierge service, restaurant, and tour desk. Private parking is also available for all guests.

The rooms are equally beautiful and include high end furniture and facilities like a flat screen TV, minibar, and access to room service. Many also offer incredible views, while Wi-Fi is available throughout this pet friendly hotel.

Fenway-Kenmore is a collection of smaller, interconnected Boston neighbourhoods in the west side of the city, next to Back Bay and the Charles River. Despite its various attractions, Fenway-Kenmore is a neighbourhood best known as the location of Fenway Park.

A 37,000 seater outdoor baseball stadium, Fenway Park is primarily the home of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox. That said, it does also hold events like American football, boxing, concerts, extreme sports, soccer, and various other events from time to time.

This makes Fenway-Kenmore the best area to stay in Boston for sports fans going to a game or those attending another event at the stadium.

Kenmore Square and its sports bars, restaurants, and iconic Citgo sign are also within walking distance, which is ideal for sports fans and normal tourists alike.

Speaking of which, there are plenty of attractions in Fenway-Kenmore to appeal to non-sports fans as well.

For starters, you have Symphony Hall. The home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the 2nd oldest of the “Big Five” U.S. symphony orchestras, it is the place to go for some highbrow evening entertainment during your stay in Boston.

Fenway-Kenmore is also where you will find Boston University. With nearly 34,000 students studying many subjects, it is the best place to stay in Boston if you are visiting a student, thinking of studying here yourself, or simply enjoy the bohemian atmosphere often found in student dominated areas.

Harvard Square, the location of the legendary Harvard University, is also located just across the river.

The large student population and location slightly further from the city centre also make it one of the best areas to stay in Boston on a budget, without being completely cut off, as there are plenty of more affordable establishments like bars, restaurants, shops, and hotels to be found here.

Stay In Fenway – Kenmore If:

• You are attending a game or event at Fenway Park
• You are visiting a student at Boston University or Harvard University
• You are travelling on a budget but don’t want to be completely cut off
• You want to see a performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Boston Hotel Commonwealth is a fantastic, 5-star hotel located 200 yards from Kenmore Square, 250 yards from Fenway Park, and 900 yards from Boston University. This makes it perfect to offer maximum style and comfort, as well as easy access to all of the neighbourhood’s top attractions.

The rooms are all traditionally styled and boast spacious seating areas and comfortable furniture, as well as views of iconic Boston landmarks and amenities like a refrigerator, 32 inch flat screen Smart TV, and Wi-Fi. In room spa services are even available for an additional fee.

The pet friendly property also boasts a bar, gourmet restaurant, and an oyster bar, as well as a 24 hour fitness centre and access to private parking.

Boston North End is found sandwiched between Downtown Boston and the north section of Boston Harbor.

Centred around Blackstone Block Historic District, it’s full of historic buildings and attractions that make it the best area to stay in Boston for history buffs and one of the best for tourists overall.

Perhaps the most famous historic attraction in Boston North End is Old North Church. Built in 1723 with stunning Georgian architecture, Old North Church is the oldest in Boston and is full of incredible features, like a bust of George Washington deemed to be the most accurate likeness to exist.

Another of Boston North End’s top attractions is the Paul Revere House, where the legendary 18th century American revolutionary once lived. A beautiful Georgian home, it was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1961 and added to the National Register Of Historic Places in 1966.

Having operated as a house museum since 1908, making it one of the oldest such establishments in the nation, it is a great place to learn about some of the most important events in U.S. history, just a stone’s throw from where they took place.

Beyond the historic attractions, many of the oldest, most historic buildings in the Boston North End have been converted into hotels. This makes it the best place to stay for anyone wanting to be surrounded by history throughout the duration of their trip.

Boston North End even lies on the iconic Freedom Trail, which begins in Boston Common and runs for 2.5 miles (4 km) to Charlestown, on the other side of the Charles River. With countless historic sites and buildings along its length, it is an ideal walk for any history buffs to take.

It is a great way for those who stay in Boston North End to go to Charlestown and see the sites it has to offer. Settled in 1629 as the capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, it is full of attractions like Boston National Historic Park, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the USS Constitution Monument.

A stay in Boston North End doesn’t all have to be about history either.

Nicknamed Little Italy and full of Italian American people, restaurants, and shops, it is a great way to experience their culture and cuisine, while the views of Boston Harbor and the Charles River available here are truly breathtaking.

Stay In The North End If:

• You are interested in the history of Boston or the United States
• You want to visit Charlestown
• You want to stay in a historic hotel
• You enjoy Italian culture and cuisine
• You appreciate waterfront views
  

Battery Wharf Hotel Boston Waterfront is a beautiful, 4-star hotel that is perfectly located to offer stunning views of Boston Harbor. It also offers a private water taxi to Boston Logan International Airport, giving you the chance to arrive at your accommodation in a uniquely stylish fashion.

Rooms are all designed with a contemporary style and include luxuries like a 42 inch flat screen TV, Nespresso coffee machine, hardwood desk, and a bathroom with walk in shower, vanity mirror, and plush bathrobes.

The property also features a bar, 24 hour gym, spa and wellness centre, and an ATM. The whole property is pet friendly and covered by free Wi-Fi, and all guests will be offered private parking.

Boston is a truly wonderful city that is bursting with unique attractions and its own rich, diverse culture. Our guide will hopefully have helped you to outline the best areas to stay in Boston to ensure you have a perfect vacation when you visit.

From natural and historic locations to sporting and entertainment events, you should now be able to plan a dream travel itinerary and know where to stay in Boston, based on your own wants and needs.

All that’s left to do now then is start to get everything booked, so you can begin looking forward to when you can visit Boston and experience it all for yourself.