Planning a trip to Boston and looking for the best neighborhoods to stay in? As a lifelong local, I know the city inside and out and am here to guide you through the top spots to spend your trip. This guide covers the best area to stay in Boston depending on your travel goals and style.
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The Best Area to Stay in Boston: 7 Top Neighborhoods
For a first-time visitor, anywhere close to Boston’s Downtown district is ideal. Boston is very walkable in the greater Downtown area, with major landmarks within a 30-minute walk from one another. Boston’s iconic landmarks and activities include the historic Freedom Trail, shopping on Newbury Street, and the picturesque Beacon Hill. Listed below is a quick overview of the top options for the best area to stay in Boston:
- Back Bay (Best for first-time visitors, and those who love shopping)
- Downtown Crossing (Best for tourist attractions and business trips)
- Beacon Hill (Best area to stay in Boston for a laid-back atmosphere)
- Seaport (Best area to stay for Waterfront views)
- North End (Best area to stay in Boston for history buffs and Italian food lovers)
- Fenway (Best area to stay in Boston for a game)
Best Area to Stay in Boston Overall: Back Bay
Back Bay is easily one of my favorite neighborhoods in Boston, and is absolutely where you should stay if it is your first time in Boston. This is where I spend most of my time as a local! Back Bay is Boston’s hub for shopping, trendy restaurants, and other activities. Newbury Street is an outdoor shopping street spanning eight blocks with 200+ boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. Stores range from affordable chains to high-end fashion.
Back Bay is also home to the indoor connected malls, Prudential Center, and Copley Place. Here you can find luxury shopping stores, the Italian food court and grocery store, Eataly, and the popular skydeck attraction, ViewBoston.
What I really love about the Back Bay neighborhood is the abundance of stylish brownstones and greenery. Just one street over from Newbury Street is Commonwealth Avenue. The Commonwealth Avenue Mall has a popular green walkway with benches on either side. I enjoy picking up lunch, sitting on a bench, and people-watching.
My favorite green space near Back Bay is the Charles River Esplanade. The Esplanade is a 3.1-mile park and walkway along the Charles River that separates Boston from its neighboring city, Cambridge. It’s my favorite spot to picnic and is the perfect Boston summer activity. Other green spaces are the Boston Common and the Public Garden.
The Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library are in the heart of Back Bay. The library is completely free to enter, and the inside is beautiful! The Trinity Church is in the heart of the newly renovated Copley Square.
Last, Back Bay has easy public transportation. The Green Line and Orange Line on the MBTA bring you to Fenway, Downtown, or the North End, all within 10-15 minutes.
Pros of Staying in Back Bay
- The central part of the city has excellent public transportation to other parts of the city via the MBTA.
- Plenty of shopping options, trendy restaurants, and cafes.
- Picturesque with brownstones, tree-lined streets, and well-kept greenery.
Cons of Staying in Back Bay
- It’s a busy area of Boston and can get crowded during peak season.
- It’s an expensive neighborhood, from hotel prices to restaurant options.
- Parking is limited.
Best Hotels in Back Bay
Further Reading: Best 1 Day in Boston Itinerary
Best Area to Stay in Boston for Tourist Attractions: Downtown Boston
Possibly the most centrally located neighborhood to all the action, Downtown is often considered the best area to stay in Boston for both tourists and business trips alike. The Freedom Trail starts here, a 2.5-mile-long walking path stretching from the Boston Common to Bunker Hill. Along the red-bricked marked trail are 16 historic sites that tell the story of the American Revolution.
Downtown Boston has various hubs of activity. Faneuil Hall is a tourist attraction with shops, restaurants, and the famous food hall, Quincy Market. (However, I would call it a tourist trap – eat elsewhere!) Downtown Crossing is another shopping square with stores, restaurants, and cafes. My favorite spots in Downtown Crossing are George Howell for a coffee, Democracy Brewing for a drink, and the VERSUS bar arcade.
The Theater District is down the street from Downtown Crossing and is the spot to watch a Broadway show. Popular traveling musicals and ballets can be seen at the Citizens Bank Opera House. Also nearby is Boston’s Chinatown, an Asian cultural enclave with some of the city’s best Asian restaurants, stores, and boba shops.
Further Reading: 25 Best Restaurants in Boston’s Chinatown
Downtown is characterized by a mix of skyscrapers and buildings with plenty of green space and outdoor activities. The Boston Harbor Waterfront, Boston Common, and Public Garden are all popular ones.
Lastly, Downtown has excellent nightlife options with popular clubs, bars, and speakeasies for all interests.
Pros of Staying in Downtown
- Plenty of hotels to choose from.
- Popular tourist activities like the Freedom Trail are located here.
- Easy access to public transportation via the MBTA.
- Plenty of nightlife options.
- Restaurants stay open late, especially in Chinatown.
Cons of Staying in Downtown
- While overall safe, Downtown has rougher areas with higher crime rates, especially near train stations and late at night.
- Not as “pretty” as other neighborhoods.
- It can be loud and busy.
Best Hotels in Downtown
Further Reading: 39 Totally Free Things To Do in Boston Right Now
Best Area in Boston to Stay for a Laidback Atmosphere: Beacon Hill
One of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Boston is Beacon Hill! Per its name, the area is tucked on a hill just above the Boston Common. It’s mainly residential and a quieter place to vacation, making it the best area to stay in Boston for families. The neighborhood’s buildings are brick and federal-style, dating back to the 19th century. While a quieter neighborhood, Beacon Hill has pockets of activity and is walking distance to Boston’s Downtown, North End, and Back Bay neighborhoods. It is also within a 10-minute walk to the MBTA’s Green Line, Red Line, and Blue Line.
One of the highlights of Beacon Hill is how Instagrammable it is, especially during the warmer months. The neighborhood’s most notable street is Acorn Street. It’s a small, cobblestone-lined street with gaslit lamps. It has been rumored to be the most photographed street in the United States.
Charles Street is the most “happening” street in Beacon Hill. You can find local boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and independent shops. Beacon Hill Books and Cafe is a small, picturesque bookstore. Tatte is my favorite cafe in the area with excellent pastries and brunch food. Kured is my go-to for a local charcuterie shop. Pick up one of their charcuterie sets and bring it to the Charles River for an easy picnic!
Pros of Beacon Hill
- A more residential feel that makes you feel like a local.
- Quiet and laidback vibe.
- Almost every street you turn onto is beautiful with its charming brownstones and cobblestone streets.
- Safe neighborhood.
Cons of Beacon Hill
- Limited hotel options.
- It can be boring to people who want more happening in the neighborhood.
- Parking is tough.
Best Hotels in Beacon Hill
Further Reading: 25 Best Indoor Activities in Boston for Rainy Days
Best Area to Stay in Boston for Waterfront Views & Nightlife: Seaport
Seaport, or the South Boston Waterfront, is a newly rebuilt neighborhood with a completely different atmosphere from the other Boston neighborhoods listed. It has modern skyscrapers, high-end restaurants, and is right on the Boston Waterfront. The Boston Seaport Convention Center is located in Seaport, so it’s the best area to stay in Boston if you’re attending a conference there.
One of my favorite parts of Seaport is the Boston Harborwalk, a stretch of walkway along the waterfront. Along the Harbor Walk, you can visit Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art, a modern art museum.
Other museums in Seaport include the iconic Boston Tea Party Museum and the Boston Children’s Museum.
The MBTA’s Silver Line runs through Seaport, making it the easiest area to access the Boston Logan International Airport on this best area to stay in Boston list. However, the rest of the public transportation here is lacking, and the traffic/parking situation is typically awful unless you park at a parking lot. While it’s a beautiful neighborhood, Seaport is separated from the rest of Downtown Boston by bridges. If you plan to explore Boston primarily on foot, I would not recommend staying here.
Pros of Staying in Seaport:
- A fun, modern, and young neighborhood that is also safe.
- It’s located on the Waterfront, offering stunning views of the Boston Harbor.
- Plenty of hotels, many of which are luxury.
- Nightlife options include The Grand nightclub and bars.
- Easily accessible to the airport.
Cons of Staying in Seaport:
- Poor public transportation and street parking options.
- Feels separate from Downtown.
- A pricey neighborhood to dine and stay in.
Best Hotels in Seaport
Further Reading: 27 Fun Things To Do in Boston at Night
Best Area to Stay in Boston for History: North End
With Boston’s rich history and access to some of Boston’s best Italian food, the North End neighborhood should be at the top of your best area to stay in Boston list. It offers well-known historic sites along the Freedom Trail, including the Paul Revere House, the Paul Revere Statue, and Old North Church.
Also known as Boston’s Little Italy, the North End is abundant in Italian food. Hanover Street gets the most foot traffic with plenty of Italian restaurants, pastry shops, and cafes. Notable spots to drop into are Mike’s Pastry for a cannoli (Modern Pastry and Bova’s are two other popular options), dinner at Carmelina’s, and Caffe Vittoria for a cappuccino.
The TD Garden in the West End is within a 10-minute walk of the neighborhood. It is the place to go for a concert, a Celtics game, or a Bruins game. There is also plenty of nightlife around the area, including the nightclub Big Night Live and a string of sports bars across from the Garden.
I love that the North End is walkable and has easy transportation via the MBTA’s Green Line, Red Line, and Blue Line. However, the neighborhood is quite condensed. The streets are narrow, and most of the parking on the street is for residents only. I recommend using a parking lot for anyone driving.
Pros of Staying in the North End
- A history-rich neighborhood with historical sites open to visit.
- Located along the waterfront, perfect for walking around.
- Lively atmosphere with excellent Italian food.
- Accessible to other parts of Boston either by foot or by the Orange, Blue, or Green Line on the MBTA.
- Safe neighborhood.
Cons of Staying in the North End
- The streets are cramped together, and there is virtually no parking.
- Especially on restaurant or residential trash days, litter increases, and rodents may pop up!
- It’s a popular tourist destination and gets VERY crowded, especially in the summer.
Best Hotels in the North End
- Battery Wharf Hotel, Boston Waterfront
- Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station
- CitizenM Boston North Station Hotel
Best Area to Stay in Boston for a Game: Fenway
First and foremost, the Fenway-Kenmore area is the best area to stay in Boston for those who have a short time in the city and are planning to catch a baseball game at Fenway Park.
The lively neighborhood has plenty of bars on Lansdowne Street just outside Fenway Park. Fenway is surrounded by universities, including Boston University, Northeastern University, Simmons University, and Emmanuel, so you can expect it to be bustling with college students between Fall and early Spring.
I particularly enjoy Fenway for the laid-back vibe, access to diverse food on Peterborough Street, and proximity to popular museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
I love the neighborhood for its accessibility to Back Bay and Newbury Street, about a 15-minute walk or 2 stops on the Green Line MBTA.
Further Reading: Ultimate 3 Day Itinerary to Boston
Pros of Staying in Fenway
- In the neighborhood is the ideal place to watch a baseball game — Fenway Park!
- Lively, walkable area that is still close to other neighborhoods like Back Bay.
- Easy access to local universities, including Boston University, Emmanuel University, and Simmons University.
- Closer than the other Boston neighborhoods on this list to other neighborhoods like Allston (excellent Asian food!), Newton, Brighton, etc.
Cons of Staying in Fenway
- It can get loud and rowdy at night, especially during baseball games.
- Parking is difficult to find.
- Further away from Downtown, North End, and other touristy Boston neighborhoods.
Best Hotels in Fenway
Wrapping Up: Best Area to Stay in Boston
That concludes my guide to the best area to stay in Boston! Ultimately, the best area to stay in Boston depends entirely on your travel style, budget, and what you want to get out of the city. My go-to answer for this question is Back Bay, as it’s in the center of the action, safe, and has everything you need!
Other Boston articles to check out:
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