Where to Stay in Boston

Our Favorite Hotels in Boston

• Five-star hotel: Harbor Hotel
• 4-Luxury Hotel: Lenox
• 3-star hotel: Aloft
• For couples: The Eliot
• ・ For families: Marriott Long Wharf ( Link).

The Best Areas to Stay in Boston

• Best Boston Inns
• Best Boston Lodgings for Families
• Boston Accommodation Map

Boston overlooks the busy Boston Harbor and extends westward along the south bank of the River Charles. It’s a collection of interconnected commercial and residential districts, most with their own unique character, history, attractions and appeal. The layout of the city is not entirely intuitive, but each neighborhood has its own logical organization usually dictated by the trustworthy presence of water, whether the river or harbor.

The city`s most visited area focuses around Boston Common and Faneuil Hall, housing numerous historical sights and waterfront attractions. Though, key historic sites are spread all through the city. The top museums and universities are farther away from downtown, in various neighborhoods like the Fenway, the Seaport District, and across the river in Cambridge. Therefore, there isn`t one single “best” place to lodge, but rather many excellent options.”

The West End and the North End occupy the northern tip of Boston, surrounded on three sides by waterways. The North End is one of the oldest and most atmospheric sections of the city, its narrow roads packed with row homes, history, and hearty Italian restaurants, but there are not many lodging options available. The West End was similarly a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, but it was demolished in the name of urban renewal in the 1950s. Nowadays there are few reasons to visit the West End, although it can provide an affordable and convenient place to rest for the night.

Further south, at the heart of the city is Boston Common, flanked on one side by Beacon Hill and on the other by Downtown and the Financial District. With the river at its back entrance, Beacon Hill is a renowned residential neighborhood with unrivaled charm, fabulous shopping venues, and a few luxurious hotels. Downtown contains the city’s most significant concentration of historic sites and numerous high-end hotels. Attractions such as Faneuil Hall, the Freedom Trail, and the Boston Waterfront make this a popular area for lodging.

From here, the city spreads southward and westward. Along the Charles, the Back Bay area has an orderly grid format that ends at Kenmore Square, while the Fenway rests in between the Fenway baseball park and greenway even further west. To the south, the Seaport District is a hotbed of trendy dining and unceasing development – most offering views of the harbor and beyond. Boston’s outer reaches – such as Allston/Brighton, Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, and South Boston – are generally residential areas, each with its own central plaza and neighborhood personality, but little reason for short-term guests to remain there.

Meanwhile, the neighboring city of Cambridge stretches along the northern shore of the Charles River. Centered around two prestigious academic institutions – Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – the smaller urban area possesses its own culture and attractions as well as easy access into Boston.

With an excessive number of one-way roads and inadequate parking, driving in Boston could be frustrating for unfamiliar motorists. Thankfully, it is a compact city suited for exploration on foot. It is also conveniently connected by subway (referred to as the T locally), so driving is never obligatory and rarely practical. Energetic individuals can also get around using Blue Bikes, the city`s bike-share program.

The Best Places to Stay in Boston

• Best Luxury Hotels
  Harbor Hotel – Four Seasons – Mandarin Oriental – Omni Parker House
• Best Hotels for Families
  Marriott Long Wharf • Four Seasons • Hyatt Regency
• Best Boutique Hotels
  The Eliot • Lenox • Commonwealth
• Best Midrange Hotels
  Kimpton Marlowe • Harborside Inn • Aloft Seaport District
• Best Budget Hotels
  Youth hostel in Boston • Lodging near Harvard

Best Neighborhoods in Boston for…

• Most Authentic Neighborhood in Boston for History & Exploration: Downtown and Waterfront
  Boston has a modern, busy, workaday Downtown area, but this business district is also filled with colonial architecture, revolutionary sites, and monuments of the new American nation. The Freedom Trail is a 2.4 mile walking route that connects 16 historic places, starting at the city’s central park (the Boston Common) and winding through the Downtown neighborhood and beyond. Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market comprise a tourist core, with shopping and dining options as well as an information center run by the National Park Service. And the nearby Boston Harbor Waterfront is a hive of activity such as boat tours, whale watching excursions, and the New England Aquarium.

Best Neighborhoods in Boston for Dining: South End, North End, Downtown, Chinatown, Seaport District
The choice of the single best Boston neighborhood for dining is no simple matter considering each area has its own strengths. The city`s Italian community displays their culinary talents prominently in the North End. An assortment of Asian delights like dim sum and dumplings fill menus in Chinatown. Downtown is home to two bi-weekly outdoor food emporiums – the long-running wholesale Haymarket and the seasonal Greenway Farmers` Market – as well as the (indoor) locally-sourced Boston Public Market. Across the channel, the Seaport District was once at the core of the city`s fishing trade and seafood remains a draw, alongside numerous trendy, new dining selections. However, there is one neighborhood that provides hungry visitors with all of this and more. In the South End, the roads are lined with old-fashioned diners, new-wave sandwich outlets, pizzerias, noodle houses, French brasseries, Italian enoteche, veggie havens, oyster parlors, tapas bars, cocktail bars, brunch hotspots, and coffee shops. An abundance of coffee shops. Not to mention the SoWa Open Market (Sundays, May through October), which is the city`s longest-running outdoor arts exhibition. In addition to local artisans marketing their goods, the market features food trucks, a farmers` market, and a beer garden, so it`s a true celebration of local art, food, and drink

• Great Neighborhoods in Boston for Nightlife: Kenmore Square, Allston/Brighton

  Situated in the heart of Shuzenji, a popular weekend retreat from Tokyo known for its hot springs on the Izu Peninsula, this inn first opened in 1872 and has since welcomed many famous Japanese artists, writers and kabuki performers. Its 15 culturally significant structures, centered around a scenic pond fed by a river, include the majestic main building, a picturesque wooden bridge connecting to rooms, and a century-old hot springs bathhouse. Its 30 rooms are dispersed amongst several aging wooden structures primarily dating from 1899 to 1935, with the finest accommodations overlooking the pond and Katsura River (not all rooms contain private bathing facilities). Traditional kaiseki meals which change monthly are served privately in each room. Multiple options exist for enjoying the hot springs, like a rocky outdoor bath enclosed by boulders.

• Best Area in Boston for Initial Visitors: Downtown and the Waterfront
  The downtown area of Boston is largely oriented towards tourists, providing an excellent starting point for initial visitors to discover the city. Boston Common serves as the historical center and transportation hub, where the Freedom Trail also begins its route. Spots like Faneuil Hall, the Rose Kennedy Greenway and other highlights fill the neighborhood. Further experience of surrounding spots like restaurants in the North End, boutiques on Beacon Hill, waterfront dining in the Seaport District or boulevards of the Back Bay are conveniently accessed near downtown. The North End neighborhood of the Waterfront is home to Boston Harbor featuring spots like the Boston HarborWalk, New England Aquarium, and Boston Tea Party Ships. Exquisite dining in a charming setting is within short walking distance in Little Italy, another North End neighborhood. Our preferred hotel for initial visits is the wonderfully central Harbor Hotel
• Most Romantic Neighborhood in Boston: Beacon Hill
  There is something about the flower-adorned window boxes and gas lighting on Beacon Hill that lend an irresistible air of romance to this neighborhood. It consists primarily of homes, with narrow streets lined with red brick sidewalks and Federal-style row houses. As such, lodging options are limited, though the few available are delightful. Charles Street invites casual browsing at antique shops and unique boutiques or stopping to refresh at a quaint cafe or intimate restaurant. The street terminates at the lovely, blossoming Public Garden, always available for a romantic stroll. Without question, Beacon Hill is for lovers.
• Best Neighborhood in Boston for Families: Downtown and the Waterfront
  Downtown and the Waterfront are best jumping-off points for Boston’s most fun family attractions, which include the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the New England Aquarium, the Boston Harbor Islands, the Children’s Museum, and the Boston Tea Party Ships, as well as the obligatory history lesson on the Freedom Trail. Downtown is good for families for other reasons, too. The Boston Common or the Rose Kennedy Greenway offer plenty of room for kids to run, while fast and affordable dining spots are plentiful at Quincy Market and environs. If families want to move around the city, they can hop on the T; kids under 12 ride for free. And, there are loads of hotels in the area. For a lower-key stay, head to the Waterfront in the North End, the oldest neighborhood in Boston and home to the Boston Harbor, HarborWalk, Greenway Carousel, plus kid-pleasing food in nearby Little Italy and beautiful views over the Massachussets Bay.



• Premier neighborhood in Boston for visiting shops: Back Bay
  Back Bay is Boston’s famous, Parisian-style locality, defined by the gracious brownstones on Commonwealth Avenue and the iconic structure on Copley Square. Here, also, is Boston’s best-known shopping strip, Newbury Street, long a symbol of fine art and high fashion, thanks to its many galleries and boutiques. Nowadays, most of the shops on Newbury are high-end national (and international) chains; but there are still some local gems, and even a few of the original Boston icons, such as Newbury Comics. One block over, there are two massive shopping centers on Boylston Street – Copley Place and the Shops at Prudential Center – guaranteed to make a dent in the wallet.
• Best Neighborhood in Boston Without a Car (for walking): Downtown
  Those visiting Boston without use of a private vehicle can comfortably live in any of the city`s central neighborhoods with minimal hassle. Actually, having a car might likely add problems, as parking is costly and operating an automobile is daunting. Unlike numerous American cities, Boston is compact and its abundant green spaces make strolling pleasing. For more extended routes, it`s simple to get around using the cost-effective and user-friendly subway (known locally as the “T”). All the central neighborhoods listed here provide inviting walking paths and convenient subway stations. That stated, Downtown is probably best for non-drivers, as it is the most centrally situated neighborhood with the most tourist attractions and the most subway stations. Downtown and neighboring walking routes involve the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the HarborWalk, the Emerald Necklace (a network of green spaces that winds westward through the city), and the Charles River Esplanade (a park that runs along the river)

The Best Neighborhoods in Boston for Tourists

1. Downtown

Downtown Boston serves as the city`s core for business while also attracting tourists to destinations along the Freedom Trail and Boston Harbor. This area has convenient public transportation through multiple subway stations allowing visitors to explore other districts. It also contains a diversity of dining establishments and lodging options, making it the preferred neighborhood for staying in Boston.

• Highest rated hotels:Omni Parker House – The Langham – Godfrey Hotel – AKA Boston Common
• Best Midrange/Affordable Hotel:HI Boston

2. North End and Waterfront

Boston`s earliest settled neighborhood (since the 1600s), the North End is bordered by I-93 to the southwest and by the sea in all other directions. This part of Boston is home to some of the city`s most significant historical sites, such as the Old North Church (famous for signaling “one if by land, and two if by sea”) and the Paul Revere House, as well as exceptional dining and charming streets in Little Italy. East of Little Italy in the North End, the Waterfront neighborhood offers beautiful views of Massachusetts Bay, luxury accommodations, and family-friendly attractions including the New England Aquarium and the Boston Tea Party Museum, linked together by the HarborWalk trail.

• Best Locations to Stay:Harbor Hotel • InterContinental • Marriott Long Wharf
• Recommended Mid-Range/Inexpensive Hotel:Harborside Inn

3. Seaport District

Just over a decade ago, the Seaport District was a large area filled with parking spaces surrounding the city`s working fishing docks. Then someone realized this stretch of waterfront provided amazing views of the harbor and skyline… and the rest is history. Nowadays the Seaport is crammed with hotels and eateries catering to business travelers from the nearby convention center. Visitors also value the setting, the waterside parks, and the proximity to downtown Boston (and South Station train station for Amtrak). There are also a couple attractions directly in the Seaport District, like the ICA Boston and the excellent Children’s Museum.

• Highly rated accommodations:A luxury establishment. • A waterfront hotel.
• Top Budget/Moderate Hotel:Aloft Boston Seaport District

4. Back Bay

If you’re seeking the best value in Zion, you’ll need to examine a bit farther out. Both the Best Western PLUS and Holiday Inn Express (I remained there with my relatives years ago on a summer road adventure) are wonderful alternatives with nice enough rooms at a sensible cost. Plus, the Springdale Shuttle stops just outside both of them, making it effortless to get into the park.

• Top-rated Hotels:Mandarin Oriental • Eliot Hotel • Fairmont Copley Plaza • Four Seasons

Recommended mid-priced or inexpensive lodging includes the Newbury Guest House and the Sheraton Boston Hotel

5. West End

The West End area is dominated by government and medical facilities, which doesn`t necessarily make it the most appealing place to lodge. That being said, the cost is reasonable. A handful of hotels offer exceptional quality and value, not to mention convenient access to TD Garden (for sporting events or concerts) and North Station (for transportation). A small selection of restaurants, nightclubs, and sports bars help to keep things lively at night. Best of all, it’s merely a brief walk to the North End and Downtown districts.

• Best Hotels:The Boxer, Onyx Downtown
• Best Midrange/Inexpensive Hotel:Indigo Hotel – citizenM North Station

6. Beacon Hill

Delightful Beacon Hill is a favorite destination for tourists (though hotel selections are limited) for its narrow roads and stately homes, conveying 19th-century Brahmin Boston at its finest. The boutique-lined commercial strip, Charles Street, offers enough dining and shopping options. All of the attractions of Downtown are nearby, but the skyscrapers, traffic, and crowds are worlds away. Visitors may be astonished to learn the neighborhood’s intriguing ultra-local history: before the Civil War, Beacon Hill was home to a thriving community of free blacks and a base for an active abolitionist movement; learn more on the Black Heritage Trail which runs through the neighborhood).

• Best Hotels:The Liberty, Whitney

7. South End

Trendy, artsy, and eclectic, the South End is well away from the tourist track. That’s partly because it contains no traditional tourist attractions. But what the South End lacks in historic sights and museums, it makes up for with diverse restaurants and a vibrant art scene. SoWa is the city’s most active art district, hosting dozens of galleries, a monthly open studios event ( First Fridays), and a seasonal outdoor artists’ market. Unfortunately, there is only one T stop serving this expansive neighborhood, so travelers should be prepared to do plenty of walking.

6. Four Seasons Bangkok


It was along Fremont Street where the most lavish Vegas hotels and casinos first made their appearance. After attention shifted to the Strip, the city created the Fremont Street Experience to revive tourism in this historical district.