Boston Travel Guide & Neighborhood Attractions

Boston, as any schoolchild can tell you, is where the Boston Tea Party occurred and the seeds of the American Revolution were planted, but not everyone knows the country’s first subway system was built here, as was the nation’s first free library. Boston is thick with historical sites, from the Paul Revere House to the Old North Church, but it is not a city stuck in the past, though it does honor its history. A happy juxtaposition of old and new live happily together, as do the permanent residents and the thousands of students who flock here to attend the numerous colleges and universities in the area. [Read our Boston College Visit Guide.]

In addition to the historical, there are plenty of things to see in Boston, from successful sports organizations—the Red Sox, Bruins and Patriots—to the world class art found at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Institute of Contemporary Art (to name just two museums) to all of its rich history, Boston never fails to offer more than can be done in just one visit. Here’s a Boston guide to help you make the most of any trip.

Getting Oriented and Getting Around

The main Boston neighborhoods—Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Downtown, the Seaport District, Fenway, the North End and the South End—are very accessible to each other. Each has a distinct character, but there is no real demarcation line between any of them. In the middle of all these neighborhoods are Boston Common and the Public Garden, two of the city’s best public spaces, separated only by Charles Street.

 

• Boats sail on Boston’s Charles River.

Courtesy of the Greater Boston CVB

The streets downtown, rather than following any logical order, instead follow the old routes of days long past. The one-way streets, dead-ends and random turns make sense only if you’re on foot. For drivers, they are just a hassle. Take public transportation whenever you can to save yourself a bunch of frustration. A little farther afield, but still accessible by the subway, are the Fenway, Charlestown, Brookline, Jamaica Plain and Dorchester neighborhoods. Across the Charles River are Cambridge and Harvard Square, also easily accessed by subway. [More on these sites on page 3.]

Boston Transportation

When visiting Boston, by far the best way to get around town, other than your own two feet, is “The T,” short for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The T is America’s oldest subway line and the fourth largest in the country. It goes almost everywhere you’ll want to go. There are four main subway lines that go downtown and out to various neighborhoods. When people talk about the T, they usually are referring to the train service, but the MBTA also runs buses, boats and commuter trains. Riding the T can be a little confusing for newcomers. If you remember that “inbound” trains head toward the Park Street Station (the heart of the city) and “outbound” trains head away from Park Street, you should be OK. [Read more about T service in our 5 Free Boston Attractions article.]

When to Visit

Boston attractions occur throughout the year and every season has its charms—spring brings the Boston Marathon and the Red Sox; summer holds the Boston Pops and the Fourth of July celebrations; fall has legendary New England foliage; and winter offers many celebrations, from holiday shows to ice skating to the country’s original First Night on New Year’s Eve. All just a few reasons to visit Boston.  

 

• The T is one of the busiest subway systems in the United States.

Helga’s Lobster Stew

For additional Boston travel-planning information, read these related articles:
Best Boston Restaurants—Classic and New
Top 10 Boston Pubs: Cheers!
Boston’s Best New and Newly Renovated Hotels
Best Boston Museums and Institutions
Following Boston’s Freedom Trail
5 Free Boston Attractions
College Visit Guide: Boston

Next: Boston’s Neighborhoods