Boston

The cradle of the American Revolution and home to Harvard and MIT, with the Freedom Trail, lobster rolls at Quincy Market and brilliant autumn foliage. A must-visit stop on any East Coast university tour.

Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England, set on the western shore of Massachusetts Bay at the mouth of the Charles River. Founded by Puritans in 1630, it is one of the oldest cities in North America. The Boston Tea Party and the first shots at Lexington and Concord both trace back to it, earning it the nickname "Cradle of the American Revolution." Across the river, Cambridge is home to two of the world's top universities, Harvard and MIT.

Visitors' main areas fall into four zones: downtown and the North End (the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Little Italy); Beacon Hill and Back Bay (Boston Common, the Public Garden, Newbury Street, Copley Square); Fenway–Kenmore (the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Fenway Park); and Cambridge across the Charles (Harvard Square, MIT). The Seaport District, with its newly built restaurants, bars and contemporary art museum, is also worth a visit.

The climate has four distinct seasons. Late September through October brings fall foliage and the most comfortable weather; June–August is warm and pleasant but lodging is at its most expensive; the Boston Marathon is held on the third Monday of April; December–March is cold and snowy, with frequent blizzards.

Getting there: Logan International Airport (BOS) lies east of downtown. The Blue Line subway or the free Silver Line SL1 bus takes about 20–30 minutes to reach the city center, and a taxi costs about US$30. There are direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, or connections via New York or Chicago. Getting around: the subway, known as the "T," has four lines (Red, Orange, Blue and Green) plus the Silver Line. A single ride costs US$2.40; pay with a CharlieCard or tap a credit card or phone. Boston is one of the most walkable cities in the US, with most major sights within a 5 km radius.

We recommend staying 3 days. Day 1: walk the Freedom Trail (about 4 km, from Boston Common to Bunker Hill), stopping at Quincy Market for a lobster roll. Day 2: Harvard in the morning, MIT in the afternoon, then photograph the skyline from the Charles River or the Cambridge riverbank at dusk. Day 3: a museum or a game at Fenway, then shopping on Newbury Street in Back Bay. If you have extra time, rent a car for a day trip north to Salem (the Witch Trials town), Rockport and Cape Ann, or in autumn drive the White Mountains scenic roads in New Hampshire for foliage.

Notes: book accommodation several months ahead for the Boston Marathon, Harvard commencement season (late May) and the foliage season; restaurant tips are 18–20%; parking downtown is very expensive, so renting a car is not recommended; in winter, watch for flight cancellations caused by blizzards.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries