By air
Logan International (BOS), ~5 km
North America · United States
Boston, United States
Revolutionary history and harbour seafood
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to October; the autumn leaves turn in October
Don't miss
The Freedom Trail
Faneuil Hall
Fenway Park
Harvard Yard
Things to do
The Freedom Trail
A game at Fenway Park
Harvard and MIT
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Layers, comfortable shoes
A quieter corner
Beacon Hill's Acorn Street
Questions travellers ask
When do the autumn leaves turn in Boston?
In October — and May to October is the best time to visit. Pack layers and comfortable shoes.
Is Boston's airport close to the city?
Logan International (BOS) is about 5 km away.
How should I spend a day in Boston?
Walk the Freedom Trail, see Faneuil Hall, catch a game at Fenway Park and visit Harvard Yard and MIT. Don't miss Beacon Hill's Acorn Street.
What seafood and treats should I try in Boston?
Clam chowder, lobster rolls, and cannoli in the North End.
About Boston
- Coastal
Where it is
Boston is the capital of Massachusetts in New England, in the north-eastern United States, on Boston Harbor at the mouth of the Charles River, with Cambridge, home of Harvard and MIT, across the river.
History
Founded by English Puritan settlers in 1630, Boston became a leading colonial port and a cradle of the American Revolution, from the Boston Massacre of 1770 and the Boston Tea Party of 1773 to the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. In the 19th century it grew into a centre of learning, publishing and industry, and Irish and Italian immigrants reshaped its neighbourhoods.
People
Bostonians have deep Irish, Italian and old New England roots, joined by large Haitian, Cape Verdean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Latin American communities, and the region's many universities draw students from around the world. The North End is known for its Italian bakeries, and the Boston accent, which drops the r, is famous.
Known for
- The Freedom Trail
- Harvard and MIT across the river
- Fenway Park and the Red Sox
- Clam chowder and lobster rolls
- The brick lanes of Beacon Hill
Did you know?
Boston Common, set aside in 1634, is the oldest public park in the United States, and the Boston Marathon, first run in 1897, is the world's oldest annual marathon.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.