Best Places to Stay in Boston for First Time Visitors

This is a list of three best places to stay in Boston for tourists visiting the first time! They are Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and North End. The most popular area to stay is Back Bay, which is perfectly located for dining, shopping, hotels and tourist attractions. I have written detailed descriptions of the three respective areas below, along with a table for easy reference. I have created a map to give you a better sense of the locations too. Also read: The Ultimate Boston Two Day Itinerary

1. Back Bay

Copley Square

Back Bay is known for its great shopping scene, awesome restaurants and tourist attractions. We enjoyed strolling along Newbury Street, a popular street lined with many boutiques and restaurants nestled in charming brownstone buildings. We also went to Copley Square, a beautiful public square flanked by the Trinity Church and Boston Public Library.

(Boston trivia: Much of Back Bay is built on landfill. Therefore, the streets are arranged neatly in a grid pattern, and the cross streets are even named in alphabetical order: Arlington, Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth, and so on. The city planner was really organised here!)

Why Stay in Back Bay

Back Bay is the perfect place to stay if you want to be in a bustling shopping and dining district with many attractions. It is generally quite safe for tourists and most people stay here on their first visit. There is quite a number of value-for-money accommodations here too.

What to Do in Back Bay

Newbury Street – This mile-long thoroughfare is lined with beautiful Victorian-era buildings and we saw plenty of luxury stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants and patio cafes here.

Boston Public Library – This is the second largest public library in the United States (with the first being the Library of Congress). We came here mainly to check out Bates Hall, a beautiful library hall known for its iconic green lamps.

Copley Square – This public square has a beautiful green lawn, and is surrounded by the majestic Trinity Church and Boston Public Library. For shoppers, Copley Place is a five-minute walk away. This high end shopping mall has many luxury boutiques like Tiffany’s, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Saint Laurent, etc. It is conveniently connected to three hotels: Westin, Marriott, and Sheraton.

Where to Stay in Back Bay

B&B – If you are on a budget, you can consider Oasis Guest House. This simple accommodation offers clean basic rooms with free WiFi. Some of the rooms do not have a private bathroom, but the shared bathrooms are clean and maintained regularly. Do take note that there are no elevators in this three-storey townhouse. Click here to see the latest price for Oasis Guest House.

Value for Money – If you can afford to spend a bit more, the Sheraton Boston Hotel would be a good option. The hotel may be slightly dated but it offers clean and comfortable rooms at very good rates. Higher room categories include access to the hotel’s club lounge which offers complimentary all-day snacks and drinks. There is also a decent pool, gym, and free WiFi. The hotel is conveniently connected to the Back Bay metro station. Click here to see the latest price for Sheraton Boston Hotel.

MidRange – A great midrange hotel to consider is Lenox Hotel, a classy boutique hotel that offers beautiful and spacious Victorian style rooms at an affordable price. The hotel is in a good location near Copley Square. There is a decent gym and free WiFi. The hotel’s bar and restaurants are very popular too. Click here to see the latest price for Lenox Hotel.

Luxury – If you are willing to splurge, you can consider Mandarin Oriental Boston. This 5-star hotel offers modern luxurious rooms for the deep-pocketed travellers. The hotel provides great service and is conveniently located near Newbury Street. The spa facilities are wonderful and there is complimentary WiFi. Click here to see the latest price for Mandarin Oriental Boston.

2. Beacon Hill

Massachusetts State House

Beacon Hill is a historic neighbourhood is known for its Federal-style houses, gaslit streets and brick sidewalks. It is a high end district with many expensive condominiums. A popular attraction here is Acorn Street, a quaint street paved with cobblestones. We also saw the Massachusetts State House, a beautiful historic structure that serves as a Government building. It is adjacent to the beautiful Boston Common and Public Garden.

Why Stay in Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill is located between Back Bay and North End, which makes it convenient for tourists to visit attractions in both adjacent districts. It is also a good place to stay if you like to be amidst an upscale neighbourhood with high end residences. However, tourist accommodations here are generally quite expensive.

What to Do in Beacon Hill

Acorn Street – This is a small lane paved with cobblestones, similar to Elfreth’s Alley in Philadelphia.

Massachusetts State House – We were impressed by this beautiful National Historic Landmark that houses the Massachusetts General Court and the offices of the Governor of Massachusetts. It was completed in 1798 and is considered a masterpiece of Federal architecture.

Boston Common and Public Garden – These are two gorgeous public parks adjacent to each other. We came here in the morning and it was really nice to see the lush greenery, open green spaces, and beautiful historic sculptures in the parks.

Where to Stay in Beacon Hill

B&B – If you are on a budget, you can consider Sean’s airbnb, a small and very basic apartment in Beacon Hill. There are basic amenities such as WiFi, a private bathroom, kitchen and washer. You can click here to get a $45 Airbnb discount coupon.

MidRange – The Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro is a boutique hotel that offers classy and comfortable rooms. It is in a great location within walking distance of many attractions such as the Boston Common and Public Garden, Massachusetts State House, and Newbury Street. Click here to see the latest price for the Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro.

3. North End

Statue of Paul Revere

The North End is the oldest neighbourhood in Boston. It has plenty of restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions. The district is famous for its Italian American population and Italian restaurants. We visited the Old North Church (the oldest church in Boston) and the nearby Statue of Paul Revere, a beautiful equestrian statue of patriot Paul Revere. We also dropped by Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, a family-friendly waterfront park.  Copp’s Hill Burying Ground is a historic cemetery that dates back to over three centuries ago. And of course, the North End is famous for its many awesome restaurants! We had an amazing dinner at The Daily Catch, an Italian seafood bistro located along Hanover Street.

Why Stay in North End

The North End is a history-rich pretty neighbourhood that has many important historic landmarks such as Fanueil Hall, Old North Church, Statue of Paul Revere and more. There are also many great Italian restaurants here. If you like to stay in a quaint neighbourhood with beautiful historic buildings, this is an ideal place.

What to Do in North End

Old North Church – Built in 1723, this National Historic Landmark is the oldest church in Boston.

Statue of Paul Revere – We were impressed by this beautiful equestrian statue that commemorates patriot Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride to alert the American colonial soldiers of approaching British forces in 1775.

Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park – This pretty waterfront park has green lawns, lush trees, great waterfront views and a nice wisteria walkway. There is a playground for kids as well.

Copp’s Hill Burying Ground – It was an interesting experience to visit this historic cemetery that was built over 350 years ago. There are many interesting plaques here that provide a unique narrative of historical events in Boston.

Dining – We enjoyed awesome seafood at The Daily Catch and delicious cannoli from Mike’s Pastry, both located at Hanover Street. The popular seafood restaurant Neptune Oyster is highly recommended too.

Where to Stay in North End

Value For Money – A good affordable hotel to consider is The Boxer Boston, a boutique hotel housed in the iconic triangular “flat iron” building. It offers chic and cozy rooms at great rates and is within walking distance (around 10 minutes) of attractions in both Beacon Hill and the North End. The hotel has a small gym and free WiFi. Click here to see the latest price for The Boxer Boston.

Midrange – During our two-day holiday in Boston, we stayed at the Bostonian Boston, a wonderful 4-star hotel with elegant comfortable rooms. Some of the rooms even have fire places but our room category did not include this amenity. We really liked the cozy lobby which had a nice fireplace and complimentary drinks. The hotel is conveniently located opposite Quincy Market, a popular tourist food court. The WiFi strength was excellent during our stay. Click here to see the latest price for the Bostonian Boston.

Waterfront – If you like waterfront views, the Battery Wharf Hotel Boston Waterfront offers modern and comfy rooms with great views of the bay. The hotel has a gym, spa, and complimentary WiFi. Click here to see the latest price for the Battery Wharf Hotel Boston Waterfront.

Conclusion

To summarise, the Back Bay neighbourhood is the best place to stay for tourists visiting the first time. This is because it is home to many great boutiques, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions. There are also various affordable accommodations here. Beacon Hill is another good option because it is conveniently located between Back Bay and the North End. However, accommodations are generally quite expensive in this upscale neighbourhood. Last but not least, the North End district is great if you like to stay in a charming neighbourhood with many historic landmarks and beautiful old world buildings.

Of course, there are many other neighbourhoods in Boston, but some of those areas may not be safe for tourists, such as parts of South End, Dorchester, Roxbury, Hyde Park, etc. Or they may be too far from the main tourist attractions, such as Brookline or Fenway/Kenmore.

And that’s it! This guide should be helpful if you are a tourist visiting Boston for the first time. Have a wonderful holiday in this beautiful historic city! Feel free to leave any questions in the comments section below.

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Boston Travel Guide for First Timers. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?