"Boston is the American city that most rewards walking — and most punishes those who don't."
Boston is America's most European city — compact, walkable, and layered with history at every turn. The Freedom Trail connects 16 sites of the American Revolution in a single afternoon; the North End is one of the finest Italian-American neighbourhoods in the country; and the dining scene, anchored by the Back Bay and the South End, has reached a level of genuine ambition that rivals any city in the Northeast.
The best time to visit is autumn — when the trees along the Charles River Esplanade and in the Public Garden turn gold and red, and the city is at its most beautiful. The Boston Marathon in April and the Fourth of July on the Esplanade are the city's two great public celebrations.
"The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum — one of the most beautiful interior spaces in America."
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At a Glance
What Not to Miss
The Freedom Trail
A 2.5-mile red-brick path connecting 16 of Boston's most significant historical sites — from the Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument. The trail passes through the North End, Charlestown, and the waterfront, and is the finest walking tour of American history in the country.
The North End
Boston's oldest neighbourhood and its Italian-American heart — a dense grid of narrow streets lined with some of the finest Italian restaurants and bakeries in America. Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry have been debated for decades; the cannoli at both are exceptional.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
One of the world's great private art collections, housed in a Venetian-style palazzo built by Gardner herself in 1903. The courtyard — filled with flowers and Roman antiquities — is one of the most beautiful interior spaces in America. The empty frames from the 1990 theft remain on the walls.
Harvard and MIT in Cambridge
Cross the Charles River to Cambridge and spend a morning walking the Harvard Yard and the MIT campus. The MIT Museum and the Harvard Art Museums are both exceptional. Lunch at one of the restaurants along Brattle Street is a Cambridge institution.
Boston Harbour Islands
A state park of 34 islands in Boston Harbour — accessible by ferry from Long Wharf. Georges Island, with its Civil War-era Fort Warren, and Spectacle Island, with its beaches and harbour views, are the highlights. The best escape from the city in summer.
Fine Dining on Newbury Street
Boston's Back Bay has one of the finest concentrations of restaurants in New England — from the classic French of Café Madeleine to the modern American of Grill 23. The dining scene here is consistently excellent and chronically underrated.
Where to Stay
The Newbury Boston
LuxuryThe finest hotel in the Back Bay — a beautifully restored 1927 building on the corner of Newbury Street and Arlington, with a rooftop restaurant and bar that overlooks the Public Garden. The most coveted address in Boston.
The Liberty Hotel
Design IconA former Charles Street Jail converted into one of the most distinctive hotels in New England. The original jail cells have been transformed into bars and event spaces; the rooms are in a modern tower attached to the historic building.
Four Seasons Boston
Classic LuxuryOverlooking the Public Garden, the Four Seasons is the traditional choice for Boston luxury — impeccable service, a superb spa, and a location that puts you within walking distance of everything.
The Verdict
America's most walkable city — come in autumn, eat in the North End, and walk every inch of the Freedom Trail.