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 Long known for its old-world charm, from the historic Faneuil Hall to the Freedom Trail that celebrates Boston’s preeminent role in the American Revolution, Boston has come a long way towards staking its claim in the 21st century. With the completion of the “Big Dig” that buried Boston’s vast network of highways underground, Boston has hit the new century running. Attractions span beautiful public libraries, fascinating museums and plenty of sports. Boston is destined to grow ever more beautiful as more and more of the ungainly elevated highways are replaced with lush parks.

currency

US Dollar $1 = 100 cents

phone

911

newspaper

The Boston Globe — www.bostonglobe.com
The Boston Herald — www.bostonherald.com
The Boston Phoenix (free alternative weekly magazine) — thephoenix.com

population

City: 654,776 (2021)
Metropolitan area: 4.9 million

info

Boston Common Visitor Information Center
Located on the Common
148 Tremont Street, Boston
Underground: Park Street
+1 617 536 4100
Daily 8:30am–5pm

website

www.bostonusa.com
www.boston.gov/visiting-boston

Boston cityscape in sunny day, view from harbor on downtown, Massachusetts, USA Rsphotograph / Shutterstock.com

The City

Boston has a tradition unlike any other city in America. It was here in 1773, when America was still a colony of the British Empire and residents, angered over a heavy tax on tea imposed by King George III, launched a bold nighttime protest in which they dumped 342 chests of English tea into the Boston Harbor. The “Boston Tea Party,” as the raid was called, was the first major event that would lead to the American Revolution.

While proud of its history, Boston has adjusted well to modernity. In 2004, Boston finally completed its decades long “Big Dig” project. The stunning Leonard P. Zakim Bridge, with a width of 180 feet, is the widest cable stayed bridge in the world and the crowning achievement in the single most expensive feat of civil engineering in human history. The completion of the project has made a city already laced with stunning parks and colonial era architecture even more beautiful.

Boston Common George Washington monument at Massachusetts USA holbox / Shutterstock.com

Do & See

Despite its traditions and its idyllic façade, Boston has more than its fair share of excitement. With more than 20 universities, including world-famous Harvard University, and over 100,000 students, Boston is the quintessential college town. From its outstanding live music venues to the fascinating museum and lively parks, Boston pulses with the energy of youth.

glacex / Shutterstock.com

Freedom Trail

Elena Elisseeva / Shutterstock.com

North End

Eric Kilby

Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park

Michele Schaffer/cc by 2.0/wikimedia

Martha's Vineyard Day trip from Boston

jgorzynik / Shutterstock.com

Public Garden

Fedorovacz/Shutterstock.com

Samuel Adams Brewery Tours

Public domain/wikimedia

Museum of Fine Arts

Public domain/wikimedia

Museum of Science

Jessica Bethke / Shutterstock.com

New England Aquarium

TIm Pierce/cc by-sa 3.0/wikimedia

Boston Children's Museum

cdrin / Shutterstock.com

USS Constitution

Esaias Tan/unsplash

Boston Public Library

Kid Clutch/cc by 2.0/Flickr

TD Garden — Home of Boston Bruins & Boston Celtics

public domain/wikimedia

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

ArnoldReinhold/cc by-sa 4.0/wikimedia

Boston Convention & Exhibition Center

new england clam chowder bonchan / Shutterstock.com

Dining

As long as there are fish in the sea, Boston will be a seafood town. New England clam chowder is Boston’s most famous delicacy and is a must try. While the traditional sea fare is as popular as ever, interesting new restaurants of all varieties are popping up every day across the city.

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Legal Sea Foods

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Mistral

Shinya Suzuki / Flickr

Union Oyster House

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Chinatown Cafe

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Regina Pizzeria

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Trattoria Il Panino

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Mooo....

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The Paramount

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Chart House Restaurant

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Terramia Ristorante

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Grotto

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All Star Sandwich Bar

Scenic Cafe Terraces in Newbury Street, located in the Back Bay area of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It is touted as one the most expensive streets in the world. VICTOR TORRES/Shutterstock.com

Diners & Cafes

Coffee was introduced to North America in 1668, and drinking coffee soon became a popular social activity. Boston was, however, dominated by the tea trade, and it took about a hundred years before coffee took over the scene. Coffee houses formed all over the city, and the United States is now the leading consumer of coffee in the world, with Americans drinking an average of 400 million cups of coffee per day.

Diners are an important part of Boston's culture. These casual, family-friendly restaurants are known for their comfort food, like pancakes, waffles, sandwiches and burgers, as well as their friendly and efficient service. Many diners in Boston have been around for decades and have become institutions in the city, with a loyal clientele. They serve as a meeting place for locals and a spot for a casual and affordable meal. They are scattered around the city, and you can find one easily, especially in the downtown area, and they are often open 24 hours a day.

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Caffe Vittoria

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Trident Booksellers & Cafe

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Thinking Cup

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Café de Boston

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Flour Bakery & Cafe

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Mike's City Diner

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PS Gourmet Coffee

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Victoria's Diner

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Milk Street Cafe

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Ula Cafe

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Parish Cafe & Bar

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Florentine Cafe

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Barismo

Bartender is adding ingredient in shaker at bar counter Maksim Fesenko / Shutterstock.com

Bars & Nightlife

Boston is a diehard sports town, and that infatuation is reflected in its bar scene. However, the trendy lounges and dive bars of Back Bay offer an alternative to the sports bar scene. Home to rock legends such as Aerosmith, the Pixies and, well, Boston — the city is a live music town with several outstanding venues. Electronic music aficionados should head to Lansdowne Street, where the young and scantily clad come to dance the night away.

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Hava Nightclub

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The Black Rose

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Paradise Rock Club

digboston/cc by 2.0/Flickr

Middle East Restaurant & Club

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Kings Dining & Entertainment

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House of Blues Boston

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Howl at the Moon

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Clerys

John Phelan/cc by-sa 3.0/wikimedia

Wally's Cafe Jazz Club

Close-up of two young women carrying shopping bags on the street. KikoStock / Shutterstock.com

Shopping

Finding great shopping in Boston is rather simple — just follow the crowds. While straying off the beaten path can occasionally uncover a hidden gem, the majority of worthwhile shopping is found in the following popular areas.

Brett Wharton/unsplash

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

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Lekker Home

Wit Suphamungmee/cc by 2.0/Flickr

Shops at Prudential Center

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Saks Fifth Avenue

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Natick Mall

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Shake the Tree

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Flock

George Washington monument in Public Garden Boston Massachusetts USA f11photo / Shutterstock.com

Tourist Information

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

All flights to Boston arrive at Logan International Airport (BOS), which is located approximately 5 miles east of downtown Boston.

A free shuttle is available to the nearest “T” stop. It services all of Logan’s five terminals. Although the airport is close to the city center, traffic can make the trip last as long as thirty minutes. Book taxis 24 hours in advance of your arrival or departure.

Address: General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, Boston

Email:

Phone: +1 800 235 6426

Website: www.massport.com/logan-airport

More Information:

Public Transport

The MBTA, known locally as the “T,” provides quick and efficient rail service throughout the city. Single tickets are available, as well as week-long unlimited “Visitor Passes”. Bring cab fare if you plan on staying out late, as the T stops running at 12:30 am.

Boston is small enough to be completely manageable by bike. Call Boston Bike Tours and Rental to make a reservation and they’ll bring the bike to you.

Address:

Email:

Phone: +1 617 308 5902

Website: www.mbta.com

More Information:

Taxi

Taxis are the only way to get around town after the T stops running at 12:30am. Lines of cabs wait outside major hotels or can be flagged down in the street. You can also download the Boston Cab Dispatch app for your phone.

Address: Boston Cab Dispatch

Email:

Phone: +1 617 536 5010

Website: bostoncab.us

More Information:

Post

Sending parcels and letters in the US is a relatively straightforward process. The most common method is through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPS offers a variety of services for sending mail, including First-Class Mail for letters and postcards, Priority Mail for packages, and Priority Mail Express for overnight delivery. To send a parcel or letter, you will need to take it to a USPS post office or use a USPS blue collection box. You can use the USPS website to find the nearest post office or collection box to your location. Additionally, you can also use private couriers such as FedEx and UPS, which often provide a wider range of services and faster delivery times, but generally at a higher cost.

Address: United States Postal Service, 25 Dorchester Street, Boston

Email:

Phone: +1 800 275 8777

Website: www.usps.com

More Information:

Pharmacy

Abundant locations of Walgreen’s, CVS, Wal-Mart, Target and various independent chain store retailers.

Address: CVS Pharmacy, 587 Boylston Street, Boston

Email:

Phone: +1 617 437 8414

Website: www.cvs.com

More Information:

Telephone

Country Code: +1
Area Code: 617

Address:

Email:

Phone:

Website:

More Information:

Electricity

110 to 120 volts (60 cycles), standard two-pronged American plugs.

Address:

Email:

Phone:

Website:

More Information: