Where To Stay In Boston: The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide

As one of the oldest cities in America as well as the capital of Massachusetts, Boston has a rich history, great parks, and an abundance of museums. The city also has an incredible culinary scene, exciting nightlife, and it is a fun place for sports fans. No matter what you enjoy, you can find it in Boston.

The city played an essential role in many major events in history such as the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party, and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Boston is also known as the "City of Neighborhoods" because of its 23 distinctive and diverse neighborhoods. The best neighborhoods include Allston, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill as well as Downtown, Fenway/Kenmore, the North End, and the South End.

The first thing to do is to figure out where to stay in Boston during your visit. Each neighborhood has its own character with some lauding the best places for foodies, historians, sports fans, and those who like to shop. Allston is popular for foodies, Back Bay is the spot to do some shopping, and Downtown is where many of the main attractions can be found. But you cannot bring your bags with you to all of these attractions, so find a Boston luggage storage facility to leave them while you explore the historic city.

Where to stay in Allston/Brighton

What was once Little Cambridge, this small college neighborhood has been known for the city food market for over 100 years. However, today it is a student community with Cambridge and Boston University nearby. Here you will find a blend of local students and immigrants from Asia, Europe, and South America enjoying all the city has to offer from cozy bars to affordable hotels.

Beacon Inn

For a unique place to stay in Boston, Beacon Inn is a boutique hotel similar to a bed and breakfast in a pair of brownstones from the 1800s. Each of the 25 rooms has its own theme but they all have a charm that you will not see in any of the huge chain hotels. For example, the Symphony Room boasts a king bed with an armoire, an ornamental fireplace, and three windows overlooking Beacon Street.

AC Hotel by Marriott Boston Cleveland Circle

In Cleveland Circle across from the Chestnut Hill Reservation, the Marriott features smart TVs, free WiFi, pillow-topped mattresses, a private bathroom, and free breakfast. The fitness center is a fantastic way to get in that workout before heading out to visit the lake across the street, Waterworks Museum, or the McMullen Museum of art, all just a short walk away.

Where to stay in Back Bay

Back Bay is where to stay in Boston if you enjoy luxurious hotels, high-end shopping, and award-winning restaurants. The center of the neighborhood is Copley Square where you can find farmers markets, sidewalk cafes, the John Hancock Tower, and the Boston Public Library. Along the famous Newbury Street, there are art galleries, designer boutiques, as well as quaint eateries, several day spas, and posh hotels.

Fairmont Copley Plaza

Across from Trinity Church, the Fairmont Copley Plaza is in a historic building from 1912 in the middle of Back Bay. Featuring 383 rooms including 17 suites, each room offers all the traditional features as well as elegant furnishings, free in-room beverages, digital safe, and pillow-top mattresses as well as plush bathrobes and slippers at your request. Free breakfast, in-room meals, and stunning views of the city are also included.

Four Seasons Hotel Boston

Overlooking the Boston Common Park public garden, the Four Seasons Hotel Boston lauds classic elegance with New England style. Here you will be within walking distance to the Boston Public Library, shops on Newbury Street, and the Boston Harbor. You can choose from one of the 900-square-foot suites with separate living areas and two bathrooms or a 300-square-foot guest room with a great view of the Boston Common and charming furniture.

Where to stay in Beacon Hill

When considering where to stay in Boston, make sure you do not overlook the friendly little town of Beacon Hill. Located between the Charles River and Boston Common, you can find a variety of attractions within walking distance like the Massachusetts State House, the Boston African American National Historic Site, luxury hotels, and the Boston Athenaeum.

Beacon Hill Hotel

The Beaux-Arts building holding the Beacon Hill Hotel dates back to 1903 and is one of the best hotels in the city. You will appreciate the luxury and fine arts located in this splendid place. Some features include a roof terrace, gas fireplaces, four-poster beds, and whirlpool tubs as well as rainfall showers and separate bedrooms with parlors. There is also a fitness center, steak house, and free local car service.

Liberty Hotel

Located on historic Charles Street, the Liberty Hotel was at one time home to the Charles Street Jail where Malcolm X was once held. Today it boasts almost 300 rooms, six dining rooms and bars, and a fitness room with yoga and running concierge. The sophisticated Ebersol Suite has a rooftop terrace and 2,200 square feet and the typical guest room has a minibar, safe, and a 55-inch TV.

Where to stay in the Downtown Area

Downtown Boston is home to the Old State House, the financial district, and city hall. This part of town also includes the Boston Common and Boston Public Garden. Along the harbor, you can visit the New England Aquarium, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, and dine at some of the best seafood places in Boston. To learn how to get around Boston and see these attractions, read our informative guide!

Boston Harbor Hotel

This luxurious hotel is one of the best hotels in Boston and gives you a spectacular view of the harbor during your stay in Boston. The iconic arched walkway leads right onto the water and gives you a front-row seat to everything. They also have a pool, spa, on-site restaurant, and spectacular rooms with everything you are looking for in a 5-star hotel.

Godfrey Hotel Boston

The Godfrey Hotel on Washington Street is just a block from the Boston Common and boasts spacious guestrooms with pillow-top mattresses, a room safe, a private bathroom, and the usual amenities such as free WiFi cable TV, and free toiletries. They even have an on-site fitness center, a lounge, and an award-winning restaurant.

Where to stay in Kenmore/Fenway

Home to Fenway Park, this is the best neighborhood in Boston for sports fans. Not only can you catch a Red Sox game there, but you can also have a cold brew or a bite to eat at one of the sports bars. You can also visit Kenmore Square, the Back Bay Fens Park, Museum of Fine Arts, and find some of the best hotels in the city in this small piece of Boston.

Hotel Commonwealth

This upscale hotel has everything you want and then some. Between Fenway Park and Kenmore Square, this is the perfect location for everything in the city. Each of the 250+ rooms boasts in-room spa services, refrigerators, the finest linens, and all the usual amenities as well. The 24-hour fitness center and restaurant are a great way to start the day before heading out to see the city.

Hotel Buckminster

Located on Kenmore Square, this historic hotel from 1897 was one of the first in Boston. See where the military police held prisoners during WWII, the place where the 1919 Black Sox Scandal took place, and the nightclub where Billie Holiday once played. Today, the iconic building holds fully furnished rooms with microwaves and fridges as well as an on-site restaurant and gym.

Where to stay in the North End

The North End, also known as Little Italy, is the oldest neighborhood in Massachusetts and has over 80 Italian restaurants and bakeries. You can also take a walk along the Freedom Trail and see historic sites like the Old North Church, the Paul Revere House, Faneuil Hall, the Boston Stone, and the Clough House.

Boston Marriott Long Wharf

Overlooking the bay as well as Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, this 4-star hotel boasts free breakfast, the softest beds in town, and a view like no other. Enjoy a workout on one of the Peloton bikes in the gym before cooling off at the indoor pool. Then, refuel at their M Club Restaurant. Within walking distance to Faneuil Hall and many other attractions, you will not have to go far for something to do.

Battery Wharf Hotel

If you want a room right on the water, the Battery Wharf Hotel is for you. This elegant establishment has 150 to choose from and almost all have stunning views of the harbor. Whether you get a 380-foot deluxe King or the 1,500 square-foot Presidential Suite, they all have a spa, cafe, and water taxi service.

Where to stay in the South End

Rich in culture as well as style, the South End boasts English-style squares with bistros, pubs, and restaurants as well as the Old South Church and the Boston Center for the Arts. The South End blends seamlessly into South Boston, Downtown Boston, and the Seaport District, giving you a variety of parks and attractions along the Boston Harbor.

Boston Marriott Copley Place

Just south of Back Bay in the South End, the Boston Marriott Copley Place is close to Copley Square, the Prudential Center, the theater, and shopping malls. Get in a good workout at the gym before taking a dip in their Olympic-sized swimming pool. They even have a beauty shop and barber in case you need your hair done.

Cambria Hotel Boston Downtown South Boston

Across the street from the Red Line T station, you get easy access to Seaport District, Back Bay, Jamaica Plain, as well as many green spaces to enjoy. Its boutique-style rooms have all the usual features as well as access to the fitness center, valet parking, an award-winning restaurant, and a rooftop bar.

Every neighborhood has special features

Whether you choose Back Bay, Downtown, the North End, or any of the other neighborhoods, your stay in Boston will surely bring you to exactly what you were looking for. The city is full of old-time charm, boutique hotels, Fenway Park, the Freedom Trail, and excellent restaurants as well as places like Quincy Market, Union Square, and the Boston Common.

Be sure to take a stroll through the Back Bay neighborhood, even if your hotel is not there. You can visit art galleries and get some souvenirs at designer boutiques and grab brunch at one of the cozy cafes. When thinking about where to stay in Boston, you want to consider what you want to do during your stay.

If you want to visit some museums, Beacon Hill or Downtown are both good choices and the Boston neighborhood of Seaport is perfect for visiting the waterfront and the Boston Tea Party ships. Wherever you stay in Boston, you will not be far from some sort of attraction to enjoy.