Boston shines as Massachusetts’ revolutionary capital, from Harvard to the Freedom Trail.
Home to more than 6 million people, Boston dates back to 1630 and is one of the United States’ oldest cities. Boston has a very interesting history, and a number of important battles were fought here during the American Revolution. Although big, the city has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with many traditional Irish pubs, international restaurants and enough art and culture to keep visitors coming back for more.
In total, there are 21 neighbourhoods in Boston, each with its own unique personality and style. The skyscraper-filled Financial District is also home to the impressive New England Aquarium. Many young professionals and families live in South Boston, while the city’s richest residents live in wealthy Beacon Hill. Jamaica Plain is probably the most fashionable and stylish neighbourhood, and in elegant Back Bay, you can enjoy the classic Brownstone buildings that the city is famous for. The area of Fenway is where you will find Fenway Park, the stadium of the Red Sox baseball team. Boston Common dates back to 1634 and is the oldest city park in the USA. It is the perfect place to take a walk, ride the famous swan boat, or perhaps visit the graves of soldiers from the American Revolution.
Boston’s layout is different to that of other American cities. Where many US cities use an easy-to-navigate grid system (like in New York for example), the streets of Boston are more European in style, with plenty of narrow and winding alleys. This makes it a really enjoyable city to walk around, as you never know what you may find round the next corner! It’s great fun to go for a long walk on Boston Common, especially along the 4-kilometre long Freedom Trail. This walk takes you past many different sites that are important to the American Revolution (such as the USS Constitution Museum and the Paul Revere House) and finally finishes up at Faneuil Hall marketplace. The marketplace is vibrant and colourful and filled with plenty of shops, restaurants, galleries and street performance artists who spend their days entertaining the crowds.
You can enjoy many different types of food as you dive into Boston’s great restaurant scene. There are many diverse cuisines thanks to the influence of the ethnic groups that have made Boston their home over the last century. These include authentic Italian, Chinese, Indian, Brazilian, Japanese and Guatemalan cuisine among others.
Boston is such a great city to visit because so many of its top sights and attractions are within easy walking distance. For journeys further afield, visitors can use the efficient public transport system, which includes the bus and the subway, also known as the T.