Boston offers a fascinating mix of historical highlights and the creative atmosphere of a university city. Discover the most exciting spots in the oldest US city with us!
| US state: | Massachusetts |
| County: | Suffolk County |
| Area: | 231.1 km² |
| Population: | ca. 675,000 |
| Nickname: | Beantown, The Hub of the Universe, The Cradle of Liberty, City on a Hill, Athens of America |
| Time zone: | Eastern (UTC -5) |
Boston is the capital and largest city of the US state of Massachusetts on the East Coast of the USA. With its approximately 675,000 inhabitants spread over 231.1 km2, Boston ranks third among the most densely populated US cities after New York City and San Francisco. The Boston metropolitan region has a total population of 4.9 million.
Boston's population is characterized by great cultural diversity. The largest ethnic group in the city is the descendants of Irish immigrants, with a share of 15.8%, followed by people of Caribbean (15%) and Italian (8.3%) origin. Also, the proportion of Hispanics from Central and South America, especially from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Brazil, is steadily increasing.
If you're in Boston or the surrounding area, you are likely to run into some very smart people, as there are over 30 universities in and around the city. These include the world-famous Harvard University and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the suburb of Cambridge. The high density of universities and students makes Boston a young and lively city.
The city of Boston, located in the humid continental climate zone, offers you all the diversity of four seasons. While warm to hot temperatures are the order of the day from June to August, the thermometer drops below zero from December to February.
The best time to visit Boston is in the spring when the cherry blossoms bathe the city in delicate pink flowers – take the opportunity to walk or bike around Boston and Cambridge. You'll also experience a beautiful spectacle of color in Boston during Indian Summer in the fall.
Numerous international connections from all over the world take off and land at Boston's Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS).
If you want to get to Boston from Europe, you can fly with Air France from Paris, with Swiss from Zurich, with KLM from Amsterdam, and with Lufthansa from Munich or Frankfurt am Main.
For non-stop flights from Europe, you should calculate about €600 to €700. If you include a stopover, you can also find connections at around €500.
Once you arrive at Boston Logan Airport, you can benefit from the excellent infrastructure. If you want to travel the three kilometers to downtown Boston by public transportation, you can use the Blue Line subway, the Silver Line SL1 and SL3 bus lines, and ferries.
To enter the United States, you need a US visa or ESTA. The latter is available for citizens of the member states of the Visa Waiver Program and offers many advantages over the visa: the application is comparatively fast, and you can stay up to 90 days visa-free in America.
With an ESTA, you can stay 90 days visa-free in the USA. Apply online now!
Looking for suitable accommodation for your Boston vacation? We have a few tips for every travel budget.
Boston offers you a wide range of hotels. From cheap to luxurious, everything is available:
At the citizenM Boston North Station, you'll stay in Boston at a good price-quality ratio. You'll find rooms with flat-screen TVs, a lounge with books, and the canteenM, where you can get food and drinks around the clock.
From the Revere Hotel, located in the heart of Boston, you only have to walk a few steps to reach the city's most beautiful highlights. The boutique hotel impresses not only with its rooms decorated with artwork by local artists but also with a beautiful rooftop terrace from which you can look out over the Back Bay while having breakfast.
If your travel budget is well-filled and you want to treat yourself, the luxurious Boston Harbor Hotel is the place to be. Deluxe rooms, modern gym, full-service spa, smart TV, and more – you'll not lack anything at this award-winning, 5-star hotel located right on Boston Harbor!
An apartment can be a cheap alternative to a hotel, especially for travel groups. You can find suitable accommodation on these websites:
If you're just looking for a cheap place to stay, you can save a lot of money by booking a room in a hostel. In Boston, you can get a bed in a shared room from around €45 per night.
As one of the first important metropolises in the USA, Boston has a long and exciting history. Our top five Boston attractions will take you to the most interesting corners of the city.
Boston National Historical Park includes a total of eight historically significant structures in Boston that played a significant role in the American Revolution. These include Faneuil Hall, Old State House, Old North Church, Old South Meeting House, Bunker Hill Monument, Boston Naval Shipyard, Paul Revere House, and Dorchester Heights. If you follow the Freedom Trail across Boston, you'll get to seven of these sites.
The eye-catcher in Boston's Beacon Hill district is the gleaming gold dome of the Massachusetts State House, also known as the New State House. The seat of the Massachusetts state government accommodates the Massachusetts General Court as well as the governor's office. If you want to see the architecture and Edward Brodney's murals inside the building, you can take a 45-minute tour of the Massachusetts State House.
In Boston Harbor, you can admire a very special gem: the USS Constitution was put into service in 1797 and is the oldest seaworthy warship in the world today. Although the frigate, also known as the "Old Ironsides," serves primarily as a flagship for official occasions, it is still in service and carries a crew of 55 marines of the United States Navy.
At Fenway Park, you can not only experience top sporting performances up close but also immerse yourself in history: "The Cathedral of Baseball" is the oldest baseball stadium in the United States that is still in operation. The stadium was opened in 1912 and serves primarily as a venue for the home games of the Boston Red Sox. Occasionally, however, concerts also take place at Fenway Park.
This historic street of red row houses not far from Boston Common is known as the most photographed street in all of America. When you walk down this little alley with its classic New England charm, you'll feel like you're taking a trip down memory lane. But don't forget to snap a photo for your Instagram profile as you get caught up in the nostalgia!
History-rich Boston is packed with interesting museums and historic sites. Our top five cultural highlights are not to be missed if you're interested in the arts, history, and sciences.
Even the parks are historically significant in Boston! So don't miss a walk through the city's most popular green space
Boston Common is not only the heart of the city but also the oldest public park in the USA! Established in 1634, the park has always been a gathering place, first for the military and later for Bostonians to hold civil rights rallies and peaceful demonstrations. If you want to learn more about the park's exciting history, you can take a tour of the Boston Freedom Trail from the Boston Visitor Center.
Along the shore of Boston's Back Bay stretches the idyllic Charles River Esplanade. Cross the famous Arthur Fiedler Footbridge, watch the boats pass by, or visit the Hatch Shell Music Pavilion, which hosts free concerts and film screenings in the summer. And if you can't give up your early morning exercise, you'll be in good company among the joggers on the Boston Esplanade.
Are you looking for a vacation souvenir or some bargains? Then your Boston shopping tour should take you to the following places:
Baked beans have been a favorite Boston dish since colonial times. In fact, they are so much a part of the city that it was nicknamed "Beantown."
In addition to baked beans, don't miss these regional dishes in Boston:
Want to turn night into day in Boston? No problem, we have a few tips for you:
Beautiful Boston has so many highlights that will make your Instagram channel light up! These five places are a must for your selfie tour:
The first European settlers arrived in what is now Boston in 1614 when explorer John Smith and his crew reached Massachusetts Bay. He named the area New England to attract more English colonists to live on the newly discovered continent.
In 1630, the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Company sailed from England to America in 12 ships to escape religious persecution at home. They settled in and around Boston and began to engage in a successful trade.
In the 18th century, Boston's population grew steadily, reaching 15,000 people by 1750. At this time, many historically significant buildings were also erected, such as the Old State House, the Old North Church, and Faneuil Hall. The New England colony exported mainly fish, lumber, and agricultural products to Europe and became increasingly important in terms of economy.
However, the successful trade also caused tensions between the American settlers and the British Crown, as the colonists objected to the high taxes. The emerging protests eventually led to the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution.
In the 1840s, mainly Irish immigrants arrived in Boston. The population grew rapidly and had already reached 100,000 people.
A major land reclamation project that removed the five hills of Mt. Vernon, Beacon Hill, Pemberton Hill, Copp's Hill, and Fort Hill to fill in the bays around the city doubled Boston's urban area in the 19th century. The face of the city also changed due to the devastating fire of 1872, which destroyed many buildings.
At the beginning of the 20th century, many Italian immigrants arrived, and by 1920 there were over 748,000 residents living in Boston.
Many firsts were celebrated in Boston: we have found some interesting facts about the history of Boston.
Are you dreaming of living in beautiful New England? Boston offers great potential for your new beginning!
Greater Boston is one of the strongest economic regions in the USA and offers top career opportunities for well-educated people.
If you're an academic or scientist, Boston is the perfect place for you. The region is particularly characterized by its excellent research and educational institutions, which are home to some of the brightest minds in the country. Many high-tech companies in the IT industry, as well as in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, have also settled in and around Boston.
Boston also has a strong financial sector and a successful tourism industry. Other in-demand professions in Boston include lawyers, marketing experts, police officers, and nurses.
America's oldest major city will captivate you with its unique style and friendly residents. In terms of quality of life, the city ranked second in the United States in 2018.
Unfortunately, the attractiveness of Boston is reflected in the rent prices. For example, you have to pay about 2.5 times the average American price for housing in Boston. According to the Cost of Living Index, the overall cost of living in Boston is about 50% higher than the US average.
Once your decision to move to Boston is made, you have a choice of 16 neighborhoods. According to recent Census surveys, Back Bay-Beacon Hill, Charlestown, and West Roxbury are considered the best neighborhoods to settle in Boston.
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