Boston travel guide
United States
One of the oldest cities in the United States, with brick lanes, harbour views and a large student population. Boston is compact enough to walk end to end, with history on almost every corner.
Essentials
- Language
- English
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Plugs
- Type A and B, 120 V
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: around 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and a similar share for taxis.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $85-135, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $240-380, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Boston
- North End: the old Italian quarter, with bakeries, trattorias and Paul Revere's house.
- Beacon Hill: gas-lit lanes of brick row houses beside the Public Garden and Boston Common.
- Cambridge: across the river, with Harvard, MIT, bookshops and lively squares.
Getting around Boston
The T subway and buses accept a CharlieCard or a contactless bank card. The centre is small and walkable, and Bluebikes stations are spread across the city.
Best time to visit Boston
May to June and September to October, when autumn colour arrives; winters bring snow and ice.
Top things to do in Boston
- Walk the Freedom Trail from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument
- Take a tour of Fenway Park, or watch a Red Sox game in season
- See the courtyard and collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- Wander Harvard Yard and the MIT campus, linked by Massachusetts Avenue
- Take a summer ferry to the Boston Harbor Islands for walks, beaches and an old fort
What to eat in Boston
- New England clam chowder: a creamy soup of clams, potato and salt pork
- Lobster roll: lobster meat in a buttered roll, served cold with mayonnaise or warm with butter
- Cannoli: crisp pastry tubes filled with sweet ricotta, a North End staple
- Boston cream pie: sponge cake layered with custard and topped with chocolate
Day trips from Boston
- Salem: maritime history, the Peabody Essex Museum and the story of the witch trials, under an hour by commuter rail or ferry
- Concord and Lexington: battlefields of the American Revolution and Walden Pond, about 40 minutes by car
- Cape Cod: dunes, beaches and seafood shacks, about 90 minutes by car to the canal, or about 90 minutes by seasonal fast ferry to Provincetown
Local etiquette
Bostonians can seem brusque but are usually helpful once asked. Sports loyalties run deep, so tread lightly with talk of the New York Yankees.
Staying connected
Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs from the major US carriers are easy to buy, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés and at the Boston Public Library.
Staying safe
Pickpocketing is the main petty crime around busy stations and tourist sights. In winter, pavements can be icy for days after snow, so wear shoes with grip.
A local tip
Follow the red line of the Freedom Trail on your own rather than joining a tour, stopping where you like.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Boston on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Boston for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Boston, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Boston
- What currency is used in Boston?
- Boston uses the US dollar (USD).
- What is the emergency number in Boston?
- In Boston, call 911.
- When is the best time to visit Boston?
- May to June and September to October, when autumn colour arrives; winters bring snow and ice.
- How much does a day in Boston cost?
- Roughly $85-135 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $240-380 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Boston?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Boston without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.