Hostelworld Guide for Boston

The Essentials

Steeped in history and small enough to explore in a day, Boston is one of America's most charming cities.
This is the city that spawned America's first public park, its first public college and its first subway system.
Funnily enough, it is America's oldest city too. But it's not all history. Socialising and sports are all
pastimes of Bostonians, as is relaxing - one of Boston's finest attributes is its easy pace of life.

Getting There
By plane: The majority of airlines flying to Boston
land in Logan International Airport.
It is connected to the city centre via the 'T' (Boston's
subway). The journey takes approximately 15
minutes and costs $2.
By train: If you travel to Boston via train you will
arrive in either North Station, Back Bay Station or
South Station.

In this Guide...
Useful Information
After Dark
Places to Eat
Top Attractions
Budget Tips
Where to Shop

By bus: Boston's main bus station is beside South

Station.

Getting Around
On foot: Boston is easily explored on foot and is
one of America's more compact cities.
Many of its main tourist attractions are within
walking distance of each other.
By T (subway): Known locally as the 'T', Boston's
underground network consists of 5 colour-coded
lines, is efficient and is extremely easy to use.
There are a number of stations dotted around the
city centre.
By bus: Buses cover all areas of the city that the T
doesn't, but chances are you won't use the bus as
often as the subway.

Climate
A wise man once said of Boston 'if you don't like the
weather around here, wait a minute'. He wasn't
wrong as it can rain one day and snow the next. But
in general, winters in Boston are very cold and it
sees snow regularly in the colder months. The city
also enjoys hot (if humid) summers. Like so many
cities, spring and fall/autumn are the most pleasant
times to visit.

Good to know...
Language: English
Currency: American Dollar (USD)
Electricity: 110 Volts AC/50 Hz, 2-pin plug
Area Code: +1 (USA) 617 (Boston)
Emergency Codes: Ambulance/Fire/Police 911
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (GMT - 5)
Central Post Office: 25 Dorchester Avenue
Main Tourist Office: 2 Copley Place, Suite 105

Consulates / Embassies
UK: +1 617 245 4500
Canada: +1 617 262 3760
Australia: +1 202 797 3000*
South Africa: +1 202 232 4400*
Ireland: +1 617 267 9330
Germany: +1 617 369 4900
Spain: +1 617 536 2506
Italy: +1 617 542 0483
New Zealand: +1 202 328 4800*
France: +1 617 832 4400
*Embassy in Washington

Boston facts
Name: Boston is also known as 'Beantown'.
Location: The city is located in Massachusetts,
a state in New England on the east coast of the
United States.
Population: Around 600,000 people call Boston
home.
Area: Boston covers an approximate area of
232 square kilometres.
Founded: One of the oldest cities in the US,
Boston was first settled in 1630 and officially
became a city in 1822.
Hostelworld Guide for Boston

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Cheap Eats

After Dark

The Paramount, 44 Charles Street, Beacon Hill

This Beacon Hill favourite has all the traits of a
neighbourhood hangout but is just minutes from the
city centre. Its lunch menu is perfect for the
budget-conscious traveller with sandwiches at
particularly affordable prices. It's also famous for its
ludicrously tasty breakfasts. Open Mon-Sat
7am-10pm (11pm Fri & Sat), Sun 8am-10pm.

Bukowski's Tavern, 50 Dalton Street, Back Bay

Something of a Boston institution, Bukowski's
Tavern epitomises the phrase 'drinking hole'. An
eclectic mix of Bostonians fill this small bar on a
nightly basis. They come here to sample one of the
99 types of beer on offer and to steer clear of some
of the stereotypically Irish bars peppered
throughout the city. Open daily from 12 noon-2am.

Boloco, 71 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge Every

afternoon a stream of students from Harvard
University flow into this Cambridge burrito place,
keeping the smile on the proprietor's face a
permanent one. Create your own wrap from a
variety of fillings or choose one of the ready-made
ones. These filling burritos are a good option for
lunch on the run. Open daily from 10am-11pm.

Cheers, 84 Beacon St, Beacon Hill Yes, that

'Cheers'. Inspiration for one of the best-loved
sitcoms to ever come out of America, don't expect
to see Sammy pulling beers behind the counter
when you descend the stairs and go inside. This
bar isn't anything like what you saw on TV, but it's
worth having a beer here if only for novelty reasons.
Open daily from 11am-1am.

Ernesto's Pizza, 69 Salem St, North End Some

say the pizza in Ernesto's is the best in North End.
Others say the pizza in Ernesto's is the best in
Boston. Either way, if you're looking for good pizza
you can do worse than slices from this pizza joint.
It's quite small, but the pizza is superb. Open
Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri & Sat 11am-11pm.

How do you like your nuts?

Roasted nut stands, various locations For a
true Bostonian experience get a portion of
roasted almonds/cashew/peanuts from one of
the stands dishing them out around Washington
Street. To locate one just let your nostrils do the
navigating. Portions cost approx $3.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace Comprising of Quincy
Market, North Market, South Market and
Marketplace Center, the Faneuil Hall Marketplace
offers Boston's best selection of places to eat. If
you're on a budget stick to the Quincy Market food
court where $10's worth of food will have you
unfastening that top button. Open Mon-Sat
10am-6pm, Sun noon-6pm.

Freedom Trail / Black Heritage Trail Spanning

4.8km and 2.5km respectively, these walking tours
are not to be missed. The former brings you past 16
of Boston's most significant landmarks like the Old
City Hall while the latter explores the history of
Boston's 19th century African American community.

The best view in Boston

Mark Your Calendar

January/February - Boston Wine Festival This
long-running festival is held in the Boston Harbour
Hotel. It includes numerous wine-related events
including wine tastings and plenty more.
March - St Patrick's Day Parade Since Boston is
America's most Irish city, it comes as no surprise
that its St Patrick's Day celebrations are huge. The
parade to mark the event boasts outlandish floats
and attracts over 600,000 people to the city

Skywalk Observatory, Prudential Center, 800

Boylston Street, Back Bay For panoramic
views of Boston, the Skywalk Observatory is
unrivalled. Admission includes an audio guide
which takes you through every part of the city.
Unlike so many audio tours, these are highly
engaging. Open daily from 10am-8pm (winter)
/10pm (summer); admission $12 (adult), $10
(student).

April - Patriot's Day Celebrations Boston

remembers the start of the revolution with a
combination of parades and re-enactments. As
Boston is so connected to the revolution, expect
massive celebrations.

Boston Duck Tours, 3 Copley Place, Suite 310

Funny, informative, and incorporating trips through
the city centre and along the Charles River, the
Boston Duck Tours are one of the best ways to see
this historic city. Witty guides keep you entertained
for the duration of the tour and if you're lucky, you
might even get to drive a duck! Tours depart daily
every 30/60 minutes from 9am-last hour before
sunset; tickets $31 (adult) /$27 (student).

June - Festival of Bands Boston's finest wind

instrument bands entertain thousands on the first
Saturday of every June at the city's Faneuil Hall.

Lucky's Lounge, 355 Congress Street, South

Boston Live music Fridays and Sinatra Sundays
are just a couple of the great theme nights to be
enjoyed here at Lucky's. With entertainment aplenty
and a funky 50s lounge vibe, it's no wonder that this
is such a popular spot. Lots of different cocktails are
offered here. Open Mon-Fri 11am-2am, Sat
6pm-2am, Sun 10am-2am.

Fenway Park, Lansdowne Street, Kenmore

Square Home to some of the most dramatic events
ever to take place in Boston, Fenway Park is where
the infamous Red Sox call home. Many Bostonians
would call it the home of baseball since it is the
oldest active ballpark. Whether it's for a tour or a
game, pencil it into your itinerary. Season runs from
April-October; tickets cost $20-$95; tours $12.

June to September - Free Friday Flicks Every

Friday during Boston's summer, classic films are
screened for free at the Hatch Memorial Shell.

Grafton Street, 1274 Mass Ave, Cambridge This

Cambridge watering hole isn't your typical
Irish-flavoured bar thanks to its trendy dcor, but it's
still a firm favourite with Harvard students thanks to
its top quality nosh and good beer. People-watching
is a favourite pastime here thanks to its large
windows which face Harvard Square. Open daily
from 11am-1am.

JFK Library and Museum, Columbia Point,

South Boston This museum documents the life of
JFK from his birth up to his untimely assassination
in Dallas in 1963. Open daily from 9am-5pm;
admission $12.

July - Independence Day Commemorating the

signing of the Declaration of Independence, the
banks of the Charles River, and in particular at the
Hatch Memorial Shell, are where to be for Boston's
4th of July celebrations.

Gay / Lesbian Boston

Even though Boston is one of the smallest of
the 'big cities' on the east coast of America, it
still has an extremely active gay community.
Fritz (26 Chandler Street) has been described
as 'Boston's gay Cheers' thanks to its relaxed
atmosphere. Buzz (67 Stuart Street) is the
place to be on Saturday nights while
Cosmopolitan (33 Batterymarch Street) is one
of the popular lesbian clubs on the scene.

Lizard Lounge, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge

Hosting bands from around the US, this intimate
club close to Harvard Square is where to go for live
music. Open nightly from 7.30pm-1am.
Remember it is standard practice to tip bartenders
every time you are served.
Hostelworld Guide for Boston

Don't Miss

April - Boston Marathon This 26-mile race is the

oldest marathon in the world. It begins in
Hopkington outside Boston and ends near the John
Hancock Tower in Copley Square.

June - Dragon Boat Festival Boat races are the

focal point of this event which is held on the Charles
River, although musical and dance performances
are staged also.

June/July - Boston Harborfest This seven-day

Fourth of July celebration, which attracts 2 million
people annually, is one of Boston's biggest
festivals.

October - Head of the Charles Regatta Held on

the last weekend of every October, this is the
largest two-day regatta in the world and attracts
over 300,000 spectators annually.
December - First Night Boston's unique New
Year's Eve celebrations begin with street parades in
the afternoon before climaxing with the obligatory
fireworks display that night.
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Neighbourhood Watch
Beacon Hill With its quaint cafs, glowing lanterns
and cobblestone sidewalks, Beacon Hill is one of
Boston's most charming neighbourhoods. Dating
back to the 19th century, it is just minutes from
Downtown Boston yet manages to maintain a
village-like atmosphere. Its main thoroughfare is
Charles Street but if you have the time, delve
deeper into this district.

Gridlocked
Back Bay Designed using a strict grid layout
(similar to that of Manhattan in New York) by
architect Arthur Gilman, Back Bay is home to
Boston's more affluent natives. Also just a
stone's throw from the city centre, its two best
known areas are around plush Newbury St with
its designer shops and the vicinity around
tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue, perfect for
an afternoon stroll.
North End Considered to be Boston's first
neighbourhood, North End is the city's very own
Little Italy. Famed (unsurprisingly) for its top quality
restaurants, there is a lot more to see in this
Mediterranean melting pot. Here you'll find
numerous churches along with Paul Revere's
house.
Kenmore Square Best known as the home of the
Boston Red Sox who delight thousands of adoring
fans in Fenway Park, Kenmore Square is also
famously affiliated with nightlife. If you wish to paint
the town red look no further than Lansdowne Street.
South Boston Affectionately known as 'Southie',
South Boston is the home of Boston's reputable
Irish community. It might be best-known for the Irish
pubs that line East and West Broadway but there's
more to it than that. It has great views of Boston's
harbour and is also the gateway to Marine Park. It
was featured heavily in the Oscar-nominated 'Good
Will Hunting'.
Hostelworld Guide for Boston

Retail Therapy
Washington Street/Winter Street These two
streets which interconnect at Downtown Crossing T
station are Boston's flagship shopping streets.
Pedestrianised, they are lined with clothes stores,
shoe stores, music stores and more. It is also
where you will locate 'the world's favourite
department store', Macy's.
Harvard Square Whether it's Harvard kitsch, skate
clothes, jigsaw puzzles, speciality foods or camera
accessories, you'll have no problem finding it
around Harvard Square. It's just five stops north of
Downtown Crossing on the Red Line. If nothing in
the stores inspires you to dig into your pockets, you
may feel brave enough to challenge the square's
chess masters who wait for opposition.

Fabulous daaahling!
Newbury Street On par with New York's Fifth
Avenue and LA's Rodeo Drive, Newbury Street
is Boston's best-known shopping street.
Designer boutiques adorn each side of this
street where the city's more affluent people go
to stock up their wardrobes. If you're not in the
position to fill your backpack with such goods, it
is one of the most beautiful streets in the city
and is worth the visit regardless.
Filene's Basement / DSW If you've returned from
Newbury Street feeling a little deflated, and you're
adamant on purchasing something for yourself, visit
either of these discount stores within a stone's
throw of each other on Washington Street. The
former specialises in discounted clothes while the
latter stands for Discount Shoe Warehouse which,
you will agree, speaks for itself.
Copley Place, 100 Huntington Ave In a nation
synonymous with shopping malls, it's no surprise
that Boston has many. This one in the Back Bay
district has lots to offers people intent on doing
damage to their flexible friend.

Budget Tips
Visit Boston's free museums If you're down and
out in Boston you can always take advantage of
some of its free museums. These include the USS
Constitution Museum dedicated to the celebrated
ship and the Massachusetts State House where
you can walk onto the chamber floors.
Go to the Boston Harbor Islands State Park The
ferry from Downtown Boston to Boston Harbor's
islands may cost $14, but entrance to the islands
themselves is free. Make your way out and you can
traipse the trails of Bumpkin Island, stroll along the
pier on Peddocks Island, or walk through the woods
on Lovells Island. Ferries operate between May and
October.
Embark on free guided walks You can save
yourself a few dollars by embarking on free guided
walks of the Freedom Trail and the Black Heritage
Trail. National Park Service Rangers offer free tours
of both walks so make sure to take advantage of
them. For more information on where and when
tours depart, check out www.nps.gov.
Explore Harvard Make sure to visit Harvard
University, America's most famous college. Located
in the Cambridge district north of the Charles River,
you can easily imagine what it would be like to
study there as you walk around the beautifully kept
grounds.

A walk in the park

Relax in Boston Common/Public Garden
Situated side by side in downtown Boston,
Boston Common and Public Garden are two of
America's most beautiful parks. They are the
perfect place to while away an afternoon,
watching the world go by along with the
extremely tame squirrels. Established in 1634,
Boston Common is Boston's oldest public park
while the Public Garden dates back to the 19th
century.

A Day in Boston...
Start the day at the beginning of Boston's famed
'Freedom Trail'. The 3-mile walk passes by some of
Boston's, and America's, most historically
significant landmarks.
Upon returning to the city centre, chill out in Boston
Common, Boston's oldest public park. Check out
the Public Garden also which is right beside it.
Take a stroll up Charles Street in Beacon Hill and
grab your lunch in 'The Paramount'. This is a local
favourite and does exceedingly good sandwiches.
After lunch take a stroll down busy Boylston Street
until you get to the Prudential Tower. Enjoy
breathtaking views from its observation deck.
Boston's two busiest streets are Washington Street
and Winter Street. Window shop or treat yourself to
something before getting the T from Downtown
Crossing to Harvard.
North of Boston's Charles River is Harvard
University, the most famous university in America.
Wander its grounds (below) and imagine what
studying here would be like.

There are loads of nice eateries around Harvard

Square. Grafton Street, one of Boston's Irish bars,
does great food. Follow it up with a pint!
Return to Boston city centre and check out some of
its bars. You could do worse than 'Bukowski's
Tavern' in Back Bay.
End the day off on Lansdowne Street, Boston's
most vibrant street. Lined with bars, you'll find some
of the city's best clubs are here too.

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