Boston

Around Boston

Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Massachusetts · 5.0M people

Boston

Locals say Greater Boston · “Beantown”, “The Hub”

Boston · Cambridge · Newton · Framingham · Waltham

Where every cobblestone has a story.

Red Sox redCeltics greenBruins gold

Join the room Ask the neighbours

Welcome to Greater Boston! Whether you're here for the history, the sports, or the seafood, you'll find a city that's small enough to know and big enough to surprise. Grab a coffee, hop on the T, and start exploring—there's always something happening.

Clubs for Boston

No clubs for Boston yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Boston. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Boston. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Museum of Fine Arts One of the largest art museums in the country.
  • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Venetian-style palace with a lush courtyard.
  • Charles River Esplanade Riverside park for walking, biking, and concerts.
  • Boston Public Library Historic McKim Building with stunning murals and a courtyard.
  • TD Garden Home of the Celtics and Bruins, big concerts too.
  • Castle Island Fort Independence and a scenic beach in South Boston.
  • Outdoors Walk the Freedom Trail
  • Outdoors Kayak on the Charles River
  • With kids Ride the Swan Boats in the Public Garden
  • With kids Explore the Museum of Science
  • Evenings Catch live music at the Sinclair
  • Evenings Bar hop in the North End
  • Locals love Clam shacks and seafood shacks
  • Locals love College bars and pubs

Through the year

  • Boston Marathon April World's oldest annual marathon, run on Patriots' Day in April.
  • Head of the Charles Regatta October Largest two-day rowing event in the world, along the Charles River.
  • Boston Calling Music Festival May Major multi-stage music festival held at the Harvard Athletic Complex.
  • Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular July Free concert and fireworks on the Esplanade every July 4th.
  • Boston Book Festival October Annual celebration of books and authors at Copley Square.

Boston has four distinct seasons: cold, snowy winters; mild, erratic springs; warm, humid summers; and crisp, beautiful autumns. The best time to be out is late spring and early fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal—mild temperatures and fewer crowds.

Talk like a local

“wicked”
Very; intensifier, as in 'wicked good'.
“the T”
The subway system, short for MBTA.
“packie”
A liquor store.
“rotary”
A traffic circle or roundabout.

Getaways

  • Cape Cod Beaches, dunes, and charming seaside towns.
  • Providence Artsy city with great food and WaterFire.
  • Worcester Museums, music venues, and the Worcester Art Museum.
  • Manchester, NH Historic mills and the Currier Museum of Art.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Boston Red Sox MLB
  • New England Patriots NFL
  • Boston Celtics NBA
  • Boston Bruins NHL
  • New England Revolution MLS
  • Boston Fleet PWHL
  • Boston College Eagles NCAA
  • Boston University Terriers NCAA
  • Harvard Crimson NCAA
  • Northeastern Huskies NCAA
  • Boston Legacy FC NWSL

Eat and drink

  • New England clam chowder Creamy, hearty chowder served in sourdough bowls
  • Lobster roll Cold or hot buttered lobster on a toasted bun
  • Boston baked beans Sweet, molasses-glazed beans
  • Boston cream pie Custard-filled cake with chocolate glaze
  • Fenway Frank Grilled hot dog with mustard and relish, a ballpark staple
  • Cannoli Italian pastry from the North End

Where people go

  • Freedom Trail 2.5-mile walk through historic sites
  • Boston Harbor Waterfront with ferries, islands, and seafood
  • Fenway Park Iconic baseball stadium
  • Boston Common Oldest public park in the US
  • Public Garden Victorian park with swan boats
  • North End
  • Harvard Square Bustling hub of Cambridge, near Harvard University
  • T (subway) Historic transit system

Heritage and traditions

Greater Boston takes pride in its role as the birthplace of the American Revolution, its world-class universities and hospitals, and its passionate sports culture, where the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots are woven into the city's identity.

This time of year in Boston

  • Fall foliage in the suburbs October Leaf peeping in areas like the Arnold Arboretum.

Say it like a local: “pissa” — great

Festivals

  • St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston March The largest St. Patrick's Day parade in New England, celebrating Irish heritage.
  • Lowell Folk Festival July The largest free folk festival in the US, showcasing diverse traditions.
  • Cambridge River Festival June A free arts and music festival along the Charles River.
  • North End Feasts August Italian street festivals honoring saints, with processions and food.
  • Boston Seafood Festival August A celebration of New England seafood with cooking demos.
  • Somerville Porchfest May A grassroots music festival where local bands play on porches.

Landmarks with a story

  • Old North Church Where Paul Revere's signal lanterns were hung in 1775.
  • Paul Revere House The home of the Revolutionary War patriot.
  • USS Constitution The oldest commissioned warship afloat, docked in Charlestown.
  • Bunker Hill Monument Commemorates the 1775 battle.
  • Massachusetts State House The state capitol with its golden dome.
  • King's Chapel One of the oldest churches in Boston, with a historic cemetery.

Food traditions

  • Clam bake A traditional New England beach cookout with clams, lobster, corn, and potatoes steamed in seaweed.
  • Baked scrod A Boston classic, white fish baked with breadcrumbs, often served at Friday fish dinners.
  • Portuguese sweet bread Brought by Portuguese immigrants, especially in the Fall River/New Bedford area, but also in Boston.
  • Greek Easter lamb In Lowell and other Greek communities, a spring tradition of roasting lamb.
  • Italian sausage and peppers At North End feasts and festivals, a beloved street food.

Music and arts

  • Boston Symphony Orchestra One of the world's leading orchestras, performing at Symphony Hall.
  • Berklee College of Music A renowned music school that has shaped jazz, rock, and pop.
  • Boston rock scene Bands like Aerosmith, the Cars, and the Pixies.
  • Irish music sessions Traditional Irish music in pubs, especially in South Boston.

A little history

  • 1630 Boston founded by Puritan colonists.
  • 1770 Boston Massacre.
  • 1773 Boston Tea Party.
  • 1775 Paul Revere's Ride.
  • 1897 First subway in the US opens in Boston.

Rivalries

  • Red Sox vs. Yankees Baseball's greatest rivalry, always heated.
  • Bruins vs. Canadiens Historic NHL rivalry with deep roots.
  • Celtics vs. Lakers NBA's classic East-West showdown.
  • Patriots vs. Giants Super Bowl rematches that still sting.
  • Game day Sweet Caroline sing-along at Fenway
  • Game day Patriots' Day game
  • Outdoors Walk the Harborwalk
  • Outdoors Picnic at the Public Garden
  • With kids Boston Children's Museum
  • With kids Franklin Park Zoo

The classic Boston accent drops the 'r' sound, turning 'car' into 'cah' and 'Harvard' into 'Hahvahd'. Locals use 'wicked' as an intensifier and might say 'tonic' for soda.

Only here

  • The Big Dig - the most expensive highway project in US history, which buried part of I-93.
  • The T - the oldest subway system in the US, with the first tunnel in 1897.
  • Make Way for Ducklings statues - bronze ducklings in the Public Garden.
  • The Boston Marathon - the world's oldest annual marathon.
New here? A few tips
  • Learn to pronounce 'Boston' with an 'aw' sound, not 'Boss-ton'.
  • Use the T, but know that the Green Line has multiple branches and can be confusing.
  • Carry an umbrella; weather changes quickly.
  • Try a lobster roll and clam chowder early on.
  • Don't call it 'Beantown' too much; locals rarely use it.

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Part of Greater Boston

Nearby

Every area
WorcesterMassachusettsSeven hills, one heart, and a diner on every corner.ProvidenceRhode IslandWhere rivers light up and coffee milk flowsManchester–NashuaNew HampshireWhere the Merrimack winds through mill towns and maple groves.PutnamConnecticutA quiet corner of New England charmCape CodMassachusettsWhere every day feels like a vacation.ConcordNew HampshireThe granite heart of New England.Vineyard HavenMassachusettsA world apart, just a ferry ride away.KeeneNew HampshireWhere the mountain meets Main Street.

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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