This post is about how to choose the best area to stay in Boston.
With dozens of Boston hotels to choose from, you may be feeling overwhelmed.
If this comment posted on our Boston Travel Tips Facebook Group sounds like you, then you’ve come to the right place!
How We’ve Organized Our Recommendations
Our hotel recommendations are broken down by neighborhood.
Most hotels will have basic amenities such as a private bathroom and free wifi, but those aren't the only important things to consider, so we will provide additional information to help you make a more informed decision.
First, we explain each neighborhood and cover what makes it special.
Secondly, we’ll list out hotels using two price ranges, *Average Price (between $200 and $400) and *Higher End (anything above $400).
The reason we’ve broken it down this way is that Boston is one of the most, if not the most, expensive cities when it comes to hotel pricing.
It’s rare to find a well-reviewed budget hotel below $200 in these neighborhoods and rates don’t change much throughout the seasons.
That’s not to say you can’t find better pricing but it may take some work and flexibility on dates.
Thirdly, we list the sights and attractions within walking distance of that neighborhood
Finally, we make recommendations for some of the best hotels for a quiet stay, for a free delicious breakfast, and for an amazing rooftop.
*Note that we do not include the Boston occupancy tax of 6.5% or the 2.75% convention tax or any resort fees that may be added to your stay by the hotel.
Why Trust Our Advice?
Why should you rely on our information? Because we speak with tourists every day during our walking tours.
They tell us what they like and don’t like about their accommodations around the city. Some rave and some rant.
We listen and then share what they tell us with our readers.
We learn even more from the hundreds of detailed comments and recommendations from visitors on our Facebook group which has thousands of members and is growing every day!
The comments are filled with up-to-date hotel recommendations with detailed information from actual hotel guests.
Best Area To Stay In Boston City For Families
Note that these are the factors folks have told us matter to them when looking for a place to stay with kids in Boston:
- You will want to stay in a hotel that is close to subway lines so little legs don't get tired out quickly.
- You will want a hotel that does not attract rowdy people who like to make noise.
- And you’ll want to be close to attractions that keep kids entertained, be it a museum, a swimming pool, or something else.
Our recommendations come from other travelers who have said that the hotels we have listed below have kept their kids entertained and comfortable.
Note: most of the hotels our guests have listed fall in the Higher End category of hotels.
That’s not to say you can’t find hotels in the Average Price range that your children would be perfectly happy in, but these are the ones that tend to provide activities aimed directly at kids.
Where to Stay by Area in Boston
Below are some of the best hotels to stay in Boston selected from popular neighborhoods.
We even included hotels in Cambridge as it’s just across the river and easy to access.
Note that Boston often comes in as the #1 most expensive city to stay in in the country, so it’s hard to find deals.
Back Bay
The Back Bay neighborhood is close to so much of what folks come to Boston to see: Fenway Park, Boston Common, shopping, food, theater, and more. If you're interested in seeing a Red Sox game, this is the place to be!
It’s full of historic brownstones and grassy green spaces, as well as skyscrapers. This is a great spot to stay for first-time visitors to the city. There are also a lot of great seafood restaurants in this area!
For an even more in-depth view, check out our post on where to stay in Back Bay. Below is an overview of this post.
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
Higher End
For Families
- The Westin Copley Place
- The Colonnade Hotel Back Bay
- The Lenox Back Bay
- Fairmont Copley Plaza
- Sheraton Boston
Attractions Within Walking Distance
We have a post on what to do and where to eat and shop in the Back Bay.
- Boston Common
- Fenway Park
- Skywalk Observatory
- Symphony Hall
- Boston Public Library
- Boston University
- Trinity Church
- Old South Church
- Copley Square Farmers Market
- Newbury Street
- Boylston Street
- Boston Marathon Memorial
- Kenmore Square
- Cheers Bar
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Gibson House Museum
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our Beacon Hill Crime, Cambridge & Harvard, and Boston Ghost tours.
Downtown
This is the central business district of Boston but is also home to loads of restaurants, tourist attractions, and shopping.
It also includes Historic Downtown Boston, which has some of Boston’s most well-known attractions. It is truly the heart of the city!
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Recommended Hotels
Average Price
- Doubletree by Hilton Boston *sometimes has good deals
- Intercontinental Boston
- Harborside Inn
- HI Boston Hostel
Higher End
For Families
Attractions Within Walking Distance
- Freedom Trail
- Old State House
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace
- Massachusetts State House
- Granary Burying Ground
- Downtown Crossing
- Union Oyster House
- Black Heritage Trail
- Boston Tea Party Museum
- Museum of African American History
- Rose Kennedy Greenway
- New England Aquarium
- Chinatown
- Boston Massacre Site
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our Freedom Trail, Rum, Riots, Writers and Revolution, and North End Little Italy tours.
North End
A small area by Boston Harbor, North End is one of Boston’s oldest residential neighborhoods.
It was the gateway to Boston for many immigrants. At times it was home to Irish, Portuguese, Russian, and Polish Jews, and Italians.
Today it is called “Little Italy” by some due to the Italian shops and restaurants that dot its streets. Indeed, this neighborhood has plenty of excellent dining options!
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
Depending on the dates, sometimes the Battery Wharf Hotel or the Canopy by Canopy by Hilton Boston may have prices in this range.
Higher End
For Families
- There were no hotels recommended for children/families in this neighborhood.
Attractions Within Walking Distance
- Freedom Trail
- Granary Burying Ground
- USS Constitution
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace
- Old State House
- Paul Revere's House
- Massachusetts State House
- Boston Museum of Science
- African Meeting House
- New England Aquarium
- Museum of African American History
- Quincy Market
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our North End Little Italy Tour, Freedom Trail, Rum, Riots, Writers, and Revolution tours.
West End
This mixed-use residential and commercial neighborhood was once, like the North End, home to immigrants at the end of the 19th century.
Sadly much of its historical charm was lost to urban renewal destruction in the 1950s.
Today it has or is close to, some of the most well-known attractions in Boston, including a number of museums.
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
Luxury Hotels
For Families
- There were no hotels recommended for children/families in this neighborhood.
Attractions Within Walking Distance
- Freedom Trail
- USS Constitution
- Massachusetts State House
- Granary Burying Ground
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace
- Old State House
- Boston Museum of Science
- Museum of Science
- Sports Museum
- Otis House Museum
- West End Museum
- African Meeting House
- Quincy Market
- Old West Church
- Museum of African American History
- Cheers Bar
- Black Heritage Trail
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our North End Little Italy Tour, Freedom Trail, Rum, Riots, Writers, and Revolution tours.
South End
South End is another one of the most attractive neighborhoods in Boston, especially since it has seen a recent economic revitalization.
It’s known for its Victorian houses and its beautiful parks. It’s also where you want to go if dining is the reason for your trip; some of Boston’s top chefs have restaurants here.
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
Higher End
For Families
Attractions Within Walking Distance
- Skywalk Observatory
- Symphony Hall
- Boston Public Library
- The Wilbur
- Griffin Museum
- Boston Public Garden
- Boston Common
- SoWa Open Market
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our Beacon Hill Crime, Rum, Riots, Writers and Revolution, and Boston Ghost tours.
Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill is known for its postcard-perfect neighborhoods, brick sidewalks, cobblestone streets, and gaslit lamps.
It’s truly one of the most charming areas in the city.
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
- Boston Park Plaza (just south of Beacon Hill)
- Moxy Boston Downtown (just south of Beacon Hill)
Higher End
- The Whitney Hotel
- The Newbury Boston
- Revere Hotel Boston Common (just south of Beacon Hill)
For Families
Attractions Within Walking Distance
- Massachusetts State House
- Granary Burying Ground
- Faneuil Hall MarketplaceFreedom Trail, Boston, MAMass
- Old State House
- Boston Common
- Boston Common Frog Pond
- Boston Public Garden
- Gibson House Museum
- Louisburg Square
- Otis House Museum
- African Meeting House
- Quincy Market
- Old West Church
- Museum of African American History
- Cheers Bar
- Black Heritage Trail
- Charles River Esplanade
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our Beacon Hill Crime, Rum, Riots, Writers and Revolution, and Boston Ghost tours.
Charlestown/Bunker Hill
Charlestown is often listed as one of the best neighborhoods in Boston because of its charm.
It’s a historic (think colonial-style architecture, cobblestone, and gas lights) neighborhood existing just across the river from the bustle of the big city.
It’s where young professionals and families choose to live thanks to its rating as one of the most desirable places to live in Massachusetts.
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
Higher End
- There were no higher-end hotels recommended for this neighborhood.
For Families
Attractions Within Walking Distance
- Bunker Hill Monument & Museum
- USS Constitution
- Charlestown Navy Yard
- Freedom Trail
- Boston Tea Party Museum
- Rose Kennedy Greenway
- Warren Tavern
- The Wilbur
- The USS Cassin Young
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our North End Little Italy Tour, Freedom Trail, Rum, Riots, Writers, and Revolution tours.
South Boston Waterfront/Seaport
One of the hottest neighborhoods is the Seaport District.
What was once blighted dockland is now stunningly restored and full of glass-front high-rises, art, restaurants, green spaces, and tourist attractions.
You can also take tourist cruises out on the water, play games at the famous Lawn on D, and snap some gorgeous pictures at Fan Pier.
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
- Hyatt Place Boston/Seaport District
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston Seaport District
- Element Boston Seaport District
Higher End
For Families
Attractions Within Walking Distance
- The Institute of Contemporary Aat
- Boston Fire Museum
- Fan Pier
- Leader Bank Pavilion
- One Seaport
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
- Boston’s Children’s Museum
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our Little Italy, Rum, Riots, Writers and Revolution, and Boston Ghost tours.
Cambridge
Cambridge, just minutes from North End Boston, is home to Harvard University and MIT.
It’s a city that’s been ranked as one of the best places in the country to live, due to its walkability, nightlife, and cultural offerings.
The hotels can be slightly cheaper here than in downtown Boston, and the T, bus, and train make them easy to reach.
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
Luxury Hotels
For Families
Attractions Within Walking Distance
- Harvard Art Museum
- Harvard Museum of Natural History
- Memorial Hall - Sanders Theatre
- Central Square
- MIT Museum
- Peabody Museum
- Longfellow House
- Fresh Pond Reservation
Check out our pay-what-you-like Boston tours including our Cambridge and Harvard tour
Logan Airport
If staying close to the airport is convenient or necessary, then no worries. Downtown Boston can be reached quickly by water taxi or the T.
Some rooms on this side of Boston Harbour may even give you a great view of the city, and the hotel is likely to be less expensive than downtown.
Recommended Hotels
Average Price
- Embassy Suites by Hilton
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston Logan Airport Chelsea
- Hilton Garden Inn Boston Logan Airport
Luxury Hotels
For Families
Boston Boutique Hotels
Choosing a hotel is more than just picking a location. The amenities hotels have to offer are important considerations.
Below are recommended hotels that meet some of the most frequent features people seek when deciding where to stay in Boston.
Where To Stay In Boston For Peace And Quiet
Where To Stay In Boston For A Free (And Good!) Breakfast
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston Seaport District
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Boston Logan
- Hampton Inn by Hilton Boston/Cambridge
Where To Stay In Boston With Amazing Rooftops
Tips for Choosing a Hotel in Boston
- Make a list of the Boston Attractions you want to visit then plot them on a map. This way you can see what neighborhoods you plan to spend most of your time in and choose a hotel in that area.
- Pick a hotel near a “T” (subway) station. Don’t add extra walking time to your day of Boston exploration.
- Look out for resort fees. A resort fee is an additional fee per day added on top of your room rate. Resort fees can be high, so before booking, check to see if the hotel charges one.
- If you are traveling in a big group (over four people), make sure that the hotel offers rooms that can accommodate your entire group. Otherwise, you may have to book two rooms. In that case, remember to request that the rooms be next to each other, or even adjoining rooms.
- You can save money on weekend rates if you stay at a hotel that caters to business people. During the week, they charge a premium for people who are in tow for work. On weekends capacity is low and prices may be lower to fill rooms.
- Look into booking your hotel through a website like Hotels.com. See why we like Hotels.com below.
- If you don't feel like getting a hotel, you might also want to look into a service such as Trusted Housesitters to see whether or not you can work off your stay or save a bit of money!
