Boston City Breaks

A guide to Boston

Unlike most cities in America, Boston is a wonderful place to stroll around and explore its wealth of historic buildings. It has a very European feel and offers a refreshingly relaxed alternative to New York, where it is possible to see all the major highlights and soak up its refined atmosphere. Known as the ‘Cradle of Liberty’ the Bostonian heritage is essentially the history of the USA, and there are some fabulous museums and historic landmarks to see. The city is also known for its distinctive neighborhoods, with Italian, Chinese and Irish quarters perfect for exploring and offering excellent dining options.

America’s most historic city, fascinating museums

Walking the Freedom Trail is a must for history buffs, and features 16 historic sites such as the old State House and the USS Constitution along a 4km pathway. In addition to numerous museums, the Museum of Fine Arts and the modern Institute of Contemporary Art will appeal to art-lovers. Kids will love the captivating hands on exhibits at the MIT Museum, devoted to wacky inventions or the equally fascinating Museum of Science. You can also head to Harvard University in nearby Cambridge, where this hallowed seat of learning contains a wealth of attractions open to the public, such as natural history and art museums.

Enjoy the 'craic' in evergreen Boston

The influence of the Emerald Isle runs deep in Boston and anyone with Irish roots will immediately feel right at home. It has arguably the most authentic Irish pubs outside Ireland and there are lots of them. Most serve up home cooked pub grub and you can expect a typically vibrant Dublin-style atmosphere with lots of good natured banter and music, especially during St Patrick’s Day. Try and save a day for exploring outside the city limits, such at the charming villages of New England, and for idyllic east coast beaches or a day of yachting, refined Cape Cod and Nantucket are hard to beat.