Where to Stay

Options abound in Boston when it comes to lodging, especially in downtown and Back Bay, where most of the city’s larger boutique and chain hotels are concentrated. You’ll also find independent properties and more budget-friendly spots in neighborhoods that are still easy to reach on the T, Boston’s subway system. Because Boston is compact, where you stay can shape how you explore — whether you want quick access to historic sites, the waterfront, or quieter streets with good transit nearby. Here are our go-to picks across Boston, from luxury hotels to midrange spots and trusted neighborhood Airbnbs.

Photo: Boston Harbor Hotel

Boston Harbor Hotel — Set on Rowes Wharf, this impressive property has some of the best waterfront views in the city. It offers 232 guest rooms and suites, an indoor health club with a 60-foot lap pool and spa, and two well-regarded dining venues: Rowes Wharf Sea Grille, which serves New England seafood, and Rowes Wharf Bar, known for its long whiskey list and classic cocktails. From the hotel, it’s easy to reach the Financial District, the Greenway, and ferry routes to the Harbor Islands — which makes the location especially useful for travelers who plan to move between the waterfront and downtown sights.

Boston Harbor Hotel: 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110

Photo: Booking.com

Fairmont Copley Plaza — A Back Bay landmark since 1912, this grande dame sits on Copley Square and commands sweeping views of Boston’s skyline and historic streets. Its 383 rooms retain a sense of old-world elegance, and the hotel’s famed Oval Room — with its sky and cloud ceiling mural — has appeared in films such as The Firm and Blown Away. Over the decades the hotel has welcomed celebrities, royalty, and nearly every US president since William Howard Taft. Among its amenities are refined dining, a full-service spa, and easy access to Newbury Street, the Public Garden, and the city’s theater district.

Fairmont Copley Plaza: 138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

Photo: Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston — Rising over Back Bay in a 61-story tower, One Dalton is the newer of Boston’s two Four Seasons and works well as a central, upscale base. Rooms look out over the Christian Science Plaza, the South End, or toward Fenway, depending on the floor, and each has a spacious dressing area, marble bathroom, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The Wellness Floor includes the spa, a long indoor lap pool, and a well-equipped fitness center. Dining covers breakfast at One + One, cocktails at Trifecta on the lobby level, and Zuma — the izakaya that draws a crowd.

Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street: 1 Dalton St, Boston, MA 02115

Photo: Revere Hotel Boston Common

Revere Hotel Boston Common — This modern haven kisses Boston’s Theater District and sits fewer than 10 minutes by foot from Chinatown. Rooms include handsome details, like houndstooth chaise lounges and C.O. Bigelow bath products, and some even have little balconies. Paul Revere — the 18th-century Boston patriot — serves as the hotel’s design inspiration, from artworks of the famous liberty seeker to stained-glass panels referencing Old North Church, a key landmark in Revere’s story. Head to Rebel’s Guild, the hotel’s on-site restaurant and bar, for local favorites such as homemade clam chowder, meatloaf, and Boston cream pie.

Revere Hotel Boston Common: 200 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

Photo: Booking.com

The Revolution Hotel — Housed in what was once a YWCA, this South End property uses its historic architecture as a backdrop for modern interiors and Boston-themed artwork. The lobby features a 65-foot mural and a three-story “Innovation Tower,” a sculpture built from vintage typewriters, rotary phones, and other everyday inventions that originated in Massachusetts. Amenities include free bike rentals, a 24-hour gym with Peloton bikes, and a café for coffee or light meals. Rooms range from compact layouts to loft-style suites with kitchenettes, and pets are allowed for a modest fee. The location — less than a ten-minute walk from Back Bay Station — makes it straightforward to reach different parts of the city.

The Revolution Hotel: 40 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

Photo: The Verb Hotel

The Verb Hotel — The Verb Hotel brings retro rock-and-roll energy to Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, pairing its 1959 motor-lodge roots with a music-heavy design shaped by memorabilia from the David Bieber Archives, a large private collection of music and pop-culture ephemera. Rooms range from standard kings and queens with in-room record players to pool- and Fenway Park–view options, and a collection of ten custom “Backstage” trailers — parked on-site as additional guest rooms — celebrates artists from Stevie Nicks to Dolly Parton. The year-round outdoor pool is heated to hot-tub levels in winter, and breakfast is included at the on-site restaurant Hojoko, which serves a Japanese-inspired menu throughout the day. Located next to Fenway Park and within walking distance of the House of Blues, the MGM Music Hall, and the Museum of Fine Arts, the hotel is especially convenient for concerts, games, and museum visits. Rates are generally lower in winter and can climb significantly during baseball season or major events.

The Verb Hotel: 1271 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215

Photo: HI Boston

HI Boston Hostel — Finally, here is Boston’s answer to affordable housing for visitors eager to stay in the city. The clean, youthful space has private and dorm rooms, free WiFi, a complimentary continental breakfast, and gratis daily city tours and activities. The hostel also has a communal kitchen, a large lounge with a pool table, and luggage and bike storage, along with laundry facilities.

HI Boston Hostel: 19 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

Backpackers Hostel & Pub — Located in the town of Everett, just outside Boston, this family-owned and -operated hostel offers shared dormitory-style rooms, a computer room, a pub, and free WiFi. Guests can reach it via the Orange Line to Wellington Station, where the hostel provides a free shuttle service. It’s also about a 15-minute walk from the station.

Backpackers Hostel & Pub: 13 School St, Everett, MA 02149

Photo: Airbnb

Light-filled brownstone apartment in Boston’s South End — This second-floor suite sits inside a historic South End brownstone, with tall Victorian windows, original wood details, and views onto Tremont Street. Two bright dining nooks double as workspaces, and the kitchen and bathroom are modernized without losing the building’s early-1900s character. Travelers consistently note how clean and well-kept the space is and how easy it is to settle into the neighborhood — cafés, bakeries, and small shops line the surrounding blocks, and Copley Square, Newbury Street, and multiple subway lines are all within walking distance.

Modern loft in heart of Downtown — Spread out in this sleek, airy loft with an open floor plan decorated in soothing gray and white tones with comfy furniture, including a sofa bed in the main living area, and a king-size bed. It’s only one block from Boston Common and the Public Garden and about 10 or so minutes by foot to Back Bay and North End.

Photo: Airbnb

Three-bedroom penthouse in Somerville — Somerville sits just north of Boston and offers an easy base for exploring the city, especially for groups who need more room than most in-town rentals provide. This renovated penthouse offers rare space for the area, with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and parking for multiple cars. The two-level layout includes bright living areas, large windows, and a balcony off the primary bedroom. Each room has its own TV and AC unit, and guests consistently praise the spotless interiors, comfortable beds, and thoughtful touches for families, including pack-and-plays and high chairs on request. The kitchen is fully equipped for groups, and two separate living rooms make the home workable for families or mixed groups traveling together. Outside, the apartment sits steps from Foss Park, a local hub with ballfields and a public pool, and it’s an easy walk to Wellington Station on the Orange Line for fast trips into Boston.