A city of history, architecture, and green spaces all at once, Boston, capital of Massachusetts and New England, is a top-tier tourist destination in the United States. Period.

Impressive neo-Romanesque churches, a swan boat tour, the suspended gardens of Beacon Hill, restaurants and fashion boutiques on Newbury Street… Boston's many facets captivate visitors. For sports enthusiasts, Boston is the baseball capital. Business travelers see it as a sister city to Washington and New York. During a guided tour, you'll discover that beneath the image of a global metropolis, Boston holds places steeped in history whose discovery brings genuine enchantment. You'll be dazzled by its architectural treasures, including Trinity Church, to mention only the most celebrated. Whether you wish to spend pleasant family vacations, visit the landmarks of the American Revolution, or pursue a particular hobby such as baseball or ice hockey, Boston is a destination for you.

Echoes of the Past: Boston, the Cradle of American Freedom

Founded on September 7, 1630, Massachusetts' capital is one of the oldest cities in the United States. To defend their religious beliefs, a community of English Puritans chose to immigrate to New England in the face of persecution by Charles I. John Winthrop, the movement's leader, was the colony's first governor. It was initially built south of Massachusetts Bay, before expanding toward the Shawmut Peninsula and conquering Beacon Hill territory, near which a fountain flowed. Tramontane was the city's first name, but Governor Winthrop renamed it Boston.

Unlike other New England cities, Boston was never under direct control of the British Crown. This management freedom sowed the seeds of patriotism among immigrants. Hence Boston's central role in sparking the American Revolution. It laid the groundwork with rebellious movements against Britain: the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Siege of Boston, and more.

The last two decades of the eighteenth century saw Boston's economic supremacy confirmed. The slave trade, and the export of salt, rum, and tobacco ensured a thriving port traffic. Boston boasted the highest income level among the thirteen colonies. There were built America's first public park (Boston Common), the first public educational institution (Boston Latin School), and the first industrial arts institute.

After a long recession, the city accelerated economic growth by betting on scientific research, medical innovations, and cutting-edge technologies, not to mention world-class universities. Over five thousand start-ups are registered in the territory. Despite urbanization, Boston has managed to maintain the appearance of a "garden city," a place of parks and gardens where life is pleasant.

Today: A Coveted Tourist Destination

With 673,184 inhabitants, Boston is the capital of Massachusetts State, one of the thirteen original colonies that formed the United States. Located in the northeast of the country, in the New England region, it shares borders with Chelsea, Cambridge, Revere, Somerville, Quincy, and other outlying suburbs. While it benefits from maritime access to Massachusetts Bay, which opens onto the Atlantic Ocean, the qualifier "beach resort" does not apply. Indeed, urbanization has encroached on the coastline, and many skyscrapers are built by landfill over the sea.

The city, inseparable from its suburbs, forms an urban agglomeration of 4.6 million inhabitants, ranking it tenth among American metropolises. Foreigners know Boston for its cranberries, its baked beans, its savory craft beers, and its baseball competitions, where the Red Sox, a world-renowned sports team, excel. But through its remarkable colonial architecture, the city of Harvard's elite is also a museum, an open-air history book. Heritage visits attract numerous tourists to the Path of Freedom or Freedom Trail, a famous trail lined with historical treasures. Thanks to a vast network of green spaces—the emerald necklace designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted—the possibilities for excursions and picnics are nearly limitless. Finally, its selection of starred hotels, award-winning restaurants, jewelry stores, and haute couture boutiques make Boston a paradise for luxury travel enthusiasts. If you're looking for cheap flights or budget vacations, you'll likely be disappointed. Boston ranks among the world's most expensive tourist destinations. But the discovery is absolutely worth it!

Must-See Attractions

Vibrant, colorful, and dynamic, Boston is one of those rare destinations that caters to all tastes. Here's our catalog of essential things to see and do in Boston!

Architectural and Historical Heritage

The Sixteen Historic Sites of Freedom Trail

The city is laden with countless monuments evoking the colonial era. To appreciate them properly, the Freedom Trail route is a must. You'll follow a 4-kilometer path marked by a pair of red lines. The circuit winds through the entire city. The starting point is Boston Common, America's oldest public park, while the ending point is Bunker Hill, site of a violent 1775 battle between rebels and British troops. Visitors with children will have a blast at Boston Common. Little ones will love wading in the former frog pond turned amusement park, which features a splash pad, ice skating school, and carousels. Leaving the public garden, you'll visit, among others, the State Capitol, whose elegant neoclassical facade is crowned with a golden dome, the Old State House, where the unanimous Declaration of Independence of the thirteen colonies was publicly read, Paul Revere's House, home to an ardent 18th-century nationalist, the USS Constitution, a historic warship named by President George Washington.

The freedom trail also passes through churches, beautiful Victorian homes, and burial markers of Puritan governors. To sample local specialties, be sure to stop at Quincy Market. On the menu are pizzas, clam chowders, and lobster sandwiches. For souvenirs and gifts, head to Faneuil Hall.

The ultimate goal of the hike is Bunker Hill, a historic site worth exploring. Let me warn you right away: getting there is no walk in the park. Your poor legs will have to climb 294 steps. But the reward will be worth the effort: a 37-meter-high obelisk stands at the center in remembrance of the battle that bloodied this place in 1776. Furthermore, you'll enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

Copley Square

The grand architectural ensembles on this square lend distinction to the Back Bay neighborhood. Unlike the nostalgic stroll on Freedom Trail, Copley Square reserves moments of artistic rapture. Admire Trinity Church, completed in 1877, hailed as a pinnacle of Richardsonian Romanesque art. At its side, the Old South Church of Boston will delight you with its Venetian Gothic porticos and arcades. The third unmissable figure on the square, the Boston Public Library, is an incredible monument. As you stroll through the building's courtyard, notice the Bacchante and Infant Faun, a world-renowned mythological sculpture by MacMonnies. The main entrance is divided into three arcades in which sculptor Daniel Chester French modeled a triptych of allegorical divinities. In the left arcade, Music and Poetry; in the right, Truth and Romance. Knowledge and Wisdom occupy the central part. The library's interior houses canvas paintings by French master Pierre Puvis de Chavannes.

Beacon Hill

Boston's most touristy neighborhood is undoubtedly Beacon Hill. You must visit to wander its cobblestone streets, observe brick buildings, perpetually flowering balconies, and doors decorated with pediments.

Cultural and Religious Heritage

The Museum of Fine Arts: Opened in 1870 in the Boston Athenæum building before relocating 39 years later to Huntington Avenue, the Museum of Fine Arts is Boston's largest museum and one of the most important in the United States. Nearly 450,000 artworks from around the world are displayed there. If ancient Egypt interests you or if you enjoy studying remarkable masterpieces of European painting, particularly Flemish, Spanish, and Italian canvases, or French Impressionist works, don't hesitate to visit the museum. Its collection of Japanese artworks is extraordinarily rich.

Attractions for Children

• The Skywalk Observatory: Founded in 1965, Prudential Tower is a monumental 52-story tower. An observation deck offering a unique vantage point of the city awaits you on the 50th floor. The wooded vegetation of Boston Common, Fenway Park where the Red Sox play, Harvard and Longfellow bridges, the distinctive buildings of Back Bay and Beacon Hill, and other monuments can all be embraced in a single glance.

• The Children's Museum: an attraction recommended for young children. The museum offers a robust program of fun and educational activities.

• New England Aquarium: Created in 1969, this aquarium museum offers a captivating glimpse into global marine biodiversity.

Boston's Most Famous Dishes

To eat like a resident of Massachusetts, you must try baked beans, a stew of white beans drenched in tomato sauce and accompanied by white bread. It's the typical breakfast dish in New England. Another local delicacy, the Boston cream pie is equally unmissable. Calling it a "pie" is technically incorrect. In fact, it's a cake made of butter sponge and coated in chocolate cream.

Best Time to Visit

To travel to Boston in favorable weather, it's best to choose dates between May and October. The city enjoys a continental climate: summers are as warm as winters are bitterly cold with wind gusts. So even though summer is marked by mass tourism and higher hotel prices, the trip is worthwhile in this season with open-air concerts, baseball games, and dining venues open to visitors.

Tourism in Boston is encouraged by the development of air connections. Numerous airlines (Air France, Delta, and KLM) offer direct flights to Boston from Paris. The flight lands at Boston's Logan International Airport. Expect approximately 10 and a half hours of flying before landing.

The airport is located 6 kilometers from downtown Boston. You're free to take the bus, metro, or private transport to reach your hotel.

You'll Love…

• Watching a baseball game at Fenway Park;

• Tasting a Boston cream pie, Massachusetts' most famous dessert;

• Taking a heritage tour on Freedom Trail;

• Enjoying the stunning views from Prudential Tower's observatory;

• Observing marine species at New England Aquarium;

• Admiring the rich collection at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.