Boston
6 hostels · dorms from $29
A compact, walkable historic city and the state's hostel base.
Points of interest
- Freedom Trail
- Fenway Park
- North End
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
- Boston Common
State guide
Things to do in Massachusetts
Where the American Revolution began: Boston's Freedom Trail and university towns, Cape Cod's dunes and fishing villages, the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, and the hills of the Berkshires.
6
Hostels across its 4 main cities
8.7
Average, from 18,905 reviews
4–5
Days to do it properly
History, harbours and New England coast
Massachusetts is small by American standards, but it packs in a lot. Boston, its capital, is one of the oldest cities in the country, compact and walkable, where the first battles of the American Revolution were fought. Across the river, Cambridge is home to Harvard and MIT, and the student population keeps both cities young and lively.
Outside Boston, the state is classic New England. Salem, half an hour north, trades on its 1692 witch trials, and is mobbed in October. Cape Cod curls into the Atlantic with beaches, dunes, lighthouses and seafood shacks, ending at Provincetown, an artists' town and one of the best-known LGBTQ+ destinations in the USA. The islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are a ferry ride away, and in the west, the Berkshires have hiking, music festivals and autumn colour.
Give Massachusetts four or five days: two or three for Boston and Cambridge, and the rest for Cape Cod or Salem. Summer is the season for the coast, and late September and October are the best months for the leaves.
Where to base yourself
Boston for most of the trip, with nights on the Cape or in Salem.
Cambridge
Across the river from Boston, with Harvard, MIT and a student buzz.
Points of interest
- Harvard Yard
- MIT Museum
- Harvard Square
- Charles River
Salem
A harbour town known for the 1692 witch trials, half an hour from Boston.
Points of interest
- Salem Witch Museum
- Peabody Essex Museum
- House of the Seven Gables
- Halloween events
Provincetown
An arty, lively town at the tip of Cape Cod, busiest in summer.
Points of interest
- Cape Cod National Seashore
- Pilgrim Monument
- Commercial Street
- Whale watching
Regions of Massachusetts
Boston is the base, the coast is the summer draw, and the west is for hills and autumn colour.
Greater Boston
History, nightlife, first-timersBoston and Cambridge, with the Freedom Trail, universities, museums and the T.
The North Shore
Witch history, seafoodSalem, Gloucester and Rockport, with coastal towns and fishing harbours north of Boston.
Cape Cod
Beaches, dunes, summerA hooked peninsula of beaches, lighthouses and seafood shacks, ending at Provincetown.
Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
Islands, beachesTwo summer islands of shingled houses and beaches, reached by ferry.
Pioneer Valley
College townsThe Connecticut River valley around Northampton, with college towns and hiking.
The Berkshires
Hills, art, autumn colourWooded hills in the west, with MASS MoCA, summer music and autumn leaves.
Things to do
Things to do in Massachusetts
In Boston, walk the Freedom Trail, a red line in the pavement linking 16 historic sites from Boston Common to the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat. Explore the North End, the city's Italian neighbourhood, Beacon Hill's brick streets and the Public Garden. Catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in the major leagues, and visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum or the Museum of Fine Arts.
Cross to Cambridge to walk through Harvard Yard and the MIT campus. Take a whale-watching trip from Boston harbour, from spring to autumn, to the feeding grounds of Stellwagen Bank. Visit Salem for the witch trial history and its maritime museum, the Peabody Essex.
On Cape Cod, cycle the Cape Cod Rail Trail, walk the dunes and beaches of the Cape Cod National Seashore and spend a night in Provincetown. Ferries go to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. In the Berkshires, hike Mount Greylock, the state's highest point, and visit MASS MoCA, a huge contemporary art museum in old factory buildings.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Walking the Freedom Trail is free, though some sites along it charge entry. Boston Common, the Public Garden and the Charles River Esplanade are free and beautiful, and Harvard Yard and the MIT campus are open to walk around.
The beaches of the Cape Cod National Seashore are free to walk onto, though parking charges apply in summer. Some Boston museums have free evenings or free days.
In summer, the Boston Pops play free concerts on the Esplanade, including on Independence Day.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Seafood is the thing: clam chowder, lobster rolls, fried clams and oysters. The Boston Public Market and the seafood shacks of Cape Cod are good places to try them. The North End is famous for Italian food and pastries, especially cannoli.
Boston baked beans gave the city the nickname Beantown, and Dunkin' was founded in Massachusetts, so you will see it on every corner. Craft breweries are everywhere, and Boston has a lively food truck scene.
Lobster is expensive. Eat it at a seafood shack rather than a restaurant, and remember to add tips and tax.
Nightlife
Going out
Boston's nightlife is shaped by its students and its Irish pubs. Faneuil Hall and the area around it have pubs with live music, Allston and Cambridge have student bars, and the Seaport and South End have cocktail bars and rooftops.
Bars close earlier than in New York, usually by 2am, and the subway stops running soon after midnight.
In summer, Provincetown has one of the liveliest nightlife scenes on the East Coast. Always carry ID: it is checked everywhere, whatever your age.
Getting around
Getting around
Boston is very walkable, and the T, the subway, covers the city and Cambridge. Tap a contactless card or phone at the gates, or buy a CharlieCard. Trains stop running soon after midnight.
Logan Airport is close to downtown; the free Silver Line bus from the airport and the Blue Line subway connect it to the city. Amtrak runs to New York and beyond from South Station, and buses to New York take around four to five hours.
Commuter trains reach Salem and other towns, and in summer the CapeFLYER train runs to Cape Cod. Ferries run from Boston to Provincetown in summer, and from Woods Hole and Hyannis to the islands. A car helps for the Berkshires and much of the Cape.
Costs
What Massachusetts costs
Massachusetts is expensive, and Boston and the Cape are among the priciest places in the country in summer. Dorm beds in Boston start around $50. Cape Cod and the islands have very few hostels, and prices rise sharply in July and August.
Sales tax is 6.25 per cent, and meals carry a slightly higher tax in some towns. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
Save with free sights, the Boston Public Market, food trucks and seafood shacks rather than restaurants.
Safety
Safety and scams
Boston is one of the safer big cities in the USA. Take normal care with belongings on the T and in crowds, and use common sense late at night.
On the coast, the Atlantic is cold and currents can be strong; swim at beaches with lifeguards. Ticks carrying Lyme disease are common in grass and woods, so check yourself after walks.
Winter brings snowstorms that can stop transport. Health insurance is essential in the USA. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Marathons, Independence Day and Halloween in Salem.
Staff pick
14 Aug – 8 Nov
Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience
Boston
Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience transforms Franklin Park Zoo into a glowing wonderland, inviting guests to explore a spectacular array of illuminated lanterns inspired…
Staff pick
16–18 October
Head of the Charles Regatta
Boston
The Head of the Charles Regatta, the world's largest three-day rowing event, draws over 11,000 athletes and nearly 400,000 spectators to the Charles River…
Staff pick
31 Dec – 1 Jan
First Night Boston
Boston
Ring in the New Year during Boston's First Night artistic and cultural celebration that has been going strong since 1975. Artistic performances kick off…
Staff pick
15–18 October
Olivia Rodrigo
Boston
Olivia Rodrigo is a singer-songwriter and actress from California who initially rose to fame after starring in the Disney shows Bizaardvark and High School…
Staff pick
17 October
Boston Book Festival
Boston
The Boston Book Festival brings together readers, writers, and thinkers in Copley Square, Boston, to celebrate the transformative power of literature. Through author talks,…
Staff pick
22–25 October
Affordable Art Fair Boston
Boston
Affordable Art Fair Boston returns to the iconic SoWa Power Station, bringing together a curated selection of local and international galleries. Visitors can explore…
Staff pick
24 October
Boston Asian Food and Beer Tasting Festival
Boston
The Boston Asian Food and Beer Tasting Festival brings together authentic Asian cuisine and premium beer selections for a lively celebration. Attendees can enjoy…
Staff pick
6–8 November
Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair
Boston
The Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair brings together leading booksellers from the United States and around the world, offering an impressive array of rare…
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels across Massachusetts' main cities, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
The Farrington Inn
Boston
Rooms from $22 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
HI Boston
Boston
Dorms from $41 a night
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Hotel IVY Boston Common
Boston
Dorms from $58 a night
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Backpackers Hostel & Pub
Boston
Dorms from $50 a night
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Boston Homestel
Boston
Dorms from $29 a night
See dates and book
When to go
Summer is warm and the best time for Cape Cod and the islands. Late September and October bring autumn colour and Salem's Halloween season. Winter is cold and snowy, and spring is short and changeable.
Jan
Cold, snow
Feb
Cold
Mar
Cool
Apr
Boston Marathon
May
Spring
Jun
Summer begins
Jul
Peak on the Cape
Aug
Busy, warm
Sep
Warm, quieter
Oct
Autumn colour, Salem crowds
Nov
Thanksgiving
Dec
Cold, festive
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Boston, rounded.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Boston prices.
Treat these as a guide. Cape Cod in summer costs more.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Massachusetts questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Massachusetts?
Four or five: two or three for Boston and Cambridge, and the rest for Salem or Cape Cod.
Is Boston walkable?
Very. Most sights are within walking distance, and the T covers the rest.
When is the best time to visit Massachusetts?
June to October: summer for the coast, and late September and October for the leaves.
How do I get to Cape Cod without a car?
By the summer ferry from Boston to Provincetown, the seasonal CapeFLYER train, or buses.
Is Salem worth visiting?
Yes, especially for the history and the museums. October is the busiest month.
Is Massachusetts expensive?
Yes, especially Boston and the Cape in summer. Free sights and seafood shacks help.
How do I get from Boston to New York?
By Amtrak, around four hours, or by bus, around four to five.
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