BOSTON
Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, the capital of Massachusetts, as well as the region that is known as New England. It has the most important port on the Atlantic coast. It was founded in 1630 and played a special role as a center for the development of the entire American continent. By the way, it was this city that became the scene where the historical provocation called “Boston Tea Party” unfolded, which resulted in the American War of Independence.
Today, the historic heart of America is still attractive to most people around the world. Museums, historical places, an abundance of live performances - these are just some of the reasons that explain why more than 16 million visitors come to the city every year. Boston is one of the oldest cities in the USA and at the same time one of the youngest. Many colleges and universities determine the appearance of the historical capital and serve as an incentive for the development of art and the entertainment industry. Thanks to these factors, Boston is one of the ten most popular tourist destinations in the country.
Boston, like all of New England, is located in a marine climate zone. Summer is usually warm and humid, and winters are cool, windy and often snowy. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of +28 ° C. The coldest winter month is January, with an average temperature of +2 ° C. Patches of fog are common in spring and early summer.
Boston today is a beautiful city with picturesque parks and architectural monuments, combining ancient traditions with modern life, a center of science, culture, and education. Many areas of Boston each have their own character and characteristics. Downtown is a tourist mecca with many attractions, a business and shopping center of the city. The most luxurious things are concentrated in Black Bay. Original brick houses, peers of the city, and old gas lanterns can be found in Beacon Hill. And Boston's Chinatown is the fourth largest in the United States.
So, it is easiest to explore the city by districts. For example, Cambridge is known for its top world universities - Harvard University (the oldest in the USA) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Harvard Square is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, shops, where students are crowded. Northern End in Boston is home to Italians who came in search of work and a better life as immigrants. Therefore the number of restaurants serving national cuisine is over the top. Besides, in this district, you’ll find the Witch Museum and the House of Seven Gables House, in which the events of the novel of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne unfolded (now there is a small museum). Charleston: a true open-air Boston Shipbuilding Museum. There is the oldest ship in the US Navy - "Constitution". Charleston-Navy Yard is one of the main centers of shipbuilding in the country.
The Boston's calling card is the Symphony Hall on Massachusetts Avenue, which can accommodate 2,600 spectators and has some of the best acoustics in the world. The Prudential Tower with the Skywalk Observatory - an observation deck on the 52nd floor isn’t less interesting for tourists.
If you get lost being on a vacation in Boston, don’t despair! The Freedom Trail runs through the whole city for tourists. It is marked with explanatory inscriptions and a red line running along the sidewalk. Just find it and go for a walk through downtown Boston. This 5-kilometer walking trail leads through all 16 locations where the city's historical monuments and its most interesting sights are located.
In Boston, tourists can enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, from walks in quiet parks to noisy night parties. At night many clubs, pubs, and bars are open. The most famous are the Lizard Lounge club, where you can enjoy jazz music, the Cask N 'Flagon sports bar, and Axis Nightclub, where musical groups and fun discos perform. Spectacular light shows, performances by musicians and dancers, noisy discos, original theme parties are offered by the night clubs of Boston such as Avalon, and Roxy.
Numerous restaurants in Boston offer dishes from all over the world: European, American, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Dominican and many other cuisines. Restaurants are located throughout the city. The most popular are on Main Street (for example, Latino restaurant) or in the Prudential Center. The restaurant located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential tower offers not only gourmet cuisine but also a beautiful view of the city at night.
Boston is one of the best places to shop in the United States. Here you can find purchases for every taste and budget. The city has the largest shopping centers, wholesale and company stores, chic boutiques and antique shops, and much more. The main shopping centers of Boston are located on Main Street, Newbury Street, Prudential Center, Copley Place (Simon Shopping Center), as well as Downtown Crossing.
The most popular shopping destination in Boston is Newbury Street. In fact, it represents eight blocks of stores that follow one after another, where you can buy things for all occasions. In Newbury Street, you can combine shopping with a pleasant walk.
Note that the state has a sales tax. As a rule, it amounts to 5% but it does not apply to newspapers and clothes worth up to 175 USD. However, price tags usually indicate the price of things/products without tax. So, keep in mind that the amount will be different at the checkout.
Airlines: Many different airlines operate from any part of the world. We will always offer you the flights to Boston at the best prices.
Airport: Boston Logan International Airport
Distance from Airport: 25-30 minutes (13 km)
Language: American English
Timezone: Eastern Standard Time
Population: around 685 thousand
Passport: Valid passport and visa is mandatory
Tourist visa: Required depending on where you are from
Currency: Dollar
Tipping: Not included, but It is customary to leave 10-15% of the bill as a tip
Seat only: to book seats only – please find our link to great fares: www.aventura.is
Tourist tax: 5-7%
Water: safe to drink
Electricity: from 110 to 120 volts and 60 Hz; the power plugs and sockets of type A and B
Take a tour at the top universities. Harvard, MIT and Boston University are some of the most famous and well-regarded universities in the world. Fortunately for all visitors to Boston, these universities also welcome guests and admit them to many of the lectures, special open door events, and walks through scenic campuses. On-campus, you can also go to museums, watch sports events or science exhibitions. After this, any impressionable young student will dream of studying there.
Visit the aquarium in Boston. New England Aquarium is one of the largest collections of the seabed and coastal inhabitants in the world. Here you can not only see animals in their natural habitat but also directly communicate with them - for example, play with penguins or go for a performance of fur seals. It is a great idea for family vacation in Boston.
Go to a sporting event. The sports component is one of the main in the life of every citizen. Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and New England Patriots are four teams in the U.S. major leagues in basketball, baseball, hockey, and American football, respectively. Each match of each of these teams gathers a large number of fans in the stadium and on television screens. Don’t lose the chance to attend this great event to get to see it firsthand. You can visit the match of the team you like the most without any problems. It is only important to think about buying tickets in advance. On the day of the game, they may no longer be there. At the stadium, you will get unforgettable impressions and will be able to get acquainted with the culture of the pain of the locals who are worried about every perfect action, accompanying it with either enthusiastic cries or disappointed sighs.
1. Boston has the oldest public park in the United States. Boston Common Park was built in 1634, but today it remains the most visited open public place with great landscape architecture.
2. The Boston Athletic Association Marathon is considered almost the main marathon in the world. This is the oldest marathon in existence: it was first held in 1897. Now he is one of the Big Six marathons, and running it is very prestigious, but not at all easy. Today, the legendary Boston Marathon has become virtually inaccessible to amateur runners around the world. In fact, it is one of the few in the world where runners need to prove their qualifications.
3. Bostonians know the weather by looking at a skyscraper. Colored lights on top of the old John Hancock Tower on 200 Clarendon Street shows the Boston daily weather forecast. Solid blue means a clear day; flashing blue - cloudy day, solid red - rain, flashing red - snow. Who knows, maybe, it will be helpful for you during a vacation in Boston.
Today, the historic heart of America is still attractive to most people around the world. Museums, historical places, an abundance of live performances - these are just some of the reasons that explain why more than 16 million visitors come to the city every year. Boston is one of the oldest cities in the USA and at the same time one of the youngest. Many colleges and universities determine the appearance of the historical capital and serve as an incentive for the development of art and the entertainment industry. Thanks to these factors, Boston is one of the ten most popular tourist destinations in the country.
Boston, like all of New England, is located in a marine climate zone. Summer is usually warm and humid, and winters are cool, windy and often snowy. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of +28 ° C. The coldest winter month is January, with an average temperature of +2 ° C. Patches of fog are common in spring and early summer.
What to visit in Boston?
Boston today is a beautiful city with picturesque parks and architectural monuments, combining ancient traditions with modern life, a center of science, culture, and education. Many areas of Boston each have their own character and characteristics. Downtown is a tourist mecca with many attractions, a business and shopping center of the city. The most luxurious things are concentrated in Black Bay. Original brick houses, peers of the city, and old gas lanterns can be found in Beacon Hill. And Boston's Chinatown is the fourth largest in the United States.
So, it is easiest to explore the city by districts. For example, Cambridge is known for its top world universities - Harvard University (the oldest in the USA) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Harvard Square is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, shops, where students are crowded. Northern End in Boston is home to Italians who came in search of work and a better life as immigrants. Therefore the number of restaurants serving national cuisine is over the top. Besides, in this district, you’ll find the Witch Museum and the House of Seven Gables House, in which the events of the novel of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne unfolded (now there is a small museum). Charleston: a true open-air Boston Shipbuilding Museum. There is the oldest ship in the US Navy - "Constitution". Charleston-Navy Yard is one of the main centers of shipbuilding in the country.
The Boston's calling card is the Symphony Hall on Massachusetts Avenue, which can accommodate 2,600 spectators and has some of the best acoustics in the world. The Prudential Tower with the Skywalk Observatory - an observation deck on the 52nd floor isn’t less interesting for tourists.
If you get lost being on a vacation in Boston, don’t despair! The Freedom Trail runs through the whole city for tourists. It is marked with explanatory inscriptions and a red line running along the sidewalk. Just find it and go for a walk through downtown Boston. This 5-kilometer walking trail leads through all 16 locations where the city's historical monuments and its most interesting sights are located.
Nightlife
In Boston, tourists can enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, from walks in quiet parks to noisy night parties. At night many clubs, pubs, and bars are open. The most famous are the Lizard Lounge club, where you can enjoy jazz music, the Cask N 'Flagon sports bar, and Axis Nightclub, where musical groups and fun discos perform. Spectacular light shows, performances by musicians and dancers, noisy discos, original theme parties are offered by the night clubs of Boston such as Avalon, and Roxy.
Numerous restaurants in Boston offer dishes from all over the world: European, American, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Dominican and many other cuisines. Restaurants are located throughout the city. The most popular are on Main Street (for example, Latino restaurant) or in the Prudential Center. The restaurant located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential tower offers not only gourmet cuisine but also a beautiful view of the city at night.
Shopping
Boston is one of the best places to shop in the United States. Here you can find purchases for every taste and budget. The city has the largest shopping centers, wholesale and company stores, chic boutiques and antique shops, and much more. The main shopping centers of Boston are located on Main Street, Newbury Street, Prudential Center, Copley Place (Simon Shopping Center), as well as Downtown Crossing.
The most popular shopping destination in Boston is Newbury Street. In fact, it represents eight blocks of stores that follow one after another, where you can buy things for all occasions. In Newbury Street, you can combine shopping with a pleasant walk.
Note that the state has a sales tax. As a rule, it amounts to 5% but it does not apply to newspapers and clothes worth up to 175 USD. However, price tags usually indicate the price of things/products without tax. So, keep in mind that the amount will be different at the checkout.
Good to know
Airlines: Many different airlines operate from any part of the world. We will always offer you the flights to Boston at the best prices.
Airport: Boston Logan International Airport
Distance from Airport: 25-30 minutes (13 km)
Language: American English
Timezone: Eastern Standard Time
Population: around 685 thousand
Passport: Valid passport and visa is mandatory
Tourist visa: Required depending on where you are from
Currency: Dollar
Tipping: Not included, but It is customary to leave 10-15% of the bill as a tip
Seat only: to book seats only – please find our link to great fares: www.aventura.is
Tourist tax: 5-7%
Water: safe to drink
Electricity: from 110 to 120 volts and 60 Hz; the power plugs and sockets of type A and B
Things to do in Boston
Take a tour at the top universities. Harvard, MIT and Boston University are some of the most famous and well-regarded universities in the world. Fortunately for all visitors to Boston, these universities also welcome guests and admit them to many of the lectures, special open door events, and walks through scenic campuses. On-campus, you can also go to museums, watch sports events or science exhibitions. After this, any impressionable young student will dream of studying there.
Visit the aquarium in Boston. New England Aquarium is one of the largest collections of the seabed and coastal inhabitants in the world. Here you can not only see animals in their natural habitat but also directly communicate with them - for example, play with penguins or go for a performance of fur seals. It is a great idea for family vacation in Boston.
Go to a sporting event. The sports component is one of the main in the life of every citizen. Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and New England Patriots are four teams in the U.S. major leagues in basketball, baseball, hockey, and American football, respectively. Each match of each of these teams gathers a large number of fans in the stadium and on television screens. Don’t lose the chance to attend this great event to get to see it firsthand. You can visit the match of the team you like the most without any problems. It is only important to think about buying tickets in advance. On the day of the game, they may no longer be there. At the stadium, you will get unforgettable impressions and will be able to get acquainted with the culture of the pain of the locals who are worried about every perfect action, accompanying it with either enthusiastic cries or disappointed sighs.
Facts about Boston
1. Boston has the oldest public park in the United States. Boston Common Park was built in 1634, but today it remains the most visited open public place with great landscape architecture.
2. The Boston Athletic Association Marathon is considered almost the main marathon in the world. This is the oldest marathon in existence: it was first held in 1897. Now he is one of the Big Six marathons, and running it is very prestigious, but not at all easy. Today, the legendary Boston Marathon has become virtually inaccessible to amateur runners around the world. In fact, it is one of the few in the world where runners need to prove their qualifications.
3. Bostonians know the weather by looking at a skyscraper. Colored lights on top of the old John Hancock Tower on 200 Clarendon Street shows the Boston daily weather forecast. Solid blue means a clear day; flashing blue - cloudy day, solid red - rain, flashing red - snow. Who knows, maybe, it will be helpful for you during a vacation in Boston.
