Beacon Hill Travel Guide

Boston

Beacon Hill showing landscape views
Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill showing heritage architecture and a house
Beacon Hill which includes street scenes and a city
Beacon Hill which includes a city, heritage architecture and a house

Lose yourself in the charming streetscapes, historic buildings and village-like atmosphere of Boston’s oldest and wealthiest suburbs.

Historic Beacon Hill is one of Boston’s smallest suburbs, but it sure packs in a lot of charm. Streets are lined with cobblestone sidewalks and flickering gas lamps. Federal-style row houses are dressed with pretty flower boxes and wrought iron fences.

The Beacon Hill area was settled in 1625. Most homes were built in the 18th and 19th centuries and are lovingly preserved. They range from narrow row houses to grand family residences. Look for polished brass door knockers, which have become the unofficial symbol of the suburb. Don’t be content just to browse the exteriors of Beacon Hill’s stately homes pay a visit to the Nichols House Museum. Built in 1804, this four-story town house showcases the original furnishings, crafts and day-to-day objects of the early 1900s.

Delve deeper into Beacon Hill’s history and join one of the many paid or free walking tours offered by local tourist agencies. You can even take an online tour before going. The suburb is also a wonderful place to discover on your own. Pick up a coffee from one of many cafés and wander the cobblestone streets at your leisure. Acorn Street is one of the area’s most picturesque and frequently photographed streets. Additionally, look out for Mount Vernon Street and Louisburg Square, two of the most exclusive addresses in Boston.

Pick up that perfect Boston memento from one of the many antique and craft shops on Charles Street, Beacon Hill’s main thoroughfare. Pull up a bar stool in Cheers Beacon Hill, the pub that provided the inspiration for the hit 1980s TV show “Cheers.” Bibliophiles will want to check out the Boston Athenaeum, an exquisitely decorated and furnished private library that overlooks the Granary Burying Grounds. Just across Beacon Street is the domed State House, the home of Massachusetts state politics.

Christmas is considered one of the loveliest times to visit Beacon Hill. Just when you think the neighborhood can’t get any prettier, a thick blanket of snow covers the cobblestones and adds another layer of magic.

The Beacon Hill area is located just north of Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden. You can get there by subway, bus or car.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Beacon Hill

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport

4 out of 5
450 Summer Street, Boston, MA
The price is £214 per night from 10 Aug to 11 Aug
£214
10 Aug - 11 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Boston. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,664 reviews)
"The rooms are very very small. The property is nice, be prepared to walk places. Most staff was helpful & kind."

Reviewed on 17 Jul 2025

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
citizenM Boston Back Bay

citizenM Boston Back Bay

4 out of 5
408 Newbury street, Boston, MA
The price is £151 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
£151
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Boston. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Popular attractions Fenway Park and Copley Square ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,438 reviews)
"loved staying here. there is plenty of space to relax and make time pass by while you explore boston. the rooms were clean and chic. would recommend to a friend :)"

Reviewed on 16 Jul 2025

citizenM Boston Back Bay
Harborside Inn Of Boston

Harborside Inn Of Boston

4 out of 5
185 State St, Boston, MA
The price is £179 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
£179
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Boston. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and a business centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (5,322 reviews)
Nice hotel, great location, fabulous service
"A nice hotel with super friendly staff. The rooms were fairly spacious, with a huge comfortable bed, and lots of pillows. The bathroom wasn't particularly big, but the shower was good and there was plenty of fresh towels every day. When you left the hotel each day, you let reception know that your ..."

Reviewed on 16 Jul 2025

Harborside Inn Of Boston
citizenM Boston North Station

citizenM Boston North Station

4 out of 5
80-120 Causeway Street, Boston, MA
The price is £147 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
£147
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Boston. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,544 reviews)
Citizen M STAN!!!!
"I have never been to a hotel so Eclectic!!! The decor, the vibe, the rooftop, the customer service all was AMAZING!!!! I’m from South Fl i’m use to beautiful weather and even more beautiful hotel's This was my first time at a CitizenM hotel i am obsessed and will look for that brand for all my hotel ..."

Reviewed on 18 Jul 2025

citizenM Boston North Station
Copley Square Hotel, a FOUND Hotel

Copley Square Hotel, a FOUND Hotel

4 out of 5
47 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA
The price is £123 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
£123
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star boutique hotel in Boston. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, valet parking (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the restaurant and the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,740 reviews)
"Beautiful, historical property close to the Boston Public Library and Newbury Street."

Reviewed on 17 Jul 2025

Copley Square Hotel, a FOUND Hotel
The Revolution Hotel

The Revolution Hotel

3.5 out of 5
40 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA
The price is £148 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
£148
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Boston. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,074 reviews)
Great location, good-sized room, excellent service
"Great location, good-sized room, excellent service"

Reviewed on 16 Jul 2025

The Revolution Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Beacon Hill

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Downtown Crossing

Gourmet restaurants interesting history and top sights from Orpheum Theater to The Freedom Trail – discover Downtown Crossing, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Downtown Crossing
Back Bay showing a city

Back Bay East

If you're spending time in Back Bay East, check out sights like Copley Square or Boston Marathon Finish Line and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Copley Station or Arlington Station.

Back Bay East
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West End

4/5(28 area reviews)

The fantastic nightlife and beautiful gardens are a few things travellers love about West End. Check out TD Garden or Museum of Science while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Science Park Station to get around town.

West End
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Chinatown

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

Theatres and historical sites are just a few things travellers enjoy in Chinatown, and you can get around the area by hopping on the metro at Chinatown Station.

Chinatown
Massachusetts which includes landscape views, a lake or waterhole and a city

Government Center

If you're spending time in Government Center, check out sights like Faneuil Hall Marketplace or Boston City Hall Plaza and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Government Center Station or Bowdoin Station.

Government Center
Theatre District which includes night scenes and signage

Bay Village

While you're in Bay Village, take in top sights like Charles Playhouse and jump on the metro at Tufts Medical Center Station to see more of the city.

Bay Village


Beacon Hill Travel Guide

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