Waterfront
Waterfront
4.5
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The area
Neighbourhood: Downtown
The largest area of the city, Downtown is rich with historical and iconic sites in Boston. Stroll through one of Boston’s most famous green spaces, the Boston Public Gardens, check out and make way for duckling statues, picnic under a beautiful tree overlooking the pond, and walk over the iconic footbridge where, during summer time, you will catch a swan boat toting children and eager tourists through the pond. Have your camera ready to capture its peaceful beauty in the middle of a bustling city. Continue on through the Gardens and take in some open green space at the Boston Common, where you can spend time throwing a frisbee, sitting on a park bench, or, in the winter time, skating on the frog pond. Head north from the end of the Common to see the golden dome of the State House, and travel through government center to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, both a historic and popular destination worth a quick visit for a first time to Boston. Head to Long Wharf to visit the Aquarium, or catch a boat to Charlestown or even Cape Cod.
How to get there
- Aquarium • 4 min walk
- State • 7 min walk
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Restaurants
2,421 within 5 kms
Attractions
934 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,847 reviews
Excellent
1,111
Very good
626
Average
97
Poor
11
Terrible
2
Laticia
Raton, NM10 contributions
Mar 2021
The people who are walking are the least concerned on the agenda. This place is for chauffeur driven elites. Restaurants are expensive. The walking paths abruptly ends and you are left wondering where else to begin or end your walk.
Written April 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandytravelbug
California476 contributions
A great daytrip is to walk as little or as much as you wish, along the Boston Harbor Walk. This waterfront boardwalk of trails is MILES long, from Charleston all the way to Dorchester... dont try this in one day. You can start and end at a number of places. I started at the Salem Ferry dock, and walked for about 3 miles. The Walk follows the harbor and you can see cruise ships, great skyline views, sculpture, gardens, architecture, and there are tons of eateries to please anyone. Fantastic photo opportunities too. I walked into the downtown area of Boston also for a little souvenir shopping. I recommend this for anyone and everyone... just bring good walking shoes !!!
Written January 29, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Piotr H.
Lodz, Poland3,877 contributions
Jun 2019
Very nice area for a walk. There are a lots of interesting things to do. Even sitting on the grass and admiring the city :)
Written October 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vacations4u
Jackson, New Hampshire213 contributions
Feb 2016
I live in Boston for 28 years and now call New Hampshire home. I love living in NH and can not see me ever moving back to Boston or any city for that matter. BUT... Boston's Waterfront is one of the most exciting and energizing places to enjoy some of the world's best seafood and people watching. You can choose places that fit any budget (you just have to know where they are) or where the rich and famous dine. What ever you want Boston's Waterfront has it. Clean, pristine and welcoming. Don't go to Boston without checking it out. Take it from a once local!
Written February 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oscar371
Brisbane, Australia25 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Having decided we wanted to visit the New England area of the US, Boston was an obvious choice. It was an easy drive from Newport, RI, to the waterfront Fairmont hotel. There is an obvious tourist precinct centred around the wharf area and the North End where most of the historical revolutionary sites are.
Generally speaking the hop on hop off tours are good and the market centre is a hub of tourist activity. The harbour is the best sight seeing attraction and the locals are putting a lot of effort into reclaiming the disused wharfs for residential use.
Hanover Street is a buzz of many Italian style restaurants and we made good use of this area and I had some of the best food of this style at Nicco's which is at the northern end. Add to that, the abundance of excellent seafood, Boston is an ideal spot for food buffs.
I think our short visit covered the main areas and we believe we got the gist of Boston in the time we spent there.
Generally speaking the hop on hop off tours are good and the market centre is a hub of tourist activity. The harbour is the best sight seeing attraction and the locals are putting a lot of effort into reclaiming the disused wharfs for residential use.
Hanover Street is a buzz of many Italian style restaurants and we made good use of this area and I had some of the best food of this style at Nicco's which is at the northern end. Add to that, the abundance of excellent seafood, Boston is an ideal spot for food buffs.
I think our short visit covered the main areas and we believe we got the gist of Boston in the time we spent there.
Written August 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heloisa Castelo
Paris, France680 contributions
Jul 2020
The seaport area has beautiful and modern buildings and great restaurants! It’s very pleasant to walk around
Written September 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robertmetravels
Boston, MA14 contributions
May 2020 • Family
Lived here all my life and seen the waterfront change with the years. My kids had a great time on the waterfront along with friends and family. Start at South Station food court (TEENS HEAVEN) and walk the Rose Kennedy Greenway ( food trucks) the teens will love it... all kinds of weird things on the way. Fog fountains, water fountains squirting everyone, merry go round, National Park Island boat rides, aquarium with I Max theatre,more food for you know who, oldest part of Boston at Haymarket Square area, Continue on the Greenway skirting the North End and pizza heaven at every turn. You can go into the North End and visit historic Paul Revere house, Old North Church ( “ one if by land.. two if by sea”), Cobbs Hill burying ground, ARE U BORED YET??
I’m beat... try going to Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution (oldest active warship in the Navy) and if all else fails and the teens are bored I guess you will just have to come back!!! Have fun go see a Bruins game or take a train to Salem the Witch City. Oh yea I almost forgot... my kids are still in Reginas Pizza and maybe a stop in Dolce Vita restaurant on Hanover Street.
I’m beat... try going to Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution (oldest active warship in the Navy) and if all else fails and the teens are bored I guess you will just have to come back!!! Have fun go see a Bruins game or take a train to Salem the Witch City. Oh yea I almost forgot... my kids are still in Reginas Pizza and maybe a stop in Dolce Vita restaurant on Hanover Street.
Written May 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luvs2TravelAnywhere
New York City, NY7,191 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
Long Wharf is a gorgeous waterfront area to roam for a few hours. There are walking paths and boat rides, but you can also chill and relax and just enjoy the view.
Written June 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucy F
Mahopac, NY78 contributions
Went here because I saw it as a place to go on TripAdvisor. Its a nice place to walk around and see the views. We stopped at Legal Seafood for dinner. Walked through Quincy Market. Then went to the North End for the Little Italy of Boston and there we went to Mike's Bakery... A "must" got to bakery! All in all had a nice time and clocked 4200 steps :)
Written April 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnRWebb
Eastbourne, UK1,905 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
As you approach this area of Boston you see there are all types of boats here, from little private ones to very large ones that offer whale watching tours, fishing trips or just a boat tour of Boston waterfront and up the river and back. We just sat down and watched all the different types and size of boats moving about and also across the water we saw passenger planes of different sizes land and take off from Logan airport. We saw these guys that were skate boarding around the pier area not bothering if they just missed mothers and babies in pushchairs or anyone that got in their way even though the signs on the lamp posts clearly say no skate boarding? But unlike the UK the police arrived and guys disappeared as if like magic and was never seen again all the time we were there. We tried to eat at three different restaurants but were unsuccessful we guess as it was Saturday night so bought an ice cream instead. We saw a wedding reception high up which we guessed was taking place in an outside hotel roof area? As it was now dark we left this now peaceful waterfront area and headed back to the subway so glad we had found this great stretch of water in Boston City.
Thank you for reading this John & Sue Webb Eastbourne UK
Thank you for reading this John & Sue Webb Eastbourne UK
Written February 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is this near, where the cruise ships are located...
Written November 21, 2016
as the others above said, no the waterfront is faces more toward where the bay becomes a river, the bridges are to low and the channel no deep enough, the ships are a decent distance away, and not within a convenient walk from here. I too was hoping to see cruise ships.
Written November 21, 2016
Hola,
Boston tiene un sistema de transporte público muy bueno, sobre todo comparado con otras ciudades de USA. El tranvía funciona de maravilla y si compras una "Charly card" es barato y fácil de usar. El tráfico no es muy fluido para los coches x lo q si t vas a mover por el centro el tranvía/metro es mejor opción , además los parking son carísimos. Si vas a las afueras entonces será mejor q alquiles coche xq el tranvía no cubre muchas zonas fuera del centro. En la ciudad puedes también pasear sin problemas , es seguro y fácil de moverse por ella .
Written May 23, 2016
Hi,
Wondering if there's a water taxi from Logan airport to downtown?
Written July 9, 2015
Yes there are water taxi 's to Logan from the waterfront on bistin Harbor. They are available on call and will get to directly to the airport
Written July 10, 2015
Which airport hotels are closest to water taxi pick up points
Written July 8, 2015
Rowes Wharf is one option, basically in by the aquarium, the subway also goes from the Airport to this location as well.
Written July 10, 2015
Where is best place to stay near waterfront that is a bit less expensive then hotels on the actual waterfront. Need the convienance for the kids but not the super high prices.
Thanks
Written June 12, 2015
hi, sorry it took so long but the hotels around the boston area can get quite expensive, but a couple that are know of is 1: Constitution Inn in Charlestown, its so convenient to th freedom trail, boston sights all on the train and bus lines 1-866-267-9053, the other one is the Royal Sonesta believe it or not is not a bad price, it' right on the charles river 1-866-298-0996, another alternative is to check on line for local B &B's that are around good luck
Written June 14, 2015
Gostaria de indicações de restaurantes em Waterfront. Grata!
Written May 17, 2015
Existem várias opções de restaurantes próximos ao Waterfront - no Faneuil Market Place, no bairro North End. Fui no Joe' American Bar e no Sorelle Bakery. Neste último ,existe diversas opções de saladas, pizzas e é mais em conta.
Espero ter ajudado, qualquer esclarecimento estou ao seu dispor.
Written May 17, 2015
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