Where to Stay in Boston: The Best Areas & Neighborhoods

Explore Downtown Boston and the Financial District

The Dagny sits between the Financial District and Downtown — at The Corner of Work and Play.

From our downtown Boston hotel, guests are about a 5-minute walk from Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and Rose Kennedy Greenway. The New England Aquarium and Boston Harbor are roughly a 5-minute walk, and family attractions like the Children’s Museum, Duck Tours, and Trolley Tours are a short walk as well. You’re also close to the Freedom Trail, so places like the Old State House and Old South Meeting House are easy to work into a day without building your whole itinerary around them.

Downtown is also one of the best answers for where to stay in Boston without a car. You can handle much of your sightseeing on foot, then use one of the nearby MBTA stations when you want to venture farther out.

Sightsee Through the North End

If you’re staying Downtown, the North End is close enough to become your go-to dinner neighborhood rather than a place you visit once and check off the list.

Hanover Street has plenty of restaurants, cafés, and bakeries, but give yourself time for the side streets too. You’ll find the Paul Revere House here, along with Old North Church and several Freedom Trail sites. It’s a neighborhood that’s much more fun when you wander a little.

The heart of the North End is about a 15-minute walk from The Dagny. Unless the weather is miserable, walking is usually the easiest option. A taxi or rideshare takes roughly 5 to 10 minutes depending on traffic.

Discover Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill is where to go for the brick sidewalks, historic row houses, gas lamps, and ridiculously photogenic streets that people associate with Boston.

You’ll probably want to see Acorn Street, but keep going afterward. Charles Street has independent shops, cafés, and restaurants, and Boston Common and the Public Garden are right nearby. It’s easy to combine all three in a single afternoon.

From The Dagny, Beacon Hill is roughly a 20-minute walk. A taxi or rideshare generally takes around 10 minutes, traffic permitting.

See It All in Back Bay

Back Bay is worth saving a few hours for, especially if shopping is part of your Boston plans. Newbury Street is the obvious destination, but Copley Square, Trinity Church, and the Boston Public Library give you plenty of reasons to keep exploring once you’re there.

Copley Square is about a 30-minute walk from The Dagny. It’s a nice walk when the weather cooperates, although you may want to save your feet for wandering Newbury Street. The T generally gets you into the area in about 15 to 20 minutes, while a taxi or rideshare takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic.

If you’re comparing the best place to stay in Boston for shopping, Back Bay will probably be high on your list. Staying Downtown, however, keeps Back Bay close while putting the harbor and Boston’s historic core much nearer your hotel.

Visit Boston’s Seaport

Boston’s Seaport is an easy addition to a downtown stay, particularly when you want dinner by the water or an evening with a different view of the city.

You’ll find waterfront restaurants, harbor walks, public spaces, and the Institute of Contemporary Art here. This vibrant neighborhood has grown considerably, so check the location of your destination before deciding how you’ll get there. “Seaport” can mean a longer walk than it first appears on the map.

Depending on where you’re headed, the walk from The Dagny can take around 15 to 30 minutes. A taxi or rideshare can usually get you there in about 5 to 10 minutes, although Boston traffic always gets the final say.

Where Should You Stay for Your First Boston Trip?

If you’re visiting Boston for the first time, there’s a lot to be said for putting yourself somewhere you can simply walk out the door and start exploring.

Downtown gives you that freedom. The Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, the aquarium, Greenway, harbor, and North End are all close to The Dagny, while Beacon Hill, Back Bay, and Seaport are easy to reach when you’re ready to branch out.

You can skip the rental car, keep the transportation planning to a minimum, and spend more of your time actually seeing Boston. Make The Dagny your home base for your next Boston stay, and start planning your Boston adventure.

If you need help planning, our concierge team is here to help curate your itinerary: [email protected] | SMS / WhatsApp: 857-895-9914 | …Or visit the Concierge Desk