Very historic and old compared to most of the United States, the city of Boston is a classic and necessary stop for anyone trying to understand America. The city itself is far smaller than New York City, yet it’s similarly made up of distinct neighborhoods that can change dramatically as you cross through them.
As with most cities, if you just randomly walk into an obvious tourist-oriented restaurant you’ll pay top dollar, so those on a budget should ask around and do some research. The ethnic neighborhoods can offer very good deals on food.
Boston doesn’t actually have too many famous checklist attractions, but it does have a few and you can see in our Boston CityPass review that it can be worthwhile.
| Population | 646,000 |
| Area | 4,500,00 |
| Timezone | UTC-5 |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Airports | Logan International Airport (BOS) |
In the popular tourist zones you’ll find chain restaurants and higher prices, so finding cheap meals and drinks can be challenging. If you go into more residential areas you’ll find lower prices, although Boston is generally pretty expensive even for a US city.
| Budget breakfast | If your hotel or hostel doesn't include breakfast, then fast food is your cheapest option. | $6.00 - $9.00 |
| Budget lunch | There are good sandwich shops and ethnic restaurants if you look around. | $8.00 - $12.00 |
| Budget dinner | A sit-down dinner won't be cheap but there are good reasonable options if you ask around. | $13.00 - $19.00 |
| Beer (pint) | Most bars in tourist areas will charge the top end of this range, but there are cheap dive bars as well. | $6.00 - $9.00 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36 | 22 | 3.4 |
| February | 39 | 25 | 3.3 |
| March | 45 | 31 | 4.3 |
| April | 56 | 41 | 3.7 |
| May | 66 | 50 | 3.5 |
| June | 76 | 60 | 3.7 |
| July | 81 | 65 | 3.4 |
| August | 80 | 65 | 3.4 |
| September | 72 | 57 | 3.4 |
| October | 61 | 47 | 3.9 |
| November | 52 | 38 | 4.0 |
| December | 41 | 28 | 3.8 |
A popular New England weather saying “If you don’t like it, wait 10 minutes” holds true in Boston. With an ever changing weather pattern, Boston is one place to dress in layers- all year long.
If you’re looking for moderate temperatures, then your best bet is either spring or fall, however, it is important to keep in mind that spring is usually very brief. Fall is the best time for sunny days, cool nights and dry ground.
Winters are usually very cold, make sure to pack a thick coat or two along with a sturdy pair of boots. Summers can get on the hot side, but are great times to go outside and enjoy the sights.
| 21 Mar | 6:46am | 6:57pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:07am | 8:25pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:30am | 6:44pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:10am | 4:15pm |
Boston is one of the United States’ more expensive cities, especially in the tourist center. But it’s also home to a huge number of colleges and universities so there are plenty of bars and restaurants that cater to a lower budget student crowd. Hotels that are within walking distance of the main central attractions will cost a small fortune, but those on the edges can feel like reasonable bargains. Hostels are among the more expensive in the US, so budget hotels are often a better deal.
Different times of the year equal different hotel rates and crowd sizes. April through November serve as the busiest months of the year with a nearly never ending string of visitors, both from other parts of the state and the entire nation. If planning to visit during this time of year, make sure to reserve hotel stays as early as possible and be prepared for higher nightly rates.
If visiting during December, you’ll find great weekend bargains as most people are vacationing down south. Generally, the slow season runs from January into March when most hotels offer discounted rates.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 55.00 - 120.00 |
| 95.50 - 230.00 |
| 132.00 - 210.00 |
| 187.00 - 298.00 |
| 545.00 - 786.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 48.00 - 65.00 |