Back Bay

With its charming brownstones and peaceful tree-lined streets, the Back Bay is one of Boston’s most exclusive neighborhoods. This historic neighborhood, a hub for hot nightspots and excellent eateries, is an exciting and vibrant place to live. Enjoy a quiet Sunday feeding the ducks along the grassy Esplanade along the Charles River, or stroll down trendy Newbury Street on a warm spring day and enjoy the best European style shopping and outdoor dining Boston has to offer. Running parallel to Newbury Street is Commonwealth Avenue, a wide, Parisian style boulevard lined with expensive townhouses and divided by a tree-lined park.

Both Newbury Street and Commonwealth Avenue lead you to a beautiful oasis known as the Public Garden and the adjacent Boston Common. The Pubic Garden was the nation’s first botanical garden. It is lined with colorful flowerbeds with the English Pond at its heart. You can still take a relaxing ride on one of the pond’s famous swan boats. Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States, dating as far back as 1634. It is bordered by the stately Beacon Hill and bustling Downtown districts. It is a favorite picnic spot for locals and is often used for city fairs and events.

Only a few blocks from the Public Garden you will find one of Boston’s most famous landmarks, Copley Square. Locals enjoy leisurely summer lunch-hours on the grass, enjoying the phenomenal architecture and watching young children cool off in the fountain. Copley Square’s most famous landmark is probably Trinity Church. Built between 1872 and 1877, it is often lauded as one of the top ten architectural buildings in America today. Across from Trinity Church is the Boston Public Library. Opened in 1895, it was the first publicly-supported municipal library in America. The third, and perhaps most noticeable landmark in Copley Square, is the new John Hancock Tower. At 791 feet and 60 stories high, it is the tallest building in New England.

At the edge of Copley Square you will find the Copley Mall and the Prudential Center. Together they house some of the best shops and restaurants in Boston. Browse the sales at Tiffany and Co. or Barneys New York before grabbing a lobster lunch at Legal Sea Foods.
 

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill’s narrow cobblestone streets and quaintly tucked-away brick town homes make this neighborhood one of the most understated in Boston. It is one of Boston’s smallest and most historic neighborhoods, as well as one of its most prestigious. The tightly knit community provides a welcome atmosphere for young families, while Boston Common and The Boston Public Garden make for beautiful playgrounds. Snugly surrounding the State House and only steps from Massachusetts General Hospital, Beacon Hill is a popular neighborhood among local lawmakers and medical professionals.

Take a stroll down Charles Street, Beacon Hill’s main thoroughfare, and you may catch a glimpse of neighborhood resident Senator John Kerry slipping into a local boutique or buying fresh fruit at Dean and DeLuca’s Market. Tour the gold-domed State House after a relaxing lunch at a quaint outdoor café, or take a run along the Esplanade and enjoy the Charles River. Residents of Beacon Hill have the entire city at their fingertips.
 

North End

Know for its plethora of Italian restaurants, outdoor fruit stands and family owned butcher shops, the North End is Boston’s Little Italy. Best traveled by foot or bicycle, the narrow, winding streets and tightly stacked apartments charm even native Bostonians. The neighborhood remains deeply rooted in Italian culture, and residents still hold annual festivals to honor patron saints of Italian villages.

There is much more to the North End than great Italian food. The narrowly winding streets are brimming with history. Tour the Old North Church, Paul Revere’s house and the colonial burial grounds before shopping at the open Haymarket in the neighboring Financial District.
 

Downtown

A popular neighborhood for Bostonians working in the Financial District, the Downtown area is full of modern high-rises and chic watering holes. The Downtown is a cluster of towering high-rises stretching from Boston Common to the Waterfront. The Ritz Carlton Residences provides residents with some of the most luxurious flats and stunning views Boston has to offer. The Leather District area of Downtown is well known for its chic lofts and restaurants.

The hustle and bustle of the Downtown area usually settles during the weekend, but there are plenty of things to do and see every day of the week. Tour the Old South Meeting House where the revolution was fomented, and the Tea Party was planned. Shop Downtown Crossing or Faneuil Hall. See a show at any one of the phenomenal playhouses in the neighboring Theater District, or savor a decadent desert at Finalé.
 

Fenway / Kenmore

The Fenway / Kenmore area, though best know as home of the Red Sox, is famous for more than just great baseball. Bordering Boston University, Northeastern University, Simons College and Emmanuel College, this area has always been popular with students. Recently, however, expansive green space and new luxury apartments are making this area more desirable to young professionals, specifically those who work at Longwood Medical Center and Beth Israel Hospital.

The famous Lansdowne Street caters to the wild night crowds with its wide array of dance clubs and bars. Many residents frequent the familiar pubs and billiard houses that truly give Fenway and warm neighborly feel. Fenway truly offers locals city life at a more affordable price.
 

South End

Stunningly renovated Victorian brick row homes, fashionable cafes and trendy restaurants make this neighborhood one of the most popular places to live in Boston. Filled with chic art galleries and picturesque grocery shops, the South End has become a diverse neighborhood of young professionals and families, and has the most thriving gay and lesbian community in the city.

Built between 1800 and 1850, the South End was Boston’s first planned community. Residents still take pride in the neighborhood’s renowned Victorian brownstones and quaint, tree-lined streets. Locals enjoy a vibrant, urban lifestyle with a cozy neighborhood feel. There is always plenty to do in the South End. Take an afternoon off and visit some of the unique art galleries, hidden shops and trendy cafés crowded along Tremont Street and Massachusetts Avenue. As the sun begins to set, meet some friends for an enjoyable evening at one of the famous local jazz bars.

South Boston

South Boston, Southie to the locals, has seen a recent revival. With its miles of beaches and close vicinity to Downtown, it is no wonder locals are rediscovering South Boston as an up-and-coming community. Known for its triple-decker row houses and single family homes, South Boston boasts dozens of Irish pubs and taverns. It is also the sight of many new luxury condominiums and loft developments.

South Boston is a neighborhood booming with redevelopment. The most noticeable changes are taking place in the Seaport District, where the Fort Point Channel complex is already underway. The complex will contain luxury condominiums, new parks, stylish restaurants and easy access to Downtown Boston.