Boston’s Seaport district is the city’s up-and-coming area, with cool contemporary art galleries, a dynamic food scene, and decent craft beers. At YOTEL, you are never far from some of the best things to see and do in Boston.
New England Whale Watching
This partnership between New England Aquarium and Boston Harbor Cruises takes you to Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary and they guarantee that you will see whales (March to November). Dolphins, sea birds and other marine life may well put in an appearance. Trips last around three hours, and advance booking is highly recommended.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Boston (more than 1.3 million visitors a year) houses over 2,000 species of marine creatures, including penguins, sea dragons, turtles and sea lions, as well as the Simons IMAX cinema. The Aquarium featured in the movie Aquaman, as the Boston aquarium.
The Institute of Contemporary Art is a waterfront art museum and exhibition space located a stones’ throw from YOTEL Boston. The museum was founded as the Boston Museum of Modern Art in 1936 to exhibit contemporary art, although the current gallery-museum – a glass-enclosed space that cantilevers above Boston Harbour – opened in December 2016. The Institute offers a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as film nights, events, and tours.
“Taxation without representation” brought the good people of Boston to the brink on 16 December 1773: frustrated by King George III’s high-handedness, Bostonians threw crates of tea overboard from ships of the British East India company – and setting in motion a series of events that would lead to the American War of Independence. Live actors, high-tech, interactive exhibits, and authentically restored tea ships bring history back to life.
See what’s brewing in the industrial-style beer hall, and book yourself a tour to learn about the brewing process and (for over 21s) a chance to sample some freshly brewed beers. Open daily – but on Saturdays it’s strictly 21+ for both tours and the Beer Hall.
Bohemian chic is the order of the day on Boston’s most fashionable shopping drag, with designer stores cheek by jowl with art galleries and cafes, all of them occupying 19th-century brownstones. Start off at the posh end of Newbury Street (closest to the Public Garden) with shops from the likes of Tiffany and Giorgio Armani; as the street numbers climb towards Massachusetts Avenue, the prices in the shops drop, with the likes of Nike, Lucy Brand and local, independent retailers.
Boston public market
An indoor, year-round marketplace where residents and visitors can find fresh, seasonal food from 40 New England farmers, fishers, and food entrepreneurs. Dine-in or shop for produce, meat and poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, bread and baked goods, beverages, and speciality and prepared foods. Visit for kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations, classes, events, and fresh food all year long (Monday-Saturday,8am – 8pm; Sunday 10am – 6pm).
Boston Common is America's oldest public park, founded in 1634, while the Public Garden is the country’s first botanical garden, established in 1837. Appreciate the diverse mix of plants as well as monuments and fountains. The Public Garden includes a pond and Swan Boat hire, in operation for 140 years. Boston Common is a 15-minute drive or 25-minute walk from the YOTEL Boston Hotel.
Boston Harbour Walk
This public walkway wriggles round the city’s shoreline, just a few blocks away from YOTEL Boston. Follow the walk in either direction, and you will come across many memorable sites and places to visit such as the Children’s Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, and Legal Harborside, voted one of the most scenic restaurants in America by Opentable in 2018.
