Spending a Summer Weekend in Boston

As Boston is only a 4-hour bus or train journey, my friend and I began by getting a bus from New York’s Penn Station at 7:30am. Luckily the bus wasn’t full, so we were able to spread out and get some rest. We arrived into Boston’s South Station at 11:45am and headed to the hotel, a 15 min drive away, to drop off our luggage.

We stayed at the Kimpton Marlowe hotel, over the other side of the Charles River in Cambridge. A boutique hotel with stylishly designed rooms and a peaceful atmosphere, I recommend staying here if you ever come to Boston. I particularly liked its outdoor courtyard space with comfy chairs and a station with bottled water on ice. As well as this, the hotel provides free bikes for guests to enjoy the area. It's a great way to enjoy Boston without staying in the city centre.

Arriving at midday, we were able to still make the most of our time that weekend. Our return bus the next day was at 7pm, and we were able to explore a large amount of the city during that time: Harvard University, Back Bay, the Freedom Trail, Boston Public Library, Quincy Market, Beacon Hill and the Boston Common, as well as eating at some amazing restaurants. Even though when visiting somewhere I would prefer to stay longer to get a local feel for the place, I left Boston with a good grasp of the place. I personally like smaller cities and Boston is conveniently laid out, making it easy to see it all.

Overall, I loved Boston and my short weekend trip. The architecture and laid-back summertime atmosphere made it a pleasant experience and I would visit again.

However, it is not very big. After only being there for a mere 30 hours, I felt like I had completed everything, which I was not expecting before I went. Personally, I liked it in the sense that the lifestyle suited me and I could see myself enjoying living there. But in terms of visiting as a tourist, it lacks in its offerings compared to other major East Coast cities, such as New York and Washington, D.C. If you wish to visit, I would recommend including it as a stop on a multi-centre trip rather than solely travelling to that part of the world for Boston on its own. For example, you could take an East Coast US trip, starting in Boston and making your way down to New York and then onto Washington, D.C. Or instead you could fly into Boston and spend a few days there before heading to Martha’s Vineyard, an island in southern Massachusetts, a 3hr drive and ferry ride from the city.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Boston. In need of further inspiration? Check out Shannon Zelek’s guide, The Two Day Guide to Greater Boston.