Boston Downtown
Boston Downtown, also called downtown Boston, is the central business district and historic core of Boston, Massachusetts. Government Center and the Financial District sit inside it, and it borders Beacon Hill, the North End, Back Bay and the South End. Many of the city's best-known sights, including the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Boston Common and the Freedom Trail, sit within walking distance of each other here. This page explains where downtown Boston is, how it grew, what to see by area, which neighboring districts to add, and how to see it with Boston Sightseeing, since Stops 1 to 4 on the route are downtown.
Location
The city center of Boston sits between Beacon Hill, the North End, Back Bay and the South End, and it reaches the harbor near Long Wharf and the New England Aquarium. Downtown Boston has no single street address, so in a map app, search for a landmark such as Boston Common or Faneuil Hall instead.
Several subway lines meet here. Four lines converge at Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Government Center and State stations, and South Station is a major rail and bus hub. With Boston Sightseeing, the route starts at 206 Atlantic Avenue, and the first four stops are downtown: Stop 1 at the New England Aquarium, Stop 2 at the Old State House Museum, Stop 3 in Downtown and Stop 4 at Boston Common.
History
Boston was founded in 1630, and for its first two centuries much of the town stood in what is now downtown. The Old State House opened in 1713 as the colonial government's Town House. In March 1770, British soldiers fired into a crowd in the square in front of it, an event remembered as the Boston Massacre, and on July 18, 1776, Bostonians gathered under its balcony to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud. Faneuil Hall opened in 1742 as a market and meeting hall, and Quincy Market followed in 1826.
The Great Boston Fire of 1872 destroyed much of the area, especially between Summer, Washington and Milk Streets, and much of it was rebuilt afterward. In the 1960s and 1970s, Government Center replaced Scollay Square. A raised highway, the Central Artery, cut through downtown from the 1950s until the Big Dig moved it underground between 1982 and 2007, which opened space for the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
Today the Freedom Trail ties the history together. The trail is a 2.5-mile red-brick path with 16 official historic sites, and Boston Common is the first of them.
Activities
Downtown works best when you move area by area. Each group below sits within a short walk, so you can do one or two in a morning.
- Government Center and the waterfront edge: Boston City Hall anchors Government Center, and Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market, the area's best-known shopping and food stops, are close by. The tour map lists both marketplaces near Stop 1.
- The historic core: The Old State House and Old South Meeting House stand close together, and the tour map lists them near Stop 2.
- Around Park Street: The Granary Burying Ground, Park Street Church and King's Chapel cluster here, near Stop 3.
- Parks, theaters and Chinatown: Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden are next to the Theater District and Chinatown, all listed with Stop 4.
- Business and architecture: The Financial District holds the district's office towers, and the Custom House Tower is among downtown's landmarks.
Visitors who follow the Freedom Trail will also reach the Paul Revere House in the North End. Sports fans can look beyond downtown to TD Garden, which is Stop 11 on the Boston and Charlestown ticket route, or to Fenway Park, which sits in the Fenway neighborhood rather than downtown. For a full list of ideas, including free sights and a one-day plan, see things to do in downtown Boston.
Nearby Attractions
Downtown borders four neighborhoods, and each one adds a different mood to the day. That raises a fair question: which of them fits your time?
- Beacon Hill: Historic brick streets and the gold-domed Massachusetts State House, which is Stop 8 on the route.
- The North End: Narrow streets, Italian restaurants and Freedom Trail sites. See things to do in the North End for more.
- Back Bay: Newbury Street, Copley Square and Trinity Church, with Stops 6 and 7 on the route. See things to do in Back Bay.
- The South End: A residential district of brick row houses on downtown's southern side.
Boston Common dates to 1634 and is described as the oldest city park in the United States. The Public Garden lies just west of it, across Charles Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is downtown Boston?
Downtown Boston is the city's central business district and historic core. It includes Government Center and the Financial District, and it holds landmarks such as the Old State House, Faneuil Hall and Boston Common.
Where is downtown Boston?
Downtown Boston is in the center of the city, between Beacon Hill, the North End, Back Bay and the South End, and it reaches the waterfront near Long Wharf.
Where is the city center of Boston?
The city center is downtown, around Boston Common, the Old State House and Faneuil Hall. These sites are close enough to reach on foot from one another.
What is the heart of Boston?
Many visitors treat downtown as the heart of Boston, because it combines the city's oldest public park, its colonial-era landmarks and its main subway interchanges.
What is the address of downtown Boston?
Downtown Boston has no single street address. Search for a landmark such as Boston Common or Faneuil Hall in a map app to get exact directions.
What are the main landmarks in downtown Boston?
The main landmarks are the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Boston City Hall, Boston Common, the Public Garden, Park Street Church and the Granary Burying Ground.
What are the best things to do in downtown Boston?
Start with the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall and Boston Common. Our guide to things to do in downtown Boston lists free sights, food stops and a one-day plan.
How do I get to downtown Boston by subway?
Four subway lines converge at Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Government Center and State stations, so you can reach downtown from most parts of the city.
Which Boston Sightseeing stops are in downtown Boston?
Stops 1 to 4 are downtown: the New England Aquarium, the Old State House Museum, Downtown and Boston Common. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8.
Planning Your Tour with Boston Sightseeing
Boston Sightseeing runs a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour with live commentary, so you can get off at any stop and rejoin later. Downtown is the easiest part of the route to use, because four of the first stops fall inside it:
- Stop 1, New England Aquarium: Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market are listed nearby.
- Stop 2, Old State House Museum: Boston City Hall and Old South Meeting House are listed nearby.
- Stop 3, Downtown: The Boston Opera House, Old Granary Burial Ground, Park Street Church and King's Chapel are listed nearby.
- Stop 4, Boston Common: The Public Garden, Theater District and Chinatown are listed nearby.
The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8, so it includes every downtown stop. The Boston and Charlestown ticket covers Stops 1 to 11, and the Cruise Terminal ticket covers Stops 1 to 8 and 12 to 15. The bus runs daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. See the ticket cards below for current options, and use the hop-on hop-off tour map to see every stop. The complete guide to hop-on hop-off tours in Boston explains how the tickets compare.
Our Tour Packages
Single Ride Pass
$33.25
Explore Boston in 90 Minutes
Ride above the crowd and enjoy the panoramic view of Boston
- Boston City Tour Single Ride Pass
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour
- Charlestown Sightseeing Tour
Hop-On Hop-Off All Day
$41.55
Boston City Sightseeing Tour
Experience historic Boston with unlimited hop-on hop-off at your own pace.
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Shuttle Bus Service
- Charlestown Tour
Hop-on Hop-off Boston & Charlestown Tour
$48.65
Boston & Charlestown Tour
Experience the charm of Boston & Charlestown with Boston Sightseeing at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$70.40
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Tour
Explore Boston & Charlestown with Boston's first double-decker bus at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 2 Days Validity
Cruise Terminal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$52.00
200 Minutes Hop-on Hop-off
Get onboard from Boston Cruise terminal and explore the historic beantown with Boston Sightseeing double-decker bus.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop 1-8, 12-15
- Blue & Purple Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 200 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Charlestown Tour
Boston & Cambridge City Tour
$63.00
Guided Photo & City Tour
A 3.5-hour guided shuttle tour featuring Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, Cambridge highlights, waterfront views, and curated photo opportunities.
- Guided Boston & Cambridge sightseeing tour
- Approximately 3.5 hours
- Curated stops and photo opportunities
- Climate-controlled shuttle bus transportation
- Live local tour guide
- 45-minutes Quincy Market lunch break
- Same-day tour experience
- Double-Decker Bus Service
- Hop-on, hop-off service
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