Location: Back Bay
Top Things to do in Back Bay
Top 10 Things to do in Back Bay, Massachusetts (MA)
Walk the Freedom Trail the first time you visit Boston and you'll quickly get a sense of this coastal city's revolutionary spirit and history. But make sure you also explore some of Boston's fine museums (try the Isabella Stewart Gardner, featuring masterpieces displayed in their collector's mansion) and old neighborhoods (like the North End, Boston's Little Italy). You can't claim to have experienced real Boston culture, though, until you've watched a Red Sox game from the bleachers.
Restaurants in Boston
1. New England Historic Genealogical Society
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
We are located in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, and are America's leading research center for genealogists of every skill level. Visitors have access to millions of documents, manuscripts, records, books, microfilms, photographs, artifacts, electronic resources, and other items that preserve and reveal our nation's history. NEHGS genealogists, archivists, and librarians are available to assist patrons with their research inquiries and provide orientations to the library collections.
2. Norman B. Leventhal Map Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
The Leventhal Map Center is located on the first floor of the Boston Public Library's historic McKim Building in Copley Square. It includes an exhibition gallery featuring changing thematic exhibitions, a public learning center with research books, a reading room for rare map research, a world globe three feet in diameter, and a Kids Map Club with map puzzles.
3. Tiffany Windows Education Center at Arlington Street Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Housed in this historic church is the largest collection of Tiffany stained glass windows with one theme in the world. Tours available six days a week for these incredible works of decorative art.
4. Copley Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 823 reviews
Anchored by the modern John Hancock building and the stately Trinity Church, this area is known for its upscale restaurants and stores.
Reviewed By piotrh1982 - Lodz, Poland
Nice square just in the heart of the city. You can have a seat and rest a little. There are some nice buildings surrounding it
5. Boston Public Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,972 reviews
On the National Register of Historic Places, the library opened in 1852 as the first free, publicly-supported municipal library in America.
Reviewed By SundaramR - Chennai District, India
It was a fantastic experience to visit a modern library in great style 2 days back.it is in the heart of the city ,with Copley square at stone's throw.it is strongly suggested to take advantage of free guided tours lasting approx 1 hour,to admire the artitectural glory of this building. The books available here cover A to Z.you can go through the various language books of the world.WiFi is available.one can browse and read books old and new of one's choice. After spending a considerable time one can enjoy a fabulous coffee in Newsfeed coffee For information of book lovers - it is learnt that a regular member can lend for short time a good number of books for reading.
6. Trinity Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,016 reviews
This National Historic Landmark, one of America's great buildings, was built in 1877 by architect H.H. Richardson.
Reviewed By vincentdE9094KZ - Dún Laoghaire, Ireland
this is first of all a church and secondly a tourist attraction. there is a charge to go in. If you are interested in arts and crafts - this is heaven - it was built in 1877 by Henry Hobson Richardson. Woodwork in the pews is beautiful with each roundel at the end of the pews being slightly different. every style of leaded glass is represented including some designed by the British artist Edward Burne Jones and executed by his friend William Morris who was the leader of the arts and crafts movement in England. Everywhere you look there is beautiful stonework, glasswork, painted murals or timber carving.
7. Newbury Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,470 reviews
Boston's chic shopping address mixes elegant boutiques with funky salons and trendy galleries.
Reviewed By hcivic123 - Painesville, United States
Went to Boston for first visit to see fireworks and Boston Orchestra, stayed in Back Bay, just a Street over could walk from hotel, beautiful street with shops and restaurants, even saw movie star having ice cream with his family.
8. Gibson House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Located on historic Beacon Street, this museum is housed in a 1859 Boston brownstone with Victorian furnishings.
Reviewed By Sobieski54
While visiting a family friend living in a similar house on Beacon Street 3 blocks away, we decided to take the tour of the Gibson House. It was interesting for us to compare the two 1890's homes, my friends house with modern plumbing, electricity, and newer bathroom and kitchen amenities, with the same size house and similar floor plan filled with all the original fixtures and furnishings. The docent was excellent, and commented that Charles Gibson, the last owner, stated that he wanted to keep the home in the original condition because people living in the 1940s were not be interested in how upper middle class Victorians lived, but folks living after the year 2000 would want to experience that moment in time.
9. Back Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 624 reviews
This tony neighborhood--one of the two most expensive residential areas in Boston--started as a bay. The bay was filled in during the 19th century to create the area now known by the name Back Bay. The area is known for its Victorian brownstones, the Boston Public Library, shopping, office high rises and upscale hotels.
Reviewed By tarjana - Salt Lake City, United States
There are quite a few popular neighborhoods in Boston, so it's hard to decide where to stay... If you stay in Back Bay, you can find almost everything you need in walking distance (if you're a walker). You can even walk to the North End, or a quick Uber ride can get you there quickly. There is sooooo much to see in Back Bay, and you if you're in town for a short trip, you don't need a rental car.
10. Society of Arts and Crafts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Founded in 1897, the Society of Arts + Crafts is the nation's oldest craft nonprofit. Located in Boston's Seaport District, the Society's mission is to support the livelihoods of craft artists and advance public appreciation of contemporary craft.
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