Onyx, a Kimpton Hotel

The best time to visit is May through June and September through October, when temperatures are mild and rain is less frequent. July is the hottest month, with highs around 29°C and the most rain days. Winter months are cold, with January and February averaging near freezing. The Boston Marathon in April is a famous event, but spring weather can be unpredictable.

Back Bay suits first-time visitors with its brownstones, shopping, and easy access to the Public Garden; the Mandarin Oriental and Fairmont Copley Plaza are here. Beacon Hill offers quiet, historic charm near the State House, with XV Beacon as a base. Boston City Center is central for sightseeing, with the Four Seasons and InterContinental nearby. Allston-Brighton is a more residential, student-friendly option, though farther from main sights.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a lively historic market and shopping hub. Fenway Park is the iconic home of the Red Sox, a must for baseball fans. Boston Common is the city's oldest public park, great for a stroll. The New England Aquarium features a large central tank and penguins. The Public Garden, adjacent to the Common, is known for its swan boats and flowers.

You can take a full-day trip to Martha's Vineyard, a popular island with beaches, lighthouses, and charming towns like Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Other well-known day trips from Boston include Salem, known for its colonial history and witch trials, and Cape Cod, with its coastal villages and sandy shores.

Plan 3 days to see the core sights: Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston Common, the Public Garden, and Fenway Park. Add a fourth day for the New England Aquarium and the Charlestown Navy Yard, including Bunker Hill Monument. If you want to take the full-day tour to Martha's Vineyard, add one more day. Five days total gives you a relaxed pace.