Boston area guide

With its pre-eminent place in US history, Boston has always been a magnet for tourists. It's easy to find the main sights – just follow the Freedom Trail (www.thefreedomtrail.org). But there are more recent attractions.

In the wake of the Big Dig, the city has embarked on a major self-improvement plan. Green swathes are gradually replacing the old raised expressway, and the long-neglected waterfront is being turned into a public asset. The HarborWalk is being extended, and the relatively new Institute of Contemporary Art has bumped up the city's collection of landmarks. The city is anchored by Boston Common and its refined adjunct, the Public Garden, green areas that are the centrepieces of the city's 'Emerald Necklace' of parks and commons.

Downtown

On one side of the Common is the area loosely termed Downtown, which is both the heart of Revolutionary Boston, containing many notable sites, and the city's commercial centre, housing its financial, mainstream shopping and theatre districts.

Beacon Hill & the West End

On the other side, behind the grand, golden-domed State House, genteel Beacon Hill is almost unfeasibly picturesque, with its red-brick row houses and mansions, gas lanterns and steep, narrow streets – some still cobbled.

Back Bay & the South End

To the west of the Public Garden lies Back Bay and, to the southwest, the South End, both of which are overflowing with cultural, retail and culinary riches.

The North End & Charlestown

On Boston's northernmost peninsula is one of the oldest parts of the city, the North End, whose large Italian population has shaped its distinctive identity, while across the gleaming Leonard P Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, which opened in 2003, is Charlestown, site of the famous Revolutionary battle.

Cambridge

Across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge offers the cultural buzz and raucous nightlife you'd expect of a major university town.

Other neighbourhoods

If you have more time to play with, it's worth venturing into the countryside, to colonial villages brimming with Revolutionary and literary history, or, in summer, the beautiful beaches of the Massachusetts coast and islands.

See all venues in Boston