Back Bay

Back Bay is the easiest base in Boston for a first solo visit, with walkable streets, good transit and plenty of places to eat alone. The trade-off is price, since it is one of the most expensive parts of the city.

Victorian brownstones, tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue and the boutiques and cafés of Newbury Street make Back Bay the part of Boston most visitors picture. It is one of the easier places to base yourself when traveling alone. Streets are wide, well lit and busy from early morning until late evening, with residents, office workers, students and shoppers around most of the day. There are plenty of places to eat alone, from café counters to hotel bars, and staff are used to solo guests. The Green Line stops at Copley Square and Hynes, and the Orange Line at Back Bay Station, so the airport and the rest of the city are easy to reach. The residential side streets away from Boylston and Newbury quiet down late at night, so stick to the main avenues, but overall it is a low-stress area to walk home in.