32 In North America/ Photo Feature

A Photo Tour of Boston’s Beacon Hill Neighborhood

Beacon Hill is one of Boston’s most historic and beautiful neighborhoods. Featuring brownstones adorned with colorful shutters, cobblestone pathways, gaslit street lanterns, a distinct neighborhood feel, and proximity to the city’s most famous green spaces…what’s not to love?

If you find yourself in Boston, don’t miss the opportunity to take a walk around this picturesque neighborhood, filled with equal parts history and charm.

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

Things to do in and Around Beacon Hill

Ditch the map! Enjoy an aimless stroll through the many quiet and hilly side streets, giving yourself the chance to fully appreciate the area’s celebrated architecture.

Get your camera ready and head to Acorn Street. This narrow, pedestrian-only thoroughfare offers a great photo opportunity and is a classic Beacon Hill vantage point.

Visit Boston Common, America’s oldest public park. During warmer months, the Common plays host to a variety of sports games, picnics, sunbathers, dog walkers and more. During the wintertime, you can go ice skating on Frog Pond or attend the city’s Christmas tree lighting.

Stop and smell the roses at the Boston Public Garden, located just across Charles St. from Boston Common. The Victorian-era space is home to Boston’s famous swan boats and beloved Make Way for Ducklings statues.

Take in views of the iconic gold dome at the Massachusetts State House. If you’d like to see more of the building, they offer free walking tours from 10 am – 3:30 pm that last forty-five minutes.

Walk on the city’s Freedom Trail. This self-guided walking tour will lead you to Boston’s most historic churches, museums, parks and more. A section of it winds its way through Beacon Hill. (Boston Common and the State House are among the trail’s many stops in this area.) Some of the neighborhood’s stops are also a part of the Black Heritage Trail, including the African Meeting House and the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial.

Cross the Arthur Field Footbridge over Storrow Drive to reach the Charles River esplanade and take a walk along the water.

Enjoy the lively neighborhood atmosphere on Charles St., lined with shops, bars and restaurants.

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

A few Charles St. favorites:

Enjoy a coffee break at Tatte Bakery and Café.

For any fellow paper and stationery lovers, stop by Black Ink at 101 Charles St. to browse small batch, handmade cards and quirky home goods.

Visit Savenor’s Market, a butcher and market that’s been an institution in the Boston area since 1939 and is known for being a favorite of Julia Child’s. The Beacon Hill location at 160 Charles St. opened a year after its original Harvard Square store tragically burned down in 1992.

Enjoy a meal at the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro. (Fun fact: I interned here while studying Hospitality Management at Boston University!) The long and narrow dining room lined with banquettes on each side and filled with natural light offers a classic brunch atmosphere.

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

You Might Also Like: The Ultimate New England Summer Weekend: 48 Hours on Martha’s Vineyard

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

My Photo Feature series focuses less on words and more on images. See more here.

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

beacon hill boston travel guide

Have you visited Boston and/or Beacon Hill before? What were your favorite parts? Let me know in the Comments section below!

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32 Comments

  • Reply
    cengiz
    April 9, 2018 at 3:11 am

    I love it.. Congrats

  • Reply
    Allison
    April 12, 2018 at 4:11 pm

    I haven’t been to Boston in so long! I loved Beacon Hill, especially the Freedom Trail and Boston Common.

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:31 pm

      I agree, the Common is beautiful and the Freedom Trail is such a fun activity. Both really fun ways to get a feel for the city!

  • Reply
    Katherine
    April 12, 2018 at 4:19 pm

    I’m great at ditching maps, since I can hardly follow them in the first place 😉 I’d love to meander around Boston Common, I think that would be a great half day for me.

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:32 pm

      I am the same way! Even when I think I’m following one…sometimes I’m not! 🙂 But yes I’d definitely say it’s the perfect half day activity!

  • Reply
    Keri | Ladies What Travel
    April 13, 2018 at 9:28 am

    Ah man, this makes me want to visit Boston even more! #FarawayFiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:32 pm

      I hope you can make it there soon! It’s such a nice city to visit…not too big to navigate, but tons of stuff to see and do. 🙂

  • Reply
    Sheree
    April 13, 2018 at 11:19 am

    I’ve never visited but it looks amazing! Great photos 🙂 #flyawayfriday

  • Reply
    Valerie Hansen
    April 13, 2018 at 1:24 pm

    Boston is so quaint, and I am dying to visit! Your pictures are just beautiful..I have never been to the East Coast yet, hoping to go soon!

    Valerie

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:34 pm

      Thanks so much! I hope you can visit soon – I think fall would be an especially nice time for Boston! 🙂

  • Reply
    Melina
    April 13, 2018 at 7:29 pm

    The last time I was in a Boston, it rained so hard I didn’t get to do very much. I was so bummed. I need to go back when the weather is better. #flyawayfriday

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:35 pm

      It’s definitely a city that gets a lot of dreary weather and sunshine makes all the difference. I was pleasantly surprised at the blue skies during my walk. Thanks for reading! 🙂

  • Reply
    Ruth
    April 14, 2018 at 2:47 am

    This place is gorgeous. It reminds me a lot of the houses I saw on Pennsylvania. With such a uniform color (bricks), it is nice to see pops of color on doors and windows. I can take pictures of those for hours! #FlyAwayFriday

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:35 pm

      I agree! I loved all of the different styles of door knockers and mailboxes, too. Little pieces of personality for each home. 🙂

  • Reply
    Hilary
    April 14, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    I’ve never visited Boston, but I’ve always wanted to. Especially with all that amazing history, which is a real passion of mine. I also love to take photos of street lamps, and these are wonderful! The brick, the lamps, the doorways… such a picturesque place. #farawayfiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:36 pm

      If you like history, you would love the Freedom Trail! I hope you get to visit sometime soon. 🙂

  • Reply
    Corey | fifi + hop
    April 15, 2018 at 10:40 pm

    Love Beacon Hill! Though it’s been years for me. I totally agree to ditch the map! Last time I was in Boston we just bumbled around Beacon Hill and soaked up all the charm. Fantastic photos of a beautiful neighborhood. Thanks for linking up with #farawayfiles

  • Reply
    Erin Gustafson | Oregon Girl Around the World
    April 16, 2018 at 8:37 am

    Boston is such a fun town and so much history and character. It’s really unique in the US I think. Beautiful pictures as always Caity. Thank you for sharing a look at Beacon Hill with #FarawayFiles. Erin

  • Reply
    Urska
    April 17, 2018 at 11:06 am

    What a lovely set of photos. I had no idea Boston is so gorgeous. #FarawayFiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:39 pm

      Thanks for checking out the post, Urska! 🙂

  • Reply
    Beth
    April 18, 2018 at 5:05 am

    So cool seeing these pics after living among London’s city streets for three years. Boston is such a great city, love all of its history. Thanks for sharing. #FarawayFiles

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:41 pm

      I love London! I wish I could teleport myself there for an afternoon neighborhood photo shoot. 🙂 Thanks for reading, Beth!

  • Reply
    Janine Good
    April 26, 2018 at 11:15 am

    What a great post! I went to Boston last summer and loved it! I’m not happy with them right now eliminating our hockey team from the playoffs though haha! Thank you for coming to Fly Away Friday! See you tomorrow!

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:42 pm

      I’m glad you liked it! It’s such a fun city to visit and it really transforms in the summertime…thawing from those long winters. 🙂

  • Reply
    Kana
    April 26, 2018 at 3:27 pm

    I LOVE the Beacon Hill neighborhood! I got some great photos like yours from when I was a there a couple of years ago! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday, see you tomorrow! xo

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      April 29, 2018 at 9:44 pm

      Thanks Kana! It’s such a fun place to photograph, and I was so thankful for the sun!

  • Reply
    Sharon
    July 13, 2018 at 7:16 pm

    Boston is one of my favorite cities! I’ve been to Beacon Hill a long time ago but not on my more recent trip. Pinning this for future travel planning. I would visit Boston again any time and I love this historic neighborhood.

    • Reply
      Caity Pfohl
      August 12, 2018 at 8:17 pm

      Thanks for reading, Sharon! I love Boston and am always recommending it to people…such a great, walkable city with beautiful historic buildings to boot! I studied at BU so I guess I might be a little biased 🙂

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