Travel Guide BOSTON.

Population560,000
Currency
American Dollar $1 = 100 cents

Opening hours
Monday – Friday 9.00 – 17.00. Most malls stay open later, Monday – Saturday 10.00 – 22.00. Sunday 11.00 – 18.00. Most banks Monday – Friday 9.00 – 16.00. Closed weekends.

Publications
The Boston Globe
The Boston Herald.
Boston Phoenix (free alternative weekly magazine)

Emergency numbers911

Tourist Office
Boston Common Visitor Information Center
Open Monday-Friday 9.00-17.00
Address: 146 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116
Underground: Park Street
Phone: +1 (1) 617.536.4100
WELCOME TO BOSTON
Long known for its “old world” charm, Boston has come a long way towards staking its claim in the 21st century. With the recent completion of the “Big Dig,” which buried Boston’s vast network of highways underground, Boston has hit the new century running. With a collection of parks set to take the place of the ungainly elevated highways, the years to come promise to see Boston only get more beautiful.
THE city | do & see

THE city
Boston has a tradition unlike any other city in America. It was here in 1773, when America was still a colony of the British Empire, that residents, angered over a heavy tax on tea imposed by King George III, launched a bold nighttime in which they dumped 342 chests of English tea into the Boston Harbor. The “Boston Tea Party,” as the raid was called, was the first major salvo into what would become the American Revolution.

But while proud of its history, Boston has adjusted well to modernity. In 2004, Boston finally completed its decades long “Big Dig” project. The stunning Leonard P. Zakim Bridge, which with a width of 180 feet is the widest cable stayed bridge in the world, is the crowning achievement in the single most expensive feat of civil engineering in human history. The completion of the project has made a city already laced with stunning parks and colonial era architecture, even more beautiful.

But despite its traditions and its idyllic façade, Boston has more than its fair share of excitement. With more than 20 universities, including world famous Harvard University, and over 100,000 students, Boston is the quintessential college town. From its outstanding live music venues to the bass bumping clubs of Lansdowne Street, Boston pulses with the energy of youth.

do & see
Freedom Trail
Celebrating Boston’s preeminent role in the American Revolution, this 2.5-mile trail offers a stroll through history as well as a glimpse of the beauty of the modern city. www.thefreedomtrail.org

Museum of Fine Art
The MFA has works ranging from the wonders of ancient Egypt to contemporary America. The museum also boasts the largest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan.
Address: 465 Huntington Avenue, Fenway
Underground: Museum of Fine Arts
Tel: +1 (1) 617.267.9300
www.mfa.org

Public Gardens
Established in 1837, the Public Garden was the first public botanical garden in America. No visit to the Garden is complete without a cruise on the lagoon in the park’s famous swan boats.
www.swanboats.com

Museum of Science
Science has never been so much fun. Featuring an IMAX theater, a planetarium and a recently opened digital 3-D movie theater, as well as a variety of fascinating scientific exhibits and collections, the museum is the perfect synthesis of hard science and “infotainment.”
Tickets: Exhibit Hall $13/16 Adult Children (Does not include IMAX, planetarium or 3-D cinema)
Address: Science Park, Underground: Science Park
Tel: +1 (1) 617.723.2500, www.mos.org

JFK Library
A tribute to the 35th president, John F. Kennedy Library features several interactive exhibits and all the information you could possibly want about Boston’s most famous son.
Tickets $4/8/10 Children/Students/Adults
Address: Columbia Point, South Boston
Underground: JFK/Umass, Tel: +1 (1) 1.617.514.1600
www.jfklibrary.org

Duck Tour
Riding in a World War II amphibious landing vehicle, the tour begins with a drive past the historic sights of downtown Boston, and comes to a dramatic close by splashing into the Charles River for a sightseeing cruise of the Boston and Cambridge skylines.
Address: Tours leave from either the Museum of Science or the Prudential Center, Tel: +1 (1) 617.267.3825
www.bostonducktours.com

North End
Cappuccino anyone? Boston’s largest Italian enclave is also its oldest and most charming neighborhood. Narrow alleyways and cobblestone streets are still the order of the day, and the smell of freshly baked bread and Italian fare is omnipresent.

New England Aquarium
Featuring sharks, penguins, seals and over 2,000 other species of aquatic life, the aquarium is a must see in Boston. Deep-sea whale watching tours on the Atlantic Ocean can also be arranged from inside the Aquarium.
Tickets - $9.95/17.95/15.95 Child/Adult/Senior
Address: Central Wharf, South Boston
Underground: Aquarium
Tel: +1 (1) 617.973.5200
www.neaq.org
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS | eating
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
JANUARY 2007
Love Him Tender: Spirit of the King
6 Jan
America’s best Elvis impersonator Steve Connolly performs on the eve of the King’s 72nd birthday.
www.maj.org

18th Annual Boston Wine Festival
12 Jan –6 April
The best wines in the world paired with food from gourmet chefs from the Boston area.
www.bostonwinefestival.net

FEBRUARY
In A Sentimental Mood
10 -11 Feb
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Museum of Fine Arts features the music of Gershwin, Ellington and Porter.
www.mfa.org

Running of the Brides
17 Feb
Brides-to-be beg, barter and even bribe to get the discounted dress of their choice.
www.filenesbasement.com/master.html

MARCH
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
18 March
Beginning at 13.00 on West Broadway Street, the parade is the centerpiece of the biggest party of the year.
www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

EatingAs long as there are fish in the sea, Boston will be a seafood town. New England clam chowder is Boston’s most famous delicacy and is a must try. But while traditional sea fare is as popular as ever, interesting new restaurants of all varieties are popping up every day across the city.

Legal Sea foods
Boston’s most famous seafood chain is simply the place to go for a cup of New England clam chowder. Legal’s clam chowder is so good it has been served at every presidential inauguration since 1981.
Address: 255 State Street, South Boston
Underground: Aquarium
Tel: +1 (1) 617.227.3115
www.legalseafoods.com

Mistral
Chef Jamie Mammano’s fashionable restaurant not only offers the best French Mediterranean cuisine in the city, but also one of its hottest bars – the people watching is almost as good as the food.
Address: 223 Columbus Avenue, Back Bay
Underground: Back Bay, Tel: +1 (1) 617.867.9300
www.mistralbistro.com
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Bustling yet elegant, Fleming’s serves choice steak of all cuts and houses one of the city’s best wine selections – more than 100 to choose from by the glass alone!
Address: 217 Stuart Street, Back Bay
Underground - Arlington
Tel: +1 (1) 617.292.0808

Union Oyster House
The oldest continually running restaurant in America has been serving traditional New England style fare since 1826. Try the “Shore Dinner” which comes with oyster chowder, “steamers” (steamed clams dipped in butter), corn and boiled lobster.
Address: 41 Union Street, Downtown
Underground: Government Center
Tel: 617.227.2750
www.unionoysterhouse.com/

Chinatown Café
A Chinatown gem, the Café serves Cantonese style cuisine in an unpretentious cafeteria-style setting. The congee (rice porridge with meat) is excellent.
Address: 262 Harrison Ave, Chinatown
Underground - Chinatown
Tel: +1 (1) 617.695.9888

Pizzeria Regina
Boston’s most famous pizza parlor has been up and running for more than 80 years. The original North End shop has, quite simply, the best pizza in Boston.
Address: 11 ½ Thatcher Street, North End
Underground - Haymarket, Tel: +1 (1) 617.227.0765

Trattoria Il Panino
Cozy and romantic with exposed brick and soft, subtle lighting - this is of the North End’s finest Italian restaurants.
Address: 11 Parmenter Street, North End
Underground: Haymarket
Tel: +1 (1) 617.720.1336
CAFÉS
Café Vittoria
Largely considered the best cappuccino in the North End, Vittoria’s desserts are nothing to scoff at either.
Address: 294 Hanover St, North End
Underground - Haymarket
Tel: +1 (1) 617.227.7606

Café Algiers
This North African themed coffee house is a local favorite. Attracts a Harvard intellectual crowd as well as film buffs spilling over from the nearby Brattle Theater.
Address: 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge
Underground - Harvard
Tel: +1 (1) 617.492.1557

Trident Bookstore Café
A welcome respite from a day of shopping on Newbury Street, this mellow spot is the perfect place to catch up on a novel or buy a new one if you’ve finished yours.
Address: 338 Newbury Street, Back Bay
Underground: Hynes Convention Center
Tel: +1 (1) 617.267.2688
www.tridentbookscafe.com


bars
Boston is a diehard sports town, and that infatuation is reflected in its bar scene. However, the trendy lounges and dive bars of Back Bay offer an alternative to the sports bar scene.

Boston Billiards
Not your father’s pool haul – a cavernous space with high ceilings and a sleek interior. Address: 126 Brookline Avenue, Fenway
Underground: Kenmore, Tel: +1 (1) 617.536.pool

Cleary’s
During the week, this spacious Back Bay institution draws an after-work crowd looking to take advantage of cheap “happy hour” drink specials.
Address: 113 Dartmouth Street, Back Bay
Underground: Back Bay, Tel: +1 (1) 617 262 9874

Bukowski’s
With indie rock blaring from open until close and the city’s best selection of draft beer, this is one of the few bars where the alternative and the intellectual come to mingle.
Address: 50 Dalton Street, Back Bay
Underground: Hyne’s Convention Center
Tel: +1 (1) 617 437 9999
Cask’N Flagon
Located right outside Fenway Park, sports fans of all stripes come to share pitchers of beer and cheer for their favorite team.
Address: 62 Brookline Avenue, Fenway
Underground: Kenmore, Tel: +1 (1) 617 536 4840

The Black Rose
Coats of arms, Irish flags and photos of the motherland coat the walls of this traditional Irish pub where Guinness flows freely from the taps. Weekends occasionally feature live Irish music and dancing.
Address: 160 State Street, Downtown
Underground: Government Center
Tel: +1 (1) 617.742.2286

nightlife
Home to such rock legends as Aerosmith, the Pixies and…well…Boston - Boston is a live music town with several outstanding venues. Electronic music aficionados should head to Lansdowne Street where the young and scantily clad come to dance the night away.

Avalon
With hot music, sexy go-go dancers and a dance floor packed with Boston’s best looking clientele, Avalon is far and away the largest and most popular dance club around.
Address: 15 Lansdowne Street, Fenway
Underground: Kenmore Square
Tel: +1 (1) 617.262.2424, www.avalonboston.com

Axis
Avalon’s smaller, edgier cousin - Axis specializes in trance, techno and house and hosts a variety of theme nights. Each week, “Seductive Saturday” lets ladies in for free before 23:30, while the last Monday of every month has a drag contest.
Address: 13 Lansdowne Street, Fenway
Underground: Kenmore Square
Tel: +1 (1) 617.262.2437
Paradise
Big enough to attract top musicians while small enough to keep the performances intimate, Boston’s best live music venue draws the premiere acts in town.
Address: 967 Commonwealth Avenue, Fenway
Underground: Pleasant Street
Tel: +1 (1) 617.562.8800
www.thedise.com

Middle East
Across the Charles River in Cambridge sits the Boston area’s Mecca to punk and indie rock. Downstairs, punk and indie bands blast through their sets, while upstairs, the smaller, renovated room hosts more laid-back acoustic and hip-hop shows.
Address: 472 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
Underground: Central Square
Tel: +1 (1) 617.864.3278
www.mideastclub.com

Top of the Hub
High atop Boston’s second tallest building sits one of Boston’s most elegant nightclubs. The romantic views, live jazz and subtle lighting make it the perfect place to bring a date.
Address: 800 Boylston St, Back Bay
Underground - Prudential
Tel: +1 (1) 617.536.1775

SHOPPING
Finding great shopping in Boston is rather simple – just follow the crowds. While straying off the beaten path can occasionally uncover a hidden gem, the majority of worthwhile shopping is found in the following popular four areas.

Newbury Street is Boston’s premier shopping area has a diverse collection of shops ranging from expensive name brand stores to quirky boutiques. Starting at the eastern end of the street is Chanel on 5 Newbury Street and Giorgio Armani on 22. As you head west, the stores go from posh to alternative with shops like Allston Beat at 338 Newbury, offering faux fur and edgy skirts while blaring a hard rock soundtrack.

For two centuries Faneuil Hall has been one of Boston’s most popular shopping destinations and is often said to attract more people than Disneyworld. Though it houses a modern shopping mall, it’s really the perfect place to pick up souvenirs, get a quick bite to eat and soak in the atmosphere.

Feeding the minds of the country’s most brilliant students is no easy task, but Harvard Square manages well as home to the Boston area’s best bookstores. Get your books where the smart kids do, at the Harvard Coop at 1400 Massachusetts Avenue – the official bookstore of Harvard University.

The premiere mall - Copley Mall - in Massachusetts features such high-end favorites as Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and the only Neiman Marcus in New England.
Address: 100 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay
Underground - Copley
Essential informationAirport
All flights to Boston arrive at Logan International Airport, which is located approximately 5 miles east of downtown Boston. A free shuttle to the nearest “T” stop – Airport -- services all of Logan’s five terminals. Taxi service to downtown is available through Back Bay Coach +1 (1) 888.222.5299 and should cost between $15-20. Book taxis 24 hours in advance of your arrival or departure. Although the airport is close to the city center, traffic can make the trip last as long as thirty minutes.
www.massport.com, www.backbaycoach.com

Local Transport
The MBTA, known locally as the “T,” provides quick and efficient rail service throughout the city. A single ride is $1.25, and weeklong unlimited “Visitor Passes” are available for $35. Bring cabfare if you plan on staying out late – the T stops running at 0:30.
www.mbta.com

Boston is small enough to be completely manageable by bike. Call Boston Bike Tours and Rental +1 (1) 617-308-5902 to make a reservation and they’ll bring the bike to you.
www.bostonbiketours.com

Taxi
Taxis are the only way to get around town after the T stops running at 0:30. Fare begins at $1.75 and adds 30 cents for each additional 1/8th mile. Lines of cabs wait outside major hotels or can be flagged down in the street.

Boston Cab
Tel: +1 (1) 617. 262.2227
Town Taxi
Tel: +1 (1) 617.536.5000

Post
Stamps can be purchased at post offices located around the city. The post office at 25 Dorchester Street is open Monday-Friday 6.00-midnight. Saturday 8.00 – 19.00 and Sunday 12.00-19.00.

Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy on 587 Boylston Street or call +1 (1) 617.437.8414.

Dentist
Massachusetts Dental Society +1 (1) 508.480.9797 can refer you to the closest dentist.
www.massdental.org

Telephone & Electricity
Country Code: +1, Area Code: 617
/ 110 to 120 volts (60 cycles). Since most European countries use 220 volts, you will need a 110-volt transformer and a two flag prong plug adapter.