Neighborhoods

Want to hit the beach but leave the car at home? Here are four Boston area beaches accessible by public transportation.

See images of holiday lights in Boston's Back Bay.

Boston’s Chinatown is the largest such cultural neighborhood in New England. Architecture, Asian food, and unique shopping abound in this densely-populated neighborhood, nestled between Downtown Crossing and the South End.

While many bemoan the recent commercialization of Harvard Square , this Cambridge neighborhood remains a bastion of higher learning, bookstores, and ideas, all of which boast a certain kind of independence not found elsewhere.

Each distinct in its character, history, and residents, Boston neighborhoods provide the cultural backbone of the city.

Often looped in with its neighbor, and referred to as the Allston-Brighton neighborhood, Brighton has a few distinct characteristics that prompt its residents to ignore the hyphen. Like Allston, it is Ground Zero for students and young professionals.

Swarming with unique shops, gourmet restaurants, and classic architecture, Boston’s Back Bay is the place to be – and to be seen - for the city’s visitors and residents. This neighborhood, which includes the trendy Newbury St., Copley Square, the Public Library, and the Prudential Center, is Boston’s most affluent, evident in the boutiques,...

Take a walking tour of Boston's Kenmore Square. One of the city’s most popular destinations, the Kenmore Square area of the Fenway features a wide variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment options for sports, club, and college crowds.

The North End, Boston’s oldest residential area, still possesses an old-world charm kept alive by its mostly Italian-American population. Since the completion of the Big Dig, and the demolition of the old elevated Southeast Expressway, the neighborhood has found itself reconnected to the rest of the city, and there is arguably no more vibrant area of Boston on a summer evening, when the narrow city streets come alive with an enticing blend of culture and cuisine.

Take a walking tour of Coolidge Corner, at the crossroads of Beacon St. and Harvard Ave. The cultural hub of Brookline, a village just west of Boston, this neighborhood features some of the Boston area's best indepedent theaters, bookstores, and restaurants.

Teeming with college students and young professionals, Allston is Boston’s most affordable option for housing in a real estate market that remains as competitive as any in the country. At the turn of the 20th century, Allston was home to railroad and stockyard facilities. Today, the neighborhood features a vibrant nightlife, with numerous dining and music options.

Find complete information and profiles on Boston's 21 distinct neighborhoods from the official web site of the city.

Discover what planning initiatives and development projects are in store for Boston neighborhoods.

A resident-based civic organization dedicated to promoting public process in planning, zoning, transportation, and other neighborhood concerns,