Best Boston Hotels for Harborfest - 2012

Boston Harborfest hotels near all the key events

What are the best Boston hotels for Harborfest? The answer depends on which Harborfest events you plan to attend, because staying in a nearby hotel will give you lots of convenience.

Here are our recommendations for top Boston Harborfest hotels in each neighborhood where key festival events take place.

Decide which of the 200+ events you plan to attend, and pick the location where most occur.

Use the following guide to Boston hotels for Harborfest to make your choice and book reservations.

You may also want to check recommendations for best hotels for Boston fireworks views on July 4th.

Now get ready to enjoy Boston's Harborfest many fun events - and your convenient Harborfest hotel!

Hotels near the Plaza at Boston City Hall

Chowderfest, Opening Day ceremonies, concerts, and many more Harborfest main events take place at City Hall Plaza.

Ames Hotel Boston One of Boston's newest hotels, the stylish Ames Hotel (1 Court Street) puts you almost at the doorstep of the Plaza at City Hall, but you'll find it to be equally convenient to the Freedom Trail and Beacon Hill. You can also easily walk to the North End for events at Paul Revere's house as well as to the Downtown Waterfront if you're interested in going on a cruise. Pack a blanket and on July 4th, walk over to Boston Common, find a spot for your blanket, and watch the fireworks. Rates, reviews, reservations

Millennium Bostonian Hotel

The Millennium Bostonian Hotel (26 North Street) also boasts a close location to Boston's City Hall Plaza, plus it's only a block away from Faneuil Hall Marketplace where even more events occur. Haymarket takes place at its doorstep (you can see a bit in my photo at the left), and just beyond stretches the Rose Kennedy Greenway and the North End, site of still more Harborfest activities at the Old North Church. Rates, reviews, availability for Millennium Bostonian Hotel

Bulfinch Hotel

Although the Bulfinch (107 Merrimac Street), like other hotels near TD Garden, is a bit farther away from City Plaza, it offers the advantage of being closer to the North End and Charlestown, sites of many interesting Harborfest events. Beacon HIll and Faneuil Marketplace are just short distances away in other directions. Rates, reviews, and reservations for the Bulfinch Hotel Boston

Return to Top - Boston Hotels for Harborfest

Hotels near Historic Boston Freedom Trail and Boston Common

Nine Zero Hotel - Boston

The location of the Nine Zero Hotel (90 Tremont Street) puts it next to Freedom Trail sites such as the Granary Burying Ground and King's Chapel Burying Ground where fascinating Harborfest tours and other interesting events take place. The Nine Zero Hotel is also only a couple of blocks from City Hall Plaza and even closer to Boston Common. Remember, Downtown Boston's small size means you can walk down to the Waterfront in only 5-10 minutes from here. Check rates, reviews, availability for the Nine Zero

Fifteen Beacon Hotel

Although Fifteen Beacon (15 Beacon Street) enjoys one of the best Freedom Trail locations near the historic Massachusetts State House where a number of Boston Harborfest activities occur, it also happens to be one of the city's top luxury boutique hotels. You can walk to City Hall Plaza, Boston Common, and Faneuil Hall Marketplace in 5 minutes or less. XV Beacon also has a terrific roof deck for watching July 4th fireworks. Rates and reviews for Fifteen Beacon Hotel

Omni Parker House Hotel

In addition to being one of Boston's most historic hotels (claim to fame: Boston Cream Pie originated here), the luxuriously restored Omni Parker House (60 School Street) enjoys a terrific Freedom Trail location right across the street from the Old Granary Burying Ground. Stay here, and you'll be at the center of all of the events and reenactments along the Freedom Trail, with Beacon Hill, Boston Common, and Faneuil Marketplace very close by. Rates, reviews, reservations for Omni Parker House

Return to Top - Boston Hotels for Harborfest

Hotels near Harborfest Events on Boston's Waterfront

If Harborfest activities along the Waterfront, such as cruises, are your target activity, Boston's waterfront hotels will give you terrific convenience plus wonderful views and ambiance. Yes, they're quite pricey in the summer - so check out the more affordable options as well!

Marriott Long Wharf

Since many of the special Harborfest Boston Harbor cruises, tall ship sailings, and other water activities depart from Long Wharf and nearby Central Wharf, the Boston Marriott Long Wharf (296 State Street, on Long Wharf) is in an ideal location. Plus, the Marriott Long Wharf is next door to the New England Aquarium, site of Harborfest events involving the resident seals. North End, Charlestown, and Faneuil Market events are also conveniently close. Reviews, rates, and reservations for the Boston Marriott Long Wharf

Boston Harbor Hotel

One of Boston's top luxury waterfront hotels, the Boston Harbor Hotel (70 Rowes Wharf) is conveniently located near cruise departure points along the Downtown Waterfront, and is almost directly across the water from Fan Pier. Reserve a water view room, and you should have a perfect view of the Extreme Sailing Series races and fireworks on June 30th . Reviews, rates, and reservations for the Boston Harbor Hotel

Intercontinental Boston

Waterview rooms in the Intercontinental Boston (510 Atlantic Ave) will offer a splendid view of the fireworks on June 30th sponsored by Extreme Sailing Series. To see the races, you'll probably have the best view if you walk across the nearby Moakley Footbridge to Fan Pier. Although the Intercontinental is a little farther away from most of the other Harborfest activities, a 10-minute walk or Inner Harbor Ferry rid will bring you to most of them. Reviews, rates, and reservations for the Intercontinental Boston

Affordable near-waterfront options

To be close to Harborfest activities along the waterfront without a hefty bill from a waterfront hotel, try these options:
- Harborside Inn (185 State Street) - Small hotel just a couple of blocks from the water - no views, but super location
- Hilton Boston Financial (89 Broad Street) - Nice business hotel about a 3-minute walk from the water
- South Boston Waterfront hotels - Great views from upper floors, and a short walk to Fan Pier Harborfest activities

Return to Top - Boston Hotels for Harborfest

Hotels near Charlestown and North End Harborfest Events

Marriott Residence Inn, Charlestown

The Marriott Residence Inn, located on Tudor Wharf across the Charles River Basin from the North End, is equally convenient to Harborfest events involving the USS Constitution and other activities in Charlestown, and events at Paul Revere's House and Old North Church in the North End. Faneuil Market events will also be convenient from the Residence Inn. Rates, reviews, and reservations for the Marriott Residence Inn

Constitution Inn

The Constitution Inn in the Charlestown Navy Shipyard is one of Boston's best bargain hotels - and it offers the most convenient location to the USS Consitution and Bunker Hill events. Although you could walk to events in Downtown Boston, taking the Inner Harbor Ferry from the Navy Yard is more fun - and the 10-minute ride will cost you only $1.70 each way. Rates, reviews, and reservations for the Constitution Inn.

Return to Top - Boston Hotels for Harborfest

Boston Insider Tips: Hotels for Boston Harborfest

Almost 3 million people come to Boston to enjoy Harborfest. If you're planning to stay in a Boston hotel near the main events, you may feel like you're competing with each one of them for reservations in a convenient location and great rates.

If your budget will accommodate hotel rates near the main events, you'll probably feel every penny is well spent due to the convenience as well as the excitement of being right in the middle of all the festivities.

What if all the best Boston hotels for Harborfest are full? Or rates hit the stratosphere?

Try these 3 strategies:

1) Check out slightly less convenient hotels in Downtown Boston and the West End, such as Theatre District hotels and hotels near TD Garden , where not as much may be going on in the summer. Remember, Central Boston is actually fairly tiny - so in most cases, walking 4 or 5 blocks rather than 2 blocks to an event won't be a hardship.

2) Check out hotels in central Boston neighborhoods that are farther from the action, such as hotels near Fenway Park and Back Bay hotels.

3) Check out my recommendations for inexpensive Boston hotels - including hotels outside of central Boston but near public transportation, and tips for how to save 25% on your hotel bill.

Return to Top - Boston Hotels for Harborfest