Boston's waterfront hotels give you the city's most spectacular views, whether you're here for a romantic weekend, a family vacation, or a stressful business trip where you just want to relax at the end of the day.
Imagine sitting dockside with a beverage in your hand and enjoying the Harbor views.
Or strolling along Harborwalk to explore the waterfront, or boarding one of the many sightseeing cruise boats to tour Boston by water.
You can make this fantasy a reality when you stay at a hotel on Boston's waterfront.
Yes, rates at these hotels can be pricey, but if you plan ahead and compare rates, you can also find special packages and discounts to make them more affordable.
Take a look at our recommendations for Boston waterfront hotels. Not surprisingly, they're among the most popular hotels in the city.
Top photo: Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel overlooking Boston Harbor, (c) Boston Discovery Guide
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Battery Wharf Hotel
The luxurious Battery Wharf Hotel sits at the end of a wharf, commanding panoramic views of Boston Harbor.
You get the best of both worlds - a tranquil enclave, with Boston's lively North End, home to top Italian and seafood restaurants, just steps away.
Stroll along Harborwalk (shown in this photo) and watch the boat traffic go by, catch a Bruins game at nearby TD Garden, and walk across the Greenway to Faneuil Marketplace - but most of all, enjoy the spectacular views of the Harbor from the windows in your room.
Residence Inn Boston Harbor at Tudor Wharf
Address: 34-44 Charles River Avenue, Boston's Charlestown neighborhood
If you want a waterfront hotel plus easy access to TD Garden and all the mouth-watering Italian bakeries and restaurants in Boston’s North End, consider Marriott’s all-suite Residence Inn on Tudor Wharf in Charlestown.
The hotel offers 168 suites including studios and 1- and 2-bedrooms. With an indoor swimming pool, complimentary hot breakfast buffet each morning, wonderful waterfront views, and attractive rates, this Residence Inn offers great value as well as convenience.
Suites have comfortable separate living and sleeping quarters, with a small dining table and full kitchens. This is Boston's only all-suite extended stay hotel on the waterfront.
A 10-minute walk across a scenic bridge brings you to the Garden and the North End, but you’ll also find lots to explore in Charlestown: The fascinating Charlestown Navy Yard, the USS Constitution, (take a free tour!), and Bunker Hill along the Freedom Trail.
Rates here are budget-friendly when compared with other waterfront hotels, especially considering how much space you get in the suites as well as the free breakfasts.
Boston Insider Tip: Enjoy a drink or a meal at the historical Warren Tavern, another favorite watering spot of Paul Revere, George Washington, and other 18th century patriots.
Boston Harbor Hotel
Located just steps from the Financial District, Boston Harbor Hotel offers you a cocoon of luxury, making it a perfect choice if you want to combine business with some serious pampering.
Boston Harbor Hotel is probably the most luxurious of all Boston's downtown waterfront hotels, with Frette linens, lots of fresh flowers, gorgeous marble bathrooms, and personalized service.
It is also the liveliest, in part due to its Blues Barge, a popular summer concert venue.
With the renowned Boston Wine Festival underway at onsite restaurant Meritage for 3 months every winter, and nightly music and movies during its Summer in the City harborside fest from Memorial Day to Labor Day, BHH attracts locals as well as visitors from all over the world.
Boston Yacht Haven
Boston Yacht Haven, a small waterfront inn at the end of Commercial Wharf in Boston's North End, commands breathtaking views of the Harbor.
The 10 guest suites are larger than most Boston hotel rooms, and each sports a different nautical theme. For the most spectacular views of all, request the penthouse.
When you stay at the Boston Yacht Haven, you'll have a marina right outside your door, and you're a short stroll away from all the tantalizing North End restaurants and bakeries. Faneuil Market, the Aquarium, and TD Garden are nearby.
Seaport Hotel Boston
Although the Seaport Hotel is across the street from the water, most of the north-facing rooms offer terrific views of Boston Harbor.
You'll enjoy dining and relaxing at the many restaurants and bars along the waterfront in this sizzling neighborhood.
Located close to ICA(Institute of Contemporary Art and Boston's Children's Museum, the Seaport is also right across the street from the Spirit of Boston's departure point - perfect way to combine a sightseeing cruise with a delicious lunch or dinner.
Boston Marriott Long Wharf
Many visitors think the Boston Marriott Long Wharf has everything. And they may be right.
The first thing you'll notice are the spectacular waterfront views of Boston Harbor or the picturesque North End.
And then there's the convenience of being just steps away from the Aquarium, Faneuil Marketplace, the Freedom Trail, the North End, and TD Garden.
Long Wharf, departure point for many sightseeing cruises, is next to the hotel. Boston's hop on, hop off trolleys stop at the hotel, and there's also a subway stop right in front.
Finally, the hotel is big - 396 rooms and 19 suites. You'll enjoy the comfortable furnishings for which Marriott is famous - the super-comfy beds, down comforters, and all the plush pillows you could possibly want, plus all the other expected amenities such as a big TV and fast wifi.
You can enjoy the hotel's indoor pool and well-equipped fitness room. For spa services, you'll get access to an upscale spa and health club in a nearby location.
Kids especially love the Marriott's video game room. If you're visiting with young children, you'll also find an exceptionally nice playground on the north side of the hotel in the adjacent Columbus Park - one reason why this is considered one of the best kid-friendly Boston hotels.
The side of the hotel borders the Rose Kennedy Greenway, where you'll find splash fountains, a carousel, grassy lawns, lavish flowering borders, plenty of seating, and a seasonal beer garden.
InterContinental Hotel Boston
Encased with sleekly beautiful reflective blue glass and creamy marble on the outside and featuring plushly elegant contemporary furnishings inside, the InterContinental Hotel Boston epitomizes understated luxury and world-class service.
You're only steps away from the Financial District, but you'll feel like you're in a different universe. The lushly landscaped Rose Kennedy Greenway and all of its fun activities are also across from the hotel's front entrance.
With sweeping waterfront views on one side and thrilling city skyline views on the other, these luxurious hotels occupy prime locations overlooking Boston Harbor yet are just steps away from the Financial District and an easy walk to top historic attractions, Faneuil Market, and TD Garden, home to the Bruins and Celtics.
Luxuries to enjoy at the InterContinental Boston: Spectacular views, original artwork, and a fabulous on-site spa, indoor lap pool, and health club are just a few of the wonderful amenities. The hotel's restaurant and 2 bars contribute to the lively waterfront scene, and the outdoor patio seating provides one of Boston's best summer venues for watching boats cruise across the harbor.
Another luxury to love at the InterContinental Boston:
- Honey-infused dishes and cocktails in the hotel's restaurant and bars made with very local honey - straight from the InterContinental Boston's rooftop hives
As an added historical bonus for staying at the InterContinental Boston, you can say you’ve slept on top of Boston’s most famous historic site.
The hotel sits on the actual site of the Boston Tea Party, where 342 chests of tea were dumped overboard in 1773 to protest British rule and taxation of the 13 colonies - a gesture that ignited the American Revolution.
More Hotels on Boston's Waterfront
The Row Hotel at Assembly Row
360 Foley Street, Assembly Row, Somerville
For another appealing waterfront experience (and more affordable rates than you'll find at some of the harbor-side hotels), consider Marriott's The Row at Assembly Row, a popular shopping/entertainment destination a couple of miles north of Boston.
Located near Harborwalk by the Mystic River, Assembly Row mixes discount shopping outlets for top retail brands with popular restaurants, bars, a movie theater, and even a Lego store for the younger set.
Combine all of that with the fast and easy access to Boston plus the hotel’s dazzling modern architecture, indoor swimming pool with private cabanas, cool roof terrace, and of course luxuriously comfortable guest rooms, and you’ll find a lot to love at The Row.
Boston Insider’s Tip: Spend at least a few minutes strolling along Harborwalk and look for the resident swans swimming in the Mystic River.
Things to Do in Boston during Your Stay
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