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Where to stay in Boston

A luxury hotel in Beacon Hill's former 1851 jail, and a boutique hotel in Downtown Crossing, steps from Boston Common.

  1. The Liberty HotelLuxury · Beacon Hill / West End, at the foot of Beacon Hill by the Charles River$$$$
  2. The Godfrey Hotel BostonMid-range · Downtown Crossing, on Washington Street at Temple Place$$$$
Standout pick
The Liberty Hotel · $$$
Easy choice
The Godfrey Hotel Boston · $$
Best time
May–Oct
Ideal stay
2–3 days
Hotel budget
$200–$420 / night

Boston is small, so a central base saves time and parking. Our exclusive pick is a luxury hotel in a former 1851 jail at the foot of Beacon Hill; our accessible pick is a boutique hotel in Downtown Crossing, steps from Boston Common. Prices are shown as a level, from $ to $$$$: rates move with the season and the room, so check the live price before you plan.

The Liberty Hotel

$$$$
Pick no. 1 · The standoutLuxuryBeacon Hill / West End, at the foot of Beacon Hill by the Charles River

Historic luxury hotel in the former 1851 Charles Street Jail, 298 rooms and suites

Photos: The Liberty Hotel, official website. Shown courtesy of the property.

Boston's 1851 Charles Street Jail reborn as a luxury hotel, with its rotunda, catwalks and cell-block restaurant.

  • History tours
  • CLINK. and Scampo
  • Liberty Bar and Alibi
  • Wi-Fi
See prices (official website)Opens the hotel’s official website.

Why we picked it

What convinced us is the building: a granite jail from 1851 with a soaring rotunda, catwalks overhead and dinner in the old cells, at the foot of Beacon Hill. We would book a river-view room for a Boston weekend, walk the Esplanade in the morning, ride the Red Line from across the street to Harvard Square, and come back for jazz in the lobby.

Best for

  • Couples
  • History and architecture lovers
  • Nightlife
  • A granite 1851 jail turned hotel, with a 90-foot central atrium and its original catwalks preserved
  • CLINK. restaurant set in former jail cells, Scampo, the Liberty Bar and Alibi in the old drunk tank
  • The Charles/MGH Red Line station across the street, and the Esplanade and Boston Common within walking distance

What the hotel offers

As listed on the hotel’s own website.

  • History toursWednesdays at 2pm, for hotel guests, by email reservation with the concierge
  • CLINK. and ScampoModern American in the old cells; Italian by chef Lydia Shire
  • Liberty Bar and AlibiLobby bar open nightly; Alibi in the former drunk tank
  • Wi-FiComplimentary throughout
  • Fitness centerCardio and strength equipment
  • Daily yoga classesIncluded in the $25 nightly destination fee
  • Kayak and bike rentalDaily, included in the destination fee
  • Hotel car serviceWithin 3 miles, included in the destination fee (no airport or stadium runs)
  • The YardLandscaped courtyard in the jail's former exercise yard
  • Valet parking$75 overnight, with in-and-out privileges
  • Pet friendlyNon-refundable $100 fee per stay
  • ConciergeDining reservations, transport and local tips

The Godfrey Hotel Boston

$$$$
Pick no. 2 · The easy choiceMid-rangeDowntown Crossing, on Washington Street at Temple Place

Boutique hotel in two restored 1904 and 1908 buildings in Downtown Crossing

Photos: The Godfrey Hotel Boston, official website. Shown courtesy of the property.

A boutique hotel in two restored early-1900s buildings in Downtown Crossing, steps from Boston Common.

  • RUKA Restobar
  • George Howell Coffee
  • Lobby Bar
  • Wi-Fi
See prices (partner link, Trip.com)Official website Opens Trip.com, one of our booking partners.

Why we picked it

We would book it for the address and the extras: Downtown Crossing puts Boston Common, the Freedom Trail and the theaters on foot, rooms come with snacks, coffee and water topped up daily, and the bikes are free in season. It is an easy, fairly priced base for a first Boston trip, in two handsome early-1900s buildings.

Best for

  • First-time visitors
  • Shopping and theater
  • Travelers with dogs
  • Two landmark buildings by architect Arthur Bowditch, the Amory and the Blake, listed together on the National Register of Historic Places
  • RUKA, a Peruvian-Japanese restobar, plus a George Howell Coffee café and a lobby bar
  • In-room snacks, coffee and bottled water replenished daily, free bicycles in season and no pet fee

What the hotel offers

As listed on the hotel’s own website.

  • RUKA RestobarPeruvian-Japanese Nikkei cuisine, nightly from 5pm
  • George Howell CoffeeEspresso bar, pastries and sandwiches, daily 7am–6:30pm
  • Lobby BarCocktails, wines and local beers, daily 4pm–10:30pm
  • Wi-FiHigh-speed, included
  • In-room snacks and waterReplenished daily, at no charge
  • Free bicyclesWith helmets and locks, seasonally and subject to availability
  • Pet friendlyNo pet fee and no size limit
  • Valet & Stay packageRoom rate including daily valet parking for one car
  • Fitness centerOn site

Beacon Hill or Downtown Crossing: how to choose

Both hotels are central and less than a mile apart; the difference is the building and the budget.

Beacon Hill: the jail by the river

The Liberty Hotel sits at the foot of Beacon Hill, across from the Charles/MGH Red Line station and near the Esplanade. Choose it for a memorable building, river views from the upper floors, restaurants in the old cells and live music in the lobby.

Downtown Crossing: the Freedom Trail on foot

The Godfrey is on Washington Street, close to Boston Common, the Freedom Trail and the theaters. Choose it for a first trip on a moderate budget, with free extras and no pet fee.

Planning the rest of your trip? Our Boston travel guide covers the Freedom Trail, the T, the airport and the best months to go.

Our Boston travel guide

Hotels in Boston: your questions

Where should I stay in Boston for a first visit?

Stay central, near the Freedom Trail. The Godfrey in Downtown Crossing is close to Boston Common and the theaters; The Liberty at the foot of Beacon Hill is across from a Red Line station, with the Esplanade and the Common within walking distance. Read our Boston travel guide

How far ahead should I book a hotel in Boston?

Book early for fall, the most beautiful and most expensive season. If you want a river view at The Liberty, a Grand Deluxe City View room or a Charles River Suite, book well ahead.

When is the best time to visit Boston?

Late spring to October. Fall brings the foliage and the highest rates; winter is cold and snowy but the cheapest time to come. When to visit Boston

How do I get from Logan Airport to my hotel?

The Liberty is about 15–20 minutes from Logan by car. For either hotel, the free Silver Line SL1 runs from the airport to South Station, and the T covers the rest: the Charles/MGH station is directly across from The Liberty.

Which hotel suits families?

The Godfrey has Double Queen rooms with two queen beds and a central location near Boston Common. At The Liberty, Grand Deluxe Corner rooms with two double beds and Charles River Suites with a pull-out sofa give a family more space.

Do I need a car in Boston, and what does parking cost?

No: the city is walkable and the T is efficient. If you drive, valet parking at The Liberty costs $75 a night, and The Godfrey sells a package that includes daily valet parking.

Can I book these hotels directly?

Yes. The See prices button under The Liberty Hotel opens the hotel's official website. For The Godfrey Hotel Boston it opens Trip.com, one of our booking partners.

Exit 10And now?Our Boston guideWhat to do, where to eat, getting there
Exit 173 days in New York for first-timers3-day itineraryExit 24The East Coast CitiesRoad trip · 10–12 daysExit 31Boston or Chicago?Compare them side by sideExit 38Trip budgetRooms, food, car, gas, passes

Hotel picks for other destinations

Picked by Kylian Dev. These are editorial picks: no hotel paid to be here, and we never describe a stay we did not make. Facts come from each hotel’s own website; the Trip.com buttons are partner links (how we make money).