Boston Financial District

One of Boston’s oldest areas, this buzzy shopping district is the place to tick off classic Boston eats, including that hearty clam chowder.

Quincy Market in Boston is also known as the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The various market halls here date back to the 1800s, when it was a bustling trading area. Faneuil Hall was also where Samuel Adams roused Bostonians to the cause of independence from Great Britain. If you take the Boston Freedom Trail to discover the birth of the nation, you’ll swing by here on your route.

Today, it’s not that different. It’s still a thriving heart of the city and a busy entertainment area. Discover a fun mix of restaurants, local craft shops (including those selling Boston pewter), souvenirs, bars, and street food. Don’t forget to leave room for the city’s iconic clam chowder and lobster rolls. They’re the real taste of a New England break. It’s a serious business too – there’s even a Chowder Festival here in July. In fact, there’s always something happening at Quincy Market.

Aside from taking in the festival vibe that’s always here, you can take a short walk to the New England Aquarium. It has a huge Caribbean coral reef display as well as sharks, penguins, tropical fish, and plenty of hands-on experiences for kids. Finish your day of family entertainment with a game at TD Garden, home to the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics.

Just off Quincy Market is Haymarket, an old-fashioned food market. Modern farmers markets can be found just up the road at the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Similar to the High Line in New York, the greenway consists of a long garden on top of an old highway tunnel.

Next to Quincy Market is Boston’s Financial District. Stop and take in the glittery skyscrapers, like the John Hancock Tower, from the pretty Post Office Square, where there’s a cute café perfect for a mid-afternoon sit down.