What do you think?
Rate this book
Eyewitness Travel Guides
Boston
"DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Boston" will lead you straight to the best attractions Boston has to offer. You'll find detailed background information on the best things to do in Boston, from visiting historic Harvard University and taking one of many walking tours to watching a Boston Red Sox game.
This best-selling travel guide is packed with beautiful cutaways and floor plans of all Boston's major sights, as well as 3-D aerial views of its most interesting districts. Features include the itinerary planner, Four Great Days Out in Boston, Street Finder mapping throughout, and a pull-out map with detailed sheet maps and useful transportation information.
"DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Boston" is fully updated and expanded, with dozens of reviews for hotels in Boston, recommended restaurants, and tips for shopping, entertainment, and where to go for a beer at the end of the day.
Don't miss a thing on your vacation with the "DK Eyewitness Travel" guidebook to Boston.
This best-selling travel guide is packed with beautiful cutaways and floor plans of all Boston's major sights, as well as 3-D aerial views of its most interesting districts. Features include the itinerary planner, Four Great Days Out in Boston, Street Finder mapping throughout, and a pull-out map with detailed sheet maps and useful transportation information.
"DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Boston" is fully updated and expanded, with dozens of reviews for hotels in Boston, recommended restaurants, and tips for shopping, entertainment, and where to go for a beer at the end of the day.
Don't miss a thing on your vacation with the "DK Eyewitness Travel" guidebook to Boston.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
7 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 12, 2021
Great travel guide. Lots of pictures and easy access to all the information you could want about Boston. Information is clearly laid out and the separate areas are colored coded.
August 3, 2023
I told my colleagues I am going on vacation to Boston.
One said, “I was just there! I’ll loan you my travel guide to help you plan.”
I said, “No need; I am visiting family and they are planning the whole trip.”
The next day this book was on my desk.
10/10 experience, no notes
One said, “I was just there! I’ll loan you my travel guide to help you plan.”
I said, “No need; I am visiting family and they are planning the whole trip.”
The next day this book was on my desk.
10/10 experience, no notes
May 8, 2015
great travel guide book. more than just the usual museums and tour spots. this has unique info and great maps!
May 4, 2023
Boston is my favorite city to visit. This guide is what I used when I visited there last and was tremendously helpful. Comprehensive and detailed, it is very useful to both a first time visitor to Boston and for someone who frequents the city.
October 26, 2017
Really nice diagrams and drawings of important historical sites, museums, etc, with good maps and informative descriptions of everything you would want to know about in this amazing city.
June 16, 2010
This was a very different travel guide than what I am used to reading. I buy a new one before every trip we take to Boston, hoping to find some gem inside that we have yet to discover. This book gave me several new ideas, plus a great layout that was easy to read and understand where everything is located.
First off, this was a very visual book. It is color-coded by area of town, with the city broken down into five sections. Each section has a short blurb about it, then is followed by a street-by-street guide. This section has an illustration of an interesting part of that section, complete with streets, buildings and landmarks. Following that is a listing of sights in that section of town. This includes information about the sights, location, nearby public transportation, hours and web addresses where applicable. Also, the major sights have dedicated pages with detailed illustrations and points of interest within the sights themselves. There is a section titled "Farther Afield" that does the same thing for towns outside of the city of Boston, but within a reasonable distance that you could visit while vacationing in Boston.
There is a section that describes three possible walks you can take in the Boston area. One of these walks is along the Freedom Trail, which is generally covered in Boston travel guides. There are two other walks described that are different from anything I have read about or done while I was in Boston. One is a walk on the MIT Campus and the other is a walk in South Boston. All of the walks are mapped out with important sights pointed out that you can visit along the way.
There are, of course, sections that briefly cover Boston's history and that give basic travel information. The "Travelers' Needs" section was quite helpful for me. It lists hotels, shopping and entertainment activities as you would expect. The list of restaurants was particularly good, I thought. There were several places listed (by section) that I have not been to that I have made note of to try when I am there. The descriptions are very thorough, yet succinct.
At the end of the book is a "Survival Guide" which seems to be directed toward foreign visitors. It covers health care, safety, currency and communications.
I felt that this book and its visual qualities would be more helpful to me than other travel guides. In fact, while reading it I discovered that in one particular part of town my directions have always been turned around. It is also thinner than other guides I have purchased in the past and the pages, instead of being paper, have a laminated feel to them, making the book better to stuff in a bag while I'm on the go.
I will definitely be taking this book with me on my trip and using it throughout my stay.
First off, this was a very visual book. It is color-coded by area of town, with the city broken down into five sections. Each section has a short blurb about it, then is followed by a street-by-street guide. This section has an illustration of an interesting part of that section, complete with streets, buildings and landmarks. Following that is a listing of sights in that section of town. This includes information about the sights, location, nearby public transportation, hours and web addresses where applicable. Also, the major sights have dedicated pages with detailed illustrations and points of interest within the sights themselves. There is a section titled "Farther Afield" that does the same thing for towns outside of the city of Boston, but within a reasonable distance that you could visit while vacationing in Boston.
There is a section that describes three possible walks you can take in the Boston area. One of these walks is along the Freedom Trail, which is generally covered in Boston travel guides. There are two other walks described that are different from anything I have read about or done while I was in Boston. One is a walk on the MIT Campus and the other is a walk in South Boston. All of the walks are mapped out with important sights pointed out that you can visit along the way.
There are, of course, sections that briefly cover Boston's history and that give basic travel information. The "Travelers' Needs" section was quite helpful for me. It lists hotels, shopping and entertainment activities as you would expect. The list of restaurants was particularly good, I thought. There were several places listed (by section) that I have not been to that I have made note of to try when I am there. The descriptions are very thorough, yet succinct.
At the end of the book is a "Survival Guide" which seems to be directed toward foreign visitors. It covers health care, safety, currency and communications.
I felt that this book and its visual qualities would be more helpful to me than other travel guides. In fact, while reading it I discovered that in one particular part of town my directions have always been turned around. It is also thinner than other guides I have purchased in the past and the pages, instead of being paper, have a laminated feel to them, making the book better to stuff in a bag while I'm on the go.
I will definitely be taking this book with me on my trip and using it throughout my stay.
July 31, 2010
I'm a big fan of the Eyewitness Travel Guides. The format is appealing -- a lavishly illustrated introductory section expounding on the history and key features of the city followed by color-coded sections, each devoted to a different area. As might be expected, particular attention is given to Boston's key historical role, with sections devoted to "Eminent Bostonians" and Boston's "Freedom Trail."
The rear of the book is given over to practicalities such as transportation, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment. Since it heavily relies on pictures rather than words, it's easy to pick up a guide, thumb through it, and let a striking photo serve as inspiration for where to go or what to do. The text on even the major sights is succinct, so if it's the full monty you're after, supplement this guide with something more substantial like a Blue Guide. However, if you want to get a quick sense of what a destination has to offer, an hour or so spent with one of these guides is probably one of the most effective ways to do background research.
One quibble is that since the Eyewitness Guides are printed on nice, heavy stock, they're not that light. Perhaps in the future another format - digital? - will get around this problem.
The rear of the book is given over to practicalities such as transportation, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment. Since it heavily relies on pictures rather than words, it's easy to pick up a guide, thumb through it, and let a striking photo serve as inspiration for where to go or what to do. The text on even the major sights is succinct, so if it's the full monty you're after, supplement this guide with something more substantial like a Blue Guide. However, if you want to get a quick sense of what a destination has to offer, an hour or so spent with one of these guides is probably one of the most effective ways to do background research.
One quibble is that since the Eyewitness Guides are printed on nice, heavy stock, they're not that light. Perhaps in the future another format - digital? - will get around this problem.
September 18, 2012
This is the book I should have brought with me to Boston, rather than Insight Guides: Boston City Guide. It came down to these two, and I went with the Insight Guide...and once I got to Boston, I regretted my choice. While lacking the personality that other guidebooks have, there's a reason the Eyewitness books are so good: excellent illustrations, in-depth research, and practical advice for the traveler. Unlike the other guides, this book was full of things to see and do, not just places to eat and sleep.
I didn't understand the point of including the Freedom Trail walk as part of the book--there's enough information at each site to not need the section of the guidebook, and smartphone owners can download a great map/tour of the Freedom Trail to use instead.
I didn't understand the point of including the Freedom Trail walk as part of the book--there's enough information at each site to not need the section of the guidebook, and smartphone owners can download a great map/tour of the Freedom Trail to use instead.
June 25, 2018
I don't think I have perused a DK guide that I haven't really liked and this Boston edition is another winner for me.
It is a 2017 edition so at the time of reading, the information is right up to date. Full of colour glossy photographs, city maps, travel and accommodation info, city walking tours, main sites and recommended restaurants and café locations.
I have no immediate travel plans in place, but I have long wished to visit Massachusetts. If and when I cross the pond again DK will be in my suitcase.
It is a 2017 edition so at the time of reading, the information is right up to date. Full of colour glossy photographs, city maps, travel and accommodation info, city walking tours, main sites and recommended restaurants and café locations.
I have no immediate travel plans in place, but I have long wished to visit Massachusetts. If and when I cross the pond again DK will be in my suitcase.
December 14, 2007
My mom purchased this book for me because I am moving to Boston next spring. I thought it was a good overview glimpse of what Boston has to offer. I was looking through the book to find more factual information about the communities, but came across a lot of tourist-y stuff instead. This would be a great book for anyone going to Boston on vacation and wants to know the best hotels, restuarents, and attractions. If you are moving there..I would suggest something a little more in-depth.
March 20, 2008
I went to Boston for St. Patricks weekend. I read this book before I went. DK Eyewitness guides are the best. They give very detailed information about the city and pictures. These books also have good reccomendations for restaurants, shopping and nightlife as well. A must read for anyone going to Boston.
August 28, 2015
This was informative but not very colorful. I am comparing it to a tour book I read about San Francisco which was out of this world. So maybe I am being unfair. I wish I could remember who wrote/published that San Fran book. Anyway, maybe Boston doesn't have the color of San Francisco.
July 28, 2011
Great colourful book, full of great maps, lists ALL the places you could possibly want!
June 16, 2014
Very good book.
Useful. Lots of info. Very comprehensive. Good descriptions.
Would get again? Yes.
Aurora library.
Useful. Lots of info. Very comprehensive. Good descriptions.
Would get again? Yes.
Aurora library.
January 6, 2015
This gave me some great ideas on what all I want to see when I visit Boston. This book allowed me to see how much walking I would do AND gave me the confidence that I needed to walk most of my trip.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews