Boston and New England holidays are russet red autumns, white-sand beaches, waterfront towns, lobster pots and wooden docks

A halcyon escape of all-American charm, New England feels a world away from the everyday. Marvel at the mountain views, drift away on bone-white beaches and try the legendary lobster rolls.

New England’s white sand beaches, syrupy sugar shacks, iconic lighthouses and swathes of pristine coastline pander to a romantic image. You’ll find it all in the states of Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. You can settle down in Portland’s pretty waterfront city, dine farm-to-table in the birch-covered Berkshires and dream away your days on Cape Cod's stunning National Seashore.

Breeze through Boston’s wonderfully wanderable harbour-city where Harvard University students share the sidewalks with artists, baseball fans and city slickers. Come for the Irish pubs, the seafood restaurants and to snag tickets to a Red Sox game. Visit New England in autumn for fiery auburn and orange foliage. Come in summer and sail around Newport and Nantucket. And return in winter to see the snowy White Mountains and drink apple cider by roaring fires.

It's easy to book Boston and New England holidays with Kuoni. Our approach gets you to your favorite places and shines a spotlight on the destinations we know you’ll love.

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Boston & New England Regions

Our recommendations for the best places to visit in Boston & New England

Boston Holidays

Discover rich heritage, fascinating museums and superb leafy landscapes in relaxing Boston.

Massachusetts Holidays

Massachusetts is New England’s most populous state, famous for its scenic capital, Boston, plus a...

Holidays in Boston & New England

  • Vermont & Maine
  • 3 Star

Acadia National Park. Whale-watching. Hiking and leaf-peeping. Bar Harbor sure has a lot going for it.  The Holiday Inn Bar Harbor makes a super handy base for explorations.

Perfect for a romantic beachfront escape

  • Boston
  • 4 Star

A grand luxury hotel with a rich history

  • Boston
  • 5 Star

The ‘grand dame’ of Boston, the Fairmont Copley Plaza is more than just a hotel stay. With decadent interiors, peerless levels of service and countless stories to tell it will have hotel connoisseurs drooling.

  • Boston
  • 3.5 Star

It’s hard to imagine a more convenient location from which to explore historical Boston on foot, than the Hyatt Centric. Just a stone’s throw from historical Faneuil Hall, you’re never more a couple of minutes from a must-see city attraction.

  • Boston
  • 4 Star

If your definition of a good city break includes restaurants, entertainment, and shopping bags you’ve come to the right place. Housed in a pair of Gothic-revival buildings The Godfrey offers that rare combination of character, great service and a plum location.

  • Boston
  • 4.5 Star

In a city brimming with history, it’s hardly surprising that Boston’s waterfront gets overlooked by visitors. If you’re considering a stay here, the Scandinavian-chic Envoy is the perfect base for imbibing the buzz of Boston’s trendy Seaport District.

  • Boston
  • 5 Star

The swanky Fifteen Beacon has all the trappings of an upscale stay: the services of Clef’s d’or trained concierges, sunken jacuzzi baths and a fourth-century Italian mosaic gracing its wine cellar. Its location on Beacon Hill is the cherry on top.

  • Boston
  • 5 Star

Built above a magnificent double-arch waterfront portico that straddles part of the historic Rowes Wharf Harbor, The Boston Harbor Hotel is in a league of its own. Check-in here for sumptuous accommodation, world-class dining, and a dreamy waterfront location.

  • Massachusetts
  • 3 Star

Family-friendly resort with its own waterpark

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See magical red autumns, quaint waterfront towns and Instagrammable skylines in Boston and New England with an independent tour

Whether you choose to see Boston and New England by rail or with a self-drive itinerary, prepare to be charmed by the magical red autumns, quaint waterfront towns and Instagrammable skylines these incredible places are home to. On one trip you can follow the famous Freedom trail while in Boston, take a horse and cart ride on one of the historic carriage roads in Maine’s Acadia National Park, stay in quintessential Vermont towns and wind down in Cape Cod. Trains are a wonderful way to travel in the US and you may wish to visit Boston as part of a bigger trip; hop on and off Amtrak trains across the country as you travel between Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, exploring buzzing cities, beautiful beaches and historic sights, to see it in style.

Our recommended Boston & New England tours

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From Food to Freedom Walking Tour

This walking tour takes you from North End to the Freedom Trail on a half-day experience that gives the lowdown on Boston's food and history. The adventure begins at Boston Harbor, walking through a scenic waterfront park before heading to North End to see some of the neighbourhood's most historic sites and properties, some dating back to the late 1600s and 1700s. Your guide will introduce you to a hidden Italian bakery serving fresh bread. A proper Italian salumeria is next, where you'll enjoy some Italian meats and cheeses. Next up is Hanover Street, where you'll take a mid-tour break with your guide at a traditional Italian café with a classic cappuccino, espresso, or tea. Hear stories about significant events in Boston, including Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. Old North Church is next, with the chance to step inside the hallowed walls. After church, you'll dive deeper into the local side of the North End with pizza at a neighbourhood favourite and samples of t the back streets. Heading away from North End, you'll stroll through some of Boston's best markets and green spaces to begin the second part of your journey. You'll continue past the Rose Kennedy Greenway, State Street, and the historic Custom House Tower from the Harbour. The famous Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market follow, boasting stunning views. Moving into the heart of Downtown Boston, you'll stop in front of the Old State House and site of the Boston Massacre. Old City Hall, a beautiful building created in French Revivalist architecture, was the seat of city government for years in Boston. Admire it for a while, and then there'll be a chance to enjoy a local beer in one of the historic and hidden taverns in the area. Outside the State House, take in the views of modern Boston, including the skyscrapers of Downtown, the Financial District, and the tallest building in New England: the John Hancock Tower. The journey continues through Beacon Hill. Finally, you'll arrive at the beautiful Boston Public Gardens.

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Get to know New England and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT -5 hours

CURRENCY

US dollars

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

8 hours

RELIGION

Christianity

LANGUAGE

English

Where is Boston and New England?
Boston is one of the USA’s oldest cities and is New England’s largest. It’s the capital state of Massachusetts and is situated on Massachusetts Bay in northeastern USA. Its compact in size and over one fourth is made up of the Charles River, Boston Harbour and part of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the gateway to the rest of New England, which is made up of five other states — Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine, all sitting along the Atlantic Ocean. Martha’s Vineyard lies 7 miles off the Cape Cod peninsula and is reached by ferry or plane.

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Boston
Compact in size and with plenty of European influences, Boston is one of the USA’s prettiest cities, thanks to a gorgeous skyline, its Back Bay café culture and plenty of history and architecture. Walk the two-and-a-half-mile Freedom Trail for a step back in time through American history, see Old Masters at the Museum of Fine Arts, go modern with a trip to the Skywalk Observatory, catch a Red Sox ball game at Fenway Park and head to Beacon Hill for gorgeous Victorian brick-row houses and Massachusetts State House. A Boston Duck Tour will take you by unique mode of transport through Boston’s streets before landing in the Charles River and if you’ve ever had American University dreams, head across the river to Cambridge for a peek at Harvard University.

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New England
Get out of the city and head to the coast to experience the other captivating states of New England. From whale-watching to watersports and white-sand beaches to colonial architecture, you’ll find yourself embracing picture-postcard all-American charm loved by royalty, celebrities and Presidents of past. Off the shores of glorious beachy Cape Cod, you’ve got Martha’s Vineyard and beautiful Nantucket. New England life is rustic family-owned inns, water and beach – lighthouses still flash out warnings, super yachts dock in the harbours and clam shacks pop up everywhere.

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What to do in New England
Chase the Connecticut Wine Trail through beautiful countryside, follow Rhode Island’s Newport Cliff Walk past the back gardens of millionaire mansions and don’t leave Vermont without trying the maple syrup or Maine without trying the lobster. Hop on board a windjammer sailboat, look out for moose and puffins, catch the spectacular Waterfire Providence show in Rhode Island in May and October and visit mid September to mid October for that famous New England Fall.

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Getting around
With its stunning coastline and scenic roadways, New England is an ideal self-drive destination. You can start in Boston and tour all the states and towns with our handcrafted self-drive itinerary. It's a 5½-hour drive from Boston to Acadia National Park in Maine, and only 2½ hours by car to The White Mountains in New Hampshire. Downtown Boston is easily walkable, has lots of taxis and a good public transport system including the ‘T’ subway, which provides access to all the main attractions. In Maine, you can catch a ferry or charter a boat across to the Casco Bay Islands for the day. In all the New England states you’ll find driving a leisurely and scenic way to get around, and due to their small size, hiring a bicycle to explore is also a great option.

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Food and drink
In a destination known for its seaside living, you’re never going to be far from a lobster shack or ocean-sweet seafood dinner. Imagine summers spent in chic restaurants dining alfresco as star guest chefs prepare lavish menus and experience culinary events around charming towns that show off the best chefs and mixologists across New England. Expect farm-to-table dining, lamb loin with rhubarb and snap peas sprinkled with salt. There’s that famous Maine lobster, Boston’s cream pie, Rhode Island’s clam chowder and sweet maple syrup in Vermont. Pop by the ‘Cheers’ TV bar in Boston for beers, go European in Little Italy and head to rooftop bars for ice-cream sandwiches and cocktails. And those with a sweet tooth should put a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Vermont on the list of things to do. Come autumn, dine by roaring fires in restaurants with ocean views and settle into quaint little bistros for pumpkin puree and seared day-boat scallops.

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Shopping
In Boston, there’s Julia Child’s beloved Savenor’s Market, luxury shopping plazas and designer stores in Back Bay and Newbury Street, and antiques and one-of-a-kind gifts in Beacon Hill. The rest of New England is void of big chains, instead offering delightful independent boutiques and artisan shops with everything from pottery and painting to jewellery and woodwork. Expect to pick up colourful maxi dresses, woollen socks, cute gifts and preppy basics.

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Resort fees
It is standard practice for resorts/hotels within the USA to charge a mandatory resort fee which is payable locally. This fee can be anywhere between 5USD to 40 USD per room per night and is not included in the cost of your Kuoni holiday.

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