City in Massachusetts, United States
Boston for solo travelers
Is Boston good for solo travel?
Compact, historic and very walkable, with top universities, seafood and a strong academic crowd. Safe and easy for solo trips; hotels and rent are high, and winters are cold and snowy.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Polite but reserved |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Normal city care at night, use rideshare after the T stops, and watch drinks in bars. |
How to meet people in Boston
Hostels near Back Bay, run clubs along the Charles, university lectures and public events, board game cafés, and food tours in the North End.
Good things to do alone
- Walk the Freedom Trail from the Common
- Run or bike along the Charles River Esplanade
- Eat fresh seafood at Legal Sea Foods or Neptune Oyster
- Catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park
- Wander Harvard Yard and Cambridge bookshops
Where to stay in Boston
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Back Bay | Elegant streets, shops and easy transit; central and walkable |
| North End | Italian cafés and restaurants near the Freedom Trail |
| Beacon Hill | Historic brownstones and quiet gas-lit streets |
| Cambridge (Harvard / Central Square) | Universities, bookshops, cafés and tech |
| South End | Restaurants, galleries and a lively LGBTQ+ scene |
Solo travel across United States
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Nashville | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Austin | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Los Angeles | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Francisco | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Honolulu | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Washington, D.C. | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Chicago | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Boston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| New Orleans | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Diego | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Seattle | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Key West | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Denver | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Philadelphia | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Portland | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Atlanta | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Charleston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Savannah | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kauai | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Big Island | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Sedona | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Orlando | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Maui | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Antonio | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Scottsdale | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Boston good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Compact, historic and very walkable, with top universities, seafood and a strong academic crowd.
How do you meet people in Boston?
Hostels near Back Bay, run clubs along the Charles, university lectures and public events, board game cafés, and food tours in the North End. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Boston?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Boston safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Normal city care at night, use rideshare after the T stops, and watch drinks in bars.
More about Boston
Going to Boston solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Boston meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- MBTA (the T)
- Massport (Boston Logan Airport)
- Meet Boston (tourism)
- Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.