Places to Stay

14 Best Airbnbs in Boston, From a Beacon Hill Townhouse to a Charlestown House Boat

Plus, a studio that dates back to 1789.

April 19, 2023

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Unlike the top hotels in Boston, most of which cluster tightly in and around the central Back Bay neighborhood, Boston’s best Airbnbs can be found all over the city. This helps urban-exploring visitors to get out and about, and to get to know the city more widely and accurately.

That being said, it’s hard to pick a bad location for an Airbnb in Boston. Often called one of America’s most walkable cities, Boston is a compact microcosm of old-meets-new, a place where diverse communities live side by side, where you’re as likely to walk by a biotech office as you are Paul Revere’s House, and where water views of the harbor or the Charles River are never in short supply. The most central neighborhoods include North End, Back Bay, and South End, but the real treasures, where you’re most likely to get a snapshot of what it’s like to live in Beantown today, are just marginally further out—and we mean marginally. The locals-only enclaves of Charlestown, South Boston (“Southie”), and Dorchester are all just minutes away on the T, on the MBTA bus network, or via a short Uber. Here, our preferred list of Boston Airbnb rentals covers all of the above, with everything for solo travelers to multigenerational groups.

While we have not stayed in every Airbnb featured, unless otherwise stated, these listings are vetted based on Superhost status, amenities, location, previous guest reviews, and decor.

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

A quirky home in the heart of the North End
The vibe: A 6-bed villa that’s perfect for groups
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: A bedroom with two sets of bunk beds, perfect for corralling little ones
Neighborhood: Some of the city’s most enduringly good Italian food just outside your doorstep
Black-painted bricks. Floral wallpapers. Wrought-iron beds. These are design features you wouldn’t think go together, but come together beautifully in this spacious North End home. There’s a king bedroom, a queen bedroom, and a room with two bunk beds perfect for little kids. If you’re traveling with family and want a location with everything on your doorstep—the Freedom Trail, shopping, restaurants, the waterfront—this is a solid choice. Just note, the neighbors here are very sensitive to noise, so this isn’t a party house–which shouldn’t be an issue, as there are so many of the North End’s popular and perennially busy bars within a stone’s throw of your front door.
$850 at Airbnb (starting price)
A luxe house boat moored in the scenic, historic Navy Yard
The vibe: Don’t forget—this is a waterfront city
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: Central air-conditioning and heat
Neighborhood: Historic Charlestown’s even more historic Navy Yard
If you’re interested in Boston’s history as a naval capital, consider staying in the heart of Charlestown’s Navy Yard district, a functioning shipbuilding yard from Revolutionary times until the 1970s. Today, it’s a fantastic locals neighborhood known for its waterfront condos, beautiful houseboats, and lively outdoor bar scene that heats up in the warmer months. Allow yourself to be gently rocked to sleep in this fully outfitted houseboat, with two queen staterooms that comfortably sleep four adults. There’s a fully-equipped galley kitchenette, but why cook at home when you can easily hop a ferry across the harbor over to city’s quintessential Italian dining spots in the North End or to the emerging hotspots over in East Boston? Or better yet, order takeout from any of Charlestown’s fantastic restaurants, and enjoy the unbeatable views of Downtown Boston from the comfort of your very own yacht.
$287 at Airbnb (starting price)

A home in Southie with a fantastic outdoor space
The vibe: Live as the locals do, in the epicenter of one of Boston’s most authentic neighborhoods
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
Top amenities: A lush deck outfitted with comfortable outdoor furniture and a fabulous pergola
Neighborhood: Smack-dab in the middle of South Boston, walking distance to hotspots like Hunter’s, Lincoln, and Fox & The Knife
In many ways, Southie is the center of the action for Boston these days. It’s where some of the city’s most beloved locals-only restaurants and bars can be found, and it’s where many young professionals tend to live after their college years. If you’re looking for an authentic Boston experience that has less to do with the brownstones of Beacon Hill and more to do with how Bostonians live today, this is there to do it. The gorgeous renovated kitchen is complete with a farm sink and stunning contrasting herringbone floors. But it’s the comfortable outdoor patio that does it for us—in the warmer months, it’s fully set up with comfortable outdoor furniture, and a gorgeous pergola dripping with greenery.
$899 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
A Downtown Boston loft with unbelievable natural light
The vibe: Bright, spacious loft perfect for two
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: All the natural light you could ask for
Neighborhood: Downtown Boston
Located in the heart of Downtown Boston, this gorgeous, bright loft is only a four-minute walk to the start of the Freedom Trail and other must-see spots including the Old Corner Bookstore, beloved Tatte Bakery, and the Granary Burying Ground, where Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and members of Benjamin Franklin's family are laid to rest. The loft is spacious with a completely open layout connecting the dining room, living room, and fully-equipped kitchen. The concrete floors and high ceilings gives it a modern, sleek look and the large windows let in plenty of natural light throughout the day. It's perfect for two, but it does sleep up to four with its queen bedroom and sofa bed.
Read a full review of this Airbnb.
$476 at Airbnb (starting price)

Courtesy Airbnb
Four floors of midcentury style in Bay Village
The vibe: A classic brownstone with contemporary soul
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Top amenities: A rotating art collection available for sale
Neighborhood: Centrally located between Back Bay and the South End
Centrally located to Newbury Street, Public Garden and Boston Common walks, and South End restaurants (like chef Barbara Lynch’s B&G Oysters and Butcher Shop), tiny Bay Village is home to cozy 1890s brownstones like this four-story stay. Its three bedrooms, ample living and dining area, kitchen, and three baths blend warm mid-century modern and sleek contemporary vibes, and they’d be equally comfortable for a family of about five or a group of up to eight friends (who don’t mind sharing beds). A high-ceilinged garden-level event space lets you play host to bigger gatherings, and your host has outfitted the place with Bose wireless speakers and a rotating art collection. He’ll even set you up with a guitar and piano.
$500 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
A true one-bedroom in old-meets-new South End
The vibe: Take it all in from your six oversized windows
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: A coveted parking spot (just confirm availability before your stay)
Neighborhood: A quiet residential area
This one-bedroom near some of Boston’s best restaurants (a top pick around the corner is the American brasserie Black Lamb, from award-winning chef Colin Lynch) makes the most of its setting in a classic turn-of-the-20th-century South End brick townhouse. We love the grandly proportioned bow-fronted parlor with paneled mantel and the chic old-meets-new kitchen with wooden counters and black cabinetry. Throughout, high ceilings and big windows increase the sense of space, and original moldings add plenty of character. A parking spot right behind the home is available for rent, which takes the headache out of finding a place for your car—just be sure to confirm its availability with the hosts before your stay. (And do note that the home is especially popular for monthly stays, the hosts say.)
$265 at Airbnb (starting price)

Courtesy Airbnb
A cozy one-bedroom in Union Square
The vibe: Clean and contemporary
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Dedicated workspace
Neighborhood: A hip, up-and-coming area that’s only become more accessible thanks to the Green Line’s extension
Newly accessible on public transport thanks to the Green Line’s extension, this one-bedroom in Union Square lets you stay in one of Somerville’s best neighborhoods, known for its of-the-moment restaurant and bar scene especially, and boutique artisanal shopping at Bow Market. (Great to stay in walking distance of the elevated Mexican small plates of Barra and the Peruvian dishes at Celeste, given you’ll have just a small kitchenette with microwave and mini-fridge here, rather than a full kitchen.) Decor mixes the modern and traditional—a Saarinen-style dining table set with Windsor-inspired chairs, for instance—and cool gray and white decor soothes the senses. Other perks: This first-floor home in a classic clapboard three-story has a private patio and shares a gym and sauna with the unit above.
$181 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
A sunny South End one-bedroom
The vibe: Let there be light
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Top amenities: Floor-to-almost ceiling windows
Neighborhood: One of Boston’s most desirable residential areas
Incredible natural light floods into this home from pairs of floor-to-almost-ceiling windows in both the open-plan living room and kitchen area and the bedroom. Located between highly browsable Tremont and Shawmut streets, historic design details abound in this apartment: The living room pairs a carved marble mantel with intricate ceiling moldings and a graceful chandelier. But no contemporary comforts have been spared—check out the queen-size memory-foam mattress and stainless steel appliances.
$330 at Airbnb (starting price)

Courtesy Airbnb
A Dorchester four-bedroom for a big get-together
The vibe: Celebrate good times
Bed & bath: 6 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: Target, supermarket, and liquor stores all within walking distance
Neighborhood: Dorchester, which has a good Vietnamese food scene
Sleeping up to 11 across four bedrooms—making it ideal for reunions of family or friends—this home brings the party to Dorchester’s Field’s Corner. The location puts you south of city center but also in the middle of Little Saigon (Pho Hua and Pho Lo are local faves for Vietnamese food) and close to two of Boston’s best LGBTQ+ nightlife venues, Blend and DBar. The home’s proximity to the Red Line subway gets you back to the South End, Boston Common, and South Station in about 15 minutes. Your hosts have added flair with bursts of color and Pop-ish artworks, and they’re also letting you use their two on-site parking spots. Double win.
$474 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Victorian vibes in an elevated but comfy Back Bay studio
The vibe: Intimate city living with lots of character
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Top amenities: Open-concept kitchen plus wet bar
Neighborhood: The center of everything, in the heart of Back Bay
This small but mighty studio in the Back Bay manages to pack an impressive amount into minimal square footage. You’ve got a full, open-concept kitchen plus wet bar, and your host has taken advantage of the high ceilings of his Victorian-era, bay-windowed brick townhouse with a lofted queen-bed sleeping space in addition to a queen-size bed on the main level. Bonus points for the free parking on premises.
$194 at Airbnb (starting price)

Courtesy Airbnb
A five-story townhouse in tony Beacon Hill
The vibe: History buffs, eat your heart out
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths
Top amenities: The home is filled with gorgeous antiques, plus a central Sonos sound system throughout the house
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill, overlooking a small city park
Whether you live in Boston or are just visiting, having access to a full townhouse in historic Beacon Hill is an absolute rarity. But this 2,800-square-foot, five-story, 170-year-old home—complete with living room, separate dining room, home office, and three-and-a-half baths—is just that sort of real estate unicorn. Live your best Boston brahmin life seated among the antique furniture and art, reading Hawthorne in front of the two gas fireplaces. Cook for a crowd on the Viking range, or the grill on the outdoor patio.
$950 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
An artsy, sun-filled one-bedroom in a Roxbury brownstone
The vibe: Quirky, artsy, and bathed with natural light
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Key-pad entry for easy access
Neighborhood: Roxbury, a more creative and diverse area just a short T ride to downtown
There’s an artisanal quality to most every aspect of this eclectically but tastefully styled one-bedroom in a Victorian–era townhouse, from a sliding, paint-splattered door that looks like it was salvaged from a barn to furnishings that appear to be lovingly restored flea market finds. Located in the Roxbury neighborhood, about three miles south of the city center, this stay sits near Nubian Square, one of the centers of Boston’s African American community.
$150 at Airbnb (starting price)

Courtesy Airbnb
A colonial studio in Beacon Hill’s second oldest home
The vibe: One of the oldest homes, in one of the oldest parts of town
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Top amenities: Tempur-Pedic bed and your very own washer and dryer
Neighborhood: A neighborhood that’s seen it all—Beacon Hill
What this studio lacks in modern conveniences (there’s just a mini-fridge, microwave, and Keurig for coffee, no kitchen) it makes up for in charm—and bragging rights. That’s because historic stays in Boston don’t get much more significant than this home, a 1789 clapboard-sided Beacon Hill row house. We’re swooning over the wide-plank pine floors, the painted-wood walls, and the spare, simple furnishings that nod to early American style—and the proximity to surrounding historic sites: Boston Common (the country’s oldest public park), the Museum of African American History (housed in a 19th-century school and meeting house), and the Granary Burial Ground (where several Founding Fathers are interred). And it’s not too 18th-century to be comfortable: You’ll sleep soundly on the Tempur-Pedic double bed, and even have your own washer and dryer.
$253 at Airbnb (starting price)
Courtesy Airbnb
Early American history and a cutting-edge kitchen in a Charlestown one-bedroom
The vibe: Boston, as the Bostonians know it
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
Top amenities: An open-concept kitchen that’s great for entertaining
Neighborhood: Charlestown, one of the city’s most desireable neighborhoods for young professionals
The Revolutionary War’s Battle of Bunker Hill and the 19th-century obelisk commemorating it are Charlestown’s claim to fame. So much so, they made it onto Boston’s self-guided Freedom Trail walking tour. This one-bedroom in Charlestown’s Gaslight District gets you close to those historic sites and the draws of the contemporary neighborhood, home to young families and professionals—and the restaurants and bars they love. Dining in? This home’s open-concept kitchen punches well above the apartment’s relatively compact size.
$299 at Airbnb (starting price)