One of the most affluent and popular Boston neighborhoods, the Back Bay is located alongside the Charles River and borders the famous districts of Fenway, South End, and Chinatown.

The area is notable for its brownstone buildings as well as its glistening skyscrapers (such as the Prudential Tower), and is home to some of the best and most up-market hotels, boutiques and eateries in the city.

But the Back Bay is not all shopping and cocktail-sipping: it also makes for a great, leisured stroll. To make the most of this exciting, culture-bursting neighborhood, we recommend re-routing from the more commercial streets, like Newbury Street and Boylston Street, to the parallel streets and avenues.

These are real hidden gems, brimming with independent bookstores, tiny coffee roasters, and, of course, those gorgeous brownstones that we mentioned earlier. If the weather is good and you fancy spending some time outdoors, you won’t want to miss the Back Bay’s beautiful parks – Copley Square and the Charlie River Esplanade, to name just a couple.

The area’s residents are mostly middle- and upper-middle-class, and enjoy the relaxed yet stimulating lifestyle that the Back Bay is known for.