More than a second city. The finest city in the tradition of the American revolution, and well worth more than a few visits. Home of the greatest baseball team in the world.

Great!

Since most of the US is hick and lacking culture, it's not surprising that in comparison Boston appears to be so rich culturally. But, Boston, overall, is overrated and overhyped. Streets are filthy, public transport is dirty, and antiquated, and there's practically no acknowledgment that any other community except Irish, Italian and Yankee exist. It is an insult to European cities, and to the people living there, to compare Boston to any of them. Europeans are are much more egalitarian in their outlook than status-conscious, and close-minded Bostonians. Plus, Europeans are a lot more tolerant of racial and cultural diversity - from ALL over the world, not just other parts of Europe. Diversity in Boston means Italian! Give me a break! The main problem is lack of racial diversity in the workplace (unless you count minorities who dominate menial jobs), and in the neighborhoods, which tend to be segregatd along color/racial lines. Sure there are Thai, Indian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern restaurants, but that's about the extent of exposure to other cultures and cuisine that's tolerated. Why am I saying all of this? It's because I came to live in Boston from the UK, where I was a so-called minority, to the shock of the reality of the segregation and DENIAL that racism permeates life and thinking within Boston and surroundings. I couldn't believe the racism towards African Americans...you know: at best polite, but condescending comments, at worst, not worth repeating...and the fact that you could attend social events and maybe see one non-white person who'd been invited; and go to high school and college and see the white students avoiding co-mingling with the Black and Hispanic ones. Sick. In light of all of this, who cares about the shopping in upscale malls and Newbury Street. Weather is hardly within Boston's control, so it's stupid saying it sucks. However, unless you enjoy navigating treacherous streets because the snow hasn't been cleared properly from the roads and sidewalks, and unless you enjoy humid mosquito-infested evenings, the number of days of glorious weather add up to three months tops in any year. Another thing absent, is Boston's lack of a love for flowers in public spaces and gardens when weather permits.

Boston is a dignified and sophisticated city. It marches to it's own drumbeat and its reeking with atmosphere. The archetecture in this city is brilliant graced with lots of brick and brownstone (even the sidewalks are brick) and takes on a European character. DO NOT DRIVE HERE, instead walk.... walk all over town as this city invites walking more than any other US city. Boston blends in the old with the new as on one streetcorner you can find the Old state house built in the 1700's next to the historic site of the Boston massecre, all this surrounded by modern skyscrapers. There are many charming neighborhoods from Italian enclaves to hipster college hangouts. Dining and shopping are fantastic in Boston. It's got many Italian restauurants and bakeries in the North End, New Englands seafood like Maine lobster and clam chowder, and all the international cuisine will be found as well in a cosmoploitan city like this one. Shopping ranges from trendy boutiques on Newbury Street, bookstores in Harvard Square, to tony malls like the Prudential Center. All this can be found in a city that's very compact and manageable size.

I don't need to repeat the accolades from others except to state that Boston is exceptional. If you have any feel for history or the foundation of our country, you must go to Boston and see the sights and the sites. One thing I am still irritated about and that is the government philistines tearing down, paving over and renaming Scollay Square!

The seat of the American Revolution. Has tons of culture. You would never guess, but the population really isn't quite that big. It's only about 580,000.. compared to New York City, with over 8 million. But you wouldn't think it. With all of the stuff there is to do, all of the world famous landmarks, you'd expect it to be much bigger, but it's not. It is just a very high quality city. Oh yeah, and it is not where the majority of the molesting preists were, it had more than any other city, but duh, it is the most catholic city outside of Italy, so of course it is going to have the most preits, and therefore, the most (most meaning about 10, out of tens of thousands) preists who molested children. It does not by a long shot mean that all of the preits in Boston did that.

Very nice history rich city. People for the most part are very friendly (unlike New York). A city with culture and class. And it's the home the best baseball team in the world the Red Sox!

My favorite city.

alright. better than New York. i really dug the Boston Common, and b/c i like Robert Parker, wandering down Boyleston Street was sort of fun. there are some traps like the Cheers bar. go to the aquarium if you can.

My favorite US city. Great culture, universities and very walkable. One of the cities with culture in the US and close to NYC. I love this city it reminds me of European cities

To all those who gave Boston one star: Good! Stay away. We neither need nor want your type of person here. Go back to whatever festering stinkhole of a town you live in.

If i don't go to College in upstate NY like i want to, Boston will be my next stop. I could care less about new england winter, i like the cold and the snow. It is one of the coolest cities in america, i know its expensive, so i probably wouldn't ever live their though.

Boston is dirty, stinky, and disgusting, and thats just the people. I am not fascinated or enchanted by Boston at all. As a matter of fact I try to avoid going there as often as possible (but get dragged there at least once a year anyway)I usually send an envoy in my place. Empty people with empty self-serving agendas, a modern Soddam and Gomorrah. People go there for business or school and as soon as they are done they go back to their real homes and real lives as fast as they can. Hopefully the dont bring Boston back with them. Some of the restaurants are very good though and their transit system is great. It's sad that the people in Boston actually think they are living and that the way they live is the way things are and should be everywhere. One of the most unhappy, astonishing places I have ever had to step foot in.

Boston is a nice, northern city with a lot of unique, appealing aspects to it that makes it one of the more fascinating cities in the USA. Boston has history, culture, and had a lot going on compacted into a relatively small area. It's a major , urban metropolis that is really smaller than you'd think. There are half dozen area colleges that bring a constant stream of young people and there are locals ranging from generations of Irish catholics, WASPS, yuppies as well as minorities from every major ethnicity, including a large Portugese population.I like the accents, they're cool to me, but I grew up listening to them. For all it's plusses, there are some big negatives that drop it a Star for me. First is the weather, which is bitterly cold in winter. Boston also is notoriously segregated and has a history of racial problems that the city is slowing overcoming. The people have the typical Northern hospitality and tend to have an attitude/chip on their shoulder which goes with a natural cynicism unique to the area. Here's a town that created an identity for itself as long suffering Red Sox fans before they finally won it all. It's also very congested with pot hole filled roads and perhaps the worst drivers in the nation.

One of the most interesting cities in the United States in terms of history. The Freedom Trail that runs through downtown is fascinating to wander, and what's amazing is you really can walk across the city using the trail. Boston is surprisingly compact given its size, yet has lots of parks and open areas, including one of the most famous (Boston Common). There's a fun sports scene and many, many young people due to a college every ten blocks. The only problem with Boston is there seems to be a lack of nightlife despite all those students. But beyond that, it's a terrific city and in a great location, near both other great cities as well as beautiful mountain country.

Love the city, history, food, and people. But the traffic, the twisted roads, the expense. . .yikes. Those awful accents. . .but can't get any less than 4 stars for the sheer amount of history in this important city.

A great place to live. Rich in culture, diversity, and opportunity. Home to some of the best American universtities. Vibrant and free-thinking. A diverse population. Old Yankee, Italian, Irish, Puerto Rican, black and brown. Physically beautiful and interesting.. if difficult to drive in.. but that will get better (hopefully) when the Big Dig is completed. Not the place where the majority of the Catholic priest scandals happened. Yes, a couple of the high profile cases were here.. and those people were brought to justice. Area Catholics also insisted that the cardinal who had ignored the problem be removed.. and he was. Yes, some of us also don't like the Yankees. Ho-hum. It's an old rivalry that makes for some interesting games. Hardly all we think about, however. Liberal.. to some extent, yes it is. At least compared other parts of the country. But we also have a Republican Mormon governor.. so it's hardly all one-sided. All in all a great place to live.

over-priced, elitist, ultra-liberal

Cultural and Incredible

It's true, the roads there suck, and a lot of the people can be downright nasty. But you can't beat the Americana, and most of the people can be nice when they get to know you. Oh, and GO SOX!!!!!