Newbury Street
Back Bay's eight-block shopping promenade of brownstone storefronts, boutiques, and sidewalk cafés.
The call
Worth it if you're traveling as a couple and you're traveling solo.
Short answer
Is Newbury Street worth it?
Newbury Street deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
A handsome stroll-and-browse street — brownstone facades, flagship boutiques, and patio dining make it the city's most pleasant retail wander.
- 02
The catch: it's fundamentally a shopping street, so it's only as fun as your appetite for shopping, prices skew high-end, and there's no single 'sight' to anchor a visit.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, Newbury Street is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, Newbury Street is an easy yes.
You care about the visual experience
Newbury Street rewards a trip built around beauty & photography.
Think twice if
You're traveling with kids
With kids, skip Newbury Street.
You're watching the budget
Newbury Street can strain a tight budget. Go only when it is a priority.
You only have one day
Keep Newbury Street only when it outranks a half-day elsewhere.
You want the trip to feel easy
Newbury Street offers some relaxation, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Free to walk
- Timing
- Afternoons for patio dining; warm months for the outdoor scene.
- Booking
- None to walk; reserve popular patio restaurants in season.
- Allow
- 1-2 hours
- Accessibility
- Flat, wide sidewalks make it fully strollable.
- Getting there
- Copley (Green) or Hynes (Green) bracket the street.