11 Family Friendly Hotels in Boston for Exploring Beantown with Kids

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Boston Harbor skyline during the day
The view of downtown Boston from across the harbor in Charlestown. Photo credit: Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Traveling with the kids has its own set of challenges, and each family has different priorities when it comes to cost, amenities, space, and location. If you’re traveling with younger children, location and ease of access to family tourist attractions may be the things that make your vacation manageable. Those with grade school kids may be looking for something with recreational amenities like a pool and games, while those traveling with teens might choose a place that offers more space and privacy.

No matter what your crew needs to have the best visit to Beantown, this list of the best family hotels in Boston, Massachusetts has a solution.

1. InterContinental Boston, an IHG Hotel

510 Atlantic Ave.
Boston, MA 02210
617-747-1000

Located in Boston’s Seaport District, the InterContinental is in the ideal spot for families with younger kids who want to visit both the Boston Children’s Museum and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Families can easily (and safely) walk a short distance to each other, and there is inexpensive and secure parking nearby on Necco Street if you want to park the car instead of dealing with driving in Boston.

InterContinental Boston Highlights:

  • Mid-range pricing
  • Pet-friendly
  • Family suites
  • On-site spa for the grown-ups
  • Perfect for visiting the Boston Children’s Museum

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2. The Newbury Boston

1 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-536-5700

The Newbury Boston is the best luxury hotel in Boston for a truly special family getaway. Formerly the Ritz-Carlton, the 5-star Newbury Boston has all the grandeur and panache of yesteryear. Its original lobby is a tourist attraction in its own right, and updated amenities give guests all the modern conveniences. Its location overlooking the Boston Public Garden gives families easy access to the park, home of the Swan Boats, and its position at the beginning of Newbury Street is a dream for shoppers.

The Newbury Boston Highlights:

  • Exclusive family suite with wood-burning fireplace
  • In-room afternoon tea service
  • Extra space with pull-out sofa
  • Connecting suites
  • Close to Beacon Hill

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3. Boston Marriott Long Wharf

296 State Street, Waterfront
Boston, MA 02109
617-227-0800

If you’re headed to Boston to visit the world-class New England Aquarium with the kids, Boston Marriott Long Wharf is the best option. Parents will really appreciate the heated indoor pool where the little ones can practice their dolphin impressions while the grown-ups can enjoy the view over Boston Harbor from indoors or outdoors on the surrounding deck.

Boston Marriott Long Wharf

  • Short walk to shopping and dining at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
  • T station (subway) next door
  • On-site market
  • 2 restaurants, room service
  • Within walking distance of the North End and downtown Boston

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4. Kimpton Marlowe Hotel

25 Edwin H Land Blvd.
Cambridge, MA 02141
617-868-8000

Although not in Boston proper, the Kimpton Marlowe in Cambridge is the best place to stay for visiting the Boston Museum of Science, just a quick and safe walk away. It’s also an ideal spot for families to stay during college visits for hopeful MIT students, and there is a shopping mall just a few minutes walk away. If you’ve got the younger kids with you, they will love the Kimpton Kids perks, including welcome gifts, bunk bedrooms, and movies in the courtyard.

Kimpton Marlowe Hotel Highlights:

  • Mini Me Milk Fridges for Breastfeeding Moms
  • Complimentary use of Micro Kickboard scooters & helmets for kids
  • Babysitting services
  • Safety kits for parents with young kids
  • Stroller and child safety equipment rental

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5. Omni Parker House

60 School St.
Boston, MA 02108
617-227-8600

Located in the Theater District, the Omni Parker House is the best Boston hotel for families to stay at to get the kids excited about walking the Freedom Trail. They even have family suites named after it, all decked out with a cozy bunkbed nook, a kids’ activity table, beanbag chairs, and even colonial costumes to play with. One of the suites features a mural of the Freedom Trail, and another has a chalkboard wall for aspiring young artists. Read our complete review of the Omni Parker House.

Omni Parker House Highlights:

  • Located right on the Freedom Trail
  • 10-minute walk to the Boston Common Visitor Center
  • Kids can participate in the Omni Junior Chefs program
  • Video game consoles available for use

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6. Boston Park Plaza Hotel

50 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
617-426-2000

Located in the upscale Back Bay neighborhood, the Boston Park Plaza is one of the city’s most iconic hotels, recently updated with a $100-million refresh that makes this old gem sparkle like never before. They have a variety of rooms to fit all budgets, including suites and adjoining rooms. If you really want to splurge, try the 1,400-square-foot Garden Suite, which features a private terrace and a full pantry kitchen with a dining area for four.

Boston Park Plaza Hotel Highlights:

  • One block from Boston Public Garden
  • Freedom Trail packages that include tour tickets
  • Two on-site restaurants
  • Spacious & comfortable library
  • Close to Newbury Street shopping and Boston Common

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7. Residence Inn Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf

34-44 Charles River Ave.
Boston, MA 02129
617-242-9000

This all-suite hotel is designed for extended stays, offering 2-bedroom suites with pull-out couches and kitchenettes. This is an ideal home base for families who want to visit the USS Constitution, its museum, and the Naval Shipyard Park, as well as the historic attractions of Bunker Hill. Right on the harbor front, you can also take a water taxi to visit the aquarium or hop over the to North End for cannoli.

Residence Inn Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf Highlights:

  • Close to TD Garden
  • Pet friendly
  • Indoor heated pool
  • Next to Paul Revere Park
  • Easy access to Logan Airport (BOS)

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8. Bed & Breakfast Afloat

28 Constitution Rd.
Boston, MA 02129
617-241-9640

This unconventional hotel offers a unique stay that the kids will be talking about for years and the whole family will be posting to Instagram indefinitely – on a yacht right in Boston Harbor. With two staterooms and the entire boat to yourselves, the family has plenty of privacy, along with all standard hotel amenities like WiFi, A/C, and even a kitchenette. Breakfast is included, provided by a local bakery, and there are even grills that guests can use.

Bed & Breakfast Afloat Highlights:

  • Heated outdoor pool
  • Boat charters on-site
  • Breakfast at a local bakery included
  • Kitchenette & Grills
  • Unforgettable experience

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9. Harborside Inn Boston

185 State St.
Boston, MA 02109
617-723-7500

The Harborside is the best family hotel in Boston for easy access to many of its most popular historic sites, including the Old State House, Quincy Market, and Kings Chapel Burying Ground. It’s also just across the Rose Kennedy Greenway from the Boston Aquarium and Central Wharf, where you can hop on one of many boat tours.

Harborside Inn Boston Highlights:

  • Affordable prices in a prime location
  • Interior and cabin room options for light sleepers
  • Free WiFi
  • Movie Library with vintage VHS tapes

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10. The Charles Hotel

1 Bennett St
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-864-1200

Whether you’re in town for an Ivy League college visit or want to stay in Cambridge for its excellent dining and shopping, the Charles offers 4-star elegance just two blocks from Harvard Square. Guests can also take advantage of special admission discounts to the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, and the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture, as well as 2-for-1 admission to Harvard’s multiple art museums.

The Charles Hotel Highlights:

  • Multiple on-site dining options
  • Ideal location for exploring Harvard Yard
  • Guest discounts for sightseeing cruises with the Charles Riverboat Company
  • Multi-night discounts
  • On-site spa

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11. Oasis Guest House

22 Edgerly Rd
Boston, MA 02115
617-267-2262

For families on a budget looking for a place convenient to Fenway Park, the no-frills Oasis Guest House is an excellent option located in the Back Bay area. Close to the home of the Red Sox, it’s also near Boston University, making it a great choice for college visits with your teen. While they don’t have suites, their prices are low enough to book neighboring rooms, which gives older kids (and their parents) the privacy they need after a busy day of sightseeing.

Oasis Guest House Highlights:

  • B&B style, with breakfast included
  • Close to the Museum of Fine Arts
  • 15-minute walk to the extensive Back Bay Fens park
  • Two blocks from the Prudential Center

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