Boston doesn’t have the reputation of New York City or Chicago when it comes to being a prime place to shop, but there are certainly plenty of folks in New England who enjoy a good shopping excursion. Fortunately for visitors, that means there are many great shopping malls and neighborhood destinations to explore for that next great find.
Spend a bit (or a lot) of your Boston vacation shopping at any of these popular retail destinations and you’re bound to find your new favorite jeans, that perfect souvenir, and so much more.
Here’s our quick guide to the best places to shop in Boston, with options to suit a range of budgets, including...
- Newbury Street
- CambridgeSide
- Prudential Center
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace
- Copley Place
- Harvard Square
- and more!
Newbury Street
A few block stretch in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Newbury Street is the go-to spot for upscale boutiques and high-end chains, as well as quirky independent shops. You’ll find big names like Kiehl’s, Blue Mercury, Allsaints, Valentino, Cartier, Brooks Brothers, and more. There are also several stores that have been in the city for generations, like the Shreve, Crump & Low jewelers. There’s even a Nordstrom Rack for those looking for good deals.CambridgeSide
This is a unique shopping venue in the Boston area. It’s a large multi-story mall right in the heart of Cambridge, at the river’s edge. It’s right on the MBTA Green Line so it’s easy to get to, and it features all the mall classics you could want: Ann Taylor, H&M, Old Navy, PINK, Sephora, and more. There are also plenty of dining options in their expansive food court. It’s also right by the Museum of Science, should you choose to combine your shopping with a bit of exploring.Prudential Center
Located on Boylston Street in Back Bay, the Shops at Prudential Center are another great in-city option. This mall is filled with chic stores like Club Monaco, Madewell, lululemon, vineyard vines, Warby Parker, and many more. You can also find some mall staples here, like Pandora, Barnes & Noble, Sephora, and others. It’s also the site of the Skywalk Observatory (on the top floor)—a great place to see the city and grab a few cocktails.Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Anchored around the historic Faneuil Hall building, this area, also known as Quincy Market, is a combination of open-air mall and interior marketplace. Ringing the outside is everything from Urban Outfitters and Victoria’s Secret to Lucy’s League and Newbury Comics. There marketplace stalls inside mostly sell food (including a killer lobster roll), but you can find great shops for little souvenirs as well.Copley Place
This spacious two-story mall is chock full of luxury retailers, making for an ideal shopping experience in the heart of Back Bay. It’s a mere few blocks from the Prudential Center, so you can combine them both into one afternoon of shopping. Some of the featured stores include Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, Barneys New York, Jimmy Choo, Burberry, Tory Burch, David Yurman, and many more. There are several nearby restaurants, but not too many within the mall itself so keep that in mind when planning.Harvard Square
This neighborhood is a bit outside the city, but is worth the quick train ride to get out to. It’s filled with a great mix of indie boutiques and big names. You can browse things like stationary stores, tea shops, vintage clothing, housewares, and more. Then, there are some big names like Anthropologie, GAP, Urban Outfitters, and many others. Harvard Square Books (not affiliated with the school) is one of the best bookstores in the city, too. Don’t forget to save money and time for dinner, either—Harvard Square is a dining hotspot.