Old meets new in Boston

Boston, New England. It’s two birds with one stone. The best of both worlds: the old and the new. Founded in 1630 – and thus historic by American standards – the city is widely regarded as one of the most cultured in the USA. 

Mounted Police in Boston
Mounted police patrol regularly on Boston Common, providing not just security but a welcome attraction, too
South Boston Waterfront
The South Boston Waterfront is the realm of the hipsters: cool, modern and not quite finished yet.
Bostons Chinatown
Boston’s Chinatown is a place of narrow lanes, Chinese shops and restaurants, men playing mah-jongg and women walking their cats.
Lobster roll in Boston
If Zurich has its bratwurst, Boston has its lobster roll – a quick lunch option that’s sold from food trucks, too.
Copley Square in Boston
Optical illusion on Copley Square. The city’s Trinity Church is reflected in the modern glass-and-steel façade of the John Hancock Tower.

Large swathes of it look as neat and smart as the backdrop to a Ralph Lauren commercial. Charming Beacon Hill boasts blood-red brick houses lining cobbled lanes with flickering street lamps; elegant Newbury Street wins visitors over with its broad side-walks and luxury boutiques; and lush green Boston Common is a perfect venue for jogging, games, picnics and simple relaxation.

Skyline of Boston
The skyline with Rowes Wharf, Eaton Vance and One International Place. Some of the buildings were built in unpolished pink granite.
Artist Stephen Silver with one of his artistic paintings.
Stephen Silver is the founder of the SoWa Artists Guild, under which over 80 artists have got together to present their creations (and studios) to the public at Harrison Avenue. Boldly coloured abstract landscapes are Stephen’s own speciality. silverwoodsstudio.com
Foodtrucks at South Station
The food trucks outside South Station are a popular lunch break destination.

Other quarters are a little less tranquil. The South End and the Seaport District in particular have evolved into hipster hot spots over the past decade with their cool bars and galleries. So if you want to discover “New Boston”, that’s the place to head to. 

Text: Patricia Engelhorn
Photos: Marvin Zilm 

 

Updated on 29 July 2025

New flying experience to Boston
Boston will be the first intercontinental destination served by SWISS’s new Airbus A350-900. This will be the first aircraft in the long-haul fleet to feature the new SWISS Senses cabin. Flights with the new A350 to Boston are now available for booking for travel starting in January 2026.