Boston's 13 Most Fab-u-lous Photo Spots!

Boston in America...

Rich history with some of the earliest examples of US public architecture, a waterside location, thriving financial district, popular foodie scene, contemporary art and culture and green spaces ensure Boston has diverse photo spots in abundance!

When you visit Boston, check out some of these great locations that make for fab-u-lous images for your Instagram account... or just for your old fashioned photo album (anyone still have one?!?).

Boston's 13 Most Fab-u-lous Photo Spots!

Brattle Book Shop

Founded in 1825 and located in the heart of Downtown Boston, Brattle Book Shop is a book lover's dream location...

Set over three floors in a traditional old store, Brattle Book Shop is one of America's largest sellers of second hand and antique books and magazines.

The store also has a year-round outdoor area selling further second hand books to passersby and where people happily browse.

Photo options at Brattle Book Shop are plentiful - from the store facade with large pencil shop sign, the outside selling area and the well stocked shelves and great decor within.

Location - 9 West Street, Boston

Christian Science Plaza

The Christian Science Plaza is a 14.5 acre site which belongs to the Christian Science Church and located here is the First Church of Christ, Scientist.

The original church (c.1894) still stands and is overlooked by a later extension with large dome roof that captures the eye and skyline.

On the Plaza site there is also a long Colonnade building, alongside which a reflecting pool sits.

Photographs of the church buildings are in themselves captivating, but the addition of the reflection pool ensures that you can also get great shots looking across the pool and capturing reflections within it.

From the far end of the pool there are also opportunities to capture the long pool with modern city sky scrapers beyond.

Location - 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston

Make Way For Ducklings Bronze Statues

One of Boston's icons is the set of bronze duck statues in Boston's Public Garden, 'Make Way For Ducklings'.

The duck installation was created by Nancy Schön to recognise and remember the book of the same name by Robert McCloskey - a story, written in 1941, about a family of ducks living in Boston Public Garden, and still a popular children's book today.

As well as seeing this set of little ducks in the park, they make for some fun photos.. either capture the whole family from the front or behind, or take close ups of the little ducklings, showing their full character!

Photos of the ducks are always popular with any Instagram followers.

Zakim Bridge

The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, to give it its full title, is an impressive contemporary cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Charles River in Boston.

Opening in 2003, the bridge quickly became a Boston icon and is apparently the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world.

The bridge makes captivating images by day or night and from near or far.

You cannot walk across the bridge but there are adjacent bridges you can walk across and look back to Zakim from.

Walk beneath the bridge too to capture some great shots as you look back up to it.

Location: Links central Boston to Charlestown across the Charles river

Boston's Public Library

The first large free public library in America, Boston Public Library was founded in 1848.

Boston's Public Library Building, located in Copley Square was designed by Charles Follen McKim and opened in 1895.

The building was designed as an example of Renaissaince Beaux-Arts Classicism and contains world class art and architectural details inside and out.

Within the library you will find a quiet and peaceful courtyard and the Bates reading room needs to be experienced!

The outside of the building is magnificent and sits on Copley Square, commanding attention.

Camera ready - take shots of the outside of this incredible building and then explore within for more amazing images.

Location - Copley Square, Boston

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

One of the most comprehensive art museums in the world and a good place to visit for capturing interesting and unusual images.

Located in a large neo-classical building that was built in 1909, the facade is grand and also features statues and sculptures within the external grounds; including two large and very unusual baby heads either side of the museum's rear entrance...

Within the museum, capturing images of some of the exhibits or of the general museum environment and people enjoying the artwork will keep you happily engaged.

Some of the photos you can get at the Museum of Fine Arts will either generate conversation due to intrigue in the content or admiration for their style and beauty!

Location - 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston

Beacon Hill Area & Acorn Street

Beacon Hill must be one of the most compact, picturesque and photo-worthy areas of the city.

Red brick row houses and federal style buildings make for impressive and elegant facades to the cobble-stoned, narrow and hilly streets, lit by antique style lanterns.

Charles street is the main shopping street that runs through Beacon Hill where boutique shops with old fashioned and unique store signs catch the eye and the wealth of the neighbourhood is evident in some of the local customers you will see!

Acorn Street is tucked away within the network of residential streets on Beacon Hill and it is said to be the most photographed street in Boston.

A picturesque and narrow residential street, with original cobblestone road, red brick row houses and immaculately maintained, you do feel as if you are on a film set here.

Beacon Hill as a whole is definitely very instagram and photo worthy, but Acorn Street is certainly a highlight!

Views From Independence Wharf

Independence Wharf is a corporate building in the centre of Boston, nestled on the water's edge....

At the top of Independence Wharf is an observation deck which offers great views across Boston and the water, as well as back to the Financial District with its sky-scrapers.

Although Independence Wharf itself is not amazing to look at and not the tallest building in Boston, the views it offers are still very photogenic and as few people know about it, you will likely have space and time to angle some great shots when you are there!

Location: 470 Atlantic Avenue, Boston

Boston Skyline (From East Boston!)

As my house-sit in Boston was in East Boston, next to the water with fantastic views back to the city, I am biased here...

The Boston skyline makes postcard worthy images from various locations, by day and night, with some incredible sunsets which must also be captured!

You do not need to venture far from downtown Boston - just cross the water and look back to get the full glorious skyline; but if you do want a treat then venture out to East Boston's section of Harborwalk and the views there will not cease to impress!

Go as the sun is due to go down for sunset images, followed by the night lights!

Location - East Boston Harborwalk (Maverick T Line Stop)

Tatte Bakeries

Need to refresh a little with some great coffee and pastries after a lot of hard sightseeing and photographing?

Why not visit a Tatte Bakery (of which there are eleven dotted about Boston), enjoy some refreshments and get some more photographs while you do?

Tatte (pronounced in the same way as latte but with a 't'!) Bakeries are the brain child of a woman, originally from Israel, who started a business baking from home in 2007 and it has grown to what it is today...

Tatte Bakeries are very popular with Bostonians and visitors as a place to enjoy great food and unique, comfortable surroundings.

The Cafes are great for photos - of the food, the general cafe and the decor - definitely good enough to get your photo audiences drooling!

Various locations in Boston - website

Massachusetts State House

The State Capitol and seat of government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is located in the 'new' State House found at one end of Beacon Hill and overlooking Boston Common.

With it's impressive gold dome roof and architecture, hilltop setting and surrounding statues, the State House is good for exterior photographs from directly in front or from further away in Boston Common.

Venture into the State House (which you can for free... see my post on free things to do in Boston!) and you will find an interior that is also rich in impressive art-work and architectural features that will also have you reaching for your camera!

Location - 24 Beacon Street, Boston

Quincy Market

One of Boston's main spots for people who enjoy local food markets when they travel is Quincy Market, adjacent to Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston.

The covered market here was completed in 1826 and since opening at this time has been used as a centre to sell food products.

During the 19th century the market was mainly selling grocery items, cheese and bread, while today it has evolved to become a food court that offers all types of foods that can be enjoyed in the market's central seating area, beneath an impressive dome roof, that covers two floors.

Quincy Market is popular with locals and with city workers who come to their favourite vendors here for a lunch break from their hectic day, while it is also a popular place with tourists and visitors to Boston.

Either side of the main hall are further covered walkways with vendors of other crafts and souvenir goods. Within Quincy Market building you will also find a replica of the Cheers bar from the TV show.

There is always a positive and relaxed vibe at Quincy Market and the various stalls, light and bright building and gourmet offerings make for some good and instagram worthy photos!

Location - 4 S Market Street, Boston

Copley Square

Located in Boston's Back Bay is Copley Square, which is surrounded by a range of buildings and features that make it great for photos.

One side of the square is dominated by Boston Public Library (see above) and opposite this sits Trinity Church, with its Romanesque Revival architecture.

Beside the library you also find a Venetian Gothic Revival style church, Old South Church.

In contrast to these 19th century buildings, the square is also the location of the John Hancock Tower, built in 1976 and the tallest building in New England. The tower is built from highly reflective glass and this feature means you can gain interesting images of Copley Square reflected in the tower walls.

Alongside all these buildings, within the Square, are two bronze statues by Nancy Schön of a Tortoise and Hare, based on the Aesop fable and located here in tribute to all the Boston Marathon runners who have crossed the finish line at this point.

Plenty in Copley Square to keep you happily creating diverse images!

So, there completes the 13 most fab-u-lous photo spots in Boston!

Hopefully, this has given you some ideas of where to go in Boston to get some great photographs that will impress your Instagram followers, your family and your friends!

Enjoy Boston and happy snapping!!

**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**