With both the Charles River and the Atlantic Ocean lapping at its doorstep, Boston enjoys all the scenic benefits of being a city on the water while also boasting a distinctive mix of grand historic architecture and sleek modern buildings — not to mention the green-space gems of Boston Common and the Public Garden. It’s a feast for the eyes when you’re just strolling the streets, but to take sight-seeing to a new level, check out these five favorite Boston hotels with a view.

Best Boston Hotels with a View

The city skyline seen from the Envoy’s rooftop bar. | Boston Hotels with a View

The Envoy Hotel

The Envoy

Whether you call it the Seaport District, the Innovation District, South Boston, or Fort Point, there’s no doubt that the eastern swath of waterfront on Fort Point Channel is a city hot spot — due in no small part to the water and skyline views it affords. Taking full advantage is the Envoy, a modern 136-room boutique hotel that opened in the summer of 2015 near Seaport Boulevard. Its seventh-floor rooftop bar, Lookout, offers what’s been called the best view in Boston: a 270 degree sweep encompassing the channel, Rowes Wharf, and the Financial District. “Coveted Corner” rooms and suites come the closest to matching the bar’s breathtaking vantage, but no matter which room you’re in, floor-to-ceiling windows will make the most of your outlook. 70 Sleeper St., Boston. 617-338-3030; theenvoyhotel.com

The Harborside patio at the Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor. | Boston Hotels with a View

Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor

Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor

With Logan Airport right in its backyard, this 270-room upscale chain hotel is a natural magnet for frequent fliers. The fact that it stands 15 stories tall and mostly alone on an elbow of East Boston waterfront, however, means that it has a surplus of opportunities for gazing at the Boston skyline directly across the harbor. True, the eastern rooms look over the Logan runways (“aviation views,” in hotel parlance), but the western rooms from ground to top provide unfettered views of the Boston waterfront. The hotel’s first-floor restaurant and bar make the most of their harborside location with a wall of windows and the option of patio seating. 101 Harborside Dr., Boston. 617-568-1234; bostonharbor.regency.hyatt.com

Boston Harbor as seen from one of the Boston Harbor Hotel’s specialty suites. | Boston Hotels with a View

Boston Harbor Hotel

Boston Harbor Hotel

With the Boston waterfront on one side and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on the other, this five-star luxury hotel delivers on panoramas filled with sailboats and yachts but scores extra points for having the option of terrific city-facing views, too. The 230 recently renovated guest rooms and suites all have an elevated vantage, as they begin on the eighth floor and continue to the 16th (home to the 1,400-square-foot Presidential Suite, if that’s your sort of thing); some even have furnished private terraces. Those who opt for a city-facing room can look north for a great view of Boston’s c. 1915 Custom House Tower, which soars above the original 1849 Greek Revival custom house. 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston. 617-439-7000; bhh.com

A river-view studio suite at the Westin Copley Place. | Boston Hotels with a View

The Westin Copley Place

Westin Copley Place

Towering 38 stories above Boston’s famous Back Bay and South End neighborhoods, this is one of the tallest hotels in the city — ensuring that many of its 803 rooms (which begin on the eighth floor) have killer views. To the north is the Charles River and the Cambridge shoreline, as well as the Boston Public Library and the other venerable buildings of Copley Square; to the east is Boston Harbor and the Financial District; to the west is the Prudential Tower and Fenway Park; to the south are the tree-lined streets and historic brownstones of the South End. The hotel is located near two subway lines and is also within easy walking distance of many city attractions, from Newbury Street and the Public Garden to the shops and restaurants of Copley Place and the Prudential Center. 10 Huntington Ave., Boston. 617-262-9600; westincopleyplaceboston.com

The gold dome of the statehouse as seen from the Nine Zero. | Boston Hotels with a View

Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel

Kimpton Nine Zero

For an up-close look at the city, it’s hard to beat this sleek boutique hotel nestled in the Ladder District, just a few blocks from Boston Common and right down the street from the statehouse and Beacon Hill. Room selection is everything, though: Since the Nine Zero is surrounded by buildings on all but three sides, the higher you go the better the view. But oh, what views are possible! From the Skyline View rooms and suites you can watch the busy streets below or look out onto architectural landmarks including the golden-domed statehouse, seemingly close enough to touch, plus Boston Common, the Back Bay, and the Charles River. 90 Tremont St., Boston. 617-772-5810; ninezero.com

Do you have a favorite Boston hotel with a view? Let us know in the comments!

This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated. 

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