Boston Markets: Boston, Massachusetts - MA, USA

The Boston markets are fun places to visit, full of street comedians, musicians and most of all, character. They provide a great place to find bargains or just browse around the wide variety of stalls and enjoy the exciting atmosphere and market banter, although many of the original unique stores have now been replaced with national chains.

Visiting the marketplaces is highly recommended for tourists in the day and also later at night, when it becomes one of Boston's key social locations, being full of pubs, bars and also home to the Comedy Connection, the city's largest comedy venue.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Faneuil Hall
Built in 1742 as a public market and venue for town meetings, this hall's interior is vast. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, Faneuil Hall Market was one of the country's first mixed-use commercial developments. The complex made the transition to tourist attraction in the 1970s, getting redubbed Faneuil Hall Marketplace in the process. This historic, architectural complex is full of novelty carts, distinctive shops, national chain stores, street performers, food stands, cafés and restaurants. This is one of the stops on the Freedom Trail and is today often known as 'festival market'.

Quincy Market
Quincy Market's three granite buildings were added nearly 100 years after Faneuil Hall was built, to provide warehouse and retail space. This national historic landmark sits between the brick North and South Markets at Faneuil Marketplace and is a busy flea / street market. Fish sellers and butchers still have stalls in Quincy Market's warehouses, but these days now have trendy espresso joints and piano bars as neighbors. Jugglers and other street performers regularly perform outside.

Location: You can get to Quincy Market from the State Street stop on the Blue and Orange lines.

Haymarket
Less than a block away from Quincy Market is Haymarket. This unique outdoor food market is open every Friday and Saturday, from dawn to dusk. Full of typical market atmosphere, the market is as much street theater as a place to get fresh vegetables, fruit and fish.

Location: The Haymarket stop on the Green and Orange lines and the Government Center stop on the Green and Blue lines.