Boston Shopping

Finding great shopping in Boston is rather simple - just follow the crowds. While straying off the beaten path can occasionally uncover a hidden gem, the majority of worthwhile shopping is found in the following popular four areas. Newbury Street is Boston's premier shopping area has a diverse collection of shops ranging from expensive name brand stores to quirky boutiques. Starting at the eastern end of the street is Chanel on 5 Newbury Street and Giorgio Armani on 22.

As you head west, the stores go from posh to alternative with shops like Allston Beat at 338 Newbury, offering faux fur and edgy skirts while blaring a hard rock soundtrack. For two centuries Faneuil Hall has been one of Boston's most popular shopping destinations and is often said to attract more people than Disneyworld. Though it houses a modern shopping mall, it's really the perfect place to pick up souvenirs, get a quick bite to eat and soak in the atmosphere. Feeding the minds of the country's most brilliant students is no easy task, but Harvard Square manages well as home to the Boston area's best bookstores. Get your books where the smart kids do, at the Harvard Coop at 1400 Massachusetts Avenue - the official bookstore of Harvard University.

The premiere mall - Copley Mall - in Massachusetts features such high-end favorites as Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and the only Neiman Marcus in New England. Address: 100 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay. Underground stop is Copley.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109, 617-723-1666, At the Bay Tower, one can enjoy exhilarating views of Boston Harbour while dining on dishes that represent New England favourites; this restaurant also features a lounge and ten function rooms.

Borders
10-24 School Street, Boston, MA 02108, 617-557-7188, Borders is known for meeting both individual and corporate needs in relation to books, music, movies, and café and gift items.

Brentanos
100 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116, Copley Place, 617-859-9511, Brentanos is a general book store carrying a complete line of books, as well as being a retailer of the New York Times.

A/X Armani Exchange
100 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116, Copley Place, 617-927-0451, This Armani dealer provides sophisticated clothing for both men and women.

Aquascutum of London
450 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, 617-262-0066, Since 1851 this store has provided the best in ladies' and gentlemen's coats, blazers, raincoats, knitwear, other clothing and apparel, furnishings, and accessories.

Burberry Limited
2 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116, 617-236-1000, Burberry Limited is a retailer of world renown known for its fine men's and women's outerwear, clothing, furnishings, accessories, and the world-famous Burberry Plaid.

Emporio Armani
210 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116, 617-262-7300, Find an exclusive collection of men's and women's fashions that includes sportswear, suits, evening wear, Armani jeans, and accessories.

Boston Scrimshanders
Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116, 617-424-5557, This shop features a great number of enticing scrimshaw items, as well as an extensive collection of ivory antiques, handcrafted ship models, Nantucket Lighthouse baskets, and custom made nautical gifts and knives.

HarborSails
North Canopy, Quincy Market building, Boston, MA 02125, 617-723-5590, HarborSails carries the largest local collection of lighthouses, nautical figures, crystal, and lobster-themed merchandise.

Faneuil Hall
(circa 1742) Merchants Row, Boston, MA 02108, 617-242-5675, For more than two hundred fifty years this market area has been central to Boston, and now is the site of a tourist-oriented shopping area that hosts many unique shops and eateries. The meeting hall that is found in the area is sometimes called "the cradle of liberty" because it was the site of early protests against British policy.

Shops at Copley Place, The
Two Copley Place #100, Boston, MA 02116, 617-262-6600, This shopping area contains more than one hundred shops, including retailers of Gucci, Tiffany, J. Crew, and Williams-Sonoma; Copley place is situated in the historic and charming Back Bay area and is conveniently located close to many other landmarks, attractions, and historical sites in the vicinity.

The Shops at Prudential Center
800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02119, Located in Boston's Back Bay, 617-236-3100, 800-SHOP-PRU, The Shops at Prudential Center features over 75 shops and restaurants including, Ann Taylor, Jasmine Sola, Barnes & Noble, The Cheesecake Factory, Legal Sea Foods and Sephora.

Geoclassics
7 North Market, Boston, MA 02126, 617-523-6112, This specialty store features an extensive and fascinating collection of fossils and mineral specimens that have been collected from around the world; it has something to offer to both the novice enthusiast and the established collector.

Scottie Connection
49 Temple Street, Unit 1, Somerville, MA 02415, 617-947-2453, Unique gifts, accessories, collectibles, toys and gourmet treats for dog lovers.