Despite the wealth of history and the plethora of galleries and museums, one of the main reasons that people visit Boston is for the shopping. The city is filled with boutique stores as well as malls and departments stores. Choices vary from books to clothes, with a good place to start being Newbury Street; an eight block complex of shops of all stripes; high-end to cutting edge.

Near Boston Common is Downtown Crossing, a pedestrian-only area and a popular location for browsing in peace. Both Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall Marketplace are also ideal for the out of town visitor, offering quaint shops.