Newton travel guide

Newton, Canada

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Newton

Before you go

Newton is made up of thirteen villages, each with its own historical and architectural character — among them Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Lower Falls, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Thompsonville, Upper Falls, Waban, and West Newton. Many of these villages grew up around railroad stations, and walking tours of most of them are available through the Newton City Planning Department's website, so it's worth deciding which villages you want to focus on before you arrive. If you're drawn to nineteenth-century architecture, plan your time around Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, and West Newton Hill, where striking enclaves of Victorian houses and Gothic Revival churches stand. Commonwealth Avenue, known locally as "Comm Ave," is the city's grandest boulevard, winding through the whole of Newton and lined with historic mansions; it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also laid out Central Park and Boston's Emerald Necklace, and it serves as the route of the Boston Marathon each Patriot's Day.

Getting there

Newton sits close to Boston, so the general transportation advice for that city applies here too. Logan International Airport in Boston is the most convenient arrival point, with various ground transportation options onward.

By public transit, the MBTA connects Newton to Boston and the surrounding communities by light rail, commuter rail, and bus. The Green Line "D" Branch (Riverside line) is a light rail service running into downtown Boston, roughly a half-hour trip, and it runs frequently throughout the day. The commuter rail, which starts at Boston's South Station, stops at the villages of Newtonville, West Newton, and Auburndale on its way west to Framingham and Worcester; it runs frequently at rush hours and less often the rest of the day. Express buses run from Washington Street to the Massachusetts Turnpike and on into downtown Boston.

If you drive, Newton lies on the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) and Interstate 95 (also called Route 128), with Routes 9 and 16 also passing through. From Boston you can also arrive via city streets: Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue both run directly to and throughout Newton, offering a more scenic drive, particularly along Beacon Street. For cycling, several Bluebikes rental stations in Newton let you travel to and from nearby cities and towns.

Getting around

Public transport links Newton to Boston and the surrounding communities, so you can visit without a car. The Green Line's D Branch is your most reliable all-day option, running into downtown Boston and providing the best access across Newton with multiple stops in the city. Commuter rail also serves the villages of Newtonville, West Newton, and Auburndale, continuing on to Framingham and Worcester; this service runs frequently at rush hours but less often the rest of the day, so check times before relying on it for a mid-day or evening trip. Several MBTA bus lines serve Newton as well, including express buses from Washington Street into downtown Boston, but note that most bus service stops around 6PM and some routes do not operate on weekends. For broader regional connections, consult the Get In and Get Around sections of the Boston article.

Cars are generally the most convenient way to get around, though traffic can make them impractical at times. Taxis in Newton and the Boston area are exorbitantly expensive, so avoid them where you can; if you must call one, Veterans Taxi is courteous, punctual, and clean. Cycling on the streets is another matter: drivers are not considerate to bikers, so only experienced riders should do it. Instead, use the numerous parks and school yards, the carriage road along part of Commonwealth Avenue, or the Charles River Bike Path, a mostly off-road route running from Newton and Waltham east through Watertown, Boston, and Cambridge along both banks of the Charles River, which cyclists of all levels can enjoy. Bluebikes rental stations are available for short trips to and from neighbouring towns.

Where to stay

Newton's lodging is concentrated along the main arteries, with the largest cluster near the Riverside area on Grove Street, where you'll find contemporary boutique-style rooms with free internet, an outdoor pool, and an on-site restaurant. A second property shares the same Grove Street address and phone number, so double-check which one you're booking. Along Commonwealth Avenue you'll find a larger full-service hotel with an indoor pool and on-site restaurant, plus a smaller motor-inn-style option offering a free continental breakfast and free parking. Near Washington Street, another hotel sits built above the Massachusetts Turnpike at Exit 17, convenient if you're arriving by car.

Food & drink

Newton's dining scene spreads across its villages, so you'll find yourself moving between neighbourhoods to eat. In Newton Centre, Cafe St Petersburg serves lively Russian cooking, while Tartufo offers Italian fare overlooking the centre and Cafe Sol Azteca runs a full-scale Mexican menu with an outdoor terrace. Coconut Cafe and Amarin of Thailand both draw on Thai kitchens, and Johnny's Luncheonette covers diner-style breakfasts and sandwiches. Rosenfeld Bagel Company, tucked down a flight of stairs, specialises in gourmet bagels and cream cheese and gets crowded around the Jewish holidays. Over in Newtonville, Cabot's Ice Cream & Restaurant is a classic parlor with a full menu, all-day breakfast and a wide selection of sundaes, and George Howell Coffee is an independent cafe known for its coffee, crepes and specialty sandwiches. West Newton brings Blue Ribbon BBQ for authentic barbecue with all the fixings, plus Shogun for casual sushi. In Newton Highlands you'll find O'Hara's, an Irish pub with a full menu, and Nonantum has Antoine's Pastry Shop, an old-fashioned bakery. Chestnut Hill is home to Legal Seafoods, a famous Boston seafood name whose clam chowder has been served at presidential inaugural balls, and to White Mountain Creamery, a local ice cream shop open late. Elsewhere, Sweet Tomatoes Pizza specialises in thin-crust pizza with a take-out counter, Tom's Pizza & Sandwich Shop has been family owned and operated since 1964, Village Cafe is a good bet for breakfast and lunch, and Great Harvest Bread Company bakes fresh bread daily. For drinks, several spots double as after-work gathering places. Union Street in Newton Centre draws an older, more local crowd and has a terrace designed to feel like a roof deck. Buff's Pub in Newton Corner is an after-work place with good bar food, while The Biltmore, also in Newton Corner, has an updated tavern atmosphere with craft cocktails and local seasonal produce and a crowd mostly aged 25 to 40. Paddy's Pub, just off Washington Street, is a pub and restaurant that's also kid friendly, and Brewer's Coalition in Newtonville offers a great beer selection and a nice atmosphere.

What to see and do

Newton's history is on display at the Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead, a Federal-style farmhouse that once served as a station on the Underground Railroad and now holds paintings, photographs, costumes, and historic objects. The Newton Free Library offers an airy contemporary space with an auditorium hosting concerts and lectures, while the McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College presents changing exhibits amid the university's original Neo-Gothic campus. For shopping and dining, head to Newton Centre, the largest and busiest of the village centers, with high-end clothing stores, salons, spas, restaurants, coffee shops, and ice cream shops, plus a large public park and nearby Crystal Lake. Newton Highlands is the most quaint village center, a daytime destination with some of the city's best restaurants and the independent Lincoln Street Cafe. In warmer months, rent a canoe or kayak at the Charles River Boathouse off Commonwealth Avenue, swim at Crystal Lake, or walk and bike the trails around Chestnut Hill Reservoir, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Catch a foreign or independent film at the West Newton Cinema, and in Newtonville, watch the annual Independence Day fireworks at Albemarle Field. Sports fans can see BC Eagles football at Alumni Stadium and basketball or hockey at the attached Conte Forum.

Three days in Newton

Day one: Start by getting your bearings in Newton, a city made up of many distinct villages, each with its own character. Begin in Newton Centre, a good base for exploring, then head to Newtonville and West Newton for a sense of the city's everyday rhythm. If you're arriving by air, Logan International Airport connects to Boston, and from there the MBTA Green Line Branch and the Framingham/Worcester Express from South Station can bring you into Newton. In the afternoon, walk the streets of West Newton Hill, where Victorian and Gothic Revival houses line the roads, and finish with a stroll along Commonwealth Avenue, known locally as Comm Ave.

Day two: Turn your attention to the green side of Newton. The city's layout owes something to Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect behind Central Park and Boston's Emerald Necklace, and you can feel that influence in the leafy, winding streets of Auburndale, Waban, and Chestnut Hill. Spend the morning in Auburndale and Lower Falls, then move on to Newton Highlands and Oak Hill for a quieter pace. If you're interested in how the city has grown, the Newton City Planning Department can point you toward the forces that shaped these villages.

Day three: Use your last day to explore the smaller villages and the city's sporting and civic life. Head to Nonantum and Thompsonville in the morning, then Upper Falls and Newton Corner in the afternoon. Newton is closely tied to Boston, and the Boston Marathon passes through the city each Patriot's Day, so if your visit coincides with it, expect the streets to be busy. Otherwise, take the MBTA Green Line Branch or the Framingham/Worcester Express to South Station if you're heading back into Boston, or to Riverside if you're staying local. By evening, you'll have seen how Newton's many villages fit together.

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