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Living in Boston. So great, you may never leave.

If college is the time to start exploring the world, you’re looking in the right place. Located in the heart of Boston, MCPHS is a uniquely urban university that offers the entirety of Boston as its campus. Music. Art. Food. Culture. Shopping. Sports. Boston has it all, and it’s right outside your door. 

The experiences you have both on and off campus will shape you personally and professionally–so it's worthwhile to get familiar with all this amazing city has to offer. From cuisine to museums, rich history to our diverse culture, take a deeper dive into the reasons we love Boston so much.

Regina Pizzeria street sign.

Food

Move over, New York City: Boston is officially home to America’s best slice of pizza. Regina Pizzeria, a local favorite, recently took the top spot on TripAdvisor’s list of America's best pizzerias. The restaurant is nestled in Boston’s Italian-influenced North End, an area that serves up unparalleled coziness as 400 years of historic charm meets homestyle cooking.

If freshly baked bread and delightfully competitive cannoli shops isn’t what piques your interest, visit the sleek, ocean-adjacent Seaport, home to the Barking Crab and Legal Harborside - both of which offer fresh catch-of-the-day entrees and classic Bostonian lobster rolls. 

Boston street.

History

The historic monuments and structures that dot Boston’s winding streets offer an unmatched glimpse into America’s infancy.

Experience a taste of rebellion as you toss boxes of tea off the Boston Tea Party Museum’s colonial-aged ship. Visit the birthplaces of historic influencers like Benjamin Franklin and Edgar Allen Poe. Live a day in the life of Paul Revere as you travel from the Old North Church to his famed home. Or, gaze up at the nearby Bunker Hill Monument, which marks the site of a famed revolutionary battle. No matter where in the city you wander to, you'll be immersed in Boston's rich history.

Girls sitting in field at concert.

Community

Whatever your passion is, Boston has a like-minded community ready to welcome you with open arms. 

Do you love working with animals? Investigate volunteer positions at the Animal Rescue League or MSCPA. Is running your favorite way to start the day? Lace up your sneakers with one of Boston’s many running clubs. Does exploring the ins-and-outs of Beantown’s best restaurants intrigue you? The Boston Foodies will make room at their table. And just steps from MCPHS’s campus, the Colleges of the Fenway (COF) consortium offers you the chance to meet students from nearby universities as you take intercollegiate courses such as Glassblowing or Sports Management.

Man singing at concert.

Music

Boston’s music scene is eclectic, booming, and star-studded: just ask Beantown's own Aerosmith and New Kids on the Block. 

Dozens of singers, musicians, and bands perform across Boston's many musical venues every night. The House of Blues offers up rich history and powerhouse performers, while The Red Room at Cafe 939 showcases the incredible talent of local Berklee students. In the Sound End, the cozy, jazzy Beehive is the ideal spot for enjoying smooth, laid back music over dinner. Or if you're looking for carnivalesque fun, snag a 3-day ticket to Boston's very own music festival, Boston Calling, which is held annually every summer.

ICA in Boston.

Museums

Boston’s museums, some of which offer complimentary entry to MCPHS students, showcase a unique variety of history, beauty, and mystery.

First, history: Mainstay collections at the sprawling Museum of Fine Arts include Egyptian mummies and Roman statues, and the museum's rotating selection of temporary exhibits keeps even longtime visitors coming back. Second, beauty: The Institute of Contemporary Art's asymmetrical glass exterior houses art that will perplex, move, and challenge you. Finally, mystery: On March 18, 1990, a set of unknown assailants stole 500 million dollars’ worth of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Despite the infamous theft, the Gardner Museum has remained a popular destination for students to quietly study. We’re sure if those walls could talk though, they'd be anything but silent.

Audience view from Fenway Park.

Sports

Ever get tired of winning? Yeah, we don’t either. 

Okay, yes: Our sports teams, and more specifically the New England Patriots, are fairly polarizing. However, Beantown’s powerhouse athletes create communities of fans that are infectiously passionate—and with the MCPHS Cardinal Booth offering discounted game tickets, you'll have every opportunity to experience Boston's exciting sports culture first-hand. Whether you’re cheering on the Bruins or Celtics at TD Garden, vying for a foul ball at Fenway Park, or watching the one and only Tom Brady in action, Boston’s huge love of sports makes a big city feel small.

Boston skyline featuring Prudential Center.

Shopping

Despite its reputation for housing only haute couture, Newbury Street offers visitors an array of affordable shopping options.

Find just about anything you’re looking for (and more) at Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx. Or narrow your search at one of Newbury’s many niche shops, which include the Boston Olive Oil Company (perfect for cooking enthusiasts) and the Fairy Shop (ideal for Harry Potter fans).

Some of Boston’s other popular shopping destinations include Quincy Market, Downtown Crossing, and the Prudential Center—collectively boasting over 400 shops. And across town, the South End’s seasonal SoWa Market is perfect for anyone interested in open-air shopping and handcrafted products.

Couple sitting in hammock along Esplanade.

Outdoors

Boston is often listed as one of the nation’s healthiest cities—and with a skyline punctuated by elms and oaks, it’s easy to see why. The city is packed full of green spaces that provide the perfect venue for a day spent outside.

Though the beautiful, 50-acre Boston Common and 24-acre Public Garden dominate as the city’s most famous parks, spots like the Esplanade, Emerald Necklace, and Arnold Arboretum are equally promising locations for jogging, longboarding, or stopping to smell the roses (literally). For those looking to explore Boston’s aquatic offerings, a ferry ride to the Harbor Islands or a day of kayaking on the Charles is just a T-ride away.