Transportation in Boston
Bordered by the harbour and the Charles River, Boston has been an attractive destination since the first settlers set foot on it in 1630.Walking Boston or taking the ‘T' (trains, trolleys and subways) is easy, but the old streets lose their charm when you try driving around them.The financial district and many historic sites are Downtown. Go west for 19th-century Beacon Hill, grassy Boston Common and the Public Garden. A little southwest is wealthy Back Bay. Find Little Italy in the North End, curiously northeast. See the 210-year-old warship USS Constitution in Charlestown's Navy Yard across the river and academic Cambridge just to the west.
Read more about transport from and to the airport
Foot
Grab a map and start walking. It's the easiest way to get around the populated areas. Stroll the redbrick sidewalks of Beacon Hill or follow the historic trails. Amble around the Public Garden and Boston Common. Catch the breezes off the Charles River on the Esplanade.
The "T"
The "T" – the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) – operates the subway, trolleys, ferries and trains. There are four subway lines (blue, green, red, orange). The subway is the most efficient form of transportation, unless you get caught on the Green Line before or after a Red Sox game.
Bus
The MBTA runs 170 bus routes. They are not the speediest, especially when traffic is snarled, but they are cheaper, are better equipped to handle people with disabilities and get to more of the city's nooks and crannies than the subway.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful and can be hailed on the street or reserved by telephone. If this is your chosen mode of transportation and you like to chat with the drivers, be aware that talk is not cheap. There is an additional tariff when coming from the airport.
Boat
If you are staying in a hotel around Boston Harbor, beat the airport traffic by taking a boat from Logan Airport. The T operates two ferry routes on the Inner Harbor. In the summer months, spend the better part of the day exploring the historic Harbor Islands or party anytime of the year aboard an Odyssey Cruise.
Rent your car
The I-90 or I-93 Interstates radiate from the heart of Boston and the I-95 (Route 128) loops round it, but avoid them during peak times. On minor roads, a GPS is best for navigating Boston’s network of roads and bridges connecting downtown with Back Bay, Chelsea and Cambridge.
Transportation Tips
LinkPasses for unlimited use of local MBTA services are available in one- and seven-day increments and can be purchased online, from kiosks at the airport, or at the stations. The same outlets sell single-ride and stored-value tickets. To keep your sanity, do not drive – Boston is difficult to navigate and parking is expensive.
