Boston Getting Around

Getting There

Fly

All flights into Boston land at Logan International Airport. The subway’s Blue Line goes directly from the airport to the centre of the city and takes about a half hour.  Alternatively, taking a taxi can be faster and easier but can cost $30-40 depending on where in the city you are going.

Train

North and South Stations are the two main train stations in Boston. North Station is smaller and is home to mostly local commuter trains and a few trains coming from north of Massachusetts.  Most long-distance trains and busses arrive at South Station. Both stations are main stops on the subway.

Getting Around

Walking

There is good reason why Boston is called “America’s walking city.” While its neighbourhoods stretch out for miles, downtown, where most of the tourist attractions are located, is easily accessible by foot and makes for scenic walking.

Subway

Bostonians love to hate “the T,” America’s oldest subway system. It is comparatively cheap ($2 gets you anywhere in the city) and easy to figure out, but it is slow and inefficient and operates on no discernable schedule. It can be useful for jumps across the city or to the outlying neighbourhoods, but for shorter journeys, especially those involving the Green Line, the oldest of the four lines, walking is best.

Bus

Boston busses are faster and cheaper than the T, but are even less predictable than the subway and their routes are confusing and poorly marked. The MBTA is taking steps to make them more accessible for the uninitiated with an improved website.

Taxis

Taxicabs are less ubiquitous in Boston than in New York, and most people opt for other commuting methods. They can be handy after the T stops running around midnight, or when going long distances quickly or carrying bulky luggage.

Driving

Driving in Boston is not for the faint of heart. It is best to use public transit, walk, bike, just about anything other than driving. At the very most, park in the suburbs and take the commuter rail in for the day.