Getting there and choosing your base
- Logan International (BOS): Unusually close to the centre. The Silver Line bus runs free from the terminals to South Station, where you change to the Red Line, and Massport shuttles link to the Blue Line at Airport station. Service stops after midnight, so a late arrival means a taxi.
- South Station and Back Bay Station: Amtrak trains from New York and Washington, and commuter trains from the south and west, stop at both. Back Bay Station sits among the main hotel cluster, which makes it the easier stop if you are staying there.
- North Station: Commuter trains from the north, including Lowell, terminate here beside the TD Garden arena; the Orange and Green lines connect to the rest of the city.
Areas to consider
Back Bay
Suits most first visits, with Newbury Street, the Public Garden and Copley Square close at hand. Rates jump on Boston Marathon weekend in April, as the finish line is on Boylston Street, so check the date before you book.
Downtown and the Waterfront
Suits Freedom Trail walkers and visitors who want Faneuil Hall, the North End and harbour ferries within a few minutes. Ask about traffic and construction noise, and check whether the room overlooks the harbour or an inner courtyard.
Seaport and South Boston
Suits convention-goers at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and travellers wanting the Institute of Contemporary Art. Hotel rates here follow the convention calendar, so check for big shows before fixing dates.
Cambridge
Suits university visitors to Harvard or MIT and anyone happy to commute in on the Red Line. Confirm the walk to the nearest Red Line stop, as some hotels sit well away from Harvard, Central or Kendall stations.
When to go
June to September is the main season, and rooms are especially hard to find during May graduations and student move-in at the start of September. October brings autumn foliage and the Head of the Charles Regatta. Winters are cold and often snowy, and prices drop, but shoulder months are usually the better compromise.
Before choosing a room
- If you book a guesthouse in a converted townhouse in Back Bay or the South End, ask whether there is a lift and which floor the room is on.
- Properties advertised as 'Boston' may be in Cambridge, Somerville, Revere or Quincy; check which T line serves the address and how far the walk is.
- If you are arriving late at Logan, check whether the hotel runs its own airport shuttle and until what time, as public transport stops after midnight.
Sources and planning resources
- Wikivoyage: Boston
- Massport: Boston Logan International Airport
- MBTA (the T)
- How Hotel Unfiltered uses guest reviews
Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.