While Boston is one of the oldest cities in all of U.S., rest assured, you have plenty of modern options that will get you from the airport to the central downtown area. Depending on your schedule and budget, the Boston transportation system boasts a whole host of ways that will bring you to where you need to go to begin your adventure (the majority of information mentioned in this article can be found here).
Taxi
Of course, taking a taxi is a readily available option when you land at Logan International Airport. Follow the signs past baggage claim until you are led to the taxi line outside the terminal.
Taxis provide the ultimate convenience, but be ready to shell out around $25-30 USD for the 25min+ ride to the downtown core, also factoring in an extra "airport fee" and tunnel tolls. Uber and Lyft also operate throughout Boston but keep in mind that you'll have to pay similar additional fees as the taxi. For these two ride apps, they are located separately from the taxi stand and instead, can be found when you follow the rectangular signs for the designated AppRide/TNC Lots as you exit the terminal.
MBTA - Bus + Subway
Taking the subway is by far the best way to reach the downtown Boston area from the airport. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), also known as "The T", can get you downtown within a speedy 15 minutes. Depending on where you need to go, you have 2 different options when taking the T.
1. Take the FREE Silver Line if you are heading northwest, southeast or to the Red Line:
If you are heading to Cambridge, Downtown Boston, Harvard University, MIT or somewhere else on the Red Line, take the FREE Silver Line (SL1) bus to South Station in Downtown Boston and make a FREE transfer from there to the Red Line subway train to get to your specific destination.
In summary, you can board this SL1 bus directly from whichever airport terminal you arrive at and it will bring you to Downtown Boston's South Station and let you connect to the Red Line for the price of $0! But if you want to reach a more specific destination, from South Station, you can connect to Amtrak, commuter rail, and the MBTA subway system. This is truly the most cost-effective and economical option that all travellers should take advantage of to get to central Boston. The buses have space to store your luggage, and they run from roughly 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. every day, usually leaving every 10-15 minutes.
When you arrive at the arrival level, look for the MBTA Silver Line signs; they will direct you past baggage claim and outside the terminal to a waiting line for the Silver Line bus.
2. Take the FREE Massport Shuttle to the Blue Line Airport Station if you are heading somewhere located at the Green, Blue, or Orange Lines:
If your destination is located north, west, or south of the airport, e.g. Brookline, Newton Northeastern University, Boston University, Boston College, Back Bay, or Fenway Park, you'll want to take the free Massport bus shuttle to the Blue Line Airport station. From the Airport station, you can continue on the Blue Line or transfer to the Green or Orange Lines.
To board the Massport Shuttle, walk out of any airport exit and look for a rectangular sign that says “MBTA” or “airport shuttles.” Wait for a white bus with a blue horizontal strip, which should say "MBTA Blue Line" on the digital display of the bus. Buses number 22, 33 or 55 will take you to the Airport subway station, depending on the time of day. The 22 stops at terminals A and B, the 33 stops at terminals C and E, and the 55 runs during off-peak hours.
Buy your ticket:
While the Massport shuttle to the Airport subway station is free, you will need to buy a ticket to continue riding the subway trains from there on. When the shuttle drops you off, look for ticket machines on the sides of the entrance hall. A one-way CharlieTicket costs you $2.50, a one-week LinkPass is $18 (specific machines accept cash, credit cards, or both).
Water Taxi
If you want to arrive downtown in style, try taking a water taxi. Three services can pick you up at the Logan International dock: the MBTA Harbor Express, Boston Harbor Cruises and Rowe's Wharf.
To get to the dock, catch the free Massport shuttle number 66. If you let the shuttle bus driver know you're catching a water taxi, he'll radio ahead so they know a passenger is coming, or you can call yourself. The MBTA Harbor Express runs to downtown Boston's Long Wharf, while the other two services can drop you off at multiple locations along the Boston Harbor waterfront. On a typical day, you can expect to be picked up within 5-10 minutes, and spend around 10 minutes on the water.
As a recap:
Our #1 recommended option is using the MBTA bus system, either the free SL1 bus that brings you directly from the airport terminal to South Station downtown or the free Massport bus shuttle that drops you off at Airport subway station and then buying a ticket to connect to the other subway lines to continue your route. On top of the fact that either bus drops you off at a centrally-located subway station for free, this is the quickest way downtown as you'll likely avoid the traffic on the roads.
As a last resort, if you really don't want to be bothered with hopping on and off buses and subway trains with your luggage, take a taxi into the city, but know that this is the priciest option. Additionally, if you feel like arriving into Boston in a more unique way and want to take in the beautiful skyline and harbour, go for a ride on a water taxi. We hope that whichever way you get there, you have an incredible time exploring the historical, wonderful city that is Boston!
Enjoyed this article?
