8 hour layover in Boston what should I do?

Hello,

I have never been to Boston before. I am flying through Logan International Airport on my way to Europe in July and wondered what I can do during the that time. Things that would be helpful would be: How to get to downtown from Logan Airport (i.e. with metro and which lines etc), what things to see. I would like to see the waterfront but not sure what else I should see. Is there a pass you can buy for the metro for a certain amount of hours and how easy is it to get around by metro? Thanks.

8 hour layover in Boston what should I do?

Hi,

Depending on when you arrive in Boston, you can easily take the T ';metro'; from the airport to Boston. A free shuttle will take you from the terminal to the blue line Airport stop. Take it from there to Aquarium stop and consider purchasing a Old Towne Trolley tour pass. They cost around $30 for the day and will take you all over Boston to many important/popular sights. That would keep you busy for a while.

http://www.trolleytours.com/boston/

You could also get off at Aquarium stop, enjoy the harbor area and then a very short walk will take you to Fanueil Hall Marketplace for shopping, eating, people watching.

http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/

You could do many many more things in 8 hours. The T will take you just about anywhere. There isn%26#39;t a 1 day pass, but it will cost you $2 each way which is very inexpensive. There%26#39;s museums everywhere, let us know if there%26#39;s a certain type of museum you like. We have Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Natural History and many more.

8 hour layover in Boston what should I do?

I have 2.5 hr layover. Feasible to go to Harbor area %26amp; back in time? Never been either, but would like to get glance at harbor while I%26#39;m there. thanks.

2.5 hour layover would be really stretching it. The T ride from Airport to Aquarium is only 5 minutes, but it%26#39;s the shuttle that adds on the time. It has to hit each terminal before taking you to the T stop. Your looking at 30 minutes minimum each way. That won%26#39;t leave you much time. I would probably just hang at the airport myself.

I agree with the Aquarium stop advice. It%26#39;s only a few stops on the blue line. If you were truly adventurous, you could go to Park Street, come above ground and see the Common and for another 2 bucks, go to Faneuil Hall.

I%26#39;d figure 10 minutes to wait for T shuttle (you want Blue Line Airport station. another 10 minutes to get to the station, and then 10-15 minutes between waiting for and catching the train intown. Aquarium is the waterfront/back end of Faneuil Hall. Haymarket is the North End. Gov%26#39;t Ctr is city hall. Park Street/Boylston is the Common. Give yourself plenty of time to get back.

Have fun. Sounds like a great adventure!

2.5 hours is not enough time...

considering how lots of flights are delayed,by the time you get there, it might be more like 1 hour ... I%26#39;d stay put for anything shorter than 4-5 hours...

longer, you can dash here or there strategically.

Hey Seite,

I also suggest taking the ferry from the airport, across the bay to the Boston Harbor Hotel. It is a brilliant way to enter our city!.

You can inquire about getting this ticket at Information Kiosks , after you pick up your luggage. Or you can google Logan Airport and see if their website can direct you.

By taking the ferry across ---And Logan Airport is actually located on The Boston Harbor, so you are already on the waterfront--you are set to do many things.

Or you can easily take the ';T';, as other Trippers have suggested, and come in my metro/subway.

If you do come in via the ferry, I would certainly walk.

Boston in considered a ';walking city.'; You will be very near the North End and can walk to many fabulous, casual restaurants as well as visit the home of Paul Revere and Old North Church ( Revere and the Church are very important to the revolutionary makings of the US).

Coffee and dessert and wonderful pastas are to be had in the North End---its our Italian section. Then, maybe hop a cab---it%26#39;s actually not that expensive and yes, head to the Boston Common and wander into the Public Garden . Then turn to your right and meander into Beacon Hill.

Lovely. Nice shops. Gaslights. Cobble stones and keep going until you head up the hill to our State House .

You can also go into the Boston Common and buy a trolley ticket that will ride you around to many of our other neighborhoods.

Must sees? Try to walk the Freedom Trail.

Visit the Gardner Museum. Beacon Hill . Gosh, you even have time to go hang around Harvard , just minutes away on the other side of the Charles River, in Cambridge.

One of the most important parts of visiting any city---especially Boston, is just sitting and having a drink and eating in one of our many local bars/restaurants.

We%26#39;ve got some great ones -all sorts of price ranges too.

cheers and I hope I helped.

K/boston

I agree with the ferry/ water taxi idea.Take the water taxi from the airport to Boston%26#39;s waterfront. The Institute of Contemporary Art is located in the seaport area. The Aquarium, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, and the North End are all within walking distance from the waterfront area of Boston.

Please allow time for security when you return to the airport. The international security lines can get long.

Do you really have a full 8 hours to wander or do you have 8 hours including the recommended %26#39;arrive %26#39; hours before flight time for international flights?%26#39;

Water shuttle or water taxi is an excellent idea. It%26#39;s also one of the stops on the free airport shuttle bus, so you%26#39;d have no problem getting there.

I haven%26#39;t taken an international flight in a while, but perhaps others can comment on realistic timeframes for checkin and security clearance.

Great idea re: water shuttle to South Station. Hadn%26#39;t thought of that but it%26#39;s the best way to approach---gorgeous. It lets you off not too far from Faneuil Hall. Nice idea!

Hi,

Thanks everyone. I think I will defeintely take the ferry across that sounds great. I arrive in Boston Terminal B at 11:14 and my flight leaves at 19:50.