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City guide

Boston, Massachusetts

S. state of Massachusetts.

Type CityPopulation 675,647Metro Area Population 5,000,000

Why go

  • Capital and largest city in Massachusetts, United States.
  • 10 curated must-see attractions on record, including Newbury Street.
  • 1 hand-picked place to stay.
  • 3 recommended spots to eat and drink.
  • Served by Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

History

Boston is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It serves as a cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. Boston has an area of 48.4 square miles (125 km2) and a population of 675,647 as of the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in the Northeastern United States after New York City and Philadelphia. The larger Greater Boston metropolitan statistical area had a population of 5 million in 2025, making it the largest metropolis in New England and the eleventh-largest in the United States.

Must-see attractions

Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
1 S Market St, Boston, MA 02109
Outdoor

Where to stay

Indoor

Eat & drink

Indoor
Indoor
Bar — 262 Friend Street, Boston, MA
Indoor

Airports

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) 3.2 mi to the centre
Boston, MA, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 34 airlines (JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 103 destinations incl. London, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Cancun, Chicago… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 34 airlines, 103 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Norwood Memorial Airport (OWD) 12 mi to the centre
Norwood, MA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Laurence G Hanscom Field (BED) 14 mi to the centre
Bedford, MA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Beverly Regional Airport (BVY) 18 mi to the centre
Beverly / Danvers, MA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Minute Man Air Field (MMN) 24 mi to the centre
Stow, MA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor

Regional airports

Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.

T.F. Green Airport (PVD) 47 mi to the centre
2000 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 9 airlines (AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 17 destinations incl. Atlanta, Orlando, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 47 mi from Boston · AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines · Getting around Providence, Rhode Island →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 9 airlines, 17 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) 45 mi to the centre
1 Airport Rd, Manchester, NH 03103 — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 7 airlines (AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines…) · direct flights to 13 destinations incl. Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Philadelphia… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 45 mi from Boston · AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines · Getting around Manchester, NH →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 7 airlines, 13 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Rowes Wharf Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.1 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Courthouse Dock
Ferry terminal · 1.1 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Long Wharf (South) Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.2 mi from the centre · MBTA
Outdoor
Central Wharf (South) Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.2 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Fan Pier Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.2 mi from the centre
Outdoor
World Trade Center (West) Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.3 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Winthrop/Quincy Ferry (Fan Pier - Central Wharf (South)
Ferry route · MBTA
Outdoor
F10: Harbor Loop
Ferry route · MBTA
Outdoor
East Boston - Seaport
Ferry route
Outdoor
East Boston
Ferry route · Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA)
Outdoor
North Station - Seaport
Ferry route
Outdoor
F10: Harbor Loop (Weekday Mornings)
Ferry route · MBTA
Outdoor
F10: Harbor Loop (Weekday Evening)
Ferry route · MBTA
Outdoor
North Station - Pier 10
Ferry route
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: BOS has direct flights to 103 destinations on 34 airlines (incl. London, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Cancun, Chicago…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Rowes Wharf Ferry Terminal, 1.1 mi); routes include Winthrop/Quincy Ferry (Fan Pier - Central Wharf (South), F10: Harbor Loop, East Boston - Seaport.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Boston, Massachusetts. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Bus Train · Schedules & route data (GTFS) · Boston, Massachusetts
Subway, bus, commuter rai · Subway, buses, commuter rail and ferries. · Fares: CharlieCard or contactless · Airport: Silver Line SL1 free from Logan to South Station
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Bus · Mansfield, Massachusetts · Schedules & GTFS data
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data

Trains & rail

Rail operator
National rail

Coaches & shuttles

South Station to Port Authority, about four and a half hours. · New York (Manhattan), NY guide →
Frequent low-fare coaches, about four and a half hours. · New York (Manhattan), NY guide →
Port Authority to South Station, hourly at peak. · New York (Manhattan), NY guide →
Coach / shuttle operator
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Jet card, charter · Partner fleet · Jet cards and on-demand charter from Boston.
Jet card · Partner fleet, light to heavy · One of the first jet-card programmes; guaranteed availability on partner aircraft.
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Phenom 300, Challenger 350 · Fractional and jet card programme centred on the US Midwest and East.
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.

Tours & experiences