Boston, MA

Boston travel guide

Revolutionary history in a walkable harbor city

Find flights to Boston See fares from $53

Airports: BOS Boston Logan International Airport
Region: US Northeast
Best time to visit: Late September–October for foliage and crisp weather, May–June for spring.
Shortest flight: 1h 15m from New York
Round trips from: $53 (live)
Time zone: America/New York

About Boston

Boston's center is small enough to cross on foot in an hour. The 2.5-mile Freedom Trail threads from Boston Common through the North End to Bunker Hill; the Seaport has the modern waterfront; Cambridge across the river has Harvard, MIT and Harvard Square's bookshops. Fenway Park and the Museum of Fine Arts are a short T ride west.

Getting in: Logan is unusually close — 3 miles from downtown. The Silver Line SL1 bus is free from the airport to South Station; the Blue Line subway from Airport Station reaches downtown in 15 minutes ($2.40). Taxis and rideshares cost $25–$40, more in the harbor-tunnel rush hours. Logan Express buses serve the suburbs.

Stay in Back Bay or Beacon Hill for the classic streetscapes, the Seaport for new hotels, or Cambridge for a college-town feel. Lobster rolls run $30–$40, a North End pasta dinner $25–$40 per person, and a Fenway hot dog $8. Tip 18–20%. Hotels are expensive in fall (foliage, college move-in and graduation); January–March is the cheapest stretch.

Best time to visit

Late September–October for foliage and crisp weather, May–June for spring. Summer is warm and busy; winter is cold but has the lowest prices.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Back Bay, Beacon Hill, North End, Seaport, Cambridge.

Flights to Boston: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to BOS usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
New York (JFK)	1h 15m	$108	$53 · Wed, Oct 14	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	2h 35m	$128	$76 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Dallas (DFW)	3h 55m	$178	$122 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Atlanta (ATL)	2h 40m	$128	$91 · Wed, Oct 14	Search dates →
Los Angeles (LAX)	5h 45m	$236	$216 · Wed, Oct 14	Search dates →
Miami (MIA)	3h 25m	$138	$123 · Tue, Oct 13	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in Boston

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)Boston · Large hubBOS

What to do in Boston

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
The Freedom Trail
Follow the red brick line past the Old State House, Paul Revere's house and Old North Church; National Park rangers lead free tours.
2
Fenway Park
The oldest ballpark in the majors (1912); take the tour on a non-game day or grab bleacher seats.
3
The North End
Boston's Italian neighborhood: Hanover Street for dinner, then the cannoli line at Mike's or Modern Pastry.
4
Harvard and MIT
Free student-led Harvard tours, the glass-flowers collection at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and Frank Gehry's Stata Center at MIT.
5
Boston Harbor Islands
Ferries from Long Wharf to Spectacle and Georges islands in summer for beaches, forts and skyline views.

Boston weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

37° / 24°

Cold and snowy; lowest hotel rates.

Spring

58° / 43°

Slow to warm; marathon in April.

Summer

81° / 65°

Warm, occasionally humid; harbor breezes.

Fall

62° / 48°

Foliage and clear skies — peak pricing.

Travel tips for Boston

The Silver Line SL1 is free from Logan to South Station — the cheapest airport transfer in America.
Use a CharlieCard or tap a contactless card on the T; a 7-day pass is $22.50.
Foliage peaks around Columbus Day weekend; book hotels two months ahead.
Fenway tickets on the day are often cheaper on resale sites once the game starts.
Cambridge hotels near Kendall Square are often $50–$100 cheaper than Back Bay and one T stop from downtown.

Boston flights: frequently asked questions

How close is Logan Airport to downtown Boston?

Three miles — one of the closest major airports to a city center in the US. The free Silver Line bus or the Blue Line subway gets you downtown in 15–20 minutes.

When is fall foliage in Boston?

Color usually peaks in the city in mid-to-late October, slightly earlier in the hills north and west. Book flights and hotels by August for Columbus Day weekend.

Is Boston walkable?

Very. Most historic sights sit along the Freedom Trail, and the T subway covers the rest. You won't need a car unless you're heading to Cape Cod or the North Shore.