Boston Logan Airport (BOS) to the City

One airport, Logan (BOS), and four ways into the city

This post covers getting from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) into the city. There are four main options: the Silver Line SL1 bus from the terminal curb, the free on-airport shuttle bus plus the Blue Line subway, the free on-airport shuttle (Route 66) to MBTA ferries or a water taxi, and taxis.

Whichever you choose, follow the signs on the Arrivals level: 'Silver Line' for the Silver Line, and 'Ground Transportation' for the on-airport shuttle and taxis. Taxi stands are also marked with 'Taxi' signs.

Locals call Boston's public transit the 'T'. Below we go through where to board and what each option costs, then how to choose by neighborhood, an at-a-glance comparison and an arrival-day checklist. Check all timetables in the official information before you go.

• Full Boston travel guide →
• Incheon → Boston flights →

Silver Line SL1: free toward downtown, free Red Line transfer

The Silver Line SL1 is a bus that picks up at the curb of every terminal at Boston Logan International Airport. It runs via the South Boston Waterfront (Seaport) to South Station. Follow the 'Silver Line' signs on the Arrivals level.

It is free from the airport to downtown and includes a free transfer to the Red Line. Harvard Square, Kendall Square and Central Square in Cambridge sit along the Red Line. Check the timetable in the official information before you go.

Free shuttle + Blue Line: USD 2.40 per subway ride

On the Arrivals level, follow the 'Ground Transportation' signs and take the free on-airport shuttle bus to Airport Station. From there the Blue Line subway runs to Aquarium, State and Government Center.

Change to the Orange Line at State or the Green Line at Government Center. The fare is USD 2.40 per subway ride, and children 11 and under ride free. Check the timetable in the official information before you go.

You need a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket to ride the T. Buy one from the vending machines at most subway stations.

MBTA ferry and water taxi: Route 66 shuttle to the dock

Take the free on-airport shuttle (Route 66) to the Water Transportation Dock for MBTA ferries. The Harbor Loop ferry runs on weekdays only and links Lovejoy Wharf (North Station), Central Wharf and the Seaport. MBTA ferries between downtown and the airport cost USD 2.40, and children 11 and under ride free.

An on-demand water taxi also runs by reservation. When you book, set the pickup time at least 35 minutes after your scheduled arrival. Check water taxi fares and ferry timetables in the official information before you go.

Taxis, and choosing by neighborhood

Taxis wait at designated stands on the Arrivals level of Terminals A, B, C and E. Follow the 'Ground Transportation' and 'Taxi' signs; dispatchers in every terminal help you find a ride. Expect about USD 25-35 to most hotels in Boston and Cambridge; travel time depends on traffic. Waits can be longer at peak times.

Once you have a place to stay, read the neighborhood notes below together with the stations and docks the airport options reach. Check the way from the station or dock to your accommodation using its address.

• Back Bay: centered on Copley Square, home to Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library
• Beacon Hill: a historic district topped by the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House
• North End: Boston's oldest residential neighborhood
• Cambridge (Harvard Square): Harvard Square, Kendall Square and Central Square sit along the Red Line
• Stations and docks reached from the airport: Silver Line SL1 to South Station (free Red Line transfer); Blue Line to Aquarium, State (Orange Line) and Government Center (Green Line); Harbor Loop ferry to Lovejoy Wharf (North Station), Central Wharf and the Seaport

At a glance

Here is the summary. Items marked 'check official info' should be confirmed in the official information before you go.

• Silver Line SL1: every terminal curb → Seaport → South Station; free from the airport to downtown; free Red Line transfer; timetable: check official info
• Free shuttle + Blue Line: Airport Station → Aquarium, State, Government Center; USD 2.40 per subway ride (children 11 and under free); timetable: check official info
• MBTA ferry: Route 66 shuttle → Water Transportation Dock; Harbor Loop weekdays only to Lovejoy Wharf, Central Wharf and the Seaport; USD 2.40 (children 11 and under free); timetable: check official info
• Water taxi: by reservation; pickup at least 35 minutes after your scheduled arrival; fare: check official info
• Taxi: designated stands on the Arrivals level of Terminals A, B, C and E; about USD 25-35 to most hotels in Boston and Cambridge; time depends on traffic

Arrival-day checklist

In the city, MBTA buses reach neighborhoods the subway doesn't. Pay with a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket; transfers between bus and subway are included with most fares. For how to spend the following days, continue with the 3-night, 4-day route post below.

• Look for the 'Silver Line' or 'Ground Transportation' signs on the Arrivals level
• If you will ride the subway or buses, buy a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket from a station vending machine
• The Harbor Loop ferry runs on weekdays only; on a weekend arrival, pick another option
• If you book a water taxi, set the pickup at least 35 minutes after your scheduled arrival
• Temperatures are shown in Fahrenheit (°F); to convert to Celsius, subtract 32 and divide by 1.8
• Planning to board USS Constitution? Visitors 18 and over may be asked for a photo ID (check officially which IDs are accepted)
• Check the U.S. government's official information on entry requirements (visa, travel authorization, etc.) before you travel

• Boston 4-day route plan →

FAQ

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