Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest and most illustrious cities in the U.S. It's where the pilgrims landed and the Red Sox play and with its many educational institutions, stands as a modern-day Athens. Culturally and historically rich, this enchanting metropolis is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and stands as a crossroads, where colonial history meets contemporary innovation.
Getting from the airport to the city centre
Boston's Logan Airport lies just three miles outside of the bustling downtown core. If your flight is delayed and you’re running late for a meeting after touching down, do like the locals do and jump on the "T", the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). This will get you from the airport to downtown in just six minutes.
Another airport transfer option guaranteed to put a little fun in your commute is by water shuttle or water taxi. This mode is scenic, convenient and will provide a little geography lesson on your way to your next meeting. Year-round scheduled and on-call vessels serve the Logan dock, providing direct connections to downtown Boston and other popular waterfront destinations in Boston's Inner Harbor and Hingham and Hull on the South Shore.
A taxi will cost you about $30. one-way, plus tips.
Go Boston's shuttle provides limo airport transfers for you or to impress clients, with pick-up and drop off at downtown Boston hotels, convention centers, schools and many other metropolitan and Greater Boston locations.
Boston Town Car is another option for luxury travel for the airport and within the city.
Getting Around Boston
Although known as America's "Walking City", this historic city often has extreme weather so visitors will want to be familiar with seasonal weather variations and the myriad transportation options. New England falls are renowned for their magical, colorful fall foliage and while winters are cold, there are cozy fireplaces in many coffee houses intended for serious discussions and hot coffee. Spring brings promise, sports and the desire to walk the winding streets of this historical city, so plan ahead.
Take the"T"
To ride the T, you need to buy a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket that can be purchased at subway stations, vending machines and convenience stores. The "T's" Day/Week LinkPass gives visitors unlimited travel on Subway, Local Bus, Inner Harbor Ferry and Commuter Rail Zone 1A for one day ($12) or seven days ($19).
Commuter Rail/Bus
Boston's Commuter Rail services the outlying Boston suburbs where much of the tech action is located. Service is available from several T stations, but most departures take place at South Station, North Station, or Back Bay Station. Bus service is widely available throughout Boston. All intercity/interstate buses depart from South Station. For specific information on bus and commuter rail routes and schedules, visit mbta.com; the website offers a useful "Trip Planner" to help you plan your itinerary.
Other
Uber and Lyft are car services operated by Boston locals. You generally need to download the app first, so if you are interested in ride sharing, or meeting true locals, check out their web sites: Uber and Lyft.
Local Eateries and Bar Hotspots
Dining out in Boston is a very tricky undertaking, simply because there are so many awesome choices! While there are many nearby neighborhoods with seemingly endless variety and diversity, the truth is that the downtown area, with its plethora of eateries, is as popular with the locals as tourists; always indicative of excellent fare. Constant redevelopment and renewal in the area has kept the dining nouveau and trendy.
Skirting Beacon Hill and the Theater District lies a vibrant mix of upscale eateries like No. 9 Park and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. For a tad more casual and affordable, try jm Curley. Perhaps not great for the waistline, this eatery promises down home hearty fare like cracka jack, beer and cheese soup, and fried chicken dinner. Petit Robert Central serves delectable homestyle French, such as Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles. This sleek restaurant also features a lively bar scene serving lavish cocktails and mouth watering appetizers to the downtown business crowd.
The Capital Grille, located next to the Hynes Convention Center, has a rich history and stellar reputation as much for its wine list as its main menu. Your inner sommelier will shiver with delight as the list boasts more than 5,000 bottles, also available by the glass. The menu offers traditional hearty fare, such as cheeseburgers, but also more unique options, such as the lobster and crab burger. If your business day has inspired your appetite, try the 24-oz. dry-aged porterhouse, or the lobster that weighs up to 5 pounds! These are just a few of the menu options that keep this establishment in the "Reservations a must" category. Private parties with a customized menu and personal event coordinator are also available. This is the place to bring the new clients, or to unwind with colleagues after a hectic day at the adjoining convention center.
The city's eateries are diverse and include Asian, Indian, Italian, French, American, Latin American, Mexican, among as many more as you can imagine. Are you looking for vegetarian, organic, or vegan? No problem, although you will have to choose from the many popular and trendy choices this vibrant city has to offer.
Evening Entertainment
Home to Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, BU, and more, means a dynamic young crowd to entertain after hours. There’s never a shortage of up-and-coming underground spots and well-respected rock clubs to get your groove on.
Massachusetts Avenue, or Mass Ave as the locals call it, is where you can let your hair down and enjoy a bit of live music. Features DJ lounges and live rock clubs all the way from Dorchester to Lexington. Don't miss legendary The Middle East, one of the country's leading rock clubs and middle eastern restaurants. In the restaurant, musicians play the Corner without a cover charge, and in keeping with the Middle Eastern theme, there are also belly dancers. The Plough & Stars has been around over thirty years; this iconic Irish pub is a traditional pub during the day, transforming into a sizzling live music hall with up and coming wannabe artists and musicians jammed elbow to elbow.
Boston has an astonishing cultural calendar. This college town attracts the upwardly mobile and well educated; the city offers live theater, ballet, opera, Broadway shows, comedy clubs, and more. Consult Boston Evening Entertainment to review all the shows this culturally rich city has to offer and book your tickets.
For the Health and Fitness Conscious
If you want to run through this enchanting city, mapmyrun.com offers hundreds of running routes with maps, elevations and distances, so you can plan, track, analyze and share your journey. Download the free app today because it covers just about anywhere your trainers will take you.
Retail Therapy
Depending on your budget and spending habits, you'll want to either bring your credit cards or leave them at home when you visit Boston!
Boston is literally a shopper's paradise. The quality and versatility of the city's unique boutiques, eclectic galleries and luxurious department stores are only rivaled by the charming and incomparable shopping districts. Stroll the brownstone boutiques and shops on Newbury Street and see an astonishing assortment of high end luxury goods, edgy trendy wares and everything in between. The next stop on the shop-til-you-drop tour is The Mall at the Prudential Center. The adjoining Copley Place, and CambridgeSide Galleria are known for their top luxury shops and glass-enclosed arcades.
You'll definitely want to stroll the open-air Faneuil Hall Marketplace for New England traditions with a contemporary twist. Dating back to 1742, this iconic marketplace operates as an indoor/outdoor mall and food eatery where you'll discover one-of-a-kind artisanal and seasonal keepsakes, as well as chic and fashion forward goods. Conveniently, it is also a well known stop on the Freedom Trail.
The Garment District fills two floors and is sure to delight, whether you are looking for a wild costume, or a trendy new outfit. With over 40,000 pieces of vintage and contemporary clothes on sale every day you can be certain you'll find something to delight.
Fancy Something a Bit Different?
When in Boston, you really must walk the Freedom Trail, where at only 2.5-miles is easily fit in around your working day. Fortunately, Faneuil Hall is one of the stops and there you can shop or grab a bite in this iconic marketplace.
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