One of America's oldest cities, leafy Boston is brimming with history and home to colonial buildings, 19th Century mansions and plenty of museums. Visit Beacon Hill during a holiday in Boston and step back in time thanks to the gas lit street lanterns and historic architecture. Take a ferry to Georges Island and tour Fort Warren or head to Boston's Theatre District to enjoy a show. For shopping, the upmarket Back Bay area is full of boutiques and large malls and a great place to wander around. Charlestown's Bunker Hill Monument is another popular tourist draw.
American Airlines, British Airways, Delta and Virgin Atlantic all offer direct flights to Boston from London Heathrow Airport with a flight time of around eight hours. It is also possible to fly indirectly to Boston from a range of major UK airports including Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff and indirect flights can be very slightly cheaper. All flights from the UK land at Boston Logan International Airport which is located five kilometres from the city centre
There are a number of options for getting to your Boston hotel from the airport. The cheapest is the local bus which calls at all terminals and departs every 10 to 15 minutes. You can buy your ticket on board from the driver or a cheaper option is to purchase a ticket from the self-service kiosks at the airport. There is a free shuttle bus from the airport to the subway station and from there you can get a train into the city centre for the same cost as the bus. You can also get a taxi to Boston city centre, but taxis are very expensive so if you're on a budget the bus or subway are both easy to use and very affordable.
The best way to get around during your Boston holiday is by public transport which is very convenient and relatively inexpensive. If you plan on doing a lot of travelling, pick up a LinkPass which offers unlimited travel for a set fee. Car hire in Boston is also a good idea if you're planning to explore the surrounding areas, however the city centre itself can get very congested and parking can be a nightmare.
There is a good variety of accommodation in Boston, from basic hostels to luxurious five-star hotels. If you are on a budget and looking for cheap hotels in Boston you'll need to book in advance and shop around online for the best deals. The suburbs tend to be less expensive than the centre of the city.
If you plan on doing a fair bit of sightseeing during your holiday in Boston, look into getting a GoBoston Card or a Boston CityPASS as they offer discounted or free admissions to various sites. The one that will suit you best depends on how long you are staying for and the type of attractions you're interested in seeing.
Walking tours of the city are both fascinating and inexpensive and are great if you want to see and learn about Boston but are on a tight budget.
Updated 19th June 2013
posted by lkifer
What a beautiful museum/art gallery! It has an astonishingly wide selection of works of all types from right across the globe, and since it was my birthday I got in for free!!! Amazing b'day treat.posted by hqueer
I don't think I'd fully comprehended Boston's role in the American Revolution until I'd visited the sites within this park by using the Freedom Trail. So interesting and what a brave bunch of people.