Cheap Flights to Boston (BOS)

Boston is a large city on the east coast of the United States of America, best known for being home to Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as being the location of the Boston Tea Party. It's one of the oldest cities in the country and boasts a large array of historical attractions, which makes it stand apart from many other destinations in the USA. Flights to Boston are popular all year round as there is not one specific tourist season.

The other thing that Boston is most famous for is its sports, with the baseball team the Boston Red Sox leading the way. If catching a game is important to you whilst you're on holiday in 2013 or 2014 then make sure you book tickets as soon as you can after grabbing a cheap flight to Boston!

To enjoy the best of the weather after a flight to Boston, then you want to be looking at visiting between May and September. On particularly hot days the city empties and locals and tourists flock to the nearby beaches, so you could even combine sightseeing with a day sunbathing if you're lucky! Being in New England, is a popular destination for autumn too, thanks to the stunning foliage colours, so expect Boston flights to be most expensive at this time. It's a good idea to hire a car if you want to make the most of the scenery. Winters are quite mild and are a great time to get a cheap Boston flight deal - just remember to take warm things!

Flights to Boston

All flights will arrive at Boston Logan International Airport, which is a few kilometres from downtown. It's a busy hub so expect to be offered a range of choices when it comes to booking your Boston flight. If you're after the best deal possible then it's a good idea to check out stopping flights to Boston, although in our experience there is usually very little cost saving between direct and indirect flights here. Expect to be in the air for at least seven hours, depending on where you're flying from.

Once your flight has landed you'll need to travel onward to your hotel. There are two public transport options, which are both very easy on the bank balance. The silver line is a bus route that runs from the airport to South Station from early morning until late at night, and it connects with the red line trains. The blue line is a train, and to get to the station you will need to take a free shuttle bus from the airport terminal.

Your other options are to hire a car or hop in a taxi. Taxis here are particularly expensive, but thanks to the close proximity of the airport to the central areas, you won't find the fare too steep, especially if you can find someone to share it with whilst crossing the Atlantic on your flight to Boston! Note that there are no flat-fare rates and you should insist on the meter being used.

Getting around Boston

Unlike most US cities, Boston is not arranged on a grid system. Whilst this may flummox many visitors from North America, anyone happy with navigating themselves around European towns and cities should be ok! Driving within the city limits is not advised because of the volume of traffic and difficulty of navigating yourself around, and also parking is very difficult to find. So if you have a vehicle, stick to using it for excursions and day trips out of the city.

By contrast, public transport is cheap and convenient, and will get you almost anywhere you like! It's best to get a CharlieCard straight away, which is the Boston version of London's Oyster card, and will be the easiest way to get around cheaply. The subway and the buses will probably be of most use to you, with the subway being pretty comprehensive and easy to understand. As long as you remember that Inbound means towards Park or State stations, and Outbound means away from these stations, you'll be fine!

You can also look out for the water shuttle, which is a fast way to avoid the crowds and the traffic when travelling between Long Wharf and Navy Yard, which are popular tourist destinations and home to USS Constitution, Fanueil Hall and the New England Aquarium. You can also branch out and travel around on foot very easily within the downtown district.

What to See in Boston

You will not go short of things to see after you arrive on your Boston flight, that's for sure! Consider buying a GoBoston Card, or a Boston CityPASS if you want to visit plenty of the famous attractions as you could save quite a bit of money this way.

Walking the Freedom Trail is a must - it's a pedestrian route that joins 16 historical sites together, all based on the revolution and the overthrow of colonialist rule. Start at Boston Common where you can pick up a map and guide and follow the red brick route! Many of the attractions along the way are free, and particularly worth visiting are the Old South Meeting House, Fanueil Hall, Paul Revere House, the Bunker Hill Monument and at the end of the trail, USS Constitution.

Other top attractions include the bustling Quincy Market, Copley Square in the trendy Back Bay district, shimmering skyscraper John Hancock Tower, the New England Aquarium and the Museum of Fine Arts.

If you can spare the time, take a day trip out to leafy Cambridge where you can tour the Harvard Campus and enjoy the relaxed but student atmosphere. You will find a range of local galleries, as well as a great choice of restaurants and bars here.

Want more? Check out our guide.