Wicked Good Guides / Boston for Visitors / Getting around

Public transportation

Boston has an extensive subway and bus system that can get you to almost every tourist location relatively quickly and safely (although be aware that trains and buses will be crowded during rush hour). Locals call the subway "the T" - you can find the stops by looking for large black T's in circles.

The T's Boston Visitor Pass give you unlimited subway access for $7.50 a day; $18 for three days or $35 for a week. The MBTA Web site can tell you how to get to key attractions by subway; another site can give you an idea of how long it will take to get from A to B.

One drawback of the local subway, at least for bar-hoppers, is its hours: The last trains leave downtown around 12:30 a.m. (even though bars in Boston can stay open until 2).

The MBTA's commuter rail can get you to more remote tourist attractions, such as Concord, Rockport and even Providence, R.I. However, on some lines, schedules are particularly geared to getting commuters to and from Boston (i.e., trains out of Boston will be far between in the morning and trains to Boston will be infrequent in the afternoon), so plan accordingly.

Comments

The visitor pass is a ripoff at $22 a week; the $12 combo pass for seven days (Sunday-Saturday) is much better bargain if you are staying for that time period. It gives you access to most of the subway that tourists need and buses.

Paul on August 13, 2003 09:27 PM.

We want to visit Boston for one day. We will be coming form Hartford, CT. I want to use the park and ride at Newton. Would you suggest the Boston Visitor Pass. Would this take care of most of our needs for the day. Thank you from Barb in Erie, PS_A

Barb on September 23, 2007 10:01 PM.

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