Select Airport

BOS Logan International

25 min to city

Boston

Historic streets, coastal charm, and walkable neighborhoods perfect for a short city break.

🏢

Under 3h

Stay airside

🚕

3–6 hours

Quick city stop

🗽

6–10 hours

Full exploration

🌃

10+ hours

Multi-neighborhood

IMMIGRATION45m

TRANSIT25m

EXPLORE2h 20m

RETURN25m

BUFFER35m

Recommended Itinerary

Your layover plan

Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
Terminal E handles nearly all international arrivals, so queues bunch up when widebodies land together. Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control kiosks cut the wait substantially for eligible travelers.

Silver Line SL1 bus: direct from every terminal to South Station in 15 to 25 min, free inbound from the airport. Blue Line via the free Massport shuttle runs about 20 min to Government Center for $2.40.

At BOS, terminals are compact but busy—grab food, then stay near your gate as boarding often starts early.

We recommend you stay airside or nearby: Logan is close to downtown but security lines can surprise you.

A fast downtown walk or meal is possible via transit, but limit yourself to one stop.

Settle into a historic or central neighborhood like Back Bay or Beacon Hill and enjoy walking, food, and history. The city is compact and easy to navigate, but weather and security timing matter, so plan your return conservatively.

Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 60 min before your departure gate closes

Re-entry security at BOS typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them

Where to Eat

Best eats for a layover

What to See

Top sights for your time window

Practical Info

What you need to know

Currency

US Dollar ($). Cards accepted everywhere including cabs and transit. Skip in-terminal currency exchange, rates are poor.

Language

English. No translation needed in tourist areas, transit, or restaurants.

Visa

US entry. Visa-waiver travelers need an approved ESTA before boarding, valid 90 days. Other nationals need a B1/B2 visa. Verify before travel, visa rules change.

Transit

Silver Line SL1 bus: direct from every BOS terminal to South Station in 15 to 25 min, every 10 to 15 min, free inbound. Blue Line via the Airport shuttle runs about 20 min and costs $2.40. Taxis run $30 to $45 to downtown.

Weather

Humid continental, hot humid summers and cold snowy winters. May through October are best for layovers, February can drop well below freezing.

Tipping

Expected. 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, $1 to $2 per drink at bars, 15 to 20 percent for taxis and rideshare.

Emergency

911 (US universal, police, fire, ambulance).

Time Zone

EST (UTC-5). Clocks move to EDT (UTC-4) from mid-March through early November.

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Quick Facts

CountryUnited States

Transit to city~25 min

Getting to CityTrain/Metro

Entry RequirementsTerminal E handles nearly all interna...

Airport WiFiFree WiFi

Boston

Your layover plan

Best eats for a layover

Top sights for your time window

What you need to know

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