Getting Around Boston
MBTA or "The T"
Boston has a very extensive public transportation system. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority or "The T" operates the system. There are four major lines and they are color-coded: Green, Red, Orange, and Blue. The Blue line connects the city center with Logan Airport (about 15 minutes into the city). Central Boston is geographically small, and the four subway lines intersect there, creating a square around the "downtown" area.
By Foot
Boston is a walker’s paradise. The city center is quite small, and there are short walks that can give you a good feel for the city. The streets of Boston are not laid out in a grid except for the Back Bay. The layout of the streets date back to when Boston was a peninsula into the inner harbor. Washington Street dissected the peninsula and streets emanated from its center near the Old State House. The hills on the peninsula were cut down and were used to fill areas on the waterfront and eventually fill the Back Bay. Thus, the streets have little order but are great to walk around on to view the city. The National Park Service has Boston Maps available on line in PDF format, including the Freedom Trail which shows the downtown area.
By Tourist Trolley
Tourist trolleys are an excellent way to get around the city. Most allow unlimited boarding, so you can have lunch or shop, and see the city at your own pace. Tour operators include Beantown Trolley Tours, Old Town Trolleys, Boston Trolley Tours, CityView Luxury Trolleys, Discover Boston Multilingual Tours, and Duck Tours.