Boston (Massachusetts)

The Cradle of Liberty.

Boston (Massachusetts)

Rooms From €139 (Per Room)

United States 3 City Breaks

Massachusetts

The Cradle of Liberty.

As one of the oldest settlements in the USA and the largest city in New England, Boston has plenty of historic culture. Yet with over 50 colleges and universities situated in the greater Boston area there is a youthful vibrancy that adds a totally different dimension to the historic charm of the city.
Cambridge lies across the Charles River and is the largest college town in the world, synonymous with Harvard University, founded in 1638. The neat ivy-covered brick buildings of the university grounds, as well as the labyrinth of twisting streets in Boston centre and the historical buildings in the old-world neighbourhoods are best explored on foot. Boston refers to itself as the 'Walking City' and is a remarkably compact city that is centred on the country's oldest public park, Boston Common. The Information Centre in Boston Common is the starting point for two of the city's main attractions, which are in fact walking tours. The Freedom Trail explores the city's revolutionary past and the birth of the modern American Republic, while the Black Heritage Trail highlights Boston's place in black American history and its role in anti-slavery.
Boston is an easy blend of historic charm and modern conveniences, with a busy street life and beautiful architecture, green parks and gardens, skyscrapers and modern freeways, museums, galleries and colonial churches. Boston is home to the first public library, the first public school and the first subway system in the US; it is the site of the Boston Tea Party that started the Revolutionary War, and is the location of the Cheers bar, made famous by the popular TV sitcom Cheers. Boston is also the city from whence both planes that crashed into the World Trade Centre on September 11th, 2001 originated, and many of those who died were local residents, a tragedy that thus hit the city particularly hard.

Boston City Break Offers

Take a stroll through Boston Common, the first public botanical garden in the United States, make way for Ducklings statues.
Shop on Newbury Street, Boylston Street, and in the Prudential Centre.
Visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Christian Science Centre.
Walk the Freedom Trail from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument
Enjoy a beverage in "Cheers", made famous in the sitcom of the same name
Make sure to visit Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, the oldest baseball stadium still in use.
Take a Boston Duck Tour on a World War II Amphibious Vehicle to see Boston by land and by water
Walk through the Beacon Hill area, known for its charming antique stores, boutiques, fine dining, and cafes.
Shop and dine at Faneuil Hall Marketplace (Quincy Market) and try to haggle with the vendors.

We have featured the largest selection of USA city break destinations available on any Irish website and there is somewhere there for everyone.

We work with all the major Airlines and can book these for you with full flexibility through our in-house systems.

There are currently direct flights from Ireland to the USA with Aer Lingus, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines and US Airways. There are also many connections via the UK with British Airways, Virgin and other airlines.

We have just given a brief glimpse of what we can offer you, please feel free to browse more or if there is a destination you would like to know more about call now on 01 853 5000, email [email protected], send us a quick message or complete the enquiry form - we will be delighted to help you, its all part of the Platinum Service!

There are regular direct flights to Boston from Ireland with Aer Lingus and numerous connections via the UK or USA with other airlines.

Average flight time from Ireland to Boston is 6-7 hours.

When it comes to planning out how to reach your destination, Platinum Travel have all the air travel expertise to help you get the best route to your final location.

As a licensed and bonded Travel Agent we have access to negotiated contract and wholesale fares with airlines worldwide. Our Travel Concierge team members will help you with the best connections and airlines to suit your own personal requirements.

For many destinations a number of flights may be required and sometimes it will include arriving into one airport and leaving from another. We will ensure you have the best combination of flights to do this and make sure you cover the necessary MCT (minimum connecting time) so that you have the best opportunity of a smooth and easy journey.

Several airlines have introduced many ancillary charges such as seat assignments, checked bags, priority boarding etc. Platinum Travel will look after these for you and book you at the best available bundle package at the best price. Upgraded airline fares, lounge access & Fasttrack are also available and again Platinum Travel know how to avail of the best value for these extras.

Platinum Travel are a fully licensed and bonded travel agent so you have a lot more protection with us than with the internet (airlines are not bonded).

Boston Logan International Airport

Boston Logan International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US and a hub for flights to New England, serving more than 25 million passengers on flights to Boston each year. Located just three miles (4.8km) northeast of central Boston, the airport is served by convenient public transport into the city that includes trains, ferries, buses, shuttles and taxis; in fact, Boston Logan was named Easiest Airport to Get To by Aviation.com in 2007.
Boston Logan International Airport is huge, with a workforce comprising 16,000 people staffing the four large terminals. All terminals (A, B, C and E) are connected by pre-security shuttle buses, and Terminals A, B and E also have pre-security moving walkways. Terminal E handles all international flights to Boston Logan, while Terminal C is rapidly becoming exclusive to JetBlue flights.
Boston Logan International Airport is a state-of-the-art facility, and passenger experiences are mostly pleasant and hassle-free. There are a variety of duty-free shops and restaurants, art exhibitions, and other amenities to keep passengers entertained, however the most popular attraction is the 9-11 Memorial, a 2.5-acre site dedicated to the passengers and crew aboard the two planes that departed from Boston on the day of the tragedy. The glass sculpture is sombre, but a must-see for passengers flying into Boston.
Location
The airport is situated four miles (6km) northeast of Boston.

Getting to the city

The Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority provides regular bus service, on the Silver Line, and a faster subway connection, on the Blue Line, to and from the city centre costing $1.25. More expensive and longer options include taxis available outside all terminals taking up to 20 minutes to an hour to downtown, depending on traffic, and costs up from $25 in addition to airport and toll road fees. The Boston Cab phone is (617) 536-5010. Some companies offer shared vans that provide door-to-door service. Massport's free water transportation bus connects from all airport terminals to the Logan dock where private water taxis and public commuter boats are available to multiple destinations in the Boston Harbour. Most water taxis began from 7am to 7pm with some after hours services and cost up from $10. Taxi fares above are intended as a guideline only.

Getting Around Boston

Transport in Boston

Boston's transport consists of the country's oldest subway system, buses, trolley buses, ferries around the harbour and the commuter rail. For getting around the Boston-Cambridge area the subway, or the 'T' as it is known, is the best as it is easy to use, cheap, fast and safe. It serves most of the city and on the whole visitors will have little use for the bus network, which is cheaper but more confusing for newcomers. Both operate from about 5am to 12.30am, but a 'Night Owl' bus service has been introduced to provide transport along main bus routes and parallel to subway lines on Friday and Saturday nights until 2.30am. Different types of transport require different tokens, but various passes are available for unlimited travel on buses and the 'T'. Taxis are plentiful but expensive, although water taxis are a novel way to explore the city. Licensed cabs are best found at cabstands usually near hotels or can be reserved by phone; they are metered and provide receipts. Boston is a motorist's nightmare and there is no need to rent a car while in the city, unless planning excursions. Rental agencies require drivers to be 21 years old with additional surcharges for under-25s.

What to See and Do in Boston

Boston Attractions

A historical treasure trove, Boston is full of fascinating sites crucial to America's history. Following a line of mostly red bricks and linking 17 of Boston's top attractions, from Paul Revere's house and the statue of Benjamin Franklin to the Bunker Hill Monument and Boston Common, the 2.5-mile (4km) Freedom Trail is a must for history buffs and anyone sightseeing in Boston.
Head to the New England Aquarium featuring more than 70 exhibits with aquatic animals from around the world, marvel at the Bengal and white tigers at the Franklin Zoo, visit the Museum of Fine Arts and get away from the buzz of the city by wandering through the first botanical garden in the United States, the Boston Public Garden.
After a long day of exploring the city, what could be better than appreciating Boston from a distance aboard a sunset cruise on one of the many boats that leave the harbour. Enjoy sipping on a glass of wine, a magnificently prepared seafood dinner and breathtaking views while the sun dips below the horizon.
Visitors keen on viewing a number of the city's greatest sights would be wise to get a Go Boston Card which grants travellers admission to more than 70 of the best activities, tours and attractions in Boston.

Boston Kids Attractions

Children on holiday in Boston will be beside themselves with the exciting attractions and activities that abound in this buzzing city. With museums, kids' theatres, parks, playground and everything in between, deciding where to start will be the difficult part! Head to the stadium and watch a local Red Sox game at Fenway Park if you can, or for a more leisurely activity, enjoy seeing Boston by foot along the Freedom Trail. Little ones would be better suited to the less exhausting option of the 'Boston by Little Feet' tour, giving kids the opportunity to enjoy the highlights of the Heritage Trail, come rain or shine. Monster Golf or the Good Time Emporium are both great pastimes for those days when activities for kids out of doors are not an option. In the evenings, why not take the kids out to see Shear Madness, a hilariously funny and constantly changing play where the whole family can be involved, along with the rest of the audience, in solving the mystery. With so much to see and do, parents will find Boston to be one of the most child-friendly and accommodating cities in the United States.

Shopping in Boston

One look at the city's boutiques, department stores, malls and outlets and it's no secret why thousands flock to Boston to stock up on clothes, jewellery and books. Take a walk down to the Downtown Crossing near Boston Common; a browser's paradise, while just around the corner Boston's Chinatown offers herbal remedies, silk slippers and other traditional goods.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, also known as Quincy Market, is a firm favourite with over 100 of Boston's finest shops and carts touting a variety of merchandise. It is also home to the Bull Market, a fleet of 43 unique pushcarts featuring New England's artisans and their wonderful wares and features an amazing food court where tired shoppers can stop and refuel.
Big spenders can give their flexible friends a good work out at one of the many designer boutiques on the renowned eight-block stretch on Newbury Street, boasting names such Cartier, Armani and Max Mara to name a few. History buffs will fall in love with the cobblestone streets of Charles Street on Beacon Hill where they can browse through the cramped stores of this early Boston neighbourhood for historic photos, furniture, antique china, and intriguing architectural objects.
Shops open from 10am to 7pm from Monday to Saturday with most large stores open on Sundays but with shorter opening hours. Sales tax varies by city and state and while there is no tax on clothing in Boston, there is 5 percent tax on other goods. Since federal government has no system for refunding sales tax to non-US visitors, it is advisable to ask at the point of purchase for tax exemption through direct shipping.

Dining in Boston

Due to its shared cultural roots with greater New England, the very freshest in local seafood dominates Boston's regional cuisine, along with a large emphasis on rum, salt and dairy products. Tourists eating our in Boston will want to try a cannoli before leaving: a traditional Italian pastry consisting a a tube of fried dough filled with a mousse, cream, or ricotta filling. The best are found at Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry.
Ideal for a takeaway lunch by the harbour or a quick bite to eat, Faneuil Hall still comes out tops with a fantastic cross-section of the city's cosmopolitan cuisine and manages to be a wonderful tourist attraction simultaneously.
The North End is a firm favourite with locals and features wonderfully intimate cafés, bakeries and eateries with enough gastronomic treats to get just about everybody's mouth watering, and Hanover Street has many good choices. The South End boasts some of the most elegant restaurants in Boston's dining scene, and those hoping to eat dinner there are strongly advised to make a booking.
Most restaurants in Boston close by 10 or 11pm, however those looking for late-night dining can head to Chinatown, where some eateries stay open as late as 2am.

Boston Nightlife

Bostonians don't take their nightlife too seriously, especially since most clubs close at 2am and Massachusetts state law forbids smoking in all bars, nightclubs and restaurants. That said, Boston's entertainment and nightlife scene is still thriving with live bands, comedy acts and shows taking centre stage in the Theater District.
Contrary to popular belief, not everybody knows your name in Boston's bar scene, but a beer at the 'Cheers' bar on 84 Beacon Street is a must for fans of the 80s TV show. Don't be disappointed though if you don't find your friends here, they're probably hitting some of Boston's hipper nightspots, such as one of the classiest spots in Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, which features music and a cash bar every Friday evening in summer from 5:30pm onwards. Here crowds of 20- to 30-somethings mingle and socialise round the galleries while sipping on cocktails and wine. Many Bostonians prefer to start off an evening with drinks in hotel lounges and bars, as they're much more civilised than many clubs and bars and patrons are able to converse easily. Once they're warmed up, the clubs are the place to be and Bostonians can party hard.
Pool and bowling are popular pastimes in Boston and visitors will be spoilt for choice with the amount of bowling alleys and pool halls to choose from. Couple these activities with a few beers and you've got yourself a recipe for a more relaxed evening out - the choice of many Bostonians.
Those looking for a cultural experience won't come away disappointed either, as the renowned Boston Pops Orchestra has regular performances at Symphony Hall. The Boston Symphony Orchestra also performs there, and the New England Conservatory is nearby offering top-notch student performances for with no admission charge.