Boston - At which train station should we arrive? So many to choose

[Anonymous]

My dd and I are going to a quick trip in Boston. Which train station should is better to arrive at from DC? Which area should we stay if we want to walk and use public transit? I went to Boston once and that was 20+ years ago. Appreciate any of your recommendations.

[Anonymous]

If you are coming from DC you will really only use South Station or Back Bay and then it depends on your hotel but I would recommend Back Bay and a hotel near Copley Sq.

[Anonymous]

South Station is the default main station, so I would go there unless you are staying closer to Back Bay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:South Station is the default main station, so I would go there unless you are staying closer to Back Bay.

If I stay near Back Bay, which train station should I choose?

Any activity recommendations for 4-5 day stay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:South Station is the default main station, so I would go there unless you are staying closer to Back Bay.

If I stay near Back Bay, which train station should I choose?

Any activity recommendations for 4-5 day stay?

Back Bay is the name of both the area and the train station in the area. Are you traveling alone, with other adults, with kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:South Station is the default main station, so I would go there unless you are staying closer to Back Bay.

If I stay near Back Bay, which train station should I choose?

Any activity recommendations for 4-5 day stay?

Back Bay is the name of both the area and the train station in the area. Are you traveling alone, with other adults, with kids?

I’m traveling with a teenager to introduce Boston and do some informal walkthroughs of colleges there. Doesn’t seem like colleges are doing in-person tours now.

[Anonymous]

If you are taking Amtrak, don't choose North Station. It's a fake option because the only Amtrak train that uses that station goes to Maine and back.

Do you have a particular school you want to get a feel for? You can go anywhere in Boston and be close to colleges and universities by T. You could stay in Cambridge and focus on Tufts, Harvard, MIT, Leslie(?). Those schools would also be very accessible from Beacon Hill, and you would also be closer to Emerson. If you wanted to focus on Northeastern/BU/BC you could stay in Copely Square and it's an easy trip on the T.

Northeasten/MassArt/Simmons are all by the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (all closest to Back Bay)

You could stay in the Seaport (South Station) and be close to Faneuil Hall and lots of tourist/boston History stuff.

But in any case, Boston is very small so even if you come into the "wrong" station it won't cost you much time.

You could also do a day trip to Providence or stop in Providence for a night on your way up. Brown, RISD, and JWU are all right downtown as are a million hotel rooms, and Providence College is a quick uber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are taking Amtrak, don't choose North Station. It's a fake option because the only Amtrak train that uses that station goes to Maine and back.

Do you have a particular school you want to get a feel for? You can go anywhere in Boston and be close to colleges and universities by T. You could stay in Cambridge and focus on Tufts, Harvard, MIT, Leslie(?). Those schools would also be very accessible from Beacon Hill, and you would also be closer to Emerson. If you wanted to focus on Northeastern/BU/BC you could stay in Copely Square and it's an easy trip on the T.

Northeasten/MassArt/Simmons are all by the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (all closest to Back Bay)

You could stay in the Seaport (South Station) and be close to Faneuil Hall and lots of tourist/boston History stuff.

But in any case, Boston is very small so even if you come into the "wrong" station it won't cost you much time.

You could also do a day trip to Providence or stop in Providence for a night on your way up. Brown, RISD, and JWU are all right downtown as are a million hotel rooms, and Providence College is a quick uber.

Honestly this. Boston is a tiny town with generally good rail transit options. You’ll be fine whichever way you go.

[Anonymous]

My family lives in Boston and we go every summer. A very walkable town. If you go through South Station, you'll be in the Waterfront/ Business area. Near the Aquarium, Boston Tea Party Museum, Faneuil Market (cute stores, etc.), Columbus Park. You can walk the Freedom Trail and tour Paul Revere's House. Try pastries and lots of great restaurants in the North End.

If you're looking for things to do besides colleges, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is very cool and the Museum of Fine Arts is great too.

[Anonymous]

Stay at Boston Marriott Copley Place. (It’s in back bay)

You can get everywhere easily from there.

[Anonymous]

I’d stay in Back Bay. It has more charm than the area around South Station. Plus the downtown area/financial district is pretty dead in the Covid age with remote work. Back Bay is still quite vibrant. And if the weather’s nice, you could walk or bike across the Mass Ave bridge to Cambridge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d stay in Back Bay. It has more charm than the area around South Station. Plus the downtown area/financial district is pretty dead in the Covid age with remote work. Back Bay is still quite vibrant. And if the weather’s nice, you could walk or bike across the Mass Ave bridge to Cambridge.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are taking Amtrak, don't choose North Station. It's a fake option because the only Amtrak train that uses that station goes to Maine and back.

Do you have a particular school you want to get a feel for? You can go anywhere in Boston and be close to colleges and universities by T. You could stay in Cambridge and focus on Tufts, Harvard, MIT, Leslie(?). Those schools would also be very accessible from Beacon Hill, and you would also be closer to Emerson. If you wanted to focus on Northeastern/BU/BC you could stay in Copely Square and it's an easy trip on the T.

Northeasten/MassArt/Simmons are all by the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (all closest to Back Bay)

You could stay in the Seaport (South Station) and be close to Faneuil Hall and lots of tourist/boston History stuff.

But in any case, Boston is very small so even if you come into the "wrong" station it won't cost you much time.

You could also do a day trip to Providence or stop in Providence for a night on your way up. Brown, RISD, and JWU are all right downtown as are a million hotel rooms, and Providence College is a quick uber.

Thank you so much for all your ideas and recommendations. I booked the train and hotel in Back Bay before checking back here. Is there good mass transit to Harvard/Tufts? What is Leslie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are taking Amtrak, don't choose North Station. It's a fake option because the only Amtrak train that uses that station goes to Maine and back.

Do you have a particular school you want to get a feel for? You can go anywhere in Boston and be close to colleges and universities by T. You could stay in Cambridge and focus on Tufts, Harvard, MIT, Leslie(?). Those schools would also be very accessible from Beacon Hill, and you would also be closer to Emerson. If you wanted to focus on Northeastern/BU/BC you could stay in Copely Square and it's an easy trip on the T.

Northeasten/MassArt/Simmons are all by the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (all closest to Back Bay)

You could stay in the Seaport (South Station) and be close to Faneuil Hall and lots of tourist/boston History stuff.

But in any case, Boston is very small so even if you come into the "wrong" station it won't cost you much time.

You could also do a day trip to Providence or stop in Providence for a night on your way up. Brown, RISD, and JWU are all right downtown as are a million hotel rooms, and Providence College is a quick uber.

Thank you so much for all your ideas and recommendations. I booked the train and hotel in Back Bay before checking back here. Is there good mass transit to Harvard/Tufts? What is Leslie?

You can take the T, or just take an uber. As others have said, it's a small place so Ubers aren't that expensive.

Use google maps for public transit, it will tell you what station/T to take.

[Anonymous]

BTW I assume you checked flights too? Sometimes/often they are cheaper than the train and a lot shorter, especially for a quick trip. And Logan is a very close, similar to DCA and downtown DC.