Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is America's 20th busiest passenger airport with lots of domestic, Canadian and European flights. MBTA Blue Line subway travels from BOS Airport to State Street and Government Center in downtown Boston. BOS Ferry to Downtown: You can also take the ferry from BOS Airport to the Downtown’s Rowes Wharf, which is a viable option to reach waterfront hotels. To reach the ferry, first visit the nearest information desk in a BOS terminal. 

Boston MBTA Airport Station

Taxis: From the lower level roadway of BOS airport to the closest points downtown costs $15; to Prudential Center costs about $20.  Around town, taxis are usually abundant, but large conventions often draw many of them away from downtown to Prudential Center, Copley Square and the main convention center near South Boston. Car Rental Center is located on BOS premises for walkable access to airport terminals.

South Station intermodal transportation center teems with Amtrak trains, Commuter Rail Transit, Heavy Rail Transit (subways), Greyhoound, Peter Pan buses, regular buses and a major taxi depot. South Station is also a great people place for its historic architecture, cafes, shops and art exhibits and hosts these Amtrak routes:

Acela: Boston-Providence-New Haven-NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-DC

Northeast Regional: Boston-Providence-New Haven-NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-DC-Richmond-Newport News

Lakeshore Limited: Boston-Springfield-Rochester-Buffalo-Cleveland-Toledo-Chicago

South Station, Boston

Acela trains between Boston, Providence and New Haven range from 110-150 mph, but then slow to 79-90 mph from New Haven to New York City. Amtrak, with federal funding, plans to significantly upgrade the route range from 110-160 mph this decade.

Back Bay Station and North Station are also important Commuter Rail Transit, Heavy Rail Transit (subway) and taxi stations in Boston. North Station has an Amtrak Downeaster route to Portland, Maine.

MBTA Rail Transit and commuter train service is abundant and a great compliment to this walking-friendly city.  Known as the “T”, the nation’s oldest and 4th largest subway system has Downtown stations that are not air-conditioned and can be hot during the summer. Familiarize yourself with four T lines that intersect and have stations at or near 90% key visitor sites.

The Green line splits into four (B, C, D, E) branches southwest bound after the Copley Square station, but only the B and E are listed:
 
Blue Line: Airport, Aquarium, State Street, and Government Center
Orange Line: North Station, Haymarket, State Street, Downtown Crossing, Chinatown, South Station, Massachusetts Ave, Roxbury Crossing
Red Line: JFK/U. of Massachusetts, South Station, Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Kendall/MIT, Harvard
Green Line: Science Park, North Station, Haymarket, Government Center, Park Street, Boylston, Arlington, Copley and then (E) Prudential, Symphony, Northeastern U., Museum OR (B) Hynes Convention Center, Kenmore, Boston U, Boston College

Boston Freeways: Central Artery and Ted Williams Tunnel to BOS airport, and bridges have all finally completed. It is now possible to leave BOS airport via I-90, bypass the traffic at Sumner Tunnel and go to Copley Square or points west. Zakim Bridge, over the Charles River, speeds you to points north of Boston. Memorize these freeways, tollways and tunnels:
 
    2  State Highway Concord to Boston
    3  US Freeway/Highway from Chelmsford to Boston to Plymouth
  24  State Highway from I-95 Beltway to Brockton
  90  Interstate & Massachusetts turnpike & Ted Williams Tunnel
  93  Interstate freeway thru Downtown, connects with I-95
  95  Interstate freeway and inner beltway around Boston
495  Outer beltway for metro Boston
       Sumner Tunnel, westbound from airport, NO toll
       Callahan tunnel, eastbound to airport, toll